The Girl in the Ragged Shawl
Page 27
Ruth was observant and she’d noticed how struck Arthur Stoneham had been when he saw the trinket she’d taken from Eliza’s shawl. Her instinct told her that he knew more than he’d revealed to her. Perhaps there was some connection between him and Eliza. Ruth could not know but she believed that her employer would watch over the girl she loved and for the moment she was content with that. Eliza had been found and she was happy and perhaps that was all that truly mattered.
CHAPTER 28
Arthur stood looking into his dressing mirror. He was wearing riding dress and about to set out on a jaunt into the country. Katharine had told him much of her own story since that afternoon they had talked in her carriage. She had wept as she described the grief that had ruined her life and almost killed her poor father.
‘Marianne was his darling, for she looked just like my mother,’ Katharine had explained. ‘I loved her, and she cared for me. She would never have left without saying goodbye to me. Folk said that she had run away with a lover, but I know it was not true. She had been to visit friends that afternoon and it was summer, so we did not worry until it grew dusk …’
‘You have never heard from her?’ Arthur asked, and she shook her head.
‘No, nor found anything but one shoe in the woods …’
‘A shoe was found?’ Katharine nodded, and it brought a frown to his face. ‘Some folk thought she must be dead – but I feel that she is still alive, and yet she would surely let me know she lives – if she could.’
‘Many years have passed,’ Arthur said, ‘but we can begin a search for her though it may bring no news.’
‘We searched and searched and our friends did all they could,’ Katharine said, sighing. ‘I fear she is lost to us …’
‘Yet I shall do what I can to find her for you, my dearest love.’
Katharine smiled and thanked him. ‘I do not expect it, but it would mean so much to me.’
‘Tell me everything you remember,’ he said gently, ‘and I will return to your old home and see if there is any clue that might lead us to her.’
‘Yes, and if there is not, then – then I must accept that she is truly lost.’
‘I found Eliza against all the odds,’ he told her, ‘and I believe she is my child, though there is no final proof and never can be. I shall not tell her yet, but I shall watch over her and keep her safe. If I find your sister, my love, it may be that we shall have to do the same for her.’
‘You mean that she may have suffered too much to ever come back to us?’
‘If she has been lost more than twelve years it is unlikely that she is the girl you knew,’ he said and held her hand. ‘Finding her does not mean she will be happy to be found.’
‘Yet, I would know the truth …’
‘Then I shall set my agents to finding her,’ he promised.
Arthur picked up the bag his manservant had packed for him. There was but one way to discover the truth and he could only hope that if he found Katharine’s sister it would not grieve her too much.
As he took leave of his household and went out to where his groom stood waiting, his thoughts were tortured by concern for the woman he loved. It was possible that if he ever discovered what had happened to Marianne Ross it would cause Katharine more pain. He mounted his horse, nodded to his groom to follow and set his mind to the task ahead. And then a smile of content touched his mouth. At least his daughter was safe and happy with a woman who loved her. For the moment he was pleased to have it so. One day he might tell her his story, but he must get to know Eliza and give her reason to trust him before he claimed her as his own. He would make certain her future was secure and, who knows, perhaps he could do as much for Katharine’s sister.
Eliza looked around her bedroom and felt the comfort and pleasure it brought her to be home. This was her home, for some years to come at least, and she knew that it was where she needed to be while she grew and learned. Miss Edith was her mentor and her friend and she loved her. Ruth had been the only mother she’d ever known, and she would always love her. Two women in her life and both dear to her – and yet there was a third.
Somewhere there was a woman who had given her birth. Would Eliza ever know her? She realised it was almost impossible, because of all the years that had passed. No one had ever visited her or sent word or even asked … There were many reasons why a woman might abandon her baby, but if her mother had loved Eliza, surely she would have kept her, however hard her life was?
Eliza shook her head as she removed her clothes. She had bathed earlier and Miss Edith had found her some new clothes. She pulled back the clean sheets, which smelled of lavender, and slipped into bed, leaning over to turn down the oil lamp. It no longer mattered who was her birth mother. She was safe here and she had people who loved and cared for her. Why waste her time thinking of the past when she had a wonderful future ahead of her?
Eliza knew that Miss Edith’s cures helped sick people and what better way was there to live than making life a little easier for others? Eliza would take care of Miss Edith and learn all she had to teach her, and she would do what she could to help those less fortunate than she. And one day perhaps Joe would come back, but that was for the future …
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About the Author
Cathy Sharp is happily married and lives with her husband in a small Cambridgeshire village. They like visiting Spain together and enjoy the benefits of sunshine and pleasant walks, while at home they love their garden and visiting the Norfolk seaside.
Cathy loves writing because it gives pleasure to others, she finds writing an extension of herself and it gives her great satisfaction. Cathy says, ‘There is nothing like seeing your book in print, because so much loving care has been given to bringing that book into being.’
Also by Cathy Sharp
The Orphans of Halfpenny Street
The Little Runaways
Christmas for the Halfpenny Orphans
The Boy with the Latch Key
An Orphan’s Courage
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