My Dear Sophy (11 page)

“
He's probably having 'the talk' with Freddy,” Edward winked at his sister. It seems her middle brother's spirits had lifted a bit to see his younger brother do something responsible for once.

“
The talk?” Sophy inquired.

“
About how to be a man, a responsible man. I got it when I was about Freddy's age. I think that's what he's been lacking lately. Papa has treated him like a child and he's been ready to be more grown up. I hope Papa sees that.”

Sophy smiled, “He could hardly fail to after that apology. But we must leave them to it.”

It was a few hours before the two men emerged, but the happy looks on the faces of both father and son told Sophy all she needed to know. Later in the evening they were all sitting in the front parlor when Sophy had a hopeful thought. She spoke it aloud.

“
So now that we are all grown up, might we stop stomping up and down the stairs, slamming doors, and fighting with each other?”

Papa looked up over the book he was reading. She could see his sly smile as the boys looked at each other then at their sister and roundly declared, “No!”

Sophy sighed theatrically and sent them all into the giggles.

Sophy was pleased the next morning to be woken neither by the stomping of her brothers past her room nor by a distressed cry indicating some catastrophe. It made a nice change to the rest of the week she had passed. She reveled in the opportunity of a few minutes' quiet reflection on the events of the last few days.

First there was Freddy. After their long talk yesterday, Papa and Freddy had seemed to be much easier with each other. The family had enjoyed a pleasant, quiet evening together for the first time in a month. Sophy hoped this was the start of more considered behavior on everyone's part. Not that she would completely stamp out the mischievous parts of her brothers, but if the humor could be decently moderated by some common sense and, what's more, an awareness of the people around them, that could only be a benefit to everyone. Freddy's apology seemed to bode well for this new way of approaching things, although she wondered what would happen when he was tasked with exercising his more adult attitude.

Maybe Captain Croft could help him learn. It seemed that the man had already worked some quiet magic on the boy. After all, it had only been
after
meeting him that Freddy had not only turned around and come home, but also that he had apologized to her, Papa, and the town. She must try to put Freddy more in the captain's company.

Sophy's mind skittered away from the happy idea that putting Freddy more in company with Captain Croft meant that
she
would also be more in his company. Sophy had thoroughly enjoyed their walk together yesterday. She had found herself in an unexpected situation with a near stranger and yet she had felt perfectly comfortable. She was eager to repeat the experience.

There were so few people Sophy's age around Milverton these days. Her girlhood friends had all married and moved into their own homes. She still saw them, but their lives had turned toward marriage and children and household cares. They were no longer so willing to romp the countryside or spend an afternoon in Sophy's front room.

At the thought of marriage, her mind flew immediately toward Mr. Hollingson. In all the fuss of finding Freddy yesterday, she had quite forgotten that the young curate had been in her home only the night before. And he had been on the cusp of a declaration to her. Sophy's blood raced at the thought and the memory of their embrace. Though she was alone, her face colored deeply at the thought. Sophy wondered if it would happen again. Maybe she would see him today...

And it was to be an exciting day, indeed. Not the normal run of Sunday service and visiting. An invitation had been sent round last afternoon for luncheon with the Crofts. This was not an unusual invitation, for the Crofts and Wentworths spent much time together. The easy friendships between the two families had been established before the children had even been born. But today was made special by the added joy of a child's return. Today, Captain Conrad Croft would join their usual party. And for Sophy, that completely altered the dynamic of the day. She was glad of the chance at further acquaintance with the fascinating man. And a chance at seeing Mr. Hollingson. The world held so much goodness this morning that she almost felt like singing.

“
Sophia Elizabeth Wentworth,” Sophy said aloud to her reflection, using her full name to show herself how much she meant it. “Keep yourself together please.” But she could not keep the smile from her face.

For the absurd truth was that when she began to consider that the invitation to an afternoon of lunch and visiting with the rector and his family included both the Captain and Mr. Hollingson, Sophy's heart began to beat a little bit faster. And she began to wonder what might transpire. It was a source of joy to think that she did not know what to expect out of the day. So many of her days lately had been proscribed before they had even begun.

And though Sophy kept repeating her own admonition to calm herself, the warning did not serve to stop her from putting on her best-looking dress and spending an extra moment in the glass carefully arranging her wavy brown hair to the most advantage. She was not a vain woman, but she wanted to look just so for the unexpected treat that would be today.

The extra attention to herself did not seem to have gone amiss. On their way down the road to Saint Michael's Church for the late-morning service, Papa remarked on how well she looked, which drew a blush to her cheek that lingered there long after the compliment had been carried away on the wind.

Her looks also drew the attention of other townspeople, especially the nosy matrons who winkingly told her how well she looked and cast significant glances in the direction of the rector and his son. She was one of the last unmarried girls of her age group and the matrons had made it their mission to attach her to someone. It seemed that the rector's returned son was to be the current object of their matchmaking.

Sophy on one side of the churchyard and the captain on the other formed two hubs around which the townspeople revolved in the time before the service began. Sophy, though surrounded constantly by people wanting to hear her story of yesterday's events, was able to observe Captain Croft's open and easy manner with everyone who approached him. A few times he even threw his head back and bellowed with laughter. Sophy found herself smiling and laughing with him, though unaware of the joke. This resulted in an entirely inappropriate reaction to the news that Mrs. Henry Schott's prize sow had recently lost half her litter. Sufficiently chastened by Mrs. Schott's horrified look as she laughed at the misfortune, Sophy turned her attention fully to what was in front of her, with the result that she lost track of the captain until all the parishioners took their places inside the church and the service began.

Mr. Hollingson she did not need to look for. He would be conducting his own services in Preston-Bowyer. She thought ahead to luncheon and hoped she would see him then. Sophy had received many compliments on how well she was looking and wished for the man who loved her to see her in such good form. And she thought that Mr. Hollingson would deal remarkably well with Captain Croft. Yes, she was sure the two men would have much to speak about.

These thoughts carried Sophy into her seat in the church. She joined into the prayers and hymns with a glad heart.

Though quite an unreserved speaker on a normal Sunday, Reverend Croft was in his finest form this day. With his son present, there seemed to be an added vigor in his voice as he sermonized on one of his favorite verses from the Psalms.

The Reverend's voice rang out with the text, “What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me?” He read the joyous question aloud and then prepared to expound on his subject. The congregation sat enthralled as he told them that God pours out his blessings, often in the most unexpected of places.

“
Yesterday, a blessing was delivered to me on the most ordinary of Saturdays. By now you all know, my son Connie has returned home. He walked into town yesterday, a blessing right as we the people of Milverton were rejoicing over a different blessing, the safe return of Freddy Wentworth, another of our beloved sons. Two big, visible blessings delivered to us in the most conspicuous of ways.” The Reverend beamed down at his son with a love that filled the whole church.

Then the Reverend turned serious. “But God does not always offer blessings in these big ways. He does not always come knocking to return our children to us. He does not often even announce to us that there is a blessing in our way. No, He pours out His blessings in
small
ways each day. In the fall of rain that blesses our farms; in the smile of a child or a parent, in the sun that warms us and makes our seeds grow; in the visit of a neighbor. There are blessings all around us in the smallest of things. And we ask, as David asks in the Psalms, 'What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me?' What can I give to God for all the beautiful things he gives me everyday?” The Reverend paused to let the congregation digest his question. Sophy found herself nodding along and asking herself what kinds of blessings she'd been given.

“
What
can
we give back to Him? What does He ask of us?” The Reverend continued. He paused and then smiled beatifically. “It is quite simple, really. He asks only that we love Him and that we love each other. Only that. Love. In return for the blessings He pours out to us each day, He asks us only to return His love to the people around us. When you're feeling small and put upon, when nothing seems to be working for you, when you've sent up a prayer to Him
that
is the time to count your blessings, to remember that what you should give back to God is the love and gratefulness in your own heart. That is all he asks of us each and every day.”

The church remained silent and thoughtful as Reverend Croft finished his sermon. There were smiles on the faces of the townspeople as Sophy looked around. She was smiling, too. For all the anger and grief of the week – the arguments, the searching – she really was blessed. She had lived a life of ease surrounded by people she loved.

And as the Reverend led them in song, Sophy added one more small blessing: music. She had never learned to play an instrument, but she loved to listen. And she loved to sing the church hymns, to raise her voice with those around her, not worrying what anyone thought about how she sounded. It was her favorite part of the service each week.

As they sang hymns today, Sophy was distinctly aware of a new voice in the mixture, one that rang out over all the others. Its rich baritone sounded so warm and round as it floated over the congregation. Sophy turned to seek out the source of this inviting voice. She found it, as she knew she would, in Captain Croft. He sang quite unaware of the attention he drew from the congregation, his joy in the music evident on his face.

His enthusiasm was catching. His joy was diffusing through the small space and prompting everyone to sing more loudly and joyously. Sophy had a smile on her own face as she, too, joined into the hymn. It was a thrilling feeling and made her feel deep inside of her what the Reverend had preached about blessings. Sophy was disappointed when the hymn came to an end. She could have listened to hours more and never have tired of it.

But it did come to an end, and after the townspeople said a final thank you to the rector, they all scattered to their houses or those of their neighbors to spend a happy Sunday afternoon.

As the other parishioners made their way home, The Wentworths and the Crofts walked the few steps to the doors of the rectory, there to spend a comfortable meal in company together. As they walked, the Reverend informed them that Mr. Hollingson would be unable to join their party today, having already accepted Mrs. Coombe's invitation to share her luncheon. The whole group groaned in unison, sympathetic to the young curate's plight. They laughed together as the Reverend reminded Captain Croft that Mrs. Coombe liked to overindulge in everything – especially cake – when she had guests. The laughter carried them into the Croft's home.

The rectory itself was quite a spacious house, Milverton having formerly been a trading center of the county. It had not stood quite as long as the church next to it, but the house had seen a goodly share of years pass. The interior was well-maintained by Mrs. Croft, who kept the family in nice, but practical surroundings. She had, after all, raised three boys and had planned her furnishings accordingly. So the overall effect of the rectory was a feeling of comfort. Today, this feeling was heightened in Sophy's mind by the congenial conversation that had already begun on the short walk from church to rectory.

The families passed an hour over the simple but well-prepared meal. Sophy listened carefully as they talked of all that had passed in the years since Captain Croft had been away. In the manner of old friends, the conversation was easy, flowing from one topic to the next, breaking into small groups and coming back together in a most natural way. There was general laughter and good will among all present.

And through it all, Sophy watched and listened with a keen eye and ear for Captain Croft. Her curiosity about him had grown even more after hearing him sing so joyously in church. She found herself listening to him even when she was engaged in another conversation. She observed that the man turned his whole attention on whomever he was listening or responding to. And he was magnificent when telling a story. Even hampered by the dinner table, the captain held them all enthralled by his especially humorous tales of life at sea.