Freedom's Light by Colleen Coble

Author:Colleen Coble
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published: 2018-07-31T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 16

Lydia felt as though she were in a fog. She huddled inside her heavy woolen cloak as the carriage delivered them home from the church, then she followed Hannah into the house. She just couldn’t go back to South Carolina. She just couldn’t. She recoiled at the thought of listening to her father’s drunken rages and her mother’s cries of pain and outrage when he struck her. Her friends would laugh behind her back that she had returned when she’d vowed never to darken their doors again.

Tears pricked the backs of her eyes. Why did this have to happen? Things were going so well with Galen. He had actually written her twice and told her he missed her. In fact, she had been expecting another letter any day from him. There might even be one today. She must write him and tell him she didn’t know where she would be, but she would contact him when she was settled.

Tears trickled down her cheeks. It had all gone wrong somehow. All her bright, golden dreams of life with Galen in England seemed impossible now. She would have no choice but to go home. She had to face that fact squarely.

“I have some money put back, Lydia. I want you to take it.” Hannah went to the pantry and opened a crock. The coins clinked together as she scooped them up. “It should be enough to buy a ticket home, and maybe you can use the rest while you look for a position.” She thrust the coins and notes into Lydia’s hands.

Lydia’s tears fell faster. Hannah had been faithful. She deserved more from life than she had received. She certainly didn’t deserve a sister who spied on her. For the first time Lydia felt shame, and was relieved Hannah had no idea of all she’d done. “My thanks, Sister,” she whispered.

Hannah released a gentle smile. Her face was white with shock and fatigue, and her green eyes were shadowed with pain. “If I could go with you, I would, Lydia.”

Lydia grimaced. “The lighthouse, always the lighthouse. It is a harsh taskmaster, Hannah. Why do you not leave it and come away with me? We could seek our fortune together in New York or Boston. Your in-laws bear you no love. Why do you stay?”

The pain in Hannah’s eyes deepened. “I promised John. And it is an important task. Important to the revolution and to all the ships that ply these waters. Faith, but where would I go? Here I have a roof over my head, important duties, and a tie to my husband.”

“A husband you never loved.” Lydia didn’t understand her sister. She placed too much importance on duty. Did she never long to do what she wanted for a change? Her life was slipping by, and soon she would be too old for adventure.

“Maybe not in the way you mean. But I revered and honored him. He was good to me. But more than that, I need to be needed.”

Lydia had never heard her admit something like that before.

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