The Lady of the Bog by Gillian St. Kevern

Author:Gillian St. Kevern [St. Kevern, Gillian]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780995139374
Publisher: Gillian St. Kevern
Published: 2020-09-04T16:00:00+00:00

18

“Perhaps you don’t realise it, Miss Skelton, given how much of the jolly marsh there is around here, but a swamp like this is rather rare.” Brick, the oldest of the four women, assumed the role of lecturer. “It provides a habitat for many forms of insect life that one would not find elsewhere. We propose to make an in-depth study of the moths and butterflies of this locale and are hot on the trail of a rare species, described in the writings of a seventeenth century scientist and not seen since.”

Florence nodded, sipping the bowl of soup Jackie had provided her. It was homely fare, the sort her mother would have made for the deserving poor, and exactly what she needed after her experience in the swamp. “And that is why you are here?” She hesitated. How was she to phrase this? “Is this your entire party?”

“That it is,” Jemima beamed. “Jackie chops our wood and is in charge of the food. Brick organises our search for the mystery moth and maps our search. Pat is the navigator and secures our groceries, and I oversee morale and housework.”

“Morale.” Jackie raised her eyebrows. “Is that what you call it?”

Florence interrupted before the two could get sidetracked. “And your menfolk?”

Again, a look passed across the four women. “We do fine without.”

“But—”

“We’re committed spinsters,” Jemima explained. “We share a medical condition that prevents us from marriage. Can’t risk handing it on, doncha know.”

A medical condition—did that explain their unusual eye colour? “I am so sorry—” Florence began.

Pat shook her head. “Don’t be.”

“Our numbers are few,” Brick said, “but there are enough of us we have banded together to form a mutual support society, while our common interest in Lepidoptera gives us purpose.”

A society of women? Her father would never approve. And yet… Florence cast a look around the cottage. Aside from the profusion of petticoats, the cottage was unremarkable. If this was a den of iniquity, it was a very well kept one. “So that is why you’re in Aylesport. I can’t imagine why I did not hear of you.”

“We keep to ourselves,” Jackie said. “Most people hear of a gathering of women and assume the worst.”

Florence blushed. “Do you think you can find your way to Old House in these conditions? I don’t like to think of them searching for me in this weather.”

“Once you’re warmed and have eaten, I’ll be happy to take you,” Brick assured her. “I have trails of my own to follow. Not to mention, I would be glad to meet Mr Temple. It is because of him we can search for this moth at all.”

Florence tilted her head. “I was not aware that Mr Temple had an interest in Lepidoptera.” He seemed to think of only archaeology.

“He has no idea of how we’re indebted to him,” Brick continued. “A scheme was proposed to convert the swamp to farmland. The village opposed it, but they were overruled. The bogs were on the brink of being lost when Mr Temple made his great find.

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.