Before the Scarlet Dawn by Rita Gerlach

Author:Rita Gerlach [Gerlach, Rita]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: General Fiction
ISBN: 9781426714146
Google: eyVyDAhn2d8C
Barnesnoble:
Goodreads: 12365695
Publisher: Abingdon Press
Published: 2012-02-01T00:00:00+00:00

In the dark, the candle on Eliza’s bed table gently burned. The gilded flame flickered as the fire in her hearth lent gentle warmth to the room. She lay across her bed and stared at the gold-netted ripples of light moving over the ceiling. Her dreams found room between lonely hours, but tonight she found no sleep to escape into them.

She cried a little. Then she rallied her courage to drive back her emotions and wiped her face dry with a brisk sweep of her palm. Darcy slept in the room across from hers. When she heard her whimper, “Mama,” Eliza rose, donned her wrap, and went to her. To gather her child in her arms, to look down into her angelic face, gave Eliza reason to go forward and faith to hold on.

“Lord, what would I do without Darcy?” At the sound of Eliza’s voice, Darcy opened her eyes and through a tumble of hair looked up at her mother. Eliza kissed her cheek. “You were sent from Heaven, my sweet girl, to comfort me. Did you know that?” Darcy rubbed her eyes. “Now you must go back to sleep. Dream about your dear papa, and he will come home soon.”

Eliza tucked the covers around her daughter and smoothed the crown of her head with a gentle hand. She stepped out into the hallway, and as she laid her fingers over the cold brass knob, she saw Fiona coming up the stairs with a tray.

“I heard you moving about and brought mint tea to settle you, my girl. ’Tis a cold night, and Addison says there are signs of snow coming.” She followed Eliza inside, set the tray down, and handed her a mug of hot tea.

What kind of signs?” Eliza asked, holding the mug between her hands.

Fiona shrugged. “Hmm, he says the birds are nowhere to be seen.”

“I had noticed.” Eliza stepped to the window. “Not a star in the sky tonight. It is so thick with clouds . . . But we’ve had snow before. Nothing to worry over. We’ve extra wood and kindling inside and plenty of venison in the cold cellar.”

“And an abundance of my mint to keep off the chill. You know I found it growing wild and dried it myself. It is not as tasteful as our English tea, but it has a soothing effect.” Fiona drew an extra blanket out of Eliza’s cedar chest. She appeared nervous as she smoothed it out over the foot of the bed.

“What is troubling you, Fiona?” Eliza asked.

Fiona wrung her hands—hands that Eliza noticed had grown spotted and slightly gnarled with age. Her hair was so gray. “I don’t know,” Fiona replied. “But I feel uneasy and a little afraid.”

With a sigh, Eliza set her mug down and placed her hands on her servant’s shoulders. “There is naught to fear. We have each other, and God will watch over us. You were never afraid of snow before.”

“I know, but tonight feels different. And with Mr. Hayward away—oh, I wish he hadn’t left.

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