Read Online Darkest Before Dawn by Gwen Kirkwood - Free Book Online
Authors: Gwen Kirkwood
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school and they have never actually lived up here since.’
‘Mmm, weren’t their parents displeased because their daughter insisted on studying the same course as her brother?’
‘Yes.’ Rosie grinned suddenly. ‘I think her mother had even stronger views than mine about what young ladies should do. She thought Ellen should marry a suitable husband and not have a job. Instead she chose a particularly male environment. It was something to do with estate management, I think. I heard later that Ellen Wilshaw had developed a keen interest in valuing and dealing in antiques and she was very good at it. I think the twins were in partnership together. I never heard of either of them being married,’ Rosie mused. ‘I wonder which of them has the wee girl?’
‘No doubt we shall hear eventually but I expect she will arouse some curiosity amongst the locals, poor bairn.’
‘Who will arouse curiosity?’ Billy asked, coming into the kitchen. His parents explained and asked if he wanted to accompany them and Uncle Alex to the funeral.
‘I suppose I could go to represent the third generation of Bengairney Carafords,’ he said. ‘I can sympathize with the child if she is the object of gossip though. I’ve had my share of that.’
FIVE
The parish church was surprisingly full by the time the Carafords arrived so they were forced to take seats nearer the front than they would have chosen. There was a mixture of regret, curiosity and genuine sympathy. The laird seemed too young to die and most of the locals regarded him as the last of another county family. There was much craning of scrawny necks when Ellen Wilshaw came in through the vestry at the front of the church. Rosemary sensed at once that her grief was profound at the loss of her twin. Beside her, and almost as tall, was the slim figure of a girl. Billy was surprised. She might not be a woman yet but she was certainly more than a child, even though her honey-gold hair was still worn in a thick plait almost down to her waist. It was clear that both of them had shed tears recently but the faces they presented briefly to the waiting congregation were composed and pale. Billy admired their dignity. Ellen Wilshaw’s eyes scanned the sea of faces for a few seconds as she made her way to the seat reserved for them atthe front of the church. Her eyes widened slightly in recognition as they met Rosemary’s.
After the service the congregation filed past the woman and the girl standing together at the door. Ellen’s face looked strained, her thick wavy hair tinged with grey. Rosemary had expected to do no more than murmur her sympathy and pass on with the rest of the congregation but Ellen clasped her hand in both of hers.
‘There are refreshments up at the Manor. I hope you will join us there, Rosemary, if you can? You and your – your family?’ Her eyes skimmed over Sam, Alex and Billy standing close beside her. It was clear they were all together but Ellen obviously didn’t know which of the two men was her husband.
‘Very well, thank you, if you’re sure?’
‘I am sure. It is a relief to see a familiar face.’ She gave a strained smile. ‘Also I need to speak to the few remaining tenants eventually.’ Her eyes moved to Sam and Alex.
Rosemary was surprised again when Ellen and the girl joined their table with a great sigh of relief after circulating around the guests at the other tables set out in the Manor dining room.
‘Funerals are never easy, are they?’ she said with a wan smile. ‘I know one of these fine gentlemen is your husband, Rosemary, but I don’t know which one. Presumably you are all tenants on the Scarth Estate?’
‘This is Samuel, my husband,’ Rosemary introduced them, ‘and Alex, my brother-in-law. He farms Bengairney so he is your tenant. Sam and I are at Martinwold. This is our son, Billy. He hopes to farmtoo but he is going to university in September.’
‘Aah, then I would welcome a talk with you, Billy,’ Ellen
‘Mmm, weren’t their parents displeased because their daughter insisted on studying the same course as her brother?’
‘Yes.’ Rosie grinned suddenly. ‘I think her mother had even stronger views than mine about what young ladies should do. She thought Ellen should marry a suitable husband and not have a job. Instead she chose a particularly male environment. It was something to do with estate management, I think. I heard later that Ellen Wilshaw had developed a keen interest in valuing and dealing in antiques and she was very good at it. I think the twins were in partnership together. I never heard of either of them being married,’ Rosie mused. ‘I wonder which of them has the wee girl?’
‘No doubt we shall hear eventually but I expect she will arouse some curiosity amongst the locals, poor bairn.’
‘Who will arouse curiosity?’ Billy asked, coming into the kitchen. His parents explained and asked if he wanted to accompany them and Uncle Alex to the funeral.
‘I suppose I could go to represent the third generation of Bengairney Carafords,’ he said. ‘I can sympathize with the child if she is the object of gossip though. I’ve had my share of that.’
FIVE
The parish church was surprisingly full by the time the Carafords arrived so they were forced to take seats nearer the front than they would have chosen. There was a mixture of regret, curiosity and genuine sympathy. The laird seemed too young to die and most of the locals regarded him as the last of another county family. There was much craning of scrawny necks when Ellen Wilshaw came in through the vestry at the front of the church. Rosemary sensed at once that her grief was profound at the loss of her twin. Beside her, and almost as tall, was the slim figure of a girl. Billy was surprised. She might not be a woman yet but she was certainly more than a child, even though her honey-gold hair was still worn in a thick plait almost down to her waist. It was clear that both of them had shed tears recently but the faces they presented briefly to the waiting congregation were composed and pale. Billy admired their dignity. Ellen Wilshaw’s eyes scanned the sea of faces for a few seconds as she made her way to the seat reserved for them atthe front of the church. Her eyes widened slightly in recognition as they met Rosemary’s.
After the service the congregation filed past the woman and the girl standing together at the door. Ellen’s face looked strained, her thick wavy hair tinged with grey. Rosemary had expected to do no more than murmur her sympathy and pass on with the rest of the congregation but Ellen clasped her hand in both of hers.
‘There are refreshments up at the Manor. I hope you will join us there, Rosemary, if you can? You and your – your family?’ Her eyes skimmed over Sam, Alex and Billy standing close beside her. It was clear they were all together but Ellen obviously didn’t know which of the two men was her husband.
‘Very well, thank you, if you’re sure?’
‘I am sure. It is a relief to see a familiar face.’ She gave a strained smile. ‘Also I need to speak to the few remaining tenants eventually.’ Her eyes moved to Sam and Alex.
Rosemary was surprised again when Ellen and the girl joined their table with a great sigh of relief after circulating around the guests at the other tables set out in the Manor dining room.
‘Funerals are never easy, are they?’ she said with a wan smile. ‘I know one of these fine gentlemen is your husband, Rosemary, but I don’t know which one. Presumably you are all tenants on the Scarth Estate?’
‘This is Samuel, my husband,’ Rosemary introduced them, ‘and Alex, my brother-in-law. He farms Bengairney so he is your tenant. Sam and I are at Martinwold. This is our son, Billy. He hopes to farmtoo but he is going to university in September.’
‘Aah, then I would welcome a talk with you, Billy,’ Ellen
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