Nicola. Some would shock you, I declare, but others, with you being so clever minded, would interest you vastly.
Nicola smiled, wondering what Meg had seen and frustrated that her wayward friend hadn’t seen fit to give more details, but such was Meg, she supposed.
You will be surprised, I think, to learn that I am very happy in my marriage. James is a wonderful man and is no way dull or strict. He gives me such freedom to go ashore alone when we make port at different places. He is a busy man but makes the time to spend with me. I am most in love with him, which is fortunate.
“I am indeed happy for you, Meg,” she murmured. Her own happy marriage gave her the insight to how Meg must feel.
I will tell you though that our dear Hilton is still not himself since leaving Sydney. I truly think you broke his heart and it will never be mended. But perhaps that will change when we arrive in Boston and he is home among his own people again. I have grown rather fond of him and James wouldn’t be without him of course…
“Mrs West.” Timms’s call through the open window stopped her reading and she looked up.
“Yes, what is it, Timms?”
“There seems to be some sort of blockage ahead, Madam. An overturned cart, as far as I can tell. I can’t turn the horses or go around it. We’ll have a bit of a wait it seems.”
“Blast. Where are we?” A horse and rider blocked her view from her opposite window.
“Bridge Street, Madam.”
Folding the letter away into her reticule, she nodded and prepared to descend from the carriage. “I will walk from here, Timms.”
‘I will meet you in Charlotte Place, Madam?”
“No, I don’t know how long I’ll be or how long you’ll be getting through all that.” She waved towards the build up of vehicles. “I’ll catch the omnibus to the Home. You go back to the house when you can, my husband may need you later.”
“Right you are, Mrs West.”
Once on the footpath, Nicola steadied her hat as a gust of wind tunnelling down the street threatened to dislodge it from its pins. She remembered Mrs Eldersley mentioning that April was known for its winds. Well, it would be May next week, surely the gales would be gone by then?
Dust swirled around her legs and she grimaced at the state of her dress hem. It was all well and good for Nathaniel to want her to wear light colours, like this pale green stripe, but the practicalities of doing so weighed heavily on the negative. Still, she didn’t have to launder the clothes and donning such beautiful dresses gave her selfish pleasure.
The church bells struck the hour of twelve and she hurried away down an alley to escape the confusion of the road blockage. Weaving through the streets, she kept her head down to keep the wind and dust from her eyes. A part of her wished she could cry off the appointment with the printer, but she’d promised Florence to check the progress of the leaflets for the school since Florence was busy with her newly arrived sisters. She ducked down another narrow alley, finding it the quickest way to Charlotte’s Place.
“Well now, if it isn’t Mrs West.”
Surprised, Nicola glanced up and found Tristan Lombard in her way. Beside him, leered a rough looking man. “Good day, Mr Lombard.”
“It seems as though married life suits you, Mrs West. You have never looked so lovely.” Lombard’s insolent gaze roamed her from head to toe and back again.
“Thank you. If you’ll excuse me, I have an appointment.” She attempted to move past him, but he stepped in her way, blocking her path. Surprised, she stared at him.
“You have time to chat with an old acquaintance?”
“I don’t actually. Forgive me, I’m already late.” She forced a smile in his direction, not meeting his eyes. Something about the man always made her shudder.
“How is my friend, Nat? He hasn’t been seen in the club for some time.”
“He is a busy man.”
“Well, what man wouldn’t be when he has a wife as beautiful as you in his bed?” He leaned closer. “I know that’s where I’d be if you were mine.”
“I beg your pardon?” She gave him a scathing stare, her dislike of him going up another notch. How could Nathaniel have anything to do with such a horrid person?
“Well, something extraordinary had to have captured his interest enough for him to marry