The Painted Bridge by Wendy Wallace

Author:Wendy Wallace
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published: 2012-07-17T04:00:00+00:00

TWENTY-ONE

Anna fell into step with Catherine and got hold of her arm.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“Coming with you, of course.”

“Why?”

“I knew you weren’t listening. I have to go to the fair tonight. I must see the Fasting Girl before she goes back to America.”

“Catherine, go back home this instant. I’m ordering you to.”

Catherine giggled.

“I refuse your order, Mrs. Palmer.”

In front of them, the round gray dome of St. Paul’s waited patiently under the clouds. She couldn’t drag Catherine back by force but all her instincts were against taking her. If she had his daughter with her, Abse was certain to come after her. Anna would have to throw the girl off once they reached London. It was the only way. She would lose Catherine in the streets and let her find her own way home. She was old enough.

“Alright. If you absolutely must. Come on.”

Anna had no idea where the road might be and judged it better to stick to the heath, where they would be harder to find. She picked up her skirts and hurried on, heading toward the distant outline of the cathedral. Catherine followed, keeping pace, and the two of them ran through frozen bogs, through reeds and grasses as high as their waists and up onto higher ground—dodging through stands of elms and oaks, the ground underneath sharp with acorns. They encountered a farmer on his horse and by unspoken agreement slowed their pace and began to talk loudly about the benefits to ladies of taking a walk. As soon as he was out of sight, they picked up their skirts and ran again, faster than before. The dome grew bigger and more distinct with every glimpse they caught of it as if it too was on the move, advancing to meet them.

They reached the top of a hill and Anna stopped, bent double, gulping in cold air that hurt her chest. Catherine had both hands clutched to her stomach and could barely speak.

“I’ve got a stitch,” she gasped. “Let’s rest. I can’t go any farther.”

The top of the hill was flat and dotted with smooth stones, carved with names and dates. They sat, recovering their breath, surrounded by sky on all sides, the great panorama of London spread out before them. Scores of steeples pointed up from between lines of slate roofs. To the east, plumes of black smoke rose in columns from factory chimneys. The river snaked its silver path through the middle of everything and the city sent up a distant blur of sound at odds with the sharp detail that met their eyes.

Catherine spread her arms wide and tilted her face to the sun.

“Isn’t it wonderful, Mrs. Palmer? To be free.”

“Let’s carry on, Catherine. We’re not safe yet.”

Anna didn’t feel free. She wanted to be far away from Lake House and unencumbered by Catherine. She jumped up from where she sat and hurried on down the hill, encountered a path and began to follow it. It grew wider and better trod as they went.

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