Out of the Darkness by Elizabeth Johns

Author:Elizabeth Johns [Johns, Elizabeth]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Elizabeth Johns

Chapter 8

Catriona’s heart felt like it would burst. She did not know why, but John had allowed her to see his amputation scars and treat them. She knew it had cost him dearly to show her, but she felt honoured beyond words. Had it been a peace offering? She did not know, and she would not question it. She only hoped and prayed her face had expressed love and nothing else.

Catriona wanted to shout for joy, but there really was no-one who would understand. She forced herself to return to the house to see how Nelly did. Hopefully she would be feeling strong enough to make the short trip to Breconrae.

When Catriona entered the kitchen, Nelly had dressed and was sitting at the table, taking tea with the other servants.

“Good afternoon,” she greeted everyone as they all stood up. She waved them back to their seats. “Does this mean you are feeling better?” she asked Nelly.

“Oh, yes, miss. I think I was just tired and hungry. May I go to see Timmy now?”

“I think it may be arranged. I should like to have my tea first and then I will go with you.”

“Very good, miss.” She stood up and tried to bob a curtsy, but stumbled and had to catch hold of the table.

“Are you certain you feel strong enough, Nelly?”

“Yes, miss. I am just clumsy.”

“Very well. I will return for you soon,” she replied with a smile. Nonetheless, she was sceptical.

John rode along as they escorted Nelly to Breconrae later that afternoon. Catriona could not help but notice Nelly kept looking around her as if she was being watched, though who she thought could see her under her bonnet seated in the carriage, Catriona could not say.

Nelly appeared to stumble many times as they alighted and walked into the Dower House. Catriona asked the house-mother, Mrs Potts, to find the maid a room and to send for Timmy. When a nurse brought Timmy down to the parlour, Nelly exclaimed, “What a beautiful baby!”

“Is this not your Timmy?” Catriona asked. She had not taken a good look at the child before.

“My Timmy?” Nelly seemed completely confused.

“Perhaps you need to rest a while longer. It may have been too soon to move you here. Mrs Potts, perhaps Nelly ought to take some time to properly recover before she begins her new duties.”

“Of course, Miss Craig.”

Catriona took Timmy from Nelly and the house-mother led her away to settle her in a bedchamber.

“She did not recognise the babe, Catriona,” John remarked after they walked away.

“I know. I do not understand it. Perhaps the disease has addled her brain,” she pondered aloud, looking down at the sleeping infant in her arms as they sat next to each other on a sofa.

“I cannot consider any woman who runs away into the woods with a new babe to be thinking properly.”

“She was turned out. She had no choice,” Catriona responded, though she did not see how anyone could not know her own child. The woman had been asking about him earlier, at tea.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.