Among the Darkness Stirs

“I know that.” She sniffled.

“I’ll make this right.”

“I’m afraid there has been a misunderstanding, and someone has set out to slander Ms. Wakefield,” Henry told Cuthbert Meacham before the board meeting.

Tho

ugh Cuthbert ruled the workhouse well and with a guiding hand, he had the utmost respect for the Board of Guardians as the overseeing entity.

“How—how so, sir?” he said, looking uneasy.

“Yesterday afternoon, I was taking my mother to the train station. We happened to see Ms. Wakefield, who said she was homesick and was returning to see her mother and sister. We bid her a good journey and she departed,” he said, absently picking a bit of nonexistent dust of his pant leg.

“I—I see,” Master said, looking uneasy.

“She mentioned it was a last-minute trip and that she would return on the morrow.”

“She said that?” Cuthbert swallowed visibly.

“I saw Ms. Wakefield just now and she was in some distress. She said there are claims that she was at a hotel with a man. She can’t be in two places at once, can she?” Henry asked innocently.

Cuthbert’s eyes widened ever so slightly. “No—no, indeed, Mr. Ryland.”

“You and I are both men of the world. I think it safe to assume that some old biddy is probably jealous of Ms. Wakefield and is trying to get rid of her. Most un-Christian-like if you ask me,” Henry said, knowing Cuthbert was a man of virtue.

Cuthbert nodded vigorously. “Most—most un-Christian-like. You are correct.”

Henry hid his smile. “So, let’s have no more talk of anyone leaving. Also, I would like the Wisteria Cottage repainted and cleaned for Ms. Wakefield. Her family is coming to live with her at the end of the month, and she needs more room.”

Cuthbert nearly tripped over himself in his haste to agree. “Of course. I’ll see to it myself.”

Satisfaction ran through Henry. “Thank you, Mr. Meacham.”

When Matron learned of the cottage being given to Audrey and the fact that she was staying, she flew into a rage. She didn’t care that Henry was her alibi. She only cared that Audrey would remain.

“You’re a fool, Cuthbert! He’s obviously her lover!” She sneered.

Cuthbert eyed his wife coldly. “He’s a board guardian and a man of property, Elspeth. We don’t go against him. Why you are so bent against the girl? I’m starting to think he’s right. People are jealous of her.”

Elspeth glared at him. “So we just—”

“’Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,’” he quoted scripture to her. Matron huffed audibly. “We do as we are paid to do, wife. We keep to our own business and the business of the workhouse. Leave Ms. Wakefield alone. Her mother and sister will be here soon. If she’s been wandering out and about, her mother will most likely rein her in.”

Elspeth watched her husband leave the room and narrowed her eyes. She would leave Audrey Wakefield alone for the time being, but she would keep a watchful eye on her, nonetheless.

The next several weeks flew by quickly for Audrey. The classroom was running much smoother, and she was making little strides. She practiced patience and kindness with the children, and except for a few outbursts here and there, her students seemed to be reciprocating her energy.

She had checked on the cottage twice since the night she had almost been fired, and it was looking quite attractive. A new coat of paint and a good cleaning had done wonders for it. She had spent several evenings pulling weeds and making sure the small yard of roses would be ready for her mother, as she liked to have something to look at. Her mother and sister would arrive the next weekend, and she was looking forward to seeing them.

She felt the stays at her lower back and arched to relieve the tension. Not for the first time, she thought of Henry Ryland. She had not seen him since their last meeting when he had promised he would fix the mess he had made, and he had kept his promise.

He had also kept his second promise, and because of it, she had not seen him again. He was at the workhouse for meetings, and once, she had caught a glimpse of him striding down the hallway, but before he had seen her, she had turned the other way. It wasn’t that she didn’t want his friendship and his help, but she didn’t want the gossip and the ugly rumors.

Her father would have been ashamed to the core if he had been alive to hear about her visiting a hotel with a man. Never mind the hotel had a tearoom and she had been in sight of all the diners and staff the entire time there. She would not allow herself to be gossiped about like some doxy.

She stepped inside the little cottage and looked about it. It was a perfect little place for her mother and sister to live, and not for the first time, she felt a sense of accomplishment. She was providing for her family with her skills and education. It was a good feeling.

“Hello?” a voice called out, and she came to see Levi standing in the doorway.