of the room
rushing about her body as she did. Had something happened during
her sleep? Dressing quickly, she rushed downstairs, seeing sunlight
gently filtering through the windows. Nothing seemed out of order
and Anne continued to the kitchen, finding Lisle baking like she
did every day.
"I milked the cow," Lisle said. "I
haven't taken her out to pasture. I think that's a task we need to
share until we can get another field hand. Now, I can take the cow
after I finish here, or do you want to do it?"
Anne didn't know what to say. She'd been
thinking more of how to work through Lisle departure, but Lisle was
acting as if nothing was wrong. Lisle was even discussing replacing
Alfie. Last night, Lisle had been acting like devils were after
her, or rather Alfie, and today, she acted as if it'd had never
happened.
"Lisle, I've been wondering if perhaps it is
better you find a position elsewhere."
"Whatever for?" Lisle said, staring at her
as if it was the most outlandish suggestion.
"It is just that things get difficult in
this house, particularly at night."
"It's just imagination and flights of
fancy," Lisle said dismissively. Well, at least she was
acknowledging the dramatics of the night before. "Besides, you
can't get rid of the staff because you fear whispers in the night.
How are you supposed to live here without a maid?"
"Alfie died."
"He had a bad heart. It was
unfortunately, but there was nothing anyone could do. These things
cannot always be foreseen, the doctor said."
Confronted with such rationality, Anne felt
ridiculous, but not enough to ease her worry. In truth, she still
didn't know what to think, and she needed to work through her
feelings and thoughts on the events of the last few days. Maybe it
was the shock that was making both of them act strangely. "I will
take the cow," Anne said.
Grabbing her coat, Anne walked out into the
yard. The air was fresh and cold. The snow had melted, leaving a
clear, sunny day. Maybe some fresh air was just what she
needed.
Anne stood by the window biting the tip of
her thumb. Everything was calm in the house. To Anne though, it
felt like the calm before the storm, the reprieve before the coming
night. She could be completely wrong. Everything that had happened
could be a reaction to the shock they'd suffered. She'd know
tonight. If things went back to normal, that was that. The house
creaked, the wind whispered and Alfie's death had been an
unfortunate tragedy. Or not…
With a sigh, Anne chewed on her nail
again. The sun was going down. Relentlessly, it kept sinking in the
distance. There was something to be said for the winter sunsets on
the moors. A mist was starting to rise and the pale sunlight showed
its wisps. The temperature would be plunging soon. It was cold
enough that it might snow if clouds rolled in.
Lisle popped her head out of the
kitchen, saying supper was ready and Anne went to join her. The
kitchen was warm from the fire, especially as the temperature in
the house was cooling quickly.
They ate the soup in silence. Lisle seemed
her usual self, typically sullen. At least Lisle was returning to
normal, or seemingly so. All the hurt she felt was now hidden away.
Perhaps that was for the best. They needed to put this behind
them.
After supper, Lisle stayed in the
kitchen as Anne left, taking this time to burn sage around the
house before Lisle had a chance to see her and possibly ridicule
her.
The house was dark and the sparse
light didn't stretch into the shadowed corner. The peaceful feeling
during the day was dissipating and the house felt ominous again. It
felt as if the paintings on the walls were watching her, distant
and disapproving, staring blankly when she paid attention. Maybe
she needed to get rid of those paintings. They had seemed better
than bare walls, but she wasn't sure now, particularly the
portraits. The landscapes and even the battle scenes were not as
worrisome perhaps.
The smoke filled the room. Anne walked
around the
rushing about her body as she did. Had something happened during
her sleep? Dressing quickly, she rushed downstairs, seeing sunlight
gently filtering through the windows. Nothing seemed out of order
and Anne continued to the kitchen, finding Lisle baking like she
did every day.
"I milked the cow," Lisle said. "I
haven't taken her out to pasture. I think that's a task we need to
share until we can get another field hand. Now, I can take the cow
after I finish here, or do you want to do it?"
Anne didn't know what to say. She'd been
thinking more of how to work through Lisle departure, but Lisle was
acting as if nothing was wrong. Lisle was even discussing replacing
Alfie. Last night, Lisle had been acting like devils were after
her, or rather Alfie, and today, she acted as if it'd had never
happened.
"Lisle, I've been wondering if perhaps it is
better you find a position elsewhere."
"Whatever for?" Lisle said, staring at her
as if it was the most outlandish suggestion.
"It is just that things get difficult in
this house, particularly at night."
"It's just imagination and flights of
fancy," Lisle said dismissively. Well, at least she was
acknowledging the dramatics of the night before. "Besides, you
can't get rid of the staff because you fear whispers in the night.
How are you supposed to live here without a maid?"
"Alfie died."
"He had a bad heart. It was
unfortunately, but there was nothing anyone could do. These things
cannot always be foreseen, the doctor said."
Confronted with such rationality, Anne felt
ridiculous, but not enough to ease her worry. In truth, she still
didn't know what to think, and she needed to work through her
feelings and thoughts on the events of the last few days. Maybe it
was the shock that was making both of them act strangely. "I will
take the cow," Anne said.
Grabbing her coat, Anne walked out into the
yard. The air was fresh and cold. The snow had melted, leaving a
clear, sunny day. Maybe some fresh air was just what she
needed.
Anne stood by the window biting the tip of
her thumb. Everything was calm in the house. To Anne though, it
felt like the calm before the storm, the reprieve before the coming
night. She could be completely wrong. Everything that had happened
could be a reaction to the shock they'd suffered. She'd know
tonight. If things went back to normal, that was that. The house
creaked, the wind whispered and Alfie's death had been an
unfortunate tragedy. Or not…
With a sigh, Anne chewed on her nail
again. The sun was going down. Relentlessly, it kept sinking in the
distance. There was something to be said for the winter sunsets on
the moors. A mist was starting to rise and the pale sunlight showed
its wisps. The temperature would be plunging soon. It was cold
enough that it might snow if clouds rolled in.
Lisle popped her head out of the
kitchen, saying supper was ready and Anne went to join her. The
kitchen was warm from the fire, especially as the temperature in
the house was cooling quickly.
They ate the soup in silence. Lisle seemed
her usual self, typically sullen. At least Lisle was returning to
normal, or seemingly so. All the hurt she felt was now hidden away.
Perhaps that was for the best. They needed to put this behind
them.
After supper, Lisle stayed in the
kitchen as Anne left, taking this time to burn sage around the
house before Lisle had a chance to see her and possibly ridicule
her.
The house was dark and the sparse
light didn't stretch into the shadowed corner. The peaceful feeling
during the day was dissipating and the house felt ominous again. It
felt as if the paintings on the walls were watching her, distant
and disapproving, staring blankly when she paid attention. Maybe
she needed to get rid of those paintings. They had seemed better
than bare walls, but she wasn't sure now, particularly the
portraits. The landscapes and even the battle scenes were not as
worrisome perhaps.
The smoke filled the room. Anne walked
around the
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