Read Holiday in Bath for Free Online Page B

fair that some use should be made of Cousin Filkins, since he was insisting on imposing on the hospitality of her family. It was the perfect chance to get to London at last—and perhaps the only chance she would ever have. Cousin Filkins’ visit began to look like a blessing in disguise.
----
Chapter 4
    “London?” Mrs. Storwood reached for her handkerchief and decided that either her nap had not been long enough, or that she should not have taken a nap at all, since obviously this pot had brewed while she so innocently slept. “Without your father? Darling, you are being unrealistic.”
    “But, Mama, it is the very best possible time to go, can’t you see? Cousin Filkins will be here to keep Papa company. Just for a few weeks, Mama. It is not the season, but we would have a chance to see the shops, and perhaps one of your old friends would give a very small party for us. And we could go to the theatre...”
    “No,” Mrs. Storwood said firmly. “London is not simply an enlarged Kendal, Trelenny. It is a frightening city to be in without a male escort. My especial friends are not there now; Mrs. Waplington is in Bath and Lady Sandburn is at their seat. Have you considered the journey? No, no, it won’t do. Highwaymen, footpads.” She shuddered delicately. “I know it is very hard on you, dear, living secluded as we do. If you were to marry Cranford, I don’t doubt you’d have a chance to see a bit more of the country, London…”
    “Cranford again. How can you think I would marry him just so that I might have a chance to see London? What a despicable reason to marry someone.”
    “My dear, you misunderstand me. Of course you wouldn’t marry him just to see London. I merely say that he would probably take you there one day.”
    “More like he would take me to see some Roman graveyard—on our honeymoon!” A strange light suddenly glistened in Trelenny’s eyes, causing her mother to press the handkerchief once more against her lips. “If we had someone to escort us to London, could we go?”
    “No, my love. I’m sorry, but somehow I would feel disloyal to your father going to London without him. That is where we met, you know, and I could not bear to think of him here alone.”
    “With Cousin Filkins!”
    “Thinking of me there amongst all that gaiety. No, no. It wouldn’t be fair to him, Trelenny. He cannot make the journey with me, and I cannot go without him. Don’t you see how unhappy it would make him? He frets enough that our life is restricted. You would not wish to add an extra burden. Think of what Dr. Moore said.”
    “Dr. Moore is an old woman. Oh, I know we mustn’t upset Papa, but I can’t imagine that he would be so alarmed at our going to London. Don’t you think he would be happy for us? Glad that I would have a chance to get about a little?”
    “Trelenny, I will not take you to London. Let’s have no more discussion of the matter, and I strictly forbid you to broach the subject to your Papa. You must simply accept the situation, my dear.” Mrs. Storwood regarded her daughter with sad eyes. “I don’t know how to make it up to you, dear. Perhaps we could go to Kendal to buy some material for a new gown."
    The girl bit her lip to still the rebellious reply that rose swiftly to mind. Not only would she not get a trip to London, but she would have to sustain a visit from the ludicrous Cousin Filkins as well. Swallowing painfully, she said, “I don’t really need a new gown, Mama, but thank you. If you don’t mind I think I shall go for a ride now. Is your head feeling better?”
    “Much better,” her mother lied gallantly.
~ ~ ~
    Several days passed during which Trelenny did her best to hide her disappointment. Cranford did not come to visit her, and the arrival of her father’s cousin was imminent. Surprisingly, it took her all that while to see that there was another avenue of escape. This time she did not precipitately reveal her thoughts to either of her parents, but