The Sea Between by Carol Thomas Read Free Book Online

‘I’m not sure. She’s been living there for a few years, but she didn’t emigrate with them, because she mentioned once that she used to look forward to John’s letters, telling her about New Zealand. I think she probably sailed out after John lost his wife, to help Charlotte with managing the household affairs.’
    ‘How long has John been a widower, Mother?’ Richard asked.
    ‘Seven years. I do know that because Charlotte told me she was only fifteen when she lost her mother and she’s twenty-two now.’
    Loosening his tie, then the stud in his collar, which had been biting into his neck all evening, Richard went to sit on the sofa where he could sprawl out.
    ‘I was surprised Isobel came. She doesn’t usually accept our invitations,’ Letitia said.
    ‘Thank God!’ Ben inserted with feeling. He shook his head. ‘All that talk of women and the law. As if we want to discuss that sort of damned thing when we invite neighbours for supper. As for her telling you it was high time you considered the right of women to vote, Richard—does she think you’ve nothing better to do?’
    Richard leaned back, resting his left arm across the back of the sofa. ‘I was sorely tempted to ask her what she thought about the laws pertaining to discipline at sea, then when she admitted she didn’t know the first thing about them, tell her it was high time she considered those laws.’
    Ben laughed. ‘Well, it’s as well you bit your tongue, because, as surely as night follows day, she’d have had an answer for you. I’ve yet to see anyone get the better of Isobel Wyatt.’ He paused to take another sip of rum. ‘You’ll have formed quite a chequered opinion of our neighbours, I imagine.’
    Richard shrugged. ‘Isobel aside, the rest of the family seem very pleasant.’
    ‘Charlotte looked very fetching tonight, I thought,’ Letitia remarked casually.
    ‘She did. She’s a very handsome young woman,’ Ben agreed.
    ‘And quite handy with a spade, by the sound of it,’ Richard added.
    Ben laughed and shook his head. ‘I’d have liked to hear the full tale, but it was quite obvious that John didn’t want it discussed. I wonder why?’
    Letitia stared into her teacup speculatively. ‘Well, it’s a little shaming for Edwin, isn’t it? I mean to say, we all assumed that Edwin had shot the boar. I expect he feels extremely embarrassed by what happened.’
    ‘Letitia, we don’t know what happened,’ Ben pointed out.
    ‘No, but one can guess,’ she returned. ‘And it’s my guess that Edwin was attacked by the boar, became incapacitated, and Charlotte ended up having to defend the two of them.’
    ‘But Edwin wasn’t incapacitated, Mother,’ Richard corrected. ‘The boar ripped his leg and it would have been very painful, but he could have stood on it and he could have swung a spade, too.’
    ‘Well, maybe he dropped the spade when the boar attacked him, and maybe Charlotte picked it up and killed the boar with it,’ Letitia suggested.
    Richard shrugged. ‘Well, whatever the explanation, she showed a lot of courage.’
    The three of them fell into a thoughtful silence. Eventually, Ben spoke. ‘That young woman from London, Richard, the one you mentioned last time you were home—you said you’d had dinner with her and her father a few times and walked out with her a time or two—how’s that progressing? Are you thinking of asking her to be your wife?’
    Richard smiled at his father. ‘I think I’d be wasting my time. Her cousin proposed to her and she accepted him.’
    Ben shook his head and gave a long sigh. ‘It’s time you proposed to somebody, Richard. You’ll be thirty soon. It’s time you gave your mother and me some grandchildren.’
    Richard tossed his father a wry smile. ‘I thought it was only women who craved grandchildren, Father.’
    ‘Well, you’re wrong there. Men crave them, too, but for different reasons.’ Ben leaned forward, his face serious. ‘When I die, Richard,