Among the Darkness Stirs

Freeman Reed, Chaplain

Joseph Caldwell, Superintendent

Levi Penn, Porter

Della Keene *

Nanette Keene *

Henry Ryland, Board of Guardians

Theodocia Ryland

As much as she wanted to find out the exact nature of what was happening, she knew Theodocia was innocent of any wrongdoings. It wasn’t just because she genuinely liked the woman, she also had no access to the workhouse.

She stared at the list again and then looked up. Her students were still reading quietly, but soon it would be dinner and then recreation. She could revisit this list after dinner. She rang the small bell on her desk. The children looked up expectantly at her. She released them for mealtime, and they dispersed.

At mealtime, she normally spoke to Frances and other staff at the long table, but this time she remained silent. Quietly, she watched the other staff members eat and converse casually, and she narrowed her eyes, wondering who was creeping along the mortuary hallways and plotting the death of the inmates.

The afternoon went by as quickly as the morning, and eventually, she was able to send a note to Henry to have him meet her at the cottage. He arrived promptly as the mantel clock chimed the seventh hour. Frances had gone upstairs to read.

“Thank you for coming,” she said to him.

He carried a satchel with him and placed it at his feet as he sat down. “I’m sorry I’m late. I stopped to get something for you.”

She looked at him in surprise. “Something for me?”

“Hmmm.” He reached into the satchel and pulled out a large book. “This is the mortuary records for the last year. You see, there was no need to go breaking into the mortuary last night. You could have just asked me.”

Audrey frowned. “Why didn’t you tell me that?”

He gave her a pointed look. “Was I supposed to tell you before or after you decided to break into the mortuary on your own?”

“I didn’t break in,” she said, avoiding the question. “It was open.”

“If you had been caught, what would have been the reason for being there?”

“I was lost.”

“Sure.” He shook his head. “Here.” He placed the large ledger book on the small dining table next to the diary and names that they had worked on.

She took a seat next to him. “Would you like some tea?”

“If it’s not any trouble.”

She shook her head. “Of course not.”

She busied herself in the kitchen, making tea while Henry looked over the papers she had strewn about. When she returned, he frowned.

“What is this?” he said, pulling the paper forward and showing it to her.

“Ummm, that’s….” She set the tea tray down and tried to reach for the paper.

“Yes?” he asked, still holding the paper.

“It’s nothing. Just a list,” she said lightly, hoping he wouldn’t push farther.

He frowned. “A list of what?”