Shadow of the Past Read Online Free PDF Page B

come back to haunt me?’
    In the warm breakfast parlour of Dr Hansard’s house, bright and cheerful with morning sunlight, a fire blazing in the grate, the words sounded ridiculous even to my ears.
    ‘Because you were attracted to another young woman? What nonsense you do talk, my dear young friend,’ Dr Hansard exclaimed, his words and tone at odds with his affectionate squeeze of my arm. His deep blue eyes fixed mine with stern kindness. ‘Did I, did my beloved Maria here, imagine our former spouses would rise from their graves to complain that after decent periods of mourning we would marry again? The thought is unworthy of you, a man of the cloth. Pray, have some more of Maria’s best ham, Tobias, or she will be the one offended.’
    She clicked her tongue. ‘As if Tobias could ever cause offence. I know how much from your kitchen finds its way to the tables of the poor – I honour you for your generosity! – but here you must indeed eat your fill. Indeed you must, out in all weathers as you are.’ It was not only I who usurped Edmund’s role as physician.
    ‘No more than Edmund,’ I parried.
    ‘But you do not have a wife to look after you.’
    Despite her kindness, I shook my head, staring dismally at my plate.
    She poured herself more chocolate, then leant forward animatedly. ‘Now, if a woman might offer a word of advice on this matter of the heart, it is that you should say nothing of your former love to this new object of your affections. A lady does not like to think she is competing with the dead.’
    My blush was painful. ‘Nor is she. I have scarce met her.’
    ‘She has clearly made a deep impression on you,’ she laughed. ‘Her blue eyes, pink lips, clear complexion and lustrous hair – she must indeed be a paragon.’
    ‘A paragon? But true beauty lies in the soul,’ I insisted, as I had to her ladyship, ‘not in such outward show. Truly, Mrs Hansard, with one word you have opened my eyes to my folly. It lies not only in thinking myself unfaithful to Lizzie, but in imagining I could have fallen in love on such superficial acquaintance.’ I smiled across the table at them both. ‘Thank God I am blessed in my good friends. And yes, if I may, I will have another slice of this excellent ham. And that beef too.’ As she heaped my plate, however, another thought occurred to me. ‘But I still find it hard to believe that the first sound I heard was a cow. If it was not ghostly moaning I heard, what was it?’
    ‘That is a question I can take more seriously,’ Dr Hansard said. ‘Indeed, when I go on my rounds today, I will ask everyone I see. But I think the answer is not in your ears, Tobias, but what lies between them – your over-fertile conscience and imagination.’

CHAPTER THREE
    Despite my parish work and the brevity of our acquaintance, try how I might I could not keep Lady Dorothea out of my mind. Sir Marcus had promised a morning visit for the following day, but none came, nor on the day after. Though I flatter myself that no one would have noticed from my demeanour, I blush to confess how disappointed I was.
    However, I was no child to be in a sulk, so I went about my Master’s work with the lightest heart I could manage. One of my daily delights was to pray in our ancient church. On this occasion, however, the cold and damp almost bit into me – and I was not of a rheumatic disposition. I looked about me. The ancient stone almost bled moisture. I must remind Simon Clark, the verger, to bring in braziers on Saturday night to take the edge off the chill in preparation for the Sabbath’s divine worship. It might be the only warmth my poor parishioners enjoyed that day, or indeed, any other, till the weather eased.
    Chafing my hands and trying in vain to ignore a vicious chilblain, I heard voices and – God forgive me – I almost ranto the door. Even as I approached, it creaked open to admit Sir Marcus’s party. It included, to my delight, Lady Dorothea, who smiled at me