Angel's Touch Read Free Page B

exclaimed, shocked.
    ‘ If
this is not precisely of what your dear mama warned me,’ complained
Lady Crossens, ignoring this home question. ‘Impulsive, that’s what
she said of you. Impetuous and impulsive.’
    ‘ I
dare say I am, ma’am,’ Verity admitted, in her honest way, ‘but
even Mama would not, I am persuaded, denounce my having interfered
in the matter. And Papa—’
    ‘ Oh, you need not tell me what Papa would say,’ uttered
her ladyship crossly. ‘I am well able to imagine it for myself. If
he had his way, he would doubtless clutter up the vicarage with a
score of waifs and strays. As if there were not enough of you as it
is.’
    This
was undeniable. The Reverend Harry Lambourn might count himself
blessed in the possession of his seven surviving daughters, and in
particular of his last-born and most treasured only son, but his
adored and adoring wife was at her wit’s end to know how to dispose
suitably of this bevy of maidens.
    Faith at twenty-eight was a matron with children of her own,
having snaffled the most eligible of the local gentlemen to become
the village doctor’s wife. Prudence, already on the shelf at
twenty-four, had been sent to Kingsclere to stay with her mother’s
brother, in the hope of contracting a suitable alliance. For
Patience, just a year younger, had achieved a respectable
engagement on a visit to her more prominent Lambourn cousins in
Winchester. Lady Lambourn, however, with two daughters of her own
to be suitably established, was hardly likely to saddle herself
with any more of the sisters at present.
    Mrs
Lambourn had greeted with heartfelt thanks, therefore, Lady
Crossens’ kind suggestion that Verity, now eighteen, should
accompany her to Tunbridge Wells when she went, as had long been
her custom, to take the waters during that no longer fashionable
six-week season in the summer. True, when both Prudence and
Patience, in their turn, had gone there with her ladyship a few
years earlier, Mrs Lambourn’s high hopes had not been rewarded. But
with three more girls already in their adolescence, a needy
parson’s wife ought never to look a gift horse in the mouth. So she
had argued with her spouse when the reverend gentleman had
demurred.
    ‘ You
would not have it thought, Mr Lambourn, that we are ungrateful for
her ladyship’s kind offices on our daughter’s behalf.’
    ‘ My
dear,’ protested the gentleman, ‘we are already so much beholden to
Lady Crossens for so many kindnesses that I hesitate, I do indeed,
to add to the burden of indebtedness.’
    ‘ Good gracious me, Mr Lambourn, there will be nothing of that
sort, I do assure you! Why, how in the world do you suppose poor
Lady Crossens could manage without some young attendant to run her
little errands, and perform those offices so very arduous to a
woman in her declining years?’
    Mr
Lambourn suggested that Lady Crossens’ servants, her maid in
particular, might be employed upon such work. But this foolish idea
was summarily disposed of.
    ‘ As
to that, her ladyship’s woman is always permitted to take a holiday
at this season. And well does she deserve it. I never knew a female
so cantankersome as our kind patroness.’
    ‘ I
hope you are not suggesting that Verity should go to Tunbridge
Wells in the capacity of lady’s maid,’ objected her husband in
accents of disgust.
    His
fond helpmeet cast him a look of scorn. ‘Nothing of the sort. Lady
Crossens will employ a local girl. But apart from her coachman and
groom, she will have none of her own people about her. Verity’s
assistance will therefore be invaluable to her and in such a cause
I should not care to refuse to allow our daughter to go. Prudence
and Patience did so well by her that it is not to be wondered at
that she should be anxious to secure Verity’s company. Indeed, I do
not know how she will go on otherwise. I may add, you made no
objection to our elder girls going.’
    ‘ If
that is your recollection, my dear, I can only say that