Annie's Way: Annie's Way - A heart wrenching story of love and endurance in Victorian Yorkshire by Eve Everdene

Author:Eve Everdene [Everdene, Eve]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-12-08T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

“Oh, blast it”, Annie muttered to herself as she saw Margaret Bartle approaching her through St Michael’s graveyard. Annie was hoping to rush home quickly and splash her face and neck with cold water where she had caught the sun. It had been a long day decorating the barn and meadow at the estate, made longer still by her daydreaming of Edward. She was desperate for the next evening to arrive, when she would wear the dress and they would dance together and he would look at her full of longing again. Something about the way his eyes had lingered on her the night before gave her butterflies in her stomach. It made her feel alive again.

“Good afternoon, Miss Crossley”, Margaret hollered across the graves, waving her arms aloft as if Annie might not notice her, despite being only yards away.

“Good afternoon, Margaret”, she replied with a sigh. Her insistence on addressing everyone by their last name really grated on Annie, after all, they had known each other for many years. Sadly it was only one of her many unpleasant and irritating habits.

“I’ve seen your Mr Brigg today, riding with the blacksmith”, Margaret smirked, her voice was high pitched and shrill, almost accusatory.

“My Mr Brigg?”, Annie replied warily.

“Yes, Edward Brigg. Well, who’s else is he? He is living under your roof, isn’t he?”.

“Well, he’s living under Joseph’s roof I suppose. He’s lodging and working on the farm Margaret, that’s all”. Annie made to pass her and continue home, but her path was blocked by the thin, drawn woman.

“Is that really all, Annie? I can’t believe for one moment that a wandering soldier like him could be trusted alone with lovely girl like you”, Margaret sneered.

“I don’t know what you mean, I’m afraid. It’s purely a business arrangement”.

“Oh of course”, she continued, “I’ve heard all about men like him. Doing all sorts with any girl low enough to let them!”. She had begun to enjoy Annie’s discomfort, her eyes bulging in earnest as she stepped closer and closer. “Do you know, they often marry here in England and then abandon their wives in France once they grow tired of them? Truly heartless. They’re riddled with diseases too, brought from far away continents”.

“Margaret, I wouldn’t know!”, Annie snapped in frustration. “I am not aware of his private life and have no need to. He’s here at Joseph’s behest”.

“Mmm”. Margaret pursed her lips, taken aback by Annie’s outburst, and looked her up and down slowly. “Watch he doesn’t lead you a merry dance like he does all those whores in London…”. She leant in close to Annie’s face, almost giggling with glee. Annie tried to turn away from her sour breath but it was impossible to escape. “…although, I heard someone already did”. Margaret jabbed a bony finger hard into Annie’s middle as she spoke.

Annie was too stunned to speak. She had not been publicly confronted before, and it was the moment she had been dreading. At least the Reverend had been kind and discrete, but here in the church yard, unexpected and with no support, she felt vulnerable.

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