The Sea Maiden Read Online Free PDF Page B

Thunder, he was her only joyful thought and that of riding through miles of green pasture with the wind in her, hearing the sound of his hooves as they connected with the ground it was the sound of freedom. A wild thought came into her head-, ‘running away,’ it was a ridiculous thought of course running away. Then a knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. It was late morning and she had missed breakfast. Bessie the kitchen maid brought in a tray of food. Lynnette peaked through the door,
    “Karina! Are you awake?”
    Karina stirred but didn’t answer. Karina was not in the mood to talk if she could just leap out the window onto Thunder and run away.
    “Karina your father wishes to speak to you.” Lynnette made her way to her bed and gently sat down beside her. After a brief pause she said, “Karina, I wanted to tell you something, um…last night, I followed you to the study…you see I saw some servants standing nearby so I wanted to make sure they gave you privacy so I told them to leave and I was about to leave myself but then I heard you and your father talking and I thought it would be best if I stay…you know to make sure nobody overheard anything they were not suppose too…and so I um…I heard …you and your father talking. I know it was wrong of me…please forgive me?”
    Feeling ashamed, Lynnette kept her head down and avoided eye contact with Karina. Upon hearing Lynnette’s confession and apology for her indiscretion Karina asked,
    “So you heard everything?”
    “Yes”
    Under different circumstances Karina might have laughed at Lynnette’s poor excuse for eves dropping. It was almost comical.
    “I hope you didn’t tell the others?”
    “No not a word. Not even mother, but because of Darlene’s gossiping yesterday there are already rumors of you getting married to Lord Harmon circulating; however I didn’t know about your father’s condition or the situation with Pembroke Hall.” Karina remained silent. “Your father wants to see you in his study again this morning and requested I tell you.”
    Karina sat up slowly resigned to hear more bad news she was losing him and needed to pay close attention to everything he had to say whether she liked it or not. She put on her robe and obediently went downstairs to meet her father in the study Lynnette followed her.
    “Please watch the door Lynnette.” Karina told Lynnette knowing full well she would likely stand outside and listen. She was her closest friend and in her heart she knew Lynnette would do anything to help. Karina knocked on the door to the study. Charles faced away from her. Karina approached the old man. “Yes father?”
    Charles got up with some difficulty, leaning on his walking stick for support, he made his way to his desk opened the top drawer and withdrew a letter. He handed the letter to her. Lynnette pressed her ear to the door but could not hear anything she wondered what was happening. Karina took the letter from him and began to read:
     
    “Dearest Karina.
     
    My words cannot express how deep your welfare concerns me so my actions will in time prove it even though they may seem harsh to you now. I chose to write this letter to you to keep these delicate matters private and because there is less physical exertion for me. I hope someday you will understand the logic. You are now aware that our situation is critical and what transpired between us yesterday was difficult for both of us. As a young girl your notion of marriage are naive romantic ones, no doubt based on story books and even on some of our own serving staff who found love among one another. You must remember you are not one of them. We belong to a higher social class. The wealthy are not always free to choose their marriage partners. Through marriage we strengthen family wealth, and power and create legacies. Those who have gone against these principles strain or weaken their family’s social position and future. I admit I didn’t prepare you for