Lady Adalyn (The Saga Of Wolfbridge Manor Book 1), Sahara Kelly [the best e book reader .TXT] 📗

He shook his head. “Unfortunately not. I had to spend quite a bit of time with a variety of local authorities before I could get permission for myself to sit there. For a servant, no matter how important, to sit in the family pew? No. Unheard of.” He sighed. “Had they been ready earlier, they could have sat in the row behind us, but then again, it’s Sunday. At least they were here.”

She chuckled. “Not regular churchgoers, then?”

“One does what one can. And I leave the others to God and their conscience.” Giles grinned. “Come. It’s our turn now. I’m sure they’re waiting for us outside.”

Knowing there would be more than a few gathered beyond the doors, Adalyn straightened her spine and walked out into the cool morning with a smile on her face. The Vicar was profuse in his thanks and compliments, all of which she accepted with modest words and grateful nods. Giles bowed politely to the man, and then steered Adalyn away, which resulted in them passing through a crowd, receiving polite and curious smiles, a curtsey or two and many voices wishing them “Good morning”. She did her best to acknowledge them all, with her own smiles and a return greeting wherever she could.

Almost at the lychgate, a voice could be heard above the others.

“Jeremy…Good Heavens, Jeremy, is that you?”

Adalyn’s head turned to see a young woman in a smart bonnet making her way through the crowd to where Jeremy and Daniel stood by the gigs outside the church, waiting for their Lady.

She couldn’t help but notice Jeremy’s face whiten as he spotted her hurrying toward him, and she frowned when she also observed Daniel’s surprise and quick touch to his friend’s shoulder.

Who on earth was she?

“Giles? Do you know her?” She murmured the words, hoping the noise around them was sufficient to keep her question between the two of them.

“I do not,” he answered, his arm firmly drawing her beneath the lichgate and out into the drive.

By this time, the woman had made her way to Jeremy and the couple had drawn aside. They were engaged in some sort of conversation, but Adalyn couldn’t tell if either party was overjoyed or engaging in an argument. Their faces betrayed nothing but politeness.

Which she didn’t believe for a second. “Daniel, who is that?” They reached his side and he turned to them with a frown.

“I have no idea. I’m not sure Jeremy did either, until she called his name. Then he almost lost his breath.” Daniel glanced at Giles. “I think it may be someone from his past.”

Adalyn caught the look they exchanged and the hair on the back of her neck stood up. “What is the problem with that? Is there something wrong?”

Giles took a breath. “It’s a long story, my Lady. Let’s see what Jeremy says. Here he comes now.”

The three of them waited as Jeremy returned, accompanied by the young woman. Her face was a little flushed, but Adalyn could not detect a trace of tears, or joy either. Both seemed to have assumed the masks of polite acquaintances, but she’d be willing to wager her favourite shawl that this was not the case.

“My Lady,” bowed Jeremy, as formal as she’d ever seen him. “If I may be allowed, this is Miss Susanna Brockford. An acquaintance from some years ago.”

Adalyn extended her hand. “How lovely to meet you, Miss Brockford. It would appear that your arrival has surprised Jeremy…” She smiled as the other woman curtseyed.

“Indeed. I find myself very much shocked as well. My sister lives not far from here, and this is the first time I have had chance to visit. Seeing Jeremy in church…” she raised a hand to her bosom, “well it quite astounded me. As if a ghost had risen and decided to attend Sunday services.”

Her laugh was charming, her manners perfect, but beneath Adalyn sensed a turbulent emotion barely repressed.

“A delightful coincidence, I’m sure.” She turned to Jeremy. “Meeting old friends must always be a pleasant experience, Jeremy. I’m sure Giles would agree that this day should be devoted to renewing such an acquaintance.”

“Of course.” Giles was non-committal, his voice level. “We’ll not look for you today, Jeremy. Miss Brockford,” he bowed. “Please take all the time you need.”

“Thank you, my Lady.” Jeremy bowed back, but in his eyes Adalyn could see something unusual. A look of pain, perhaps. Or unhappiness. She wasn’t sure.

“Daniel can ride back with us, I believe,” Giles commented. “It will be a bit snug, but since it’s a short trip, we’ll all manage. That will leave you the gig, Jeremy.”

“I’ll get the carriage,” nodded Daniel.

“My Lady.” Miss Brockford curtsied. “Thank you for your kindness.”

Adalyn smiled and bowed, then watched as she tucked her arm into Jeremy’s and allowed him to lead her away.

Climbing up into the carriage, she looked at Giles. “They know each other well, I’m guessing.”

He followed her, leaving room for Daniel to join them. “I agree.”

“I hope Jeremy’s all right,” she spoke aloud, realising that his situation was uppermost in her mind. “I would have expected him to be more pleased at the arrival of a friend from his past.”

“I did not hear him say friend, though, Adalyn.” Daniel glanced at her. “Did you?”

She turned over their earlier conversation. “Well, no. Now you come to mention it, he didn’t. He called her an acquaintance.”

“He’s never mentioned her before?” Giles asked Daniel.

“No. But we don’t talk much about our pasts, Giles, even amongst ourselves. Our job is to focus on the present. There here and now. And on Lady Adalyn.”

“Of course,” he nodded.

Adalyn listened, busy with her own thoughts. Uppermost amongst them was a certain amount of confusion. She was puzzled at Jeremy’s reaction to Miss Brockford. Also by Daniel’s comment. Why did they not share their pasts? She could easily have believed that it would be part of the close relationship everyone exhibited. There was a bond there, without a doubt, but was it only Wolfbridge?

She remembered her