Page 5 of The Gift of Patience
“You must stop being so cynical, Patience.”
“I know. I need something to do.” She stood and walked over to the window. “Are my eyes deceiving me, or is that a carriage?” A large black blob appeared to be moving slowly towards them.
Grace and Joy ran over to join her at the window.
“Do you think it’s Mr. Cunningham?” Joy asked.
“We will know soon,” Grace said, looking excited.
“I suppose that answers our question about maritime considerations,” Patience murmured.
Grace chuckled.
“Let us go see!” Joy scooped up Freddy and took off down the stairs. Patience did not bother scolding her. At this point, when she was almost seventeen, she doubted it would do any good.
She followed behind Grace at a more leisurely pace, though she was rather excited at the prospect of visitors. Anything to liven the dread boredom of the past few weeks. They were at the door waiting unfashionably as the coach lumbered slowly towards the house, and they held their collective breath a time or two as it looked as though the vehicle might become stuck.
“At least they are close enough to walk from there…or swim.”
“I hope it is Mr. Cunningham or we shall look like complete fools.”
“Who else could it be?” Joy asked.
Indeed, it was none other than Mr. Cunningham and Joy could not contain herself when she first saw him alight. She handed Freddy to Grace then took off to greet her friend.
Patience could only laugh at the display as Joy greeted him, then looked inside the carriage for the puppy. Not to be left out, Freddy squirmed out of Grace’s arms and went to investigate the new creature.
The butler and a footman were doing their best to shelter this display with umbrellas, but Patience feared it was fruitless. The pup squirmed down out of Joy’s arms and began to frolic in the puddles.
“He is a cute little thing,” Grace remarked, still watching with Patience from the portico.
“I doubt he will smell too cute once he’s finished.”
“Oh, look! Is that Vivienne and Lord Montford?” Grace asked.
“It appears to be.”
The butler must have given up on sheltering Mr. Cunningham and Joy, and was now walking Vivienne towards the house as Montford followed along.
Mr. Cunningham and Joy decided to take the puppy to the barn. “He’s been confined to the carriage for so long and Freddy did not wish to bring the pup in the house wet,” Montford explained as he removed his wet hat and shook it before stepping inside.
“I am certain that is appreciated,” Patience replied. “We are so delighted you have come.”
“Freddy could not be convinced to wait until the weather improved. We have been traveling for ages at a snail’s pace!”Vivienne described the horror as she handed her wet cape and bonnet to Armstrong, the butler.
“I will not ask how many times the carriage was stuck,” Grace said as she took Vivienne’s arm.
“At least I was not the one who had to push it from the mud,” Vivienne agreed with a laugh.
“Thankfully you made it here safely. I will ask the housekeeper to prepare rooms for you,” Patience said as they walked upstairs to the drawing room.
“Freddy said he sent word ahead, so hopefully we are not unexpected.” Vivienne paused with worry in her voice.
“It would not matter if you were. We are so thrilled to see other humans,” Grace reassured her.
“Monty! Miss Cunningham. You are very welcome,” Westwood said as he and a very expectant Faith entered and greeted the new arrivals. Faith called for tea, and they all sat to hear the latest news since they had seen each other last.
It was a half-hour before Freddy and Joy rejoined them, each holding an animal. Little Freddy was hissing at the new arrival, who was bundled in a blanket and whining.
