Paupers Graveyard Read Online Free

party.’
    The wake! She realised he was talking about the wake.
    â€˜It’s called a wake, Charles,’ she said, calmly. ‘It’s certainly not a party, but rather a traditional last farewell, held in honour of the dead.’
    â€˜Well, whatever it is.’
    She grasped the bell pull and rang for Thomas.
    â€˜Yes, mistress,’ the old man shuffled in and waited for his orders, but before she could answer Charles spoke
    â€˜You there, bring me some whiskey, now.’
    â€˜Yes, sir.’ Thomas bowed and left the room.
    Charles drummed his fingers on the arm of his chair until the butler reappeared, carrying a silver tray with a crystal decanter and two glasses. Placing the tray in front of his master, he filled one of the glasses with a generous measure and handed it to him.
    â€˜When I ask for a drink I mean a proper drink!’ Charles grabbed the decanter and filled the glass almost to the brim. ‘One would think that you were paying for this stuff,’ he sneered, downing almost a third of the whiskey.
    â€˜That will be all, thank you, Thomas.’ Elizabeth wanted to get the butler away as quickly as possible. She was mortified at such rudeness. After he left, Charles turned to her.
    â€˜Well, Elizabeth, it’s time you and I got better acquainted, don’t you think? Sit down.’ He pushed at the chair nearest to him with his foot. ‘You’ll join me in a drink, I hope?’
    She watched in horror as he filled the other glass before handing it to her. She rarely drank and then only a little wine. How she was expected to drink that much whiskey, she could not imagine.
    â€˜To your good health,’ he raised his glass and took another swallow, all the time watching her until she was forced to bring the glass to her lips and sip. The whiskey burned her throat and brought tears to her eyes. Her predicament only made Charles laugh and he thumped on the table in glee. ‘This will never do, dear sister-in-law. I’ll have to train you myself.’ She smiled, unsure of what he meant. ‘We have a lot to talk about, don’t we, so much to learn about one another?’
    â€˜I should like to discuss matters with you, Charles.’
    â€˜Now, now, let’s not rush things. Let’s get to know one another first,’ he murmured.
    She squirmed under his lecherous gaze.
    â€˜Really, Charles, I would like to speak to you about my position here.’
    â€˜But you don’t have a position here, do you, m’dear? None that I’m aware of.’
    â€˜Yes,’ she wrung her hands, ‘that’s what I mean. Have you had any thoughts on our future here?’
    â€˜Not really. Do you have any plans? I though you would be returning to your family home.’
    â€˜I would rather not. The children are used to a certain way of life and I’m sure their father would have wanted it to continue.’
    â€˜Possibly … if he were still alive.’
    His words stopped her short, and she had to clasp her hands to stop them from trembling.
    â€˜Yes,’ she whispered, ‘if he were still alive.’
    â€˜For the time being it suits me that you remain here. You will be valuable as a hostess, I’m sure, and one never knows what time may bring,’ his smile sent waves of revulsion through her. ‘However, there is one thing I insist upon. Your children; I do not want to hear or see them, especially in the mornings.’
    â€˜But, you will meet them, Charles? They are so looking forward to meeting you.’
    â€˜I dare say I’ll come across them in time, but for now I have no desire to do so.’
    She began to speak again, to entreat him to meet his nieces.
    â€˜I do not want you to place any demands on me, Elizabeth. I am not my brother.’
    He waved his hand to dismiss her and watched as she walked, straight-backed, from the room. He hadn’t meant to keep her on, but she was lovely and the