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The Tarnished Necklace. Trish Inc. DuffinЧитать онлайн книгу.

The Tarnished Necklace - Trish Inc. Duffin


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turning to wave before going around the corner. Andrew noticed that Maria stood there, watching Peter’s departure. She quickly offered a wave in return, remaining there after he had gone out of sight before heading towards the house. She was gently swinging the basket as she walked across the yard.

      Susan and Andrew looked at each other and Andrew raised an eyebrow. Maria’s face was unusually flushed when she walked in, even considering the heat of the day. She spent some of the afternoon reading a book, but Susan noticed the pages weren’t turned much. She smiled to herself.

      Chapter 9 Jasper Peterson

      Jasper scowled. For the past two months his attempts to take Maria for a ride in his gig had been foiled by their neighbour and it irked him. This time he had approached Andrew before the morning service to request permission to take Maria home. Andrew had thanked him for his offer, but it appeared Maria and her sisters were going to pick the last of the raspberries with Mr Matthews on their way home from the service. Jasper dearly wanted to walk up to Mr Matthews and punch him in the nose. Several very practical reasons prevented him from doing that. Mr Matthews was a good six inches over his height and probably fifty pounds heavier. Jasper looked at his own scrawny body and reflected Peter could probably hit a lot harder as his arms were a lot more solid than his. Also, he reasoned, punching someone in the middle of a church service would not endear him to anyone and would horrify Maria. Instead he sat there and glowered away. For the last few weeks Mr Matthews had escorted her and her sisters, Joanne and Alice, home from church each week. This week he was taking them raspberry picking. What will it be next week? Apple picking? He gritted his teeth and flexed his hand, itching to punch something, or specifically someone.

      His best friend, Damien, nudged him in his ribs and he glanced over. “Calm down Jasper, you look like you want to commit murder,” he whispered, receiving some black looks from a few parishioners.

      Jasper breathed in and focussed on relaxing his fist. “I’ll explain later,” he muttered before looking at the ceiling, the windows, anything other than his adversary. Later he explained his predicament to Damien who wasn’t much help. “Is he actually courting Maria or just a friend of the family?”

      Jasper muttered under his breath, “Dunno, he is just getting in the way.”

      Damien suggested he actually front up to Peter and tell him just that, then he wished him luck.

      Jasper figured it would be safer to make the enquiry with people all around, rather than risk a fist hitting his nose. He saw Peter was off to the side so strolled over to him, his stomach in a knot.

       “A word with you please.” Peter glanced over to Jasper but just stood there. “Are you courting Miss Scott?” queried Jasper, a scowl darkening his face.

      “No,” replied Peter, a little confused.

      “Then I would sincerely appreciate it if you didn’t monopolise her every Sunday afternoon.”

      “My apologies,” replied Peter. “I will step back and provide you with the space to court Maria,” answered Peter.

      Jasper was stunned, that wasn’t quite the reaction he had expected. He muttered a curt, “Thank you and good day sir,” spun on his heel and stalked off.

      Later that morning Maria found time to ask what Jasper had spoken to him about. Alice and Joanne were wading in the stream with Maria and Peter on the bank.

      “Oh, nothing much. He just hasn’t appreciated my claiming your company over the last few Sundays and requested I give him a chance.”

      Maria slapped her hand over her mouth to stifle the giggles. “Please tell me you said no!” she asked, eyes wide with horror.

      Peter shook his head. “Quite the contrary. I recall I apologised and said I will step back.”

      Maria let loose a groan. “He is tedious. I’m going to have a word with my Father and make sure he doesn’t agree to anything!” she declared.

      Peter laughed, her face was so funny.

      Chapter 10 Rejection

      It was Wednesday afternoon. As usual the men were in the fields. Maria, her mother and sisters were busy working away, this time it was tending to the plums. The rattle of a gig drew their attention to the front of the house and Maria groaned. Jasper was at the reins, formally dressed. He knocked on the door and stood there expecting to be let in. Maria opened the door, her apron sticky with plum juice, hair stuck to her forehead and her hands were covered in juice. “Good afternoon Mr Peterson. How may I help you?” she enquired, wishing he would just go away.

      “Miss Scott, the very person I wanted to see. I was passing by and wondered if you would like to go for a small ride on such a lovely day.”

      Maria sighed and held up her sticky hands. “As you can see, I am in no position to go out. Thank you for the kind offer though.”

      She turned to go in but he laid a restraining hand on her arm. “Would you consider going out for a picnic this Sunday afternoon then?”

      Maria looked at him carefully. “No thank you. I intend to visit a good friend that day as she hasn’t been well.” What a whopping great lie!

      Jasper commiserated with her. He made it quite clear his offer was open, should her friend recover or if she would choose to make it another day. He then placed his hat on his head, said his goodbye and departed.

      Maria removed her apron before washing her arms and face. She then collected the basket of food that was prepared for the men. “May I take this out please, Ma?” Susan nodded, suspecting the true underlying reason for the request. She didn’t challenge Maria over her lie to Jasper. Maria headed out the door and quickly found her father. He pointed over to where Peter was working - another ten minutes walk over to the east. She found him stacking hay, sweat pouring off his face and a dark stain running down the back of his shirt. He looked very cheerful as she waved her basket of food. She sat down on the ground and waited until he started eating. “I need your help,” she said with a sigh.

      Peter glanced up, his mouth full of bread, lettuce, tomato and cucumber, “Hmm?” he ventured.

      Maria continued. “Jasper came over and asked me to go out for a ride this Sunday. I lied to him. I said I was going to go visit a sick friend. What do I do?”

      Peter smiled as he had suspected that Jasper would come around, and equally suspected that Maria would spurn him. He sighed, swallowed and looked over before taking a big swig of water. “You have to be up front with Jasper. You must let him know where he stands.”

      Maria looked horrified at that suggestion. “I can’t do that. It would be rude!”

      Peter sat there quietly, pausing for a moment before replying. “Maria, it is just as rude to keep the poor man in the dark and not be honest with him.” Maria didn’t look convinced, so Peter continued. “Listen, it comes with being an adult. You have a young man wanting to court you. It is up to you to tell him not to waste his time. “He tilted her chin up with his finger and made her look him in the eye.” Tell him you aren’t interested and we will find something to do this Sunday. I promise you that.” The light touch of his finger on her chin remained until she nodded in agreement.

      The following morning her father wasn’t dressed in his work clothes. It turned out he was going into town to collect some more twine and sacking for the harvesting. Maria persuaded him to wait a few minutes and she dashed upstairs to pen a letter to Jasper.

      Dear Jasper. I realise I haven’t been entirely honest with you. I appreciate your affection to me but I do not hold similar feelings for you. I fear you are wasting your time attempting to court me. Please, do not be offended. I write this letter to save you further frustration.

      Sincerely Maria Scott.

      She gave the letter to her father and asked him to personally hand it over to Jasper. As Andrew rode off his fingers itched to open it, but he exercised great restraint. He went into town, made his


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