Among the Darkness Stirs

“Yes. Why are you laughing?” It wasn’t funny at all, was it?

She shook her head. “Nothing. It’s just I know no one here. And now tea with your mother.”

“Yes.”

“Did she ask me or are you asking me?” Audrey wondered.

“She did. It was her idea. I’ve the letter of invite here somewhere,” he said, searching his inner jacket pocket.

She pushed her hair behind her ears. “How does she even know of me?”

“I told her of you. We talk of many things.” He handed her the small invite with her name on the front. “She’s a formidable woman. I think you’ll like her.”

She hummed as she studied the envelope. “Will I? I’ve met no one in Norwich. She’ll be my first acquaintance.”

“I wouldn’t say no one. What of young Mr. Caldwell?” Henry cursed himself the moment he spoke the words. He sounded like a jealous lover.

She glanced up at him, a question on her face. “Mr. Caldwell? He’s staff, just as me. He was offering me advice on the classroom as well.”

“I see.”

“I’m trying to survive in a place as foreign to me as the moon,” she told him. “I’ll take all the advice and any friendship given to me.”

“Who else have you befriended?” he wondered.

“Levi. Levi Penn. The porter. He’s been kind to me as well.”

“Naturally.”

“Naturally what?” she asked him.

“Naturally you’ll make friends,” he said. She was a lovely young woman, and most men would be drawn to her. He knew he was.

They came to a stop near the entrance to the building, and Audrey turned to face him. “I’ll bid you a good night here, Mr. Ryland. I must get inside and work on tomorrow’s lesson plan.”

He felt unhappy at having to part ways with her. The more time he spent with Audrey, the more he wanted to continue to be with her. It was a strange sensation, as they barely knew each other, but it was as if she was seeping under his skin. It was an elusive, strange awareness.

“I think my mother said tea on Saturday. I’ll hope you’ll be able to make it.”

“Of course I will. Tell her thank you.”

“I will. Good night, Ms. Wakefield.”

She turned and headed back inside, pausing to wave to him at the door. Henry watched her walk away, feeling very much like one of the schoolboys she taught.

Henry walked down the path away from the workhouse, passed the stables, and went back to the street, where he hailed a cab home. He couldn’t shake the sense of wanting to help Audrey Wakefield succeed, and after seeing her that afternoon, he had mixed emotions.

He had somehow forgotten just how lovely she was, and watching her speak to Joseph Caldwell stirred up feelings of jealousy, which was ridiculous. He hardly knew the girl. He had made some excuse to visit the workhouse and had run into the Matron giving out new duties to several female inmates.

He had asked how things were going, and she replied that all was well. She had given him a look that his mother had done when he was a child, and he suspected she knew exactly why he was t

here. But she said nothing. She walked with him as they spoke about the odds and ends of the workhouse, and when she asked if he wished to speak to the Master, as he often did, he said no.

Again, she had said nothing but continued speaking with him. When they had come upon Joseph Caldwell and Audrey speaking, he had sensed the Matron looking at him with a smirk on her face.

He shook his head. So foolish. What was he doing anyway? A young woman had sought his help, and he had given it to her. The matter should be ended.

He had been able to secure a job, at least temporarily, for her, and that was that. It should have nothing more to do with him unless she performed poorly. But he had to be honest with himself, and in the setting sun outside the Norwich Workhouse, he would be.