The next morning after breakfast, Julia dealt with her correspondence.
Princess Elizabeth, now the Hereditary Llandgravine of Hesse-Homberg, had written a long chatty letter describing her new life in Homberg, her happiness obvious on every page, though missing Julia’s company with their artistic tastes. She issued a warm invitation to come and stay should Julia visit the continent. There was also a letter to reply to from Princess Augusta, which had contained all the current news from Court as well as her sympathy at the sad loss of Mr Farraday.
Afterwards, feeling like some fresh air, Julia decided to walk to the village church to visit her great uncle’s grave. Smithers was busy in the sewing room mending articles of clothing, and as it was only a short walk, Julia went alone, basking in the warmth of the sunshine. She soon found the plot in the small graveyard, and after laying a few white roses on the grave, was contemplating what type of headstone should be placed on it and the appropriate wording, when an unexpected voice made her jump.
‘Good morning, Miss Farraday. Oh, I am sorry. I did not mean to startle you.’
The Reverend Talbot’s voice was as smooth as his apology, and Julia felt foolish for having jumped so.
‘Not at all, sir. I trust I find you well?’
‘Tolerable, my dear Miss Farraday, tolerable.’
Silence ensued between them, broken only by the whispering of a gentle breeze and the soft buzzing of a bee.
‘I felt I must visit my great uncle’s grave and decide on the headstone,’ Julia explained to break the awkward silence.
At last the parson spoke.
‘A sad loss, Mr Farraday, for the whole village.’
Julia could not but wonder what he meant by that.
With a grave bow, he said, ‘If I can be of any assistance to you, please do not hesitate to ask me.’
‘Mr Talbot.’ Julia hesitated.
‘Yes, Miss Farraday?’
‘Your remark about my Great Uncle Thomas being such a sad loss to the village. I don’t quite understand what you mean, for I thought he was not well liked.’
He looked at her solemnly.
‘I keep forgetting that you have only arrived here recently, Miss Farraday. Mr Farraday was a very reticent man and did not mix socially. You could not be aware of his generosity to those in need in difficult times.’
Julia twisted the amethyst ring on her finger and tried to formulate the words to answer him. The bee buzzed lazily around her and a distant lamb bleated.
‘There never seemed to be villagers coming to the house to see him,’ she said timidly.
Mr Talbot gave a rueful smile. ‘Only in times of trouble did Mr Farraday intervene with help. Of a practical kind,’ he added softly. ‘The troubles that affect the poor and needy here are not usually spoken of.’
His florid face was suddenly stern with disapproval etched into it.
‘Although I cannot agree with the breaking of the law, help has to be given to the innocent women and children, though there is still no reason why men should get involved with things that should not concern them. Only for greed and avarice; better they stay with honest trade. For them I have no sympathy and the law must take its course.’
With that he withdrew. Julia noticed for the first time, that for such a large man how stealthily he moved, his boots soundless on the grass.