Read Online Hope for Tomorrow by Catherine Winchester - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Catherine Winchester
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“Private joke.”
Martha bought her a few new toys to play with, though the nursery had plenty.
She had been with Gus for almost a year now and was happier than she ever believed that she could be. She could keep Hope with her while she worked, she had a good wage, a decent employer and not only the time but the encouragement to read his library of books.
He was no more sociable than when she had first met him but then she understood a little of how he must feel. Someone he loved had turned on him and betrayed him; she knew something about those kinds of wounds.
To be fair, Martha wasn't very sociable either. She was alone for most of the day, save for half an hour in the afternoon when Mrs Needham dropped by with the evening meal and stayed to share a cup of tea with her. She also went out each morning to buy fresh bread and sometimes other sundries but she never stopped to chat with anyone. She doubted that even her closest neighbours knew that she worked for Gus.
Martha didn't mind the solitude though and talked to Hope constantly, even though she couldn't answer back.
She knew that people were probably talking about her, for Martha knew how gossip spread and she somehow doubted that Mrs Needham, as sweet as she was, could keep a secret. Martha didn't mind. Let the gossips say what they wanted; she knew the truth.
Although she wanted to know how her family, Mrs Lassiter and even sometimes, Lucien were, she hadn't written to Mrs Lassiter since sending the money back because she feared that the housekeeper would tell Lucien and she couldn't bear it if he turned up again and ruined another situation for her. She was happy, she was settled. She was fine.
Chapter Six
Lucien's life consisted solely of work and study. He had virtually taken over the running of the estate from his father and when he was finished, he read books and composed letters to his academic friends.
His mother organised many parties and secured him invitations to many more but he refused as many as he could. He felt that if he couldn't have the woman he wanted, he would have no one. Besides, all the women he met paled in comparison to Martha.
His mother was worried about him but his father thought that he was finally growing up and taking responsibility for his life.
Neither were correct. Lucien was waiting. He felt like a child again and that if he only believed it enough, Martha would come back to him.
His mother took to throwing women into his path in the hopes that he would like one of them. The scandal with the housemaid was well known in society but it was also well known that men had needs that women didn't and so they were willing to forgive him his little indiscretion.
At least once a month his mother would invite a young woman and her family to dine with them, always seating the lady next to Lucien. Sometimes he sulked, hardly saying a word but occasionally, annoyed by his mothers interfering, he took pleasure in baiting them, asking questions which he knew were inappropriate for a young lady to answer and asking for their opinion of subjects upon which he knew they were unlikely to have an opinion.
Tonight was another such dinner and his mother had scolded him earlier for his actions and pleaded with him to be nice to this one.
“ If you did not parade them in front of me like some slave at auction, I would have no reason to be unkind to them.”
His mother left shaking her head.
That evening the young lady in question was indeed very pretty, with chestnut hair like Martha's and green eyes, though hers did not shine with the same intelligence that Martha's had. He liked that she reminded him of Martha and for some strange reason, that made him even more disagreeable than usual.
She was introduced to him as Lady Elizabeth Mountbatten and she curtseyed demurely. He hated how she kept her eyes downcast and hardly ever looked at him.
“ Did you have a pleasant journey?” he asked, escorting her to a sofa where they might
Martha bought her a few new toys to play with, though the nursery had plenty.
She had been with Gus for almost a year now and was happier than she ever believed that she could be. She could keep Hope with her while she worked, she had a good wage, a decent employer and not only the time but the encouragement to read his library of books.
He was no more sociable than when she had first met him but then she understood a little of how he must feel. Someone he loved had turned on him and betrayed him; she knew something about those kinds of wounds.
To be fair, Martha wasn't very sociable either. She was alone for most of the day, save for half an hour in the afternoon when Mrs Needham dropped by with the evening meal and stayed to share a cup of tea with her. She also went out each morning to buy fresh bread and sometimes other sundries but she never stopped to chat with anyone. She doubted that even her closest neighbours knew that she worked for Gus.
Martha didn't mind the solitude though and talked to Hope constantly, even though she couldn't answer back.
She knew that people were probably talking about her, for Martha knew how gossip spread and she somehow doubted that Mrs Needham, as sweet as she was, could keep a secret. Martha didn't mind. Let the gossips say what they wanted; she knew the truth.
Although she wanted to know how her family, Mrs Lassiter and even sometimes, Lucien were, she hadn't written to Mrs Lassiter since sending the money back because she feared that the housekeeper would tell Lucien and she couldn't bear it if he turned up again and ruined another situation for her. She was happy, she was settled. She was fine.
Chapter Six
Lucien's life consisted solely of work and study. He had virtually taken over the running of the estate from his father and when he was finished, he read books and composed letters to his academic friends.
His mother organised many parties and secured him invitations to many more but he refused as many as he could. He felt that if he couldn't have the woman he wanted, he would have no one. Besides, all the women he met paled in comparison to Martha.
His mother was worried about him but his father thought that he was finally growing up and taking responsibility for his life.
Neither were correct. Lucien was waiting. He felt like a child again and that if he only believed it enough, Martha would come back to him.
His mother took to throwing women into his path in the hopes that he would like one of them. The scandal with the housemaid was well known in society but it was also well known that men had needs that women didn't and so they were willing to forgive him his little indiscretion.
At least once a month his mother would invite a young woman and her family to dine with them, always seating the lady next to Lucien. Sometimes he sulked, hardly saying a word but occasionally, annoyed by his mothers interfering, he took pleasure in baiting them, asking questions which he knew were inappropriate for a young lady to answer and asking for their opinion of subjects upon which he knew they were unlikely to have an opinion.
Tonight was another such dinner and his mother had scolded him earlier for his actions and pleaded with him to be nice to this one.
“ If you did not parade them in front of me like some slave at auction, I would have no reason to be unkind to them.”
His mother left shaking her head.
That evening the young lady in question was indeed very pretty, with chestnut hair like Martha's and green eyes, though hers did not shine with the same intelligence that Martha's had. He liked that she reminded him of Martha and for some strange reason, that made him even more disagreeable than usual.
She was introduced to him as Lady Elizabeth Mountbatten and she curtseyed demurely. He hated how she kept her eyes downcast and hardly ever looked at him.
“ Did you have a pleasant journey?” he asked, escorting her to a sofa where they might
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