Page 52 of A Lovely White Christmastide
In the small parlor connected to the music room, Mr. Bartholomew Waverly paced back and forth reciting a sermon quietly to himself. He glanced up at her entry and gave a solemn nod before returning to his memorization.
Beth gave a tight smile. The rector had proudly proclaimed his intent of giving the Christmas sermon at last evening’s dinner, as he felt it a duty his curate had not the poise nor aptitude to deliver.At least he would finally be fulfilling the obligations of the position for which he collected tithes.Beth sucked in her lips at the uncharitable thought, but then stopped herself. Was it unkind to recognize the truth of the situation?
“There you are,” Julianna said as Beth entered the music room through the sliding doors.
She’d avoided the main entrance as the servants were in the process of hanging one of the many kissing boughs. Best not to be caught too soon under the ornament. Her caution had been worth the effort, for both Mr. Kaye and Carswell were already seated in the room.
“Here I am,” she said with a smile.
Julianna scooped up some sheets of music and handed them to Beth. “I was thinking Daniel and I could sing this piece.”
Hearing her sister refer to Mr. Kaye by his first name never failed to bring a hint of sorrow. It was a reminder every day thatafter this holiday things would be different. Life would never go back to the way things had always been.
Beth placed the sheets on the piano before sitting. As she worked her way through the music trying to find the right tempo, Carswell came to sit with her.
He placed a gentle hand on her arm and she stopped. “It is like this.” He quickly took up the tune, the fingers of his left hand moving much faster than hers had. The light staccato way he caressed the notes gave the piece a happy airy feel.
“Perhaps you should play for them,” she suggested. Residual pain from her realization about her sister mixed with an irrational irritation at his unsolicited instruction made her words come out far sharper than she’d intended.
His shoulders tensed and his brow furrowed. “My apologies, I only meant to help.”
She shook her head. “No, it is I who should apologize.” A sigh escaped her. “I am only a bit out of sorts.”
“Care to share?”
Beth glanced at Julianna deep in conversation with Mr. Kaye. “Do you think they will be happy?”
“Hard to say. I have never seen Kaye settle on any one woman so this is new to the both of us.”
Something twisted in her gut. Any one woman? Was Mr. Kaye a flighty man, or, heaven forbid, a womanizer?
“How long have you known Mr. Kaye?”
“I have knownofhim most of my life as his property is not far from Kettering, but I did not meet him until four years ago when we served together in France.”
“And was he… that is—” How did one politely ask about a gentleman’s personal pursuits? “Did he often keep company with”—she cleared her throat— “many ladies?”
Carswell’s eyes widened and surprisingly, his cheeks grew ruddy with color. “You misunderstand me. Daniel Kaye is ashonorable as they come, he simply fancies himself half in love with a good many women until the newness wears off.”
“I see.” And she did, but it worried her. Would Mr. Kaye eventually grow tired of Julianna’s company and break their engagement?
It was possible. They had not known each other for long. Edward had broken their promise and she’d known him most of her life.
“You have that concerned expression again.” Carswell searched her face and she forced a smile.
“It is nothing, perhaps?—”
“What is the meaning of this?” Mrs. Barker’s shrill voice came from the doorway.
Beth glanced up to see Julianna jerk back from where her head had been bent together with Mr. Kaye as they’d conversed.
“Miss Julianna, do you think you can go cavorting about in such a manner? Just because you have accepted Mr. Kaye does not mean everything is settled. Word has still not come from your father and he may be quite cross at having already given permission to one man and having you reject him.”
They had been over this with Mrs. Barker so many times that Beth’s ears hurt from hearing her complaints. Even so, the woman could or would not accept that Mr. Caleb Waverly had no right to speak to their father. She insisted that Julianna must have led him to believe it was acceptable.
Beth leaned over to Carswell. “Please say your friend Mr. Baitman will be here soon.”
His lips quirked. “Within the hour.”
