Among the Darkness Stirs

Theodocia thought on the simple words. “They both seem happier with the other.”

Audrey stretched a little and rubbed her neck lightly. Henry watched her movements and tried to drag his thoughts and eyes away from her mouth.

“I’m almost done,” she said.

“Me as well. And as you said, it’s quite a list.”

Together, they had combed through the four inmate volumes and placed the n

ames to those that matched the initials on their respective sheets of paper.

“Where do we go from here?” she wondered, looking at the long list.

He paused and glanced at her. “You look tired. Let’s stop for tonight.”

Audrey pursed her lips. “I am a bit. We should head back to the workhouse.”

“Why not spend the night? You did before.”

“No.” Audrey met his eyes and looked away. “We couldn’t. It’s an imposition.”

He quickly waved away the idea. “That’s ridiculous. I had this house built for guests. And children. I want several.”

She blushed. “Do you?”

“Do you?” he countered, secretly hoping she did.

“I won’t answer that.” She shook her head and looked away from him.

“Mother!” he called out, knowing how to get Audrey to agree. “It’s too late for Audrey and Frances to set out tonight. They should spend the night, don’t you think?”

Theodocia looked at the mantel clock. It was after ten. “Of course. Audrey, you and Frances are most welcome to spend the night.”

“Frances, do you mind? It would save us a trip,” Audrey told her little sister, who shook her head and said she wanted to stay. “Then we will,” she said, meeting Henry’s eyes.

Henry and Theodocia bid their guests a good night as they mounted the stairs. Henry saw his mother out of the corner of his eye as he moved to the dining room table to collect the papers they had worked on.

“I thought Della had broken your heart,” she said quietly. “I thought you would take years to recover.”

“She did. When it happened, I thought I would never care for another woman. God knows I never sought anyone out,” he said honestly. And then he met Audrey, and everything changed.

“And now Audrey.”

He turned to face his mother. “I think I’m falling in love with her.”

“She’s very special. Have you told her how you feel?”

“We’ve talked around it but never precisely it,” he said awkwardly.

She patted his shoulder. “For what it matters, I think she would make you an excellent wife. She’s exactly what you need. Intelligent, strong, caring, beautiful. You will do well together.”

“I think so, too.” He grinned.

Audrey snuggled into the bed covers and looked across at her sister sleeping beside her. “You know I love you, Lambkin. Ever so much.”

“I love you ever so,” Frances returned.

Audrey could hear the fire crackling in the room as she closed her eyes to sleep.