Page 31 of A Provincial Peer

“It arrived in today’s post,” he said. “It’s addressed to Mrs. Caroline and Miss Margaret Granger. Meg has been most anxious to open it, but I told her it would be best to wait until you were here to read it with her.”

Caroline could only imagine how difficult that must have been for Meg. Patience was a significant challenge when one was four years old. Caroline studied the bold script. She did not recognize the penmanship, nor could she think of anyone who might write to both her and Meg.

“Can I open it now, Mama?”

“Yes,” Caroline said. Already, she was as curious about the envelope’s contents as was Meg. “Break the seal carefully so as not to damage the letter inside.”

Obediently, Meg slid a little finger beneath the folded paper and carefully popped the seal free. Then she peeled back the paper and withdrew a single sheet from within.

“Here,” she said, handing it to Caroline. “What does it say?”

Caroline unfolded the paper and silently read the short note.

Farwell Hall

16th June 1796

Dear Caroline and Meg,

You are cordially invited to a private toy-boat regatta featuring the Farwell red and blue sailboats of yesteryear. Weather willing, the race will occur on the portion of the Leyfield River that runs through Farwell Farm’s north pasture on Thursday, 23rd June, at 2 o’clock in the afternoon.

I hope you are available to attend this incomparable event.

Yours sincerely,

Lord Benting

PS I feel it my duty to inform you that it is the red sailboat’s turn to win.

Caroline’s lips twitched. She wasn’t sure what amused her the most, Benedict’s use of the muddled name Meg had given him or his reminder that his boat had almost always fallen short in their childhood races.

Meg gave a little hop. “What does it say?” she repeated.

Caroline looked up to see that her father and Nora were also watching her expectantly. “It is from Lord Benning,” she said. “It seems that the toy boats we played with as children are still at Farwell Hall, and he asked if Meg would like to try sailing them on Thursday.”

Meg’s eyes widened. “A sailboat like Papa’s?”

Caroline blinked. Meg so rarely mentioned Fred that the question startled her. But it was not a great surprise that Meg associated her father with boats. She and Meg had often walked the seashore in Portsmouth together, and every time, Caroline had told Meg that her Papa was on his ship out at sea.

“No, dear.” Caroline pulled her into an embrace. “These are little boats, not much bigger than your grandpapa’s hand. One is painted red, and the other is blue. When I was young, I used to enjoy playing with them, and I believe Lord Benning thought it likely that you would also.”

“Yes.” Meg’s face shone with excitement. “Lord Benting is right.” She hopped free of Caroline’s arms and turned to face Caroline’s father. “Little boats, Grandpapa. The letter was about little boats.”

Caroline’s father chuckled. “I must say, that does sounds very exciting. And it’s very good of Lord Benning to invite you to play with them.”

“Yes.” As though only now realizing that Caroline had yet to do more than share the invitation, Meg swung back around. “May we go, Mama? Please, may we go?”

Caroline hesitated. She wished to participate in Benedict’s regatta as much as Meg did, but should she accept? She was a recently widowed daughter of a vicar, and he was a peer. Although they shared many childhood memories and Benedict seemed to have a desire to create similar childhood memories for Meg, their future lives were worlds apart. Was it wise to further their association—and Meg’s attachment to the gentleman—when it could not possibly last? Benedict’s grand world of nobility did not include them any more than Fred’s naval world had.

She glanced at her father. Her indecision must have shown on her face, for he gave a subtle nod.

Whether Nora saw the signal, Caroline could not tell, but the older lady cleared her throat and began to speak. “Far be it from me t’ interfere,” she said, “but it seems like spendin’ time outside in th’ sunshine might be just th’ thing fer both of you.”

Caroline battled a smile. This was likely not the moment to remind Nora that she had just walked to Sarah Trilby’s house and back in the sunshine. In Nora’s mind, an errand such as that was a different matter entirely.

“I shall write to Lord Benning this evening.” Her father’s and Nora’s support made her decision easier. “I shall tell him that we would both be delighted to join him.”

Meg clapped her small hands together and cheered. Nora beamed and went back to her soup pot.