Heritage, chapter 1
The shady summer house in the spacious grounds of St. Stephen's Academy for Girls was out of bounds, and Kate Peterson looked up with a guilty start when someone entered it unexpectedly, but she was relieved when she found herself staring up into Sister Antoinet's tranquil face.
"When you were neither in your room nor in the library, I knew I would find you here," the nun smiled, her glance shifting to the book in Kate's lap. "What are you reading?"
"The Art and Architecture," Kate replied, closing the book so that Sister Antoinet could see the cover.
"That's rather heavy reading, isn't it?'
"I find it very interesting."
Sister Antoinet surveyed the small, slim girl who sat curled up on the wooden bench, and her brown eyes softened. In her floral cotton frock and white sandals, Kate looked like a fifteen year-old instead of a girl of nineteen who was about to take her matriculation examinations.
"Why don't you study art next year instead of enrolling for a secretarial course?" Sister Antoinet questioned Kate, not for the first time, but Kate shook her head firmly.
"Art is my hobby, and I want it to remain that way."
Sister Antoinet sighed and clasped her hands together in a guesture of resignation, then a slight frown creased her brow as she looked down on the bowed head before her. "Mr. Pritchard, your attorney, is here to see you."
Kate's head shot up, and at that moment her blue eyes look almost too large for her small, pointed face. "M-my attorney?"
"That's what I'm told," Sister Antoinet confirmed briskly. "He's with Mother Superior in the office, and I'm to take you there at once."
The Academy had been like Kate's home. She was sent there at the young age of 6. Her parents, Ivan and Jane Peterson, had spent their lives travelling the world, and occasional postcards had been the only communication Kate had recieved. Their visits had been rare and brief, and she could count on one hand the holidays she had actually spent at home. Sister Antoinet is always there for her, she is like Kate's mother now. It's been 2 weeks since she had been noted of the death of her parents due to plane crash, and although the news had come as a shock, Kate had not found it unduly distressing. Now, quite suddenly, she was told that she has an attorney, and the knowledge was more than unnerving.
"Sister Antoinet, I-
"Come child," the nun interrupted with an encouraging smile. "I'm certain you have no reason at all to be afraid."
Kate followed Sister Antoinet to the private hedge were she could here the laughter of the hostel girls enjoying the break before the late afternoon study period. Their laughter had never troubled her before, but at that moment, it almost seemed to mock her as she followed Sister Antoinet into the grey stone building. They approached the Mother Superior's quarter, and she glanced at the nun beside her, her nervousness clearly visible in the wide, blue eyes.
"You'd better give me that book," Sister Antoinet warned her gently. "It wouldn't do for Mother Superior to know you've been reading about the Renaissance instead of studying your physical science."
"I know my science," Kate protested, handing over the book and watching it disappear smartly beneath the nun's white habit.
"I know that child, but the Mother Superior doesn't!" she said with a smile. A smile curved on Kate's sensitive mouth.
A few moments later, Sister Antoinet was ushering her into the office. Kate felt a little bit nervous, the nun now left Kate alone to face the man who is told to be her attorney.
The office was cool and sparsely furnished, but Kate was well acquainted with this room, and the woman in the white garb who turned to her face.
"Come in, Kate," Mother Superior coaxed her away from the door. "This is Mr. Pritchard. He was your father's legal adviser, and he is now ging to serve you in that same capacity.'
Kate's bewildered glance settled on the man who had ceased his conversation with the superior the moment Kate entered the room. He was tall and lean, with brown hair and beautiful blue eyes staring at her. He looked imposing and formidable, and there hovered about him an undeniable air of authority as he turned to address the Mother Superior.
"When you were neither in your room nor in the library, I knew I would find you here," the nun smiled, her glance shifting to the book in Kate's lap. "What are you reading?"
"The Art and Architecture," Kate replied, closing the book so that Sister Antoinet could see the cover.
"That's rather heavy reading, isn't it?'
"I find it very interesting."
Sister Antoinet surveyed the small, slim girl who sat curled up on the wooden bench, and her brown eyes softened. In her floral cotton frock and white sandals, Kate looked like a fifteen year-old instead of a girl of nineteen who was about to take her matriculation examinations.
"Why don't you study art next year instead of enrolling for a secretarial course?" Sister Antoinet questioned Kate, not for the first time, but Kate shook her head firmly.
"Art is my hobby, and I want it to remain that way."
Sister Antoinet sighed and clasped her hands together in a guesture of resignation, then a slight frown creased her brow as she looked down on the bowed head before her. "Mr. Pritchard, your attorney, is here to see you."
Kate's head shot up, and at that moment her blue eyes look almost too large for her small, pointed face. "M-my attorney?"
"That's what I'm told," Sister Antoinet confirmed briskly. "He's with Mother Superior in the office, and I'm to take you there at once."
The Academy had been like Kate's home. She was sent there at the young age of 6. Her parents, Ivan and Jane Peterson, had spent their lives travelling the world, and occasional postcards had been the only communication Kate had recieved. Their visits had been rare and brief, and she could count on one hand the holidays she had actually spent at home. Sister Antoinet is always there for her, she is like Kate's mother now. It's been 2 weeks since she had been noted of the death of her parents due to plane crash, and although the news had come as a shock, Kate had not found it unduly distressing. Now, quite suddenly, she was told that she has an attorney, and the knowledge was more than unnerving.
"Sister Antoinet, I-
"Come child," the nun interrupted with an encouraging smile. "I'm certain you have no reason at all to be afraid."
Kate followed Sister Antoinet to the private hedge were she could here the laughter of the hostel girls enjoying the break before the late afternoon study period. Their laughter had never troubled her before, but at that moment, it almost seemed to mock her as she followed Sister Antoinet into the grey stone building. They approached the Mother Superior's quarter, and she glanced at the nun beside her, her nervousness clearly visible in the wide, blue eyes.
"You'd better give me that book," Sister Antoinet warned her gently. "It wouldn't do for Mother Superior to know you've been reading about the Renaissance instead of studying your physical science."
"I know my science," Kate protested, handing over the book and watching it disappear smartly beneath the nun's white habit.
"I know that child, but the Mother Superior doesn't!" she said with a smile. A smile curved on Kate's sensitive mouth.
A few moments later, Sister Antoinet was ushering her into the office. Kate felt a little bit nervous, the nun now left Kate alone to face the man who is told to be her attorney.
The office was cool and sparsely furnished, but Kate was well acquainted with this room, and the woman in the white garb who turned to her face.
"Come in, Kate," Mother Superior coaxed her away from the door. "This is Mr. Pritchard. He was your father's legal adviser, and he is now ging to serve you in that same capacity.'
Kate's bewildered glance settled on the man who had ceased his conversation with the superior the moment Kate entered the room. He was tall and lean, with brown hair and beautiful blue eyes staring at her. He looked imposing and formidable, and there hovered about him an undeniable air of authority as he turned to address the Mother Superior.
Page 1/2 | Next
