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were muddy, Mrs Worsthorne ordered the carriage to take them to church. She showed some surprise when she learned her son was to accompany them, but she regarded his caped figure riding beside the carriage with no little satisfaction.
'I think it must be your influence, Verity my love, for Luke seldom comes to worship with me.'
As he handed them out of the coach, Verity glanced up at Luke Worsthorne: his upright bearing commanded respect, and his angular features were not unattractive. She was well aware of the envious glances cast their way by several ladies entering the church, but was she pleased to think that he had escorted them solely to please her? Verity could not decide, and she was no nearer an answer when they arrived back at Highclough, where the butler informed them in tones of deep disapproval that they had a visitor.
'Mr Reedley has called to see Miss Shore, ma'am.' He addressed Mrs Worsthorne….. 'I have put him in the drawing room, since that has the best fire …'
* * * *
Waiting only to put off her coat, Miss Shore hurried to meet her guest, followed closely by Mrs Worsthorne and her son. Mr Reedley bowed as they entered.
'Miss Shore – madam – sir – pray forgive the intrusion on this special day.'
'No intrusion, sir. Please, will you not sit down? Has Ditton brought you some refreshment?'
Mr Reedley glanced at the tray laden with decanters and glasses that rested on a side table.
'Thank you, but I require nothing. I am merely carrying out a commission given to me by Mr Bannerman.'
Miss Shore's look of surprise caused the old man's lips to curve into the beginnings of a smile.
Mrs Worsthorne stepped forward. 'Perhaps we should all sit down. Luke, please bring another chair closer to the fire for Mr Reedley.'
'If you don't mind, ma'am, I would prefer to stand,' said the lawyer with quiet dignity. 'I shall be spending another hour or more in the saddle on my return journey.' He fixed his faded gaze upon Miss Shore. 'When Mr Bannerman was last in Halifax, he charged me with the duty of collecting a certain item and delivering it here to you. I understand it is not in the nature of a seasonal gift, but circumstances made it impossible for me to bring it to you earlier.'
'Then I am all the more obliged to you for giving up so much of Christmas Day, sir,' replied Verity warmly.
Mr Reedley inclined his head. 'Perhaps, Miss Shore, you would like to read this note, which Mr Bannerman left with me to be given to you with this package.'
Ignoring the small leather box that Mr Reedley pulled from his pocket, Verity took the letter and opened it.
' "The gems Reedley will be delivering belonged to your grandmother," ' she read. ' "They are part of a larger set and as the links were broken I have had some of the stones re-set into something more suitable for you. The remainder of the stones are in safe-keeping. RB" Well! What do you make of that?'
Mrs Worsthorne regarded Verity's heightened colour with some unease. 'How kind of Mr Bannerman. Mr Reedley, perhaps you would open the case?'
'Kind! To take it upon himself – oh!' Verity broke off as she caught sight of the necklace. It was lying on a bed of black velvet, a fine gold chain with five small, richly coloured emeralds suspended like tear-drops. A pair of matching ear-rings nestled beside the chain.
The lawyer's tired eyes crinkled into a smile.
'As Mr Bannerman has written in his letter, these are part of a much bigger set which includes among other things an aigrette and a very heavy bracelet – better suited to a matron, if I may say so, Miss Shore?'
'Y-yes, yes of course.' Verity lifted the necklace carefully from its case and gazed at it.
'It is just the thing to wear with your new gown,' remarked Mrs Worsthorne. 'How clever of Master Rafe.'
The mention of Mr Bannerman reminded Verity of her objections.
'It is still most unfeeling of him to make Mr Reedley ride all this way on Christmas
'I think it must be your influence, Verity my love, for Luke seldom comes to worship with me.'
As he handed them out of the coach, Verity glanced up at Luke Worsthorne: his upright bearing commanded respect, and his angular features were not unattractive. She was well aware of the envious glances cast their way by several ladies entering the church, but was she pleased to think that he had escorted them solely to please her? Verity could not decide, and she was no nearer an answer when they arrived back at Highclough, where the butler informed them in tones of deep disapproval that they had a visitor.
'Mr Reedley has called to see Miss Shore, ma'am.' He addressed Mrs Worsthorne….. 'I have put him in the drawing room, since that has the best fire …'
* * * *
Waiting only to put off her coat, Miss Shore hurried to meet her guest, followed closely by Mrs Worsthorne and her son. Mr Reedley bowed as they entered.
'Miss Shore – madam – sir – pray forgive the intrusion on this special day.'
'No intrusion, sir. Please, will you not sit down? Has Ditton brought you some refreshment?'
Mr Reedley glanced at the tray laden with decanters and glasses that rested on a side table.
'Thank you, but I require nothing. I am merely carrying out a commission given to me by Mr Bannerman.'
Miss Shore's look of surprise caused the old man's lips to curve into the beginnings of a smile.
Mrs Worsthorne stepped forward. 'Perhaps we should all sit down. Luke, please bring another chair closer to the fire for Mr Reedley.'
'If you don't mind, ma'am, I would prefer to stand,' said the lawyer with quiet dignity. 'I shall be spending another hour or more in the saddle on my return journey.' He fixed his faded gaze upon Miss Shore. 'When Mr Bannerman was last in Halifax, he charged me with the duty of collecting a certain item and delivering it here to you. I understand it is not in the nature of a seasonal gift, but circumstances made it impossible for me to bring it to you earlier.'
'Then I am all the more obliged to you for giving up so much of Christmas Day, sir,' replied Verity warmly.
Mr Reedley inclined his head. 'Perhaps, Miss Shore, you would like to read this note, which Mr Bannerman left with me to be given to you with this package.'
Ignoring the small leather box that Mr Reedley pulled from his pocket, Verity took the letter and opened it.
' "The gems Reedley will be delivering belonged to your grandmother," ' she read. ' "They are part of a larger set and as the links were broken I have had some of the stones re-set into something more suitable for you. The remainder of the stones are in safe-keeping. RB" Well! What do you make of that?'
Mrs Worsthorne regarded Verity's heightened colour with some unease. 'How kind of Mr Bannerman. Mr Reedley, perhaps you would open the case?'
'Kind! To take it upon himself – oh!' Verity broke off as she caught sight of the necklace. It was lying on a bed of black velvet, a fine gold chain with five small, richly coloured emeralds suspended like tear-drops. A pair of matching ear-rings nestled beside the chain.
The lawyer's tired eyes crinkled into a smile.
'As Mr Bannerman has written in his letter, these are part of a much bigger set which includes among other things an aigrette and a very heavy bracelet – better suited to a matron, if I may say so, Miss Shore?'
'Y-yes, yes of course.' Verity lifted the necklace carefully from its case and gazed at it.
'It is just the thing to wear with your new gown,' remarked Mrs Worsthorne. 'How clever of Master Rafe.'
The mention of Mr Bannerman reminded Verity of her objections.
'It is still most unfeeling of him to make Mr Reedley ride all this way on Christmas
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