Elisabeth

By Sandy Grissom

After the death of an estate owner, the man's wife and daughter no longer feel it is home. The new heir and his lady friend make it obvious. They accept an invitation to Farthingale Park to distance themselves from the place where they are not wanted. Elisabeth is a very good chess player. Not so coincidentally, another guest, an unmarried gentleman fancies himself the best chess player around. He is horrified to have a woman beat him at his game. What will happen to the couple and their new friends in Cambridgeshire? What about her mother and Lady Katherine's friend, Anne?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sandy Grissom
• Release date: Sep 28, 2020
• ISBN: 9781005385422

Sandy Grissom

Sandy Grissom has loved books all her life. That love began by listening to her older sister read when she was still too young to discover the magic for herself. She's read everything from history to the phone book but her favorite authors are James Michener, Agatha Christie and the mystic William Blake. Over the years, romantic novels became a favorite. The top of that list is Pride and Prejudice. When she retired she had too much time on her hands and spent too much money and trips to the library to get books in order to satisfy her restless soul. It was then she began to write herself. As an adult she held a variety of jobs, all of them grist for her imaginative mind. The occupations in Choppy Waters will hopefully inspire someone to fight for their own dreams, to never give up on themselves or on love. A widow, Sandy recently moved to southern Indiana where she lives near the younger of her two beloved sisters.

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ELISABETH

by

Sandy Grissom

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the author.

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Copyright © 2020 by S.K.G. Haag

Cover image by: Greg Montari via Pixabay.com

Cover design: www.yourebookcover.com

About the Author

Sandy Grissom has loved books all her life. That love began by listening to her older sister read when she was still too young to discover the magic for herself. She’s read everything from history to the phone book but her favorite authors are James Michener, Agatha Christie and the mystic William Blake.

Over the years, romantic novels became a favorite. The top of that list is Pride and Prejudice. When she retired she had too much time on her hands and spent too much money and trips to the library to get books in order to satisfy her restless soul. It was then she began to write herself.

As an adult she held a variety of jobs, all of them grist for her imaginative mind. The places she’s lived also feed into her stories, namely Colorado and the desert of eastern Washington State. Her heart, though she wasn’t born there, grabbed onto and lives in the west, Nebraska, Wyoming and most especially Texas. Her stories then are mostly ranch stories with cowboy heroes and the women who love them. She also writes about English people seeking love in the time when propriety demanded strict rules of behavior. A fan of time travel, you will find The Train fun to read and there are others like it in other of her books.

A widow, Sandy lives in southern Indiana near the younger of her two beloved sisters.

Elisabeth

Chapter One

Lord and Lady Farthingale, better known as Gawain or Wain to his friends, and Katherine, Katy but only to her husband, settled themselves in the withdrawing room after supper. Katy sighed as she sat down.

What is it, my dear, Wain asked.

I cannot say. I suppose it is the letdown that we are alone in the house.

Naturally they were never truly alone. For the manor house abounded with servants. As did the grounds if they chose to walk outside. Farthingale was the largest estate in Peterborough County and required a great many people to maintain it.

She went on speaking for she did not want her husband to think she was dissatisfied with her life.

I had been looking forward to us being alone. It has been so lovely these last weeks and yet it is as if something is wanted.

Wain took his wife’s hand. He knew what she was feeling. Perhaps in his way, he had been feeling the same.

You are a person who loves people, Katy. You like to be surrounded by them. I believe that I am becoming more like that as well. For so long a time, I allowed only Ian to be close to me.

You were mourning a loss, my love, Katy reminded him.

I was angry at God, he said honestly. You showed me Who He is in your kindness toward me when I did not deserve it. It was your behavior that so much caught me off guard. I could not understand why you were calm and accepting of me when I treated you badly.

Only at first, she smiled. It was as you say but there was a reason for me to behave as I did. I have not told you before but when father told me of the arranged marriage, I felt no disquiet. After my talk with him, I spent time with God, the God you were angry with. I received such peace that I knew our lives were meant to be entwined. I travelled here expecting to honor my husband yet also in the hope that love would follow. And so it has.

Thankfully, he replied. I simply could not understand why I felt so alone. My friend, Ian, tried to tell me that with God I am never alone. He planted a seed but it was you, my love, who watered it and caused it to grow within me. I thank the One Who sent you to me every morning and night. I know now He must love me very much to be so good to me.

I am so pleased, Katy smiled. It is strange to us how God works. Only in looking back do we get a small glimmer of it.

At her husband’s inquiring look, she explained.

I have heard it said that God meets us wherever we are. He loves you and wants you with Him forever. He used your friend, Ian, to say what you could accept at that moment in time. You called what he spoke of as a seed. That is such a good way to put it. Just as that seed by small increments grows into a plant, it is often that we can only accept a tiny bit of new information. Then a bit more and so on until the whole truth, at least as much as we can discern of it, comes clear to us.

You told me once, Wain smiled, that your father was wise. Yet I think his daughter even wiser.

Are you considering the concern he had for me? Even after he accepted the bride price?

I suppose I am. Have I told you, he asked, that it comes to me daily what a good deal I got for that price? I cannot imagine my life without you. It causes me such wonder for no amount of money would be enough for what you have brought into my life.

Money can never be a substitute for the blessings of God. I do appreciate the compliment, however, she added.

For the look on his face told her he needed her to understand his devotion to her. He smiled when he noted she did get his meaning.

Life is all about people, he agreed. That was what I began to speak about and has brought us full circle back to my point.

Yes, our lives are meant to love our life-giving God and the people He has surrounded us with. When you needed someone, Ian was here for you. That is mercy indeed.

Yes and I am grateful. Though I was almost at my wit’s end with his teasing after you arrived.

Why was he like that?

I believe he saw at once what it took me weeks to understand. That I fell in love with you as you stood in the doorway of the breakfast room the morning after your arrival. I was at that moment already lost in you. Ian knows me so well he must have discerned it.

He has such a lighthearted spirit. I did not understand that at once or I would not have offended him that day.

You mean when we went out riding.

Yes, I was so pleased to find you dedicated to the estate and all it means for the surrounding countryside. I spoke it out and Ian said you were serious about everything. I am afraid I took his words amiss.

He was saying simply that we are different.

Wain smiled and went on in remembrance.

There have been times in our lives each of us tried to be more like the other. I have tried to be less serious and Ian has tried to speak in a more serious vein. It does not work for it goes against our nature. You would have been highly amused had you been here to hear us try to speak and act in such a way.

Is that why you grinned when he rode away from us?

Did I? I suppose I was recalling if unconsciously, our attempts to be like the other.

I quite like him and am glad he is your best friend.

He is that. I am pleased he has made a happy life with Amy. You like her very much.

I do though I am also quite fond of Margaret Wellington, now Mrs. John Lewis. Yet if I had to say I had a best friend, it would be Emily Worthington that is, Mrs. James Lister.

I think you are a matchmaker, my love.

You invited the gentlemen, she gently reminded him.

At your suggestion, he replied.

I was wondering what you hear about Mr. Dowling.

Ah, yes. He created quite a stir while he was here. Perhaps it was a good thing for it may have provided the impetus for James to propose to Emily. To answer your question, he is engaged to the widow, Mrs. Ellison. He spends more time at her estate than home. It is said it is because he will take up the business of the estate. That includes her late husband’s business interests as well. However, behind closed doors it is said that Mrs. Ellison will not let go entirely of the reins.

Really, Katy said in surprise.

Many gentlemen have said that she managed the estate and business even while Mr. Ellison was alive. I saw myself on one occasion that he deferred to her on a matter not usually given over to a lady. I mean to say she will likely be just as involved as Mr. Dowling. Though he will naturally be seen as master of the estate.

That is very interesting. Do you think him accepting of that role?

I rather imagine he is, sad to say.

Katy raised a brow in question.

Sad because he seeks the things of this world. I might have done the same but for you, Katy. I find I pity him when I consider the difference our lives have taken.

You are a good man, my husband.

She rested her free hand atop his, his hand being over hers already.

We have once again gotten away from that sigh I heard as we sat down. It is true we have no in house guests at present. But we may invite any or all of our friends to supper or cards. I am sure they would be happy to stay for a long weekend at times though those I am considering live near enough to retreat home after a visit.

You are right, my dear. I do wonder if the other ladies in the region are having the same thoughts. All of us settled into marriage with the one we love. We have our homes to manage and children to come. It is a happy time, not a sad one.

Indeed, I know Ian and his lady are happy these days.

Yes, Amy simply beams with joy when I see her.

Wain saw that he had not reassured his wife. At least not to the extent he had hoped to.

We must scare up a party. It is fall now and I planned to have a shoot though it is a bit earlier than I usually thin out the birds. I can invite Ian, James and John. Roger Worthington and his wife, Evelyn, and George Lister. That should make you happy.

A hunting party, she mused.

Their wives will be about the house. And I have no doubt you will be scouring the neighborhood to find a dinner partner for George.

Wain saw the mood lift from his wife’s eyes. It was true she loved having people around. It was just as true she was a born matchmaker. If he was not mistaken her mind was already sifting through the nearby estates for unmarried ladies to invite. It was likely it would not be Caroline Smithers. Amy’s sister was so full of herself that she was almost an outcast to society. Though the lady was too self-absorbed to acknowledge any rebuffs. It might be well if her father made an arranged marriage for her. He did pity the man who would find it necessary to listen to her nasal whining all his life.

A thought amused him and he had to speak it out.

When you have settled all the gentlemen in the county with wives, perhaps you ought to take on Caroline Smithers. Of course it might be a lifelong work to find a husband for her. Yet it would give you a project so that you would never be bored.

Shame, she teased Wain.

He laughed lightly but with great pleasure.

He loved his life these days. He loved his wife who gifted him with such a life. Nothing could make him happier unless it was children. He knew God would send them in His time. Until then Wain was happy with his Katy all to himself. His purpose now included being certain she was happy as well.

It was why he suggested a party. He was happy just to see her happiness. It was a new feeling for him yet one he liked very much. It was so from the beginning. Yet as he told her, he did not see it then. Ian did and it gave Wain a bit of pleasure to tease him in retribution when Amy was bothering his friend so. He was as oblivious to what he was feeling as Wain had been with Katy. Neither man was able to accept what their hearts were telling them, at least not right away. Love was strange when it hit a man full force like it did him and Ian. He had love in abundance now and he both gave and received it with joy. That’s what his Katy taught him and she did not even use words to do it. She was a treasure.

Shall we go up, he asked.

Katy nodded.

It was but an hour to midnight after all and early for them to retire. Her eyes sparkled knowing their day was not yet done.

Chapter Two

The following morning after business with his steward, Wain dashed off a note to his friend, James. A rider would take it across.