Elizabeth remained behind to supervise the activities of the two children. The day was fair, and it seemed a waste of sunshine to keep indoors. When Elizabeth suggested a removal to the garden, Nicky and Selina were eager to comply. They wheedled her into a game of blind man’s buff, and she managed to tear the hem of her muslin gown on a rose-bush. Elizabeth procured some lemonade, and also sent for a needle and thread. While the other two played catch, she prepared to repair the minor damage to her morning-dress rather than wait for her maid to mend it. ‘Mama,’ Nicky came up to her, his cheeks reddened from his exercise, ‘may we explore the shrubbery?’ ‘Very well,’ she agreed. It seemed a harmless enough request. ‘You may go into the shrubbery for a while. But take good care of your cousin.’ The children’s voices faded as they wandered off. Elizabeth bent once more to her task. Seated on a low stone bench in the shade of the garden wall, she held the soft fabric in one hand and threaded her needle with the other.
What do You think about A Scandalous Secret (2004)?
