Garden of Temptation by Daphne Bloom

Author:Daphne Bloom [Bloom, Daphne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Red Empress Publishing

Chapter Twelve

Edison

It’s early evening, after I’ve completed my work for the day at the big house. Before I retire for the evening, I walk down to the village and swing by the church to do a bit of tidying around the grounds. I find this keeps the work from building up, so I’m able to maintain the grounds here without it interfering with my work at the house.

Lady Birchwood gives me a fair wage. It’s less than I was making at my last position, but her property and gardens are smaller. It’s enough, though, that I could probably let the job at the church go, but having a little extra money around never hurt anyone. As long as I have the energy for it, I might as well work both jobs. At least until Emma finds a position.

Emma has not come around to the idea of becoming a seamstress apprentice, and I can’t force her to do so. I’m not her father. I might be the man of the family, but without Mother’s support, I can’t order Emma—or any of them—to do anything they don’t want to do. I can’t understand it, but Emma wants to stay close to home. I told her that if she finds a position as a maid or washerwoman, she’d only get a half-day off each month. She’d also live-in with her employer. If she ends up working anywhere but Birchwood, she’d hardly see Mother, but she’s insistent.

Something catches the corner of my eye and I see Miss Thompson walking down the stone path to the church. She sees me as well and stops. There is surprise on her face, and I think she wishes she could turn and run, but why she would want to do that, I can’t say.

“Evening, Miss Thompson,” I say, doffing my cap.

“Evening, Mr. Hawthorn,” she says, she then looks at my rake. “Why are you raking the lawn?”

“It’s just a bit of extra work,” I say. “I’ve gone from being a bachelor to a family of six. Every little bit helps.”

“Oh, of course,” she says. “How is your family?”

“Well, for the most part.”

“You said your mother was a bit lame, didn’t you?” she asks.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“May I ask the nature of her impairment?”

I’m a bit surprised at this and try to find a way to explain without telling her just how terrible my father was. I’d rather not talk about that.

“She…was injured,” I say. “A fall, a few years back. Hurt her hip and it never quite healed right.”

Violet winces. “Must have been a terrible fall. Was it from a great height? Down some stairs?”

“I…I’m not exactly sure. It was after I left home.” And a good thing too, I think to myself. If I’d been there when Father hurt her, I’d have killed him myself. But where would that have gotten me? Thrown in the clink, that’s what. Then who would care for the family?

“What does the doctor say?” Violet asks. “Is there hope for recovery?”

“I don’t think she ever saw a doctor,” I say.

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