A Loyal Companion Read Online Free PDF

however. When Jennifer finally reached Sheltonford, she was usually too queasy to step down outside the tiny emporium.
    "Too high in the instep," Miss Petronella Minch declared.
    "We won't call again," her sister, Miss Marietta Minch, added.
    "But Miss Sonia serves such a lovely tea."
     
     
    At first Sonia tried to keep Jennifer busy with driving lessons, renovations to the nursery, introductions to the local society. She even agreed to be poked and prodded and pinned into a new wardrobe of sheer muslins and soft silks, just so Jennifer could have the pleasure of talking fashions and fabrics for endless hours. Sonia still preferred her kerseymeres and calicos for the long walks and comfortable times she managed to fit in. She thanked her lucky stars that Jennifer slept late in the mornings and rested after lunch, so Sonia could get her own chores done. George's wife refused to look at the menus or go over the household accounts with Sonia, saying: "Oh no, you're still the daughter of the house and still your father's hostess."
    As Jennifer's shape got more unwieldy, though, her temper grew more
uncertain. She took her pettishness out on George when he was available, so he made himself less available, checking out new breeds of sheep in Weymouth or Wales or the West Indies, for all Sonia knew! With George off on his trips, Sonia was left to bear the brunt of Jennifer's spite, until Squire Randolph had the downy notion of inviting Jennifer's stepsister to Berkshire.
    "You remember, that quiet gel from the wedding, Leah."
    "Papa, you are brilliant! She seemed so pleasant and mild-mannered. Perhaps she won't mind Jennifer's megrims."
    "I don't think she was very happy in London; might be glad for the change."
    "It might be that she wasn't happy with Jennifer, but I'll write this very morning. Oh, I hope she comes, don't you, Father?"
     
     
    Miss Leah Corwith came, and with her soft-spoken ways, charmed everyone, even Jennifer for a while, for Leah was able to relate all the news from London. She kept up a large correspondence, so was au fait with the latest on-dits. Miss Corwith pleaded to assist Sonia with the household, for she was used to keeping busy, she said, and felt like a hanger-on otherwise. She was a skillful whist player and an enthusiastic if not expert rider. She even liked dogs. Sonia and the squire and George and the staff thought Leah was wonderful; Jennifer thought she was useful.
    Now that Leah was here to take over the drudgery of a chatelaine, Jennifer didn't have to be so tolerant of Sonia. She saw no reason why the heir's wife shouldn't sit at the head of the table or take precedence going into dinners with company. The villagers should not call during Jennifer's established nap time, nor ask for Miss Randolph. The servants should take their orders from the future mistress of Deer Park Manor, not from some half-grown hoyden whose hair was always falling down and whose gloves were always soiled, when she remembered to wear them at all. Mrs. George gave up trying to make a lady out of that sad romp. She even stopped advising Sonia about her clothes, after all the gentlemen noticed and admired the forward chit—and made Jennifer feel more like a bloated cow than ever.
    Jennifer knew better than to complain to George or Father Randolph about Sonia—she saw the way they fawned on the girl—but she did not hesitate to complain about that dog.
    The dog was spoiled, the dog was ungoverned. He was no proper pet for a lady of fashion, and he was certainly not a proper chaperon. Sonia had no business running around the countryside like a veritable draggle-tail gypsy with nothing but a mongrel for escort. She and that flea-hound were going to land them all in the scandal-broth. Besides, the dog was always underfoot. Jennifer could trip and lose the child. Fitz had to go.
    George went to his father, and the squire went to Sonia, after a quick helping of Dutch courage from the brandy decanter.
    "Give me a pregnant