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.She studied the latter.There was a resemblance in the shape of the face and the eyes to her daughter, but Lady Cavers appeared to be larger, more buxom, almost imperial in her bearing.It occurred to her that the countess had the look of a woman who was directing the artist as he painted.There had been no occasion for Millicent to meet Emma’s mother in person, and she knew that Augusta had not yet arrived in Scotland.And that was fine with Millicent.She had heard the rumors.Lady Cavers carried a grudge about Lyon’s second marriage.There was a painting of Emma as a young girl on her mother’s lap on an adjoining wall, and Millicent looked at it.She was relieved that she had never known Lyon when Emma was alive, though she never thought of Emma as an enemy.She was just happy that she came into his life after Emma was gone.Their life was something that they were building together.They were creating their own history as they lived it.Gwyneth was a completely different matter.Though she was a part of the history that existed between Baronsford and Greenbrae Hall, Millicent had met the young woman on several occasions and liked her very much.In fact, Millicent guessed that if it were not for the hard feelings that obviously existed between Lady Cavers and the Pennington family, she would have seen more of Gwyneth than she had.The fact that she’d found Violet and was sheltering her was more proof that Millicent’s instinct about her had been correct.David’s obvious interest in the young woman presented so many wonderful possibilities, as well.In visiting her today, she was hoping to invite Gwyneth to come and stay with them at Baronsford while her aunt was away.Lady Cavers’s opinion actually mattered little to Millicent.Millicent sensed someone was watching her, and she turned to the door.For a brief moment, she didn’t recognize the young woman, half hidden in the shadow of the doorway.And then as she stepped forward, Millicent’s heart leaped.“Violet!” she cried, walking toward her and forgetting her own vow of not frightening the young woman.“’Tis really you! I can hardly believe you are finally standing here with me, safe.I never thought I would be given another chance of seeing you, of speaking to you.”Millicent gathered Violet in her arms, tears splashing onto her face.Her heart and mind sent a prayer of thanks to God for bringing them together again.“Let me see you,” she whispered brokenly, pulling back and holding her at arm’s length.Violet’s chin quivered, and her face was wet with tears.Millicent could see that she had aged.The months since she had left Melbury Hall had been very rough on her.The lustrous shine in the golden curls were gone.The flawless skin was now touched by the abuses of the harsh northern weather.The spark of innocence in her blue eyes had been doused, replaced now by sorrow and experience.“I am so sorry, m’lady.”“No, I am sorry.I am sorry for letting you down—for not taking care of you the way I should have.I made a promise to your mother and your grandmother, and I carelessly forgot my vow.”“You cannot blame yourself.You could not have been better or kinder to me.You gave me everything I could have dreamed of—a good job, respect, freedom, even friends who were close to me to be kin.” She was fighting back tears.“I was so wretched.A complete fool.I thought I knew.I trusted when…I…I did wrong.I sinned and…and my child had to pay.No one would ever forgive me for what I did…no one will…not even God can ever forgive what I’ve done.”A sob stopped her from continuing.She covered her face with both hands and could not catch her breath in her grief.Millicent pulled Violet into her embrace and took her to a sofa, forcing her to sit beside her.She caressed the young woman’s arms and back as her tears mingled with Violet’s.A few moments passed and then a young serving girl carrying a tray of tea came to an abrupt halt in the doorway.She looked worriedly from Violet’s bent head to Millicent’s tearstained face.Millicent rose quickly to her feet and took the tray from the girl’s hand, putting it on a nearby table.“Would you be kind enough to leave us alone for a short while?”The maid nodded quickly.“So I shouldn’t go after Miss Gwyneth for ye?”“Not yet.Violet will go after her when the time is right.”“As ye wish, m’lady.” Darting worried glances at Violet, the girl curtsied and backed out of the room.Millicent closed the door shut and went back to the sofa.The sobbing of the young woman had become silent tears, but their intensity had not decreased.“I do not know where you went when you left Melbury Hall,” she whispered gently.“But ‘tis obvious that you have gone through a great deal of hardship these past months.The one thing I want you to know is that I shall never think badly of you for anything in the past.You have never done me wrong, Vi.That I know.”“I caused you to worry.That’s wrong enough,” Violet whispered, her gaze focusing on Millicent’s swollen belly.“I didn’t…I didn’t know you were with child.”“’Tis a wonder, is it not?” the countess smiled, wiping the tears from her face.“At my age…I never thought it could be possible.”“You are healthy and blessed with a fine home and caring husband.You and your baby shall do well.” She dashed at her own tears.“And you shouldn’t fuss over your age.My mother was older than you when she had me.And she used to say that if my father hadn’t passed away, she would have had at least a half dozen more before she was done.”Millicent was relieved to see Violet getting over the tears.“I visited your mother and grandmother in the spring, and again just before we came to Scotland.They are both doing very well.”The young woman’s chin sank onto her chest again.Millicent reached out and lifted it until she could look into Vi’s face.“Your grandmum knew that someday you would be back.They shall be thrilled to hear you are well.”“I’ve shamed them, m’lady.They’d have been better off if I’d never been found.”“Don’t say that,” Millicent scolded gently.“Too many people have been praying for you to come back to them.Your mother and grandmother.All your friends at Melbury Hall…including me.People who you knew in Knebworth Village.”“I am not worthy of that,” Violet said brokenly.“I’ve done nothing to deserve of such kindness.”“But you have.” Millicent took the young woman’s hand.“There is not a time that I run into Moses at Melbury Hall that he doesn’t ask me when you are coming back.Jonah has told me at least a dozen times that they’ve found the old man out on the road to St.Albans, waiting for the mail coach.Moses tells him each time that he doesn’t want you to walk back alone in the dark to Melbury Hall.And you should see the beautiful baskets he’s been weaving for you.He told me himself that you always carried the first one he ever made when you’d go to the village.”Millicent took a handkerchief from her sleeve and handed it to Violet [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]