Story Snip from Larksong: Chapter 2

hapter 2!


Larksong is set in Montreal, July 1914.

In chapter 1, Alice, following her grandmother's funeral, arrived at the family cottage to take care of her grandmother's aviary, only to find that her parents had already let the cottage to another family for the summer.

The only way she could have one more summer in her favourite place was to surreptitiously take on the role of governess to the two young girls...

Now we turn to George's point of view:

George came to consciousness in his hospital bed, dragged up from sleep by the sound of voices, but did not immediately open his eyes. He could hear his elder brother, James – the barrister – holding forth.

"This is most inconvenient, Mother. It's much too early to head to the cottage and instead of opening ours, you've gone and rented a new one sight unseen?"

Even without looking, George knew his mother was wringing her hands. "We had no choice, James. The girls need a place for the summer. The remodelling still hasn't been completed at our cottage and now with your father deciding to head for Europe earlier than planned... The arrangements are difficult enough. We're closing up the mansion, and George needs assistance, Doctor Orstan said. Your father spoke with him again this morning and the Doctor insists that George be given 'attention' and 'supervision'."

George winced at the inflection of her voice. As though the idea of someone requiring assistance, unable to fend for themselves, was so distasteful, she had to throw out the words. He considered opening his eyes and asking, sardonically, whether she was taking along to Europe one maid or two.

Then she delivered a real blow. "He wasn't supposed to need help. If he hadn't gone and broken his leg playing that ridiculous game, he'd be making the same journey with his friends. Then there'd only be Albert to worry about."

Thank you, Mother, George thought. As if I don't already blame myself for that idiotic move.

Not only had he cost his team the hockey championship, and the trophy he'd set his sights on since his first year at McGill, now he would miss his graduation, too.

To have his teammates hover around him as he lay writhing in agony on the ice had been unbearable, all those glances of pity and of blame. Later, his friend Charles had accompanied him to the hospital, and his casual "guess you won't be joining us on the Grand Tour, old chap" had driven another nail into his coffin.

His mother seemed set on hammering in the last one.

"I understand that you're leaving tomorrow, Mother," James was saying. "But I fail to see why we cannot simply have a nurse accompany George on the train."

"I wouldn't do that to the boy! No, you must take him, James. It's not far, only Knowlton, and you have that capable new vehicle. There's no time now to vet nurses. I'll rest easier knowing he's in your hands."

I won't, George thought, as James grudgingly fell in with their mother's wishes. His leg throbbed, his head felt constricted, and he was thirsty. He'd much rather travel by train with a pretty nursemaid at his beck and call than in the back of James' rattling jalopy, trying to tune out his elder brother's advice and admonitions.

Unfortunately, he had to do exactly that. Days later, when Doctor Orstan released him, he was wheeled down to the front doors and bundled, cast, crutches, chair and all, into James' automobile, plastered leg stretched out before him. A thin blanket covered his leg and exposed toes; the midsummer breezes across the mountain seemed icy after the close confines of his tower room at Royal Victoria Hospital.

He smoked the entire journey, trying to keep up a fug around himself, looking back once as they crossed the St Lawrence River. Already the city was falling behind, only the clock tower at the port visible beyond the water. It might make a good painting. But he hadn't picked up so much as a pencil in weeks, and no one would have considered packing his art supplies in with his luggage. He couldn't fathom how he might keep busy for an entire summer, with all his friends off travelling, while he remained behind, cooped up in a house with his kid sisters and their ancient maid and governess.

Image from the History of Montreal Wikipedia page

 

Hope you're enjoying the story!

 

I've got another story in the Dock of the Bay series out this week!

Family, work, reading, writing. Everything else seems to be falling by the wayside. I need to catch up on blogging, knitting, sorting photos, the usual other stuff. But all these stories are so exciting!

Are you in a busy season or taking things easy?