“Even so, it is something—something far better than you imagined. Is it not?”
“I suppose. It’s reassuring to know we remain on amicable terms, although I am unlikely to see him again.”
“Don’t say that. Winter may not be ideal for traveling, but perhaps in the spring he and his stepdaughter might visit again?”
“Effie detested the long journey the last time.”
“Then maybe he shall come alone.”
“I doubt it.”
“Sarah...” Claire tucked her chin and gently chided her. “Why must you always think the worst?”
Sarah looked away from her sister’s knowing gaze. “I suppose to protect myself from disappointment.”
With Sarah home, Georgie had more free time. So a few days later, she made another visit to the school to play with the students and chat with Cora, her favorite. On her way home, Georgiana stopped at the window of Kingwill’s Repository, looking at the local fossils and Devonshire marble displayed there, and now a variety of seashells as well. The shop door opened and Eliza Marriott exited, her ever-present seashell basket over her arm, now unusually empty.
“Good day, Miss Marriott.”
“Georgiana, a pleasure to see you.” The young woman glanced down. “Good heavens. What’s happened to your petticoat?”
Georgie followed her gaze and saw the muddy petticoat showing from beneath her dress. “Just playing ball with the schoolchildren.”
Eliza said, “I admit I sometimes misjudge an incoming wave and my half boots get wet, but how my stepmother would rail if I came home like that.”
Georgiana was about to say her mamma was more understanding, but didn’t want to remind Eliza that her own mother had died. And in truth, Mamma often complained over the state of Georgie’s clothes and boots.
Instead she changed the subject. “Are those your shells in the window?”
“They are—or rather, they were. I can’t usually bear to part with any, but Christmas is coming, and I wanted the means to buy gifts for Papa and ... Mamma.”
Georgie noticed the young woman often hesitated before referring to her stepmother by that maternal title, even though her widowedfather had remarried many years ago now. Georgiana supposed she might find it difficult to call another woman Mamma as well.
She and Eliza were not close but shared a friendly acquaintance, frequently seeing each other, since both of them spent a lot of time out-of-doors. While Georgie loved to take long rambles and play sports, however, Eliza’s outings were centered on her tireless pursuit of finding interesting seashells on area beaches.
Whenever the two happened to meet, Georgie stopped to admire Eliza’s latest discoveries. Since her basket was currently empty, Georgie looked again to the offerings in the shop window.
Displayed there were shells of various sizes and colors: chalky white, shiny pearl, golden yellow, pale pink. Some were solid, while others were striped. By now, Georgie recognized many of the shapes: cockle shells, scallops, augers, and limpets.
“I think I like the striped snail shells best.”
Eliza nodded sagely. “Ah yes.Cassis strigata.”
Georgie pointed to a few brightly colored whorled shells. “What are those?”
“Flat periwinkles, orLittorina obtusata.”
“Well, they’re all very interesting. Pretty too.”
“Thank you. Mr. Kingwill thinks he will have no trouble selling them and paid me a good price. So now to decide what gifts to buy. What are you giving your mother?”
Georgie blinked and shifted uneasily. “I don’t know. We don’t go in for big gifts. Usually just something handmade.”
“Oh.” Eliza appeared disappointed by her answer.
The truth was, Georgiana had not yet given any thought to gifts.
Footsteps and a jovial, if tuneless, whistle caught her ear. She looked over and saw Colin Hutton striding up the street, impressively dressed as always, small parcel in one hand.
