Among the Darkness Stirs

She wanted to wade into the cool water, but she also wanted to stay with her family. She didn’t want to let this moment go by. Here, in this time and place, everything was as it should be. There was no cold workhouse, no gossiping eyes, and no people to please all the time.

She turned on her side and felt the warmth of the sun. It was comforting and safe, and she snuggled in it.

Henry felt himself closing his eyes, but he wavered between being asleep and being awake. The moon had been low above him and the river peaceful beside him. He remembered having tea and being pleased with the day. Audrey Wakefield had come to see him. She had been so very happy with the cottage, though he remembered it as a tiny place with not much space to move about it. He guessed after what she had been through, it was more than she had hoped for. It was a place to call home for her small family.

Then there had been Della. He had not wanted to see the black-haired woman who had broken his heart. His dreams and life had been wrapped up in her eyes and face, and seeing her again had been unpleasant. Seeing Nanette as well had been trying.

He had never been overly fond of Nanette. She had wanted them to marry for the status it would give her daughter, but starting a new life with him meant Della was less under her mother’s thumb. All that had changed in France. Della had met another man, fallen in love, and broken off their engagement. That she wanted to reconcile now was too little too late. He could not. He could never trust her again. She had turned out to be frivolous and untrustworthy.

He felt something brush against his arm and looked to the left of him. Snuggled against his arm was Audrey Wakefield. He struggled to recall what had happened.

Then he remembered.

The Adam and Eve. He had too many whiskeys. Now they were lying in the grass at the Broads. He looked at her face. It was a perfect face. A soft face with blue eyes and lush lips set in an oval frame of perfection. He saw her arm was draped over his, and he moved his other arm to touch her.

His heart quickened. He was surprised to feel something for another woman after Della, but she was nothing like Della. Audrey was intelligent and had a strength that he had not seen often in a woman. When he touched her cheek, it was like silk. He felt himself spinning a little. How many whiskeys had he had? He couldn’t remember.

He looked back at Audrey. What would he give to taste those lips? He closed his eyes as his hand fell back to his side. The chaotic world was very quiet. The quietness seemed deafening. Perhaps he could dream of another place. A quiet place. Where he was the master and the woman by his side was Audrey. He fell asleep smiling.

Audrey blinked once and saw the grey light that surrounded her. She smelled the dewy green grass underneath her and looked up at the grey sky. She frowned. When she looked beside her, she saw Henry and gasped. She hadn’t meant to gasp loudly, but she did, and Henry woke as well. She pushed away from him and sat up.

“What’s wrong?” he said, sitting up as well.

“What’s wrong?” she echoed, a panicked tone to her voice. “Better to ask what’s right. I’ve been out all night and the Matron will probably sack me. I spent the night in the woods with a—a man!”

“Audrey,” he said, not realizing he should not have.

“Don’t call me that,” she snapped.

He huffed in annoyance. “Well, you just said you spent the night with me. Should I still call you Ms. Wakefield?”

She shot him a sharp glance. “I’m glad this amuses you.”

He met her stare directly. “I’m not amused. I’ll speak to Matron.”

“No, thank you. That will do more harm than good.” She scooted even further away from him.

“Why is that?”

She grunted. “Because she’s already told me to watch myself. I don’t think she likes me befriending the other male staff and you especially.”

He frowned. “Why me especially?”

“Because you’re a board guardian,” she said impatiently. “I’m sure like everyone else she thinks I did something to get my job.”

He stared at her, clearly not following. “Did something?”

“You know what I mean.” She turned hot eyes to him.

“I don’t.” But he did.

“That I’m your mistress.” Her heart pounded at the words.

He gave her a lopsided grin. “That’s ridiculous.”

She threw her hands up. “Exactly.”

“Well, it’s not logical.”