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Ever since she arrived in Kembleford, due to her husband's supposed being active in politics, Father Brown noticed that Lady Felicia had to put up with the haughty, ungracious, self-righteous snottiness of Bridgett McCarthy.
It wasn't just Lady Felicia that suffered the old woman's wrath, either. When Lady Felicia had encountered Sydney Carter in the aftermath of a bar brawl and getting his hindquarters served, Felicia decided to give him a job as a cheuffer.
Father Brown approved of her choice, not just because he was glad she was setting down roots, but also because Sydney, or Sid, as he preferred to be called, was a general jack of all trades, with his own past, it turned out. He'd known the young man as a child, and loved him like a son.
Nevertheless, as Lady Felicia settled in, Mrs. McCarthy did everything in her "god given power" to push her out.
It took a bit, but eventually Felicia figured out why. Mrs. McCarthy was a creature of habit; she liked things just so...
SHE was the parish secretary. SHE was Kembleford's "champion scones baker" and, most importantly, or so in Bridgitt McCarthy's mind, SHE was the sole "solid rock saint" on which Father Brown could rely. Nothing and no one was ever going to change that.
That is, until Lady Felicia came along...
She changed things, and she made them, at least most of them better...
She did her best not to rub it in, that occasionally, if more often than not, younger was indeed better.
Not only that, but there was the situation involving "him".
No. Felicia thought, shaking her head. To the world she was a married woman, which despite her past, meant the world to her.
He had also made a choice.
Perhaps one day, (when hell froze over, and snoops including Mrs. McCarthy ceased to gossip) they'd be able to talk about the past and the choices they made.
Until then, her admiration would have to observe from afar; or at least from a distance, that caused the least amount of trouble for him...
She would live under Father Brown's example; defend herself peacefully, and not initiate quarrels with Mrs. M, no matter how tiresome or hurtful the woman became.
Just grit your teeth and bear it...
Nathan Brown by nature had always been a peacemaker.
Even as a youngster, he constantly tried to keep the peace between his two older brothers, or his friends.
It wasn't often that anyone got under his collar, save one jackanapse that threatened a lady, many years ago...
Shaking his head, Father Brown recognized he was soon to have a problem on his hands between two women in his life that meant the world to him in seperate ways...
As far as manner and decorum went, there was no competition, and yet it was frustrating how Mrs. McCarthy was treating Lady Felicia.
Out of the two he preferred Lady Felicia, and not just because of her looks.
She was a puzzle, and an absolute joy to be around unless she were flirting with someone... he never knew he were capable of jealousy before...
Many times he had ro remember she was married! Married to the next Governor of Rodacia for all he knew!
Nevertheless, despite his peacemaking attempts, Bridgette McCarthy still behaved attrociously to Lady Felicia, observed nearly every time they were together...
For some time he'd meant to talk to Mrs. McCarthy, but never took the chance. Lady Felicia seemed to be holding well though...
He would continue to observe, and speak to Mrs. McCarthy if things got out of hand.
By and by, he wondered what his life would have turned out to be, had he and Lady Felicia taken different paths than the ones they had chosen...
R&R! Next chapter coming soon!