Lady of Lincoln Read Online Free PDF Page B

marriage,’ Emily said candidly. ‘And at least I would have a home and a role and perhaps children….’
    ‘Yes, but he isn’t exactly exciting, is he?’ said Nathalie frankly.
    ‘Excitement isn’t everything,’ Emily pointed out.
    ‘No. No, you are right, and I am the last person who should need to be told that,’ Nathalie agreed in a subdued tone.
    ‘Did … was your life in London very exciting, before you met Mr Fanshawe?’ Emily asked tentatively.
    ‘I—’ Nathalie halted abruptly, her hand to her mouth. ‘Forgive me,’ she blurted out, before hurrying from the room.
    Emily sat, her tea cup in her hand, not knowing what to do. Clearly Nathalie was distressed, but would she welcome the presence of the woman whose conversation had been the means of distressing her? And how could her words have possibly been construed as any kind of criticism?
    While she was still pondering, Nathalie came back into the room, her handkerchief in her hand. ‘I beg your pardon,’ she said softly.
    ‘No, it is I who should beg yours,’ Emily insisted, getting up in order to help Nathalie to her chair. ‘I was intolerably intrusive .’
    ‘No, you were not,’ Nathalie answered. ‘The fact of the matter is … well, I cannot tell you the whole story for it is not all mine to tell. But suffice it to say that life in London was rather more exciting than I could bear, and when matters became too overwhelming for me, it was Ernest who rescued me from the consequences of my folly. His chivalry, his goodness are greater than I deserve, and I shall never cease to love him for all that he has done for me.’ She looked at Emily with an expression that was half pleading, half defiant.
    ‘Well, for my part, I am very glad to hear that you love your husband so sincerely,’ Emily replied. ‘Is there any news yet of when the dean will release him?’
    ‘Not yet,’ Nathalie replied, putting away her handkerchief. ‘But I have hopes that I may hear good news any day now.’
    The next day brought more than good news: it brought Mr Fanshawe himself. The ladies were sitting at their small dining-table enjoying a light luncheon, when the door opened, and the young clergyman came in, his handsome face beaming with delight. Nathalie sprang up from the table and cast herself into his arms, quite regardless of Emily’s presence, and Mr Fanshawe pressed a firm kiss upon his wife’s pretty lips.
    ‘Nathalie, my dearest, how lovely and blooming you are,’ hedeclared, his voice vibrating with sincerity. ‘The sea air has done you good, I see.’ He turned to Emily. ‘Miss Whittaker, your servant.’
    Emily returned his greeting with a curtsy. ‘Welcome, Mr Fanshawe,’ she replied. ‘Yes, the air has done us both a lot of good, which is why I shall go now and enjoy a little more of it.’ So saying, she went out and left the young couple to their privacy.
    As she walked down to the sea she was conscious of a stab of envy. No gentleman had ever taken her in his arms in that way. No gentleman had ever kissed her upon her lips. Doubtless Dr Boyle would be glad to oblige, but the very idea filled her with disgust. She would have to face the fact that romance had by now passed her by. No doubt she would have to be content either with imagining how the muscular gentleman in the novel that she would never write would perform such a salute, or with being glad at the happiness experienced by such as Mr and Mrs Fanshawe. If she was especially lucky, perhaps they would invite her to be a godmother. This thought should have comforted her; sadly, it only succeeded in making her feel rather desolate.
    They made a companionable party for dinner that night, but Emily was very conscious of being not exactly an intruder, but a third person where a couple would have been quite sufficient.
    The following morning, when Emily left in the carriage in which Mr Fanshawe had arrived, she went away with very mixed feelings. On the one hand, she had thoroughly