Lavender Morning Read Online Free PDF

if she went willingly.
    I’m sure the truth is much less romantic than that, but Angus Harcourt did build a big brick
    house in about 1770, and my family lived in it until I broke the tradition. My father left the house to
    me alone because my brother, Bertrand, couldn’t manage money. If he had a dime, he’d buy
    something that cost a quarter.
    I grew up sure that I’d live in Edilean Manor with David Aldredge, the man I was engaged to,
    and raise a strong, healthy, handsome family. But, alas, fate has a way of changing our lives. In this
    case, it was a war that changed everything and everyone. When I left Edilean, I let my brother live in
    the house, but I kept strict watch over him. Bertrand died a long time ago, and for years now the
    house has been empty.
    Dear Jocelyn, I’m leaving you a house you’ve never heard of in a town I carefully never
    mentioned.
    Jocelyn put the letter down and stared into space for a moment. A house built in 1770? And outside
    beautiful Williamsburg? She looked around her drab little apartment. It had been the best she could afford on her
    tiny salary. But an entire house! An old one!
    She looked back down at the letter.
    There’s something else I want to tell you. Remember how good I was at knowing who at church
    would make a good couple and who wouldn’t last six months? If you’ll remember, I was always right.
    I’m sure you also remember that I learned from experience not to interfere in your personal life—after
    you were old enough to have one, that is. But now I can no longer see your wrath, so I’m going to tell
    you something. The perfect man for you lives in Edilean. He’s the grandson of two friends with whom
    I went to high school, Alex and Lissie McDowell. They’re gone now, but their grandson looks so much
    like Alex that I thought he’d never aged. On one of my trips to Edilean—yes, dear, I went in secret—I
    told Alex that, and he laughed hard. It was good to see him laugh again, as there were days in the past
    when he found nothing to amuse him. His wife, Lissie, was a saint for what she did. I look forward to
    seeing them both again in a Better Place.
    Jocelyn looked up. A man for her? The thought made her want to smile and cry at the same time. Twice,
    Miss Edi had tried to match her up with young men from church, but both times she’d refused to so much as go
    out to dinner with them. They were boring young men, and she doubted if either of them had ever had a creative
    thought in his life. She hadn’t given her reasons for turning the men down, but Miss Edi had known what was
    going on. “Beer drinking does not qualify as an Olympic sport,” she’d said quietly, then walked away. Joce’s
    face had turned three shades of red. Two weeks before, Miss Edi had driven by Jocelyn’s house when she’d
    been standing outside with two young men on motorcycles and downing a can of beer. For all that Joce loved the
    ballet, she was sometimes drawn to the life her family led.
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    “Like my mother,” she said aloud, then looked back down at the letter.
    His name is Ramsey McDowell and he’s an attorney. But I can assure you that he’s more than
    that. My last request of you is that you give the young man a chance to show you that he’s right for
    you. And, remember: I am never wrong about these things.
    As for the house, there’s some furniture in it, but not much, and there are some tenants in the
    wings. They are both young women from families I’ve known for many years. Sara grew up in
    Edilean, so she can help you find whatever you need. Tess is new to the area, but I knew her
    grandmother better than I wanted to.
    That’s all, my dear. I know you’ll make the best of all that I leave you. I apologize that my
    housekeeper won’t be there, but the poor dear was older than I am. I have a gardener, so maybe he
    can help you with whatever else you