Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 73963 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73963 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
“Let the girl breathe, child.” Uncle Alfred’s deep voice came from behind us. I eased my tight hold on her and pulled back unable to completely let her go.
“You’re here,” I said in awe.
“Yes!” she replied gleefully. “And you’re crying!”
I laughed again and wiped at the tears on my face. “I have missed you so. Tis all.”
She looked around in wonder. “With all this around you, how did you have time to miss me? It’s beautiful.”
“I would miss you if I were in the Queen’s castle,” I assured her then held her face in my hands to look upon it. She was truly here with me.
“I promised you I’d get Ada to send her, did I not? You’ll one day learn to trust me,” Uncle Alfred said as he approached us.
Whitney looked from me to our uncle who I knew she had never met. The time he had visited our home, I had been so young, even I didn’t remember. I followed her gaze and smiled at the tall, broad shouldered, brusque man that had been so very generous to us all.
“Yes, you did promise me and I didn’t doubt you. Tis my mother, I fear, I doubted,” I replied.
He made a tsking sound, as if my mother held no real power, then turned his attention to Whitney. “We are pleased to have you here, dear. You look much like your mother at that age. However, from what Miriam tells me, you do not have her demeanor and for that we are all grateful,” he said with a booming voice.
“Alfred!” Aunt Harriet scolded loudly. “Don’t talk about the girl’s mother so. She’s just arrived.”
Uncle Alfred turned to look back at his wife, as she hurried toward us having missed Whitney’s arrival. “How many days do I wait then until I may speak plainly in front of her? Miriam does not seem to mind. Do you, dear?” he asked me then.
Grinning, I looked over at Whitney who was watching the entire thing with a look of pure amusement on her face. She smiled brightly at me and then giggled. “One cannot mind what is the truth, Uncle. It is alright, Aunt Harriet. Whitney has lived in the same house with our mother just as I have. She holds no illusions of her.”
Aunt Harriet smiled softly then and took a step closer to Whitney. “Oh, you are as lovely as your sister said. She talked of little else. We are so glad to have you here with us. Our home is your home. We want you to feel comfortable here. I’ve had your luggage taken to the room across the hall from Miriam’s. However, Miriam did mention you shared a room at home. If you would prefer to sleep in her room then that is completely up to you. We are just overjoyed to have both of you girls here now.”
Whitney glowed under the warm welcome, and although I never doubted they would make her feel less than, I was so very grateful for their generosity. In her last letter, I could tell how excited she was to be coming, but she was concerned about her being a problem or in the way. Aunt Harriet would have one more daughter and it was clear she was ecstatic about it.
“We are happy to have you both in our London home. Harriet will see to your needs and then some. If you ladies will excuse me before the gossip magazines and the chocolates come out, I must retire to my office to handle some pressing matters,” Uncle Alfred announced.
Aunt Harriet ignored his remark about her two vices but her eyes did widen a bit as she asked, “Do you enjoy chocolates, honey?”
Whitney thought for a moment then nodded. “Yes, I believe so. I’ve only had them once at a Christmas party we attended a few years ago.”
“The Rockinghams,” I added, remembering all too well the abundance of food at the party. Until now that had been the most elaborate home and party I had attended. London, however, made it pale in comparison. Oh, if only Whitney could go to a ball.
“Yes! The Rockinghams,” she said happily. “They had an entire table of chocolates. All shapes and colors. I had never seen anything so beautiful in my life.”
“You also went to bed with a very bad stomach ache,” I added.
Whitney blushed. “I was but only eight,” she replied.
Aunt Harriet laughed then. “Eight! I would have a stomach ache now if I were presented with a table of chocolates and I am… well, I will not disclose that number,” she then added with a wink. “Come ladies. Let’s go to Whitney’s new room and help her get things put away. Then we can have tea and chocolates. I must hear all about life in the country.”
I knew there wasn’t much for Whitney to tell. Our life at home did not compare to the life Aunt Harriet lived whilst in the countryside. I would wait to explain that though. For now, I was too anxious for Whitney to see the bedroom she would call her own while here.