Sweet Lass of Richmond Hill: (Georgian Series) Read Online Free PDF Page B

was not a bad idea. ‘It makes her status clear,’ said Mary to Walter, ‘and after a year of mourning there is no reason why Maria should not go into society again. She will then be under twenty, which, Walter, you must admit is very young. And I begin to think that our Maria is beautiful enough to do without a dowry.’
    ‘No one is beautiful enough for that, Mary.’
    ‘You are a cynic, Walter. Maria married Edward, did she not? She would have been rich but for her own folly … well, hardly that – heedlessness. But I doubt not that she has now learned that financial affairs should be settled at the earliest possible moment – and that is a very valuable lesson learned.’
    ‘At the price of a fortune, yes.’
    ‘Perhaps my brother will help again. He was very useful before. But Maria must have her year to mourn poor Edward. Then we shall see.’
    So Maria settled quietly in her cottage.
    Henry Errington was very interested in his sister’s family, having none of his own, and he made up his mind that having succeeded in finding Maria a husband once he would do so again; but like his sister and her husband he agreed that the year of mourning must first be lived through.
    Maria found life in her little cottage, with the one servant she could afford, suited to her mood. She thought a great deal of that short period when she had been mistress of Lulworth Castle and was sad mourning poor Edward who had loved her so devotedly and had doubtless shortened his life in trying to keep up with her youth. There had been no need. She had not wished him to.
    But she was sensible enough to know that her feeling for him had been no deep-rooted emotion. She had tried to please him because she enjoyed pleasing people; and after a few months she began to find the quiet life at the cottage very much to her taste. She read a great deal; she studied politics, for she quickly realized that she was living in momentous times. The conflict with the American colonies was certainly one of vital importance; she followed the activities of Pitt – now Lord Chatham; and she thought often of affairs in France and was a little sad because the King who had presented her with a dish of sugar plums had died and on the throne was now that gauche young Dauphin and his dainty Austrian-born wife.
    Well, nothing remained the same and she wondered how long she would stay in her little cottage on Colden Common. She knew that Uncle Henry had his eye on her. They would soon start matchmaking again. But at the moment there was respite, and she could enjoy it.
    As her brother Walter came breathlessly into the cottage, one glance was enough to show her that something was very wrong.
    ‘Maria,’ he said, ‘come home at once. Papa has been taken very ill.’
    She snatched up her cloak and climbed into the trap. She had never seen Walter so serious.
    ‘Tell me what happened,’ she demanded.
    ‘Mamma went to see what had happened to him and found him in his chair unable to move.’
    Through the avenue of limes they went as fast as the pony would take them and as soon as they stopped by the door Maria leaped down and ran indoors.
    Her mother, white faced and silent, embraced her. The doctors were with Walter Smythe; and it did not take them long to give their verdict. He had had a stroke which had paralysed him.
    Life had indeed changed in the house in Brambridge. Maria gave up the cottage and went home to console her mother, but with poor Papa an invalid who would never walk again, nothing was the same.
    Uncle Henry came over and was a great consolation; hewould be a father to the family, he said. Frances should remain with the Blew Nuns to complete her education, for no good could come in bringing her home; and the boys would have to be found careers, which was not easy, as being Catholics they would be debarred from the professions most suited to their position in life, such as government posts, the Bar, or the Army or Navy.
    Uncle Henry stayed with them