Augusta’s eyes flashed. “How dare you! Who do you think you are?”
“Try me, Mother,” Audrey said. “I swear on my father’s dear memory and my love of him. You just try me and see what happens.”
Augusta paled and narrowed her eyes. Turning her back on Audrey, she stomped up the stairs to her room.
Audrey felt her hands shaking, and she sat down upon the sofa. Her mother was becoming odder the longer they were at the cottage. She couldn’t believe her own ears when she spoke of tracking some shadow on the grounds. And staying out after midnight on top of that! She took a deep breath. Perhaps it was more than mere oddities. Maybe her mother was losing her faculties.
That thought shook her, and she pushed the unpleasant thought from her mind.
Audrey barely listened to the women at the club discussing their various business as she took a sip of tea. Her mind was ablaze with her last encounter with her mother, and she hoped it would be the last time they discussed the issue. Her mother had to see reason. She was frightened that it might be something more serious with her mother’s mind. The warm fire burned brightly beside her, and she felt herself drifting off.
When she jerked awake, she felt disoriented. She couldn’t remember where she was. She looked up to see the warm fire burning in the fireplace and Henry Ryland sitting a few feet from her with a book in his lap. She sat up but realized there was a blanket covering her.
“My mother said you looked very tired,” he told her. “You fell asleep in the meeting, she said. She placed the blanket over you.”
Audrey licked her lips. “Your mother is too kind.”
“You’ll forgive me for saying you don’t look well,” Henry told her.
Audrey looked into his handsome face. “I don’t feel well.”
“Do you need an ear? I’ll lend you one.”
She smiled lightly. “Just one? What if I need two?”
“Then both are at your disposal,” Henry said sincerely.
She placed the blanket to one side and stared into the fire. “I’m not sure how to even begin to describe it. It all seems too jumbled and strange.”
He leaned forward. “When did it start?”
“If I’m honest, it started with my mother coming to Norwich. My little sister had been excited about the change and follows me everywhere. She’s always been a sweet little thing. But my mother—”
“She has not taken to this life?” he guessed.
She shook her head. “But it’s more than that. She’s bec
ome strange. I—I’ve never seen her like this. She has these strange ideas, and I can’t seem to persuade her to leave them.”
Henry frowned. “What strange ideas?”
Audrey touched her forehead. “She sees things. Says she’s watching out for some man on the grounds outside the cottage. It’s ridiculous. Even if there was someone, he’s obviously about his work. I think she’s angry with me. I brought her here and she doesn’t like the cottage and she doesn’t like being on the workhouse grounds. She wants her old life back. It’s impossible.”
Henry was silent for a few moments and then said, “Perhaps I can help. I might be able to ask the board if we can—”
“No,” Audrey said firmly. “There’s to be no discussion. The cottage is perfectly acceptable. More than that. I like it very much, and I’m very grateful for it. I’m only sorry she has become so disagreeable and difficult. I don’t know how to handle her. She’s never been like this before.”
“Is there anything I can do, Ms. Wakefield? I’ll help you in any way I can.” His warm eyes were on hers.
“No, Mr. Ryland. You’ve done more than most. I’m obliged to you,” she told him, but he shook his head.
“You are nothing of the sort. You are not obliged. Everything you have, you’ve earned. I don’t mind saying I was wrong about you. You have proven yourself, and the schoolroom runs more efficiently now than it has in a long time,” he admitted to her.
Audrey smiled. “Then that’s something good.”
“It’s true. Master Meacham said he was pleased with the schoolroom being run so well and that’s praise indeed. He values efficiency above all else in the workhouse,” he told her.
“I’m glad. The children really are learning, though it’s small steps forward, but steps nonetheless,” she commented.