Free The Lady and the Lake by Rosemary Smith Page B

wanted to explain? He called me a fool and suggested to his mother that I was a challenge. How could he possibly explain that. For the rest of the afternoon I turned it over and over in my mind wishing that I had at least listened to what he had to say.
    ***
    After leaving Mrs Kershaw, I hurried up to my room as I still hadn’t unpacked the parcel containing Clara’s dress. Hurriedly I opened it, shook the dress and hung it up. It was blue quite similar in colour to mine with a wide bow at the back.
    I knew that Clara would look charming and that we would complement each other perfectly. I hastened along the road to Beckmoor fearing that I would be late, but as I reached the church door, Clara was just coming out.
    ‘Hello, Clara, are you looking forward to the party?’ I said trying to put her at ease.
    ‘Yes, Miss, I’ve never been to a party before,’ she replied softly and I could see she was nervous.
    ‘I wish to see Miss Anderson,’ I told Clara, steering her back through the door and instructing her to sit in a pew and wait for me. I climbed the stairs to the schoolroom, but the greeting died on my lips, for Ann Anderson and Antony Kershaw were in a close embrace. I retraced my steps down the stairs and taking Clara’s hand we walked back out into the sunlight.
    On reaching Kerslake Hall, I made my way with Clara to my room. First of all I would get Clara dressed and arrange her hair. As I slipped the dress over her head I thought how pretty she was. I sat her at the dressing table and brushed her hair until it shone and then placed the white flower in her hair. The finished result was wonderful. Maggie brought my dress to me and stayed to assist me.
    ‘Can I do your hair please, Miss?’ she asked of me.
    ‘Of course,’ I agreed and sat at the dressing table while Maggie brushed my long blonde locks and then twisted them at the back, securing it at the nape of my neck with pins, a tendril of hair each side of my face. All that remained was to position the pink flower. Maggie had done an admirable job.
    ‘Stand up, Miss, and let’s have a look at you,’ she urged, excitedly. I did as I was bid. ‘You look fit for a king, doesn’t she, Clara?’ Clara was sat quietly on the bed waiting patiently for me to prepare myself.
    Suddenly there was a knock on the door, perhaps it was Alice, but on opening the door I was surprised to see Thomas standing in the doorway. ‘I need to talk to you,’ he said, heedless of Maggie and Clara.
    ‘Tomorrow, Mr Craddock,’ I promised, ‘for you can surely see I have other things to do.’
    ‘Tomorrow then,’ he agreed, ‘my mother is here by the way, and I have spoken to her. I’ll see you in the dining-room.’ So saying he left us, with me curious at to what he’d spoken to his mother about.
    ‘Handsome gentleman, Miss,’ Maggie cut into my thoughts.
    ‘Yes, indeed he is. Thank you for helping me, if you could just show me to the dining-room now, please.’
    I entered the dining-room with Clara clutching my hand. It was Emily dressed in a lemon dress who saw us first and came running over to us. ‘Come and see the table,’ she said to Clara, taking her hand.
    I could see Henrietta Kershaw dressed in a pretty emerald green gown with lace at her throat. It was the first time I had seen her out of her sitting-room. Mary Craddock was talking to her sister, they both looked up,
    Mrs Craddock smiling and indicating for me to join them.
    It was then I spied Anthony Kershaw in deep conversation with the lovely Alice, who looked a picture in a violet-coloured silk gown. Neither of them noticed my arrival, but Thomas did and he came over to me.
    ‘Sit here Miss Sinclair while I get you a sherry.’ As he spoke, out of the corner of my eye I could see Henrietta Kershaw watching us. While Thomas went to get me a drink I sat at a table that was laden with small triangular sandwiches, jellies and iced sponge cakes, there was also a pink cake with candles