The Woman in the Water by Will Barton & Sheila Barton

Author:Will Barton & Sheila Barton
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Endeavour Media
Published: 2016-10-19T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

The next day, after her water deliveries, Lizzie went to see Aunt Mary to tell her of her plans.

She was sitting in the warm and welcoming kitchen of Mr Harding’s house and her aunt was delighted. “Well, my dear, you could not have brought me better news. When will you go?”

Lizzie told her of the friendly waggoner and that she would be off in three days’ time, as long as she could square it with Mr Leslie.

“Hmm.” Her aunt thought for a moment. “Mr Leslie will give you no trouble, but perhaps we can find a girl to take your place for a few days…. I’ll go and speak with them.”

She looked at Lizzie enquiringly, who nodded assent.

“Come back before you go, my dear. I’ll have things for you to take to Silas. You must tell him I’ll be there before two weeks have passed. Mr Harding must manage. I cannot wait any longer. ”

Lizzie merely nodded again. Mary wondered what was wrong with the girl.

“’Twill be for the good,” Mary said. “Your poor mother grieves so for you.”

Another nod and Lizzie got up to go.

*

Mary Yeo entered the apothecary shop and stopped for a moment, as everybody did, while her eyes became accustomed to the gloom. When they had, she looked up to see both the Leslies looking at her, and then a smile spread across Mrs Leslie’s face. Mr Leslie, she noticed, was still peering myopically towards her and she thought to herself what a sad thing old age could be. Day after day, Mr Leslie dispensed powders and drops to those in bad health. There was nothing he could do, however, to halt his own encroaching blindness.

“Mrs Yeo, how good to see you. How go things with you?” Mrs Leslie walked towards her visitor. “Come and sit with us for a minute. Lizzie isn’t here at the moment…… Is everything well with you?”

Mary sat down and began to talk to the Leslies. She must, she emphasised, go back to Bradford to look after her brother. She was quite determined to leave in two weeks’ time and if Mr Harding could not sort out his affairs whilst she was here, then she must leave him to take his chances. Mrs Leslie nodded. She was sure he would find a replacement – although not one as reliable as Mrs Yeo, she was also sure.

“Lizzie has a chance to go to Bradford for a day or two.” Mary looked enquiringly at the couple. “Her mother would be so pleased to see her – and she needs to make her peace with her father.”

“That would be a blessing,” Mr Leslie said.

“You know of her…. Disgrace?”

“She has more than paid for that,” Mr Leslie said quietly. “She is a fine young woman and she will make her way in the world, of that I am sure. Does she have company to walk to Bradford? I should not like to think of her alone. It will be quite dark before she arrives.”

“There is a waggoner who will take her.

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