“She’s taking it hard,” Audrey said quietly.
“Well, she would. They were thick as thieves. Have been for years,” Joseph said, and Levi nodded.
“I am sorry for her. She seems so alone. It’s the kind of sad ending in life you hope you don’t have,” Audrey said, frowning. After a moment, she shook her head. “I’ll say good evening. I have to return home to my mother and sister.”
She walked the rest of the way until she came to the cottage. Frances was waiting for her when she came up the small walk.
“Audrey!” she called out to her.
“Lambkin,” she said, kissing her forehead.
“I’ve been looking for you. I haven’t seen Mother for ages. I’ve been all alone,” Frances told her sister.
Audrey frowned. “Really? How long?”
“Since you dropped me off after class. Mother left right after that.”
That was strange. “Have you eaten?”
“Some bread and cheese.”
“Let me see what else we have,” Audrey said.
Walking into the larder, she found some eggs and made Frances a quick dish of scrambled eggs. She watched Frances eat, and when she was finished, Audrey told her to wash up and prepare for bed. After putting Frances to bed, she was shocked that her mother still had not arrived. She waited downstairs, going over lesson plans, and finally, after midnight, she heard the sound of the front door open and close.
“Mother!” Audrey whispered as Augusta came into the room.
Augusta was dressed in her mourning gown, but her face was smudged with dirt, and her hair looked mussed and uncombed. “Audrey.”
“Mother, where on earth have you been?”
Augusta looked at her daughter. “I don’t answer to you. I don’t need to tell you where I’ve been.”
Her tone took Audrey aback, and for a second, she didn’t know how to respond. “You do. I came home to find Frances had had a scant supper and then you come home after midnight with your hair in disarray and dirt on your face. What is going on?”
Augusta glared at her daughter. “If you must know, I was watching the buildings.”
Audrey shook her head. “Watching the buildings? What buildings?”
“I went into the orchards to discover just what that man is up to. I’m absolutely sure it’s no good. You may not care about what goes on here, but I do. He could be an assassin or some crazed killer inmate from the workhouse.”
Audrey stared at her, eyes wide with disbelief. “What on earth? And did you see him?”
Augusta rolled her eyes. “Of course not. It was my first night tracking him. He’s not stupid. I must try again tomorrow.”
Audrey took a deep breath. “I forbid it.”
“You forbid it?” Augusta asked.
“I forbid it. Who do you think you are? I’ll tell you what Master and Matron will think. They’ll move you from this cottage to the workhouse because they’ll think you are an inmate. And not just an inmate, a mental patient,” Audrey told her coldly.
“Insolent chit!” Augusta’s cheeks flushed red, and raising her hand, she slapped Audrey across the face.
Despite the sting, Audrey stood her ground. “I forbid you to leave this house after supper, Mother. Do you hear me?”
Augusta faced her daughter. “And if I refuse?”
“Then I will tell Matron myself that you are losing your faculties. I’ll tell them for your safety you should be confined.” She said the last word with emphasis.