The Rector's Wife
Chapter Three
The next morning, Catherine was in the drawing-room, regarding the draperies earnestly and unable to find any fault with them, when she heard the front door slam shut. She went to the drawing-room door and opened it, glanced at the entryway, and saw nothing amiss; she shut the door, turned around, and gasped in surprise. A small, red-haired woman stood in front of the fire, and Catherine had no idea how she had gotten there.
"Hello, Catherine," said the woman pleasantly.
Catherine turned around curiously and looked at the closed door, then turned back and stared at the woman for a moment. At last she remembered her manners and said, "How may I be of service to you, ma'am?"
"Oh, no," said the woman with a laugh. "I am here to be of service to you, my dear."
"I am afraid that you have me at a disadvantage," said Catherine hesitantly.
"My name is Daisy."
This was a bit much. "Daisy?" Catherine repeated doubtfully.
"That's right. I am here to help you," said the lady with a smile. "I am an angel."
Catherine was rendered speechless for a long moment, but at last found her tongue. "I beg your pardon?"
"I said, I am an angel."
"Then where are your wings?" Catherine asked skeptically.
"I am without them at the moment. Surely you do not expect me to walk amongst mortals with my wings?"
Catherine had not thought about it at all. "Where did you come from?"
"Angels are all around, Catherine. You can walk down the street and see a strange face--and never know if that stranger is a mortal being like yourself, or an angel. We are sent to help mortals when they require assistance. Your husband said a prayer asking for help for you, and I was dispatched. Henry loves you very much, you know."
Catherine could not help but smile at this. "I know," she said softly.
Daisy glanced at a portrait of Henry that hung on one wall. It was a good likeness; he was leaning back, quite at his ease, one hand resting on Bear's shaggy head, one leg crossed over the other at the knee. The warmth in his smile and the amused expression in his eyes made most observers smile, even against their will, and Daisy was no exception. Even the dog gazed up at him adoringly. "You are fortunate to have someone who cares for you so. Now, how may I help you?"
"Oh, well…" Catherine said weakly. She did not wish to be rude to this woman, who was certainly pleasant enough, but to show up in her house and claim to be an angel of all things--and how had she gotten into the drawing-room, anyway?
"Perhaps I could help with the children? I can entertain poor Harry, read to him, or play with him. He is feeling much better, you know, but you are right not to let him play outside in the snow." As she spoke, her glance moved back to Henry's portrait, almost involuntarily. She stared at it for a moment, then dragged her gaze away and added, "Or perhaps the school? I could take many of the responsibilities from you. Even Mrs. Shockley could have no complaint."
At that moment Henry came in to the drawing-room and stopped in surprise. He smiled at the stranger and said, "My apologies, Catherine, I did not know that you had a caller." He directed a polite bow at the red-haired woman. "How do you do, madam? I am Mr. Tilney."
"How do you do? I am Daisy. I am here to help Catherine with the village school."
"Are you? That is capital!" The rector turned to his wife with a smile. "Perhaps Miss Daisy can go to the gatehouse for you today, and we can have our outing!"
Daisy clapped her hands. "That is an excellent scheme, Henry! What do you think of it, Catherine?"
"Well--" The scheme was certainly tempting, though Catherine was still rather leery of this odd woman. What would Mrs. Shockley think?
Henry took advantage of his wife's hesitation. "I shall have the horses hitched directly." He smiled at his wife and left the room.
Daisy smiled at her. "There, it is all settled. Go get your things and go with Henry. And worry not, my dear--I shall not tell Mrs. Shockley that I am an angel. That is our secret."
"That is probably for the best," said Catherine, a little weakly, and went to fetch her pelisse, hat, and muff, feeling happier about the outing with each passing moment. She was standing in the entryway giving directions to the nurse about the children's dinner when Mrs. Shockley was announced.
"It is nearly noon, Mrs. Tilney! Why are you not at the gatehouse?" She regarded Catherine's pretty fur-trimmed pelisse and muff with distaste. "Those fripperies are unnecessary, ma'am. You would do better to wear a plain wool cloak for the task at hand."
"I am not going to the gatehouse," said Catherine, her face flushed with happiness. "I told you, I am engaged to my husband today."
Mrs. Shockley was aghast. "But who will take your place? There are workers at the gatehouse with no one to direct them!"
Daisy stepped forward. "I will take Catherine's part, Mathilda," she said brightly. She held out her hand and said, "How do you do? I am Daisy."
Mrs. Shockley stared at the angel's hand, then at her face. "Who are you?" she cried. "Mrs. Tilney, you have taken a stranger from the street and expect me to accept her as a replacement whilst you gad about in a sleigh? The bishop will hear of this, madam!"
"I am a very old friend of Catherine's," said Daisy firmly. "And I assure you, madam, I can perform whatever task is required."
"I declare I do not know what society is coming to. Putting off your obligations, your responsibilities, your Christian duty for a pleasure-trip! I suppose I should have expected it from a heedless young thing like you, Mrs. Tilney."
Catherine's head drooped over her muff, and finally she glanced up at Daisy and said, "I suppose I should change into my cloak." She climbed the stairs sadly.
"Catherine works very hard, Mathilda," observed Daisy. "You need not abuse her so."
The older woman grew quite red in the face. "How dare you address me in such a familiar manner, you chit! I will not be treated so by a woman young enough to be my daughter!"
"On the contrary, madam. I am much older than I appear."
Henry came in the front door, his brown skin glowing with the cold. "Where is Catherine? The horses are ready." He looked up the stairs with a smile, seeing Catherine on her way down, but the smile disappeared when he saw her expression.
"I am sorry, Henry," was all she said.
He looked away for a moment; none of the ladies could see his expression. When he turned back, his face was composed. "Very well," he said. "I understand. I understand fully what has happened here." He glanced at Mrs. Shockley, who had sufficient sensibility to flush. "I had best unhitch the horses," he added. "It is too cold for them to stand." He turned and strode outside, the heels of his well-polished Hessians ringing angrily on the stone and the capes of his great coat swirling round his shoulders.
"Are you quite sure about this, Catherine?" asked Daisy in a low voice.
"Do not keep her from her duty, you unnatural creature," cried Mrs. Shockley. "You call yourself a friend?"
"Aye, madam, I do," said Daisy mildly.
Mrs. Shockley narrowed her eyes at Daisy and made a low growling noise in her throat. She glanced at Catherine and said, "I expect you at the gatehouse directly, Mrs. Tilney," and stalked outside, slamming the door behind her.
"Let me go in your place," Daisy urged Catherine. "Go with your husband. He is a more important part of your life than the school."
"The school is important, too. It will help so many people." Catherine sighed and turned to the mirror hanging on the wall to tie on her everyday bonnet. "I thank you for your offer, Miss--Daisy--but I must tend to my responsibilities." She turned back to where the woman had been standing and gasped in surprise. Daisy had disappeared.
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