White Water Read Free Page A

would have grieved to see it in such a state but his sister Ruth, who had survived him, was unaware of the gradual deterioration for her sight had begun to fail two years after his death and now, four years later, she was blind. Maria had engaged a young companion for her, and Felicity Carr moved into Romney House. Maria also kept on the shepherd, Mark Wynne, for the dwindling flock of sheep and a part-time gardener who could do little more than tend the fruit trees and keep an eye on the bee hives.
    Felicity tiptoed into the bed chamber and gently opened the shutters and pulled back the bed drapes. Then she sat beside the bed, closed her own eyes briefly and waited for Ruth to waken from her afternoon’s sleep. At last the old lady stirred and her eyelids fluttered. She opened her eyes but saw nothing. She drew a shaking hand from the bed clothes and felt for the bed drapes. They had been pulled back and a cool breeze reached her, telling her that the shutters had been opened. She listened but there was no movement in the room and she called feebly. ‘Felicity? Are you there, child?’
    ‘I’m here, ma’am.’
    The voice was soft and caring and came from the left side of the bed. The old woman stretched out her left hand and felt young firm fingers close round it.
    ‘I was waiting for you to waken,’ said the girl. ‘I made your draught but when I brought it up you were already sleeping. I thought it best not to disturb you.’
    ‘Quite right, child. Quite right.’ Ruth sighed heavily. ‘What time of day is it?’
    ‘Evening, ma’am. I opened the shutters when the sun passed. And — ’ she could not hide the excitement in her voice ‘ — there’s a letter come, ma’am — from Mistress Kendal.’
    ‘A letter from Maria? Why didn’t you wake me? Oh, help me up, child and then read it. A letter from Maria! Why, ’twas only yesterday I spoke of her, saying I was certain she would write.’
    Smiling, Felicity helped the old woman into a sitting position, as eager as Ruth to hear the news from Devon. Although she had never visited Heron, and had met Maria only once, the news from the Kendal family was almost her sole link with the outside world and eagerly anticipated.
    She plumped up the pillows and straightened the woollen bonnet which the old woman wore at all times to hide her scanty grey hair.
    ‘There!’ she said. ‘All tidy. D’you want to take your draught now, then the news will take your mind from the bitter taste!’
    Ruth was impatient to hear the letter but she allowed the girl to spoon three measures of the syrup into her mouth and wipe the drips that ran down her chin. Sometimes she wondered about the girl, trying to piece together an image from the modest descriptions Felicity gave her. A homely face, small mouth, speckled brown eyes set wide apart and long mid-brown hair. Hardly a beauty but kindly and dutiful — altogether a good choice.
    And patient in the face of Ruth’s occasional nagging, for her sudden blindness had in no way sweetened her temper and increasing age had not mellowed her sharp tongue.
    ‘The letter!’ she demanded. ‘My chin’s of no importance with none to see me but you. Read the letter and read it slow, the way I told you, else I can scarce take it in.’ Felicity handed her the rolled paper. Ruth liked to feel the seal to reassure herself that it was unbroken and that her young companion had not taken a preliminary look at its contents. Felicity watched her, a faint smile of amusement on her face, then received it back, opened it, and began to read.
    ‘From your affectionate Maria this first day of June. In hopes that your health be much improved and pleased that the shaking in your limbs is less troublesome. Felicity writes a fair script and we value her reports on your progress. Lorna is stitching a sampler for you with thick wools that she says you may feel the design with your fingers and see the colours in your mind. Piers makes progress with his Latin