Anne Perry s Christmas Mysteries Page 0,38

everything seemed to be touched with light from the chandeliers.

"I hope you are recovered from your journey, Mrs. Ellison?" Arthur asked with concern. "I'm afraid the weather turned most unpleasant before you were able to return."

"I should not have allowed you to go," Bedelia added. "I had not realized it would take you so long."

"It was entirely my own fault," Grandmama replied. "I could have been back earlier, and I should have, for the stable boy's and the pony's sake, if nothing else. To tell you the truth, the ride back was very beautiful. I have not been out in a snowstorm for so long that I had forgotten how amazing it is. The sense of the power and magnitude of nature is very marvelous."

"What a refreshing view," Arthur said, then suddenly the sadness filled his eyes, overwhelming him. "You remind me of Maude." He stopped, unable to continue.

It was the greatest compliment Grandmama had ever received, but she could not afford to stop and savor it now.

She continued with what she had intended to say, regardless of their responses. She even ignored the butler and the footman serving the soup.

"Thank you, Mr. Harcourt. The more I learn of Maude, the more I appreciate how very much that means. I know that for you it is as profound as it could be, and I wish more than you can be aware of to live up to it."

Bedelia was startled, then her mouth curled in a smile more of disdain than amusement. "We all grieve for Maude, Mrs. Ellison, but there is no requirement for you to cater to our family perception with such praise." She left the implied adjective "fulsome" unsaid, but it hung in the air.

"Oh, I'm not!" Grandmama said candidly, her eyes wide. "Maude was a most remarkable person. I learned far more of just how amazing from Mrs. Dowson. That, I'm afraid, is why I stayed so long."

Bedelia was stiff, her shoulders like carved ivory beneath her violet taffeta gown. "Mrs. Dowson is sentimental," she replied coolly. "A vicar's widow and obliged to see the best in people."

"Perhaps the vicar did," Grandmama corrected her. "Mrs. Dowson certainly does not. She is quite capable of seeing pride, greed, selfishness, and other things; cowardice in particular." She smiled at Agnes. "The acceptance of failure because one does not have the courage to face what one is afraid of, and pay the price in comfort that is sometimes necessary for success."

The blood drained from Agnes's face, leaving her ashen. Her spoon slithered into her soup dish and she ignored it.

Zachary started to speak, and then choked on whatever it was he had been going to say.

It was Randolph who came to her rescue. "That sounds extremely harsh, Mrs. Ellison. How on earth would Mrs. Dowson be in a position to know anything of that sort about anybody? And what she did know must have come to her in a privileged position, and therefore should not be repeated."

"Most un-Christian," Clara added.

"It can be very difficult to recognize the right thing to do, at times," Grandmama continued, grateful for the extraordinary ease with which the opportunities she needed were opening up for her. "But I must not misrepresent Mrs. Dowson. Actually she said nothing, except to praise Maude's love of beauty, her laughter, and above all her courage to make the best of her life, even after so great a sacrifice, which was given silently and with the utmost dignity."

Zachary looked totally confused. Arthur was pale, his breathing seemed painful. Bedelia was as white as Agnes now and her hands on her lap were clenched. No one ate.

"I am not sure what you imagine you are referring to, Mrs. Ellison," she said icily. "It appears you are a lonely woman with nothing to do, and you have concerned yourself in our family's affairs in a way that exceeds even your imagined duty to Maude, whom you barely met. Your meddlesomeness has run away with you. I think we had better find a way to return you to St. Mary in the Marsh tomorrow, regardless of the weather. I am sure that would be better for all of us."

Randolph blushed scarlet.

It was Arthur who spoke. "Bedelia, that is unnecessary. I apologize, Mrs. Ellison. I don't know what Maude told you, but I think you must have misunderstood her."

"She told me nothing," Grandmama said, meeting his eyes. "She would never betray you like that! And surely by now you must know beyond any question