Follies and Vices by Emily Russell

Author:Emily Russell [Russell, Emily]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-07-08T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 23

The next morning, Elizabeth woke to find herself alone. She felt a little stab of disappointment, but she rolled out of bed and broke the film of ice in the water jug to wash as best she could, shivering as the icy drops splashed over her. She looked at her unkempt hair in the chipped mirror and tried to arrange it as best she could. If it were much longer before they reached London, she would forget what she looked like when she was clean and dressed well.

Martha was leaning over the fire when Elizabeth came in. She turned away with some eggs and warm bread.

“You’ll need these for your journey, dear.”

Elizabeth’s stomach growled with enthusiasm when the smell reached her.

“Where is my husband?” she asked.

Martha nodded toward the window. “Out with Daniel. Daniel is not as strong as he used to be, but he’d die before he’d admit it. Your man insisted on cutting up the wood for the fire as repayment for taking you in. He’s already drawn enough water to keep us going for a while.” She gestured for Elizabeth to sit down, but Elizabeth went to help her instead. “He is a fine man of yours. You are a fortunate girl.”

Martha looked at her expectedly. Elizabeth smiled. She felt a fierce rush of pride to think she had the kind of man who would get up without being asked and pull his weight to make things easier for others, for all he’d had such a comfortable life.

“I am fortunate.”

“I will say he is fortunate too.”

Elizabeth laughed. “I shall tell him you said that.”

“I’ll tell him myself. Can you carry the plates? Thank you, dear.”

Elizabeth went to the door to call the men for breakfast. She paused for a moment as she watched Darcy with his sleeves rolled up despite the cold, wielding an axe while Daniel arranged the wood into piles. A large mound already cut up sat in a shelter near the door. There was enough there to last Daniel several weeks at least. While they worked, Darcy and Daniel spoke together in low voices. Whatever Darcy said made Daniel laugh. Elizabeth’s heart swelled. To think, she had once considered Darcy devoid of every good feeling. Yet here he was, talking and laughing to this man like they were equals and enjoying himself to boot.

As if sensing her looking at him, Darcy turned to her. His eyes warmed as he smiled at her.

“Good morning, wife,” he said cheerfully. “You find me being useful.”

“I do, indeed. And you find me likewise. I am bidden to tell you breakfast is ready. And I must warn you, it smells good enough for me to eat your share as well as my own.”

Daniel burst out laughing, and Darcy grinned.

After breakfast, Martha summoned Elizabeth to her room. She had opened a parcel. Elizabeth looked at it with curiosity. As Martha drew them out, Elizabeth stepped back.

“I cannot take them. You will need them.”

“What for?” Martha picked up the tidy pair of boots and tried to hand them to Elizabeth.

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