“Some are, yes. And all the more for a gentlewoman’s granddaughter.”
Colin asked, “How did Cora’s parents die?”
“Carriage accident. Cora has lived with her grandmother since then. Or had.”
“How dreadful.”
“Yes. Life is often difficult. Especially for vulnerable children.”
“Poor Cora,” Georgie murmured.
“Indeed. I am surprised she is here,” Colin said, “given her recent loss.”
“Are you? When she has friends and a warm fire here and an empty pair of cold rooms at home? I know which I would choose.”
Georgie nodded. “Good point. So would I.”
Mr. Ward opened the door for them. Seeing the visitors enter, the other girls moved back to give them room. Georgie sat on one side of the grieving girl, Colin on the other.
“We are so sorry to hear about your grandmother.”
Still sniffling, the girl nodded, head bowed. “She was all the family I had. And very good to me she was too.”
“I am truly sorry,” Georgie repeated. “We both are. And we can relate, at least in part. I’ve lost my father, and Colin here, his mother and brother. Are you certain you have no other relatives? An aunt or uncle or cousin?”
“Not that I know of.”
“Don’t lose heart, Cora. You are not alone. You have friends like us, not to mention your schoolfellows.”
“Not the same, though, is it? As having someone who loves you and cares for you?”
“No, I suppose it is not.”
They stayed for several minutes longer. Then Colin excused himself to continue his errands. Before he left, they made plans to return to the school the next morning to see how Cora fared.
Georgie did not really feel like playing ball after learning of Cora’s loss, but the other students cajoled her into joining themfor a game, which with Georgie was rarely difficult to do. Her spiritless opening kick quickly blossomed into an energetic, full-blown match.
Soon Cora came out to watch. When a ball rolled in her direction, she instinctively chased after it at the same time Georgie did.
Georgie raised her hands to try to prevent a collision, but the two ran into each other. Cora fell into her arms and held on tight.
For several moments, they stood that way, Georgie patting the girl’s back. Then Cora straightened, wiped a sleeve over her eyes, and said, “Now, let’s play.”
On their shopping excursion that afternoon, Sarah and Mr. Henshall stopped first at Wallis’s Marine Library, a circulating library that also sold prints, local guides, sheet music, and more.
“You mentioned Effie plays guitar and mandolin, so perhaps sheet music?”
“Good idea, although she mostly plays by ear. And no books, or she’ll accuse me of trying to make her learn something. She’s still opposed to more schooling.”
“Very well. Let’s move on.”
They next visited a modiste and milliner.
“Perhaps ruffles, to add to a dress?” Sarah suggested.
He shook his head. “If I bought her something as impractical as ruffles, she would die of shock—and know straightaway I had not picked them out.”
Sarah chuckled and could not contradict him.
