Under His Protection

Chapter 12

Chapter Twelve

Wainwright Hall

Val ushered the Sunday luncheon group into the dinning room, glad she had asked Cook to prepare extra knowing Oliver would probably invite several guests to join them after church. She'd met a good many of the congregation before the services and the rest after. Val liked the majority of those that Oliver chose to invite to return home with them. A good many of the ladies had already talked to her about joining their various committees that helped the needy of the community or to beautify it. She knew too, that soon they would have to have some sort of evening get-together to invite others to the Hall as well as plan later in the year a festival for everyone living around their estate and town to come enjoy once the harvest season was over with. The festival was something that everyone used to enjoy but once Oliver's mother was gone they became a thing of the past with Oliver's brother's wife not seeing any need for them.

More likely, Val thought, she didn't want to waste money she could use for her shopping trips to London or wherever else the money went. Val was beginning to think it wasn't all put towards the woman's wardrobe.

Along with Vicar Vaughn and his wife, Lyssa and Doctor Crowther whom she already knew Oliver asked Squire Omphrey, his wife Luella, Sir Alfred Walker and his wife Lady Faith along with Adam Smythe and is wife Ashley and their daughter Elizabeth to join them for luncheon as well as Richie's new tutor Mr. Reddin to even out the numbers.

While they chatted with others at the church their staff had hurried home to prepare for their guests arrival. Val was already very proud of the Wainwright Hall staff and how quickly they could accomplish their tasks when asked. She would see that they had extra time off in the coming week to make up the time from today and their normal half day off.

The table was sparking with the beautiful crystal, china and silver along with lovely vases of flowers on the sideboard fresh from their own gardens or greenhouse. Val gave Thompson a grateful smile letting him know she liked how the dinning room looked as they entered the room. Once everyone was seated and the first course was served the chatter began as different ones asked Val questions about her loss of memory. She'd learned soon after her arrival back at the Hall that word had gotten around town and surrounding countryside about how Oliver and she had met.

It was funny how that time seemed further in the past then it really was since so much had happened since that night, she thought as she answered their questions. They all knew too, that there was still a threat to her and that someone might return to harm her again. Everyone seemed on the alert for any strangers lurking in the nearby surrounding countryside.

"Well," the vicar's wife said, "we shall keep watching for any strangers that might come to our peaceful town."

"Yes," several replied together while others nodded.

"I'm hoping you ladies will help me settle in and plan several functions we might have here at the Hall. I have learned from Mrs. Mortmain and Thompson about a few past gatherings," Val said changing the subject from her.

"Well...we all would be most happy to help you in anyway we can," Mrs. Smythe replied.

"Yes," Lady Faith chimed in.

"I understand that there used to be a harvest festival held here at Wainwright Hall," Val said. "I thought it would be nice to reinstate the festival."

"Oh, yes," most everyone replied or nodded their heads with agreement making Val send a smile Oliver's way.

"I remember those as a young man and how much everyone seemed to enjoy them," Oliver told the group.