Read Online Sentence of Marriage by Shayne Parkinson - Free Book Online Page A

think he’s mad. But there’s nothing anyone can do about it, so we might as well make the best of it. What about you?’
    ‘I don’t know what to think,’ Amy admitted. Harry arrived, and the conversation came to an abrupt end.
    When Susannah appeared for lunch Amy said nothing about the boots, although she saw Susannah’s eyes flick to them then widen a little in surprise. Susannah had changed into a blue woollen dress with a high neck and a darker blue border. Amy gazed at the dress admiringly.
    ‘You have such pretty clothes,’ she said.
    Susannah seemed pleased. ‘I like nice things. It’s a pity I’ve nowhere to wear them now.’ She looked at Jack reproachfully, but he was too busy with his meal to take any notice.
    Harry paid little attention to Susannah while he was eating, but Amy saw him flash an occasional dark glance at their stepmother when he thought no one was watching.
    For her part, Susannah appeared pained when the men reached across the table for butter or salt, or when Jack spoke with his mouth full, and Amy felt ashamed on her family’s behalf, even though the culprits were oblivious. Her grandmother’s civilising influence had never extended to the men of the family.
    ‘When are you going to get the rest of my things, Jack?’ Susannah asked when they were eating pudding.
    ‘Eh? Oh, that’s right, we left that trunk at the wharf. You’d better go in and get it this afternoon, John.’
    But it was Harry who set off with the cart after lunch, as Amy saw from the parlour window when cleaning that room. She went out onto the verandah and saw John with Jack, working on one of the new fences.
    Later in the afternoon she took them down some tea and scones, and Harry drove back up the road while they were still eating. Amy managed to whisper in her brother’s ear while Jack was distracted. ‘Did you tell Harry to go in instead of you?’
    ‘Mmm, I didn’t want to leave him and Pa by themselves until Harry’s got used to Her Ladyship,’ John answered as quietly.
    ‘I don’t think Harry should take the trunk in to Susannah by himself—she’s in her room.’
    ‘You’re right.’ In a louder voice, John said, ‘I’ll give Harry a hand getting that trunk in.’ He and Amy walked back to the house together.
    ‘We can’t go on keeping them apart for ever,’ Amy fretted.
    ‘No, they’ll have to sort it out for themselves. Harry won’t have to see that much of her, I guess—neither will I, come to that.’
    ‘I will, though,’ said Amy. ‘If she ever comes out of her room, that is.’
    As if she had heard Amy, Susannah was in the kitchen when they reached the house, looking around. John and Harry carried the trunk in and left again as quickly as possible, leaving Amy alone with Susannah.
    ‘I was just going to get dinner started,’ Susannah said. ‘I suppose you’ll help me?’
    ‘Of course—I’ll do it by myself if you want to get your trunk unpacked.’
    ‘No, I’ll do it. Don’t try to organise me.’
    ‘I’m not—I’m just trying to help.’
    ‘And stop contradicting everything I say!’
    ‘I wasn’t… I mean, I’m sorry,’ Amy said helplessly.
    ‘You’d better tell me where everything is, then.’
    Amy showed her how the dresser was arranged, pointed out her jars of preserves on the shelves that lined one wall, then took Susannah outside to the dairy.
    ‘Is this a larder?’ Susannah asked, looking around in surprise. ‘Where’s the meat?’
    ‘No, it’s not a larder, I’ll show you that next. It’s a dairy, it’s where I make the butter and cheese. I keep it on these shelves, see?’ She pointed to the neat rows.
    ‘Make it? Why do you make butter and cheese? You can buy it in the shops.’
    Amy wondered where Susannah thought the butter and cheese in the shops came from, but she held her tongue on that. ‘We’ve got so much milk, you see. I make it for the house, and I make extra to sell in town. Not in winter, though, there’s only enough