Among the Darkness Stirs

“’To Me belongeth vengeance and recompense; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste,’” he quoted scripture to her.

“Will you be the vengeance, chaplain?” she asked, her throat dry as she spoke the words.

He sighed and looked at her as if she were a child. “Have you not been listening? God will take vengeance.”

“God?” she asked.

“Yes. God. I’m merely the caretaker, Ms. Wakefield. God will right the wrongs.”

“What wrongs?” she asked, but before she could learn anything more, he was gone.

She looked out the front window and watched him walk along the path back to the workhouse. She had been shocked to see him sitting in her parlor just now. But though the chaplain was a man of God, he was a simple man. Not stupid or an imbecile but also not all there. He didn’t recognize social mores and the way things should be done, so coming into her house had not been wrong to him.

“Did I hear voices?” Frances said, coming downstairs.

“It’s nothing. Come. Eat your breakfast,” Audrey said as her sister sat down at the table. Audrey kissed the top of her head.

As Frances ate her porridge, Audrey sipped her coffee, looking out the window. “Lambkin, I think I might have you stay with Theodocia for a week or so. Would you like that?”

“Thea Dee? Of course. But you’ll be all alone here then.”

“I’m working on a project,” Audrey said, keeping her voice light. “It’s a very important project for the workhouse. I must finish it. I might be up late nights, and I don’t want to disturb you.”

“I can stay. I won’t be in the way,” Frances assured her.

“You’re never in the way, dearest. Ever. But I must spend all my energy on this. Once the project’s done, I’ll come fetch you,” she promised her.

Frances considered it. “What of school?”

/> “You’ll have a break from it. I thought you’d be pleased.”

“Promise to come get me when it’s done,” Frances asked.

“My word. I’ll come fetch you when it’s done,” she promised.

Audrey had anticipated that Theodocia would agree to take Frances when she mentioned it to her sister, and that afternoon, she received word that it was so. Without any delay, she took Frances to the grand house by the river. When she was leaving, Henry stopped her.

“I want to visit the register office tomorrow. Will you come with me?”

“Yes. How is your head?”

His hand went up to touch the sore spot. “I have a slight bump but I think I’ll live.”

“I’m glad,” she said sincerely.

Henry hesitated. “I wish you would reconsider staying here. It would be no trouble. The house looks much better with Wakefield women about it.”

Audrey shook her head. “I’ll stay at the cottage for now. I don’t think anyone would outright harm me. They only went after you to get the ledger.”

“Heaven help anyone who goes after you,” he said suddenly. He walked her outside, and before the carriage pulled up, he took her in his arms to kiss her once.

“You are becoming too bold,” she told him.

He grinned. “Am I? I’m not allowed to kiss my future wife?”

Her heart thudded. “Future wife? You’ve not asked me to become your wife.”

“That’s true. I’m working up the courage to do so.” He tucked his hands inside his pockets.