Paupers Graveyard Read Online Free Page A

nights could be long in a place such as this. She might yet prove her worth, and if she decided to be difficult he could always dispense with her.
    Elizabeth leant against the other side of the door and tried to still the sobs of anger and humiliation, as all the loneliness and sorrow of the past few weeks caught up with her.
    ****
    The next few days passed slowly. Keeping the children amused and quiet was a daunting task. She felt as though she were walking on pins as she tiptoed around the house. Like it or not, she knew they were living on borrowed time. The girls had taken their uncle’s disinterest fairly well, although Lucy did raise her eyebrows as she listened to her mother’s excuses. However, she did her best to keep her sisters outside and as far away as possible from the house.
    The air of tension touched everyone. The maids no longer exchanged friendly banter with the grooms and gardeners; flirting and teasing became a thing of the past. Charles, to Elizabeth’s relief, chose to eat alone, which meant she was spared his leers and insults. When he tired of the house, he sent for her.
    â€˜I take it I have a horse?’
    â€˜Well,’ she murmured, feeling confused. ‘There are the animals that pull the carriage, but they’re really only workhorses. Most are used on the farm.’
    â€˜And my brother, did he not hunt?’
    â€˜There is Lightning,’ she whispered, ‘but he was John’s own mount.’
    â€˜Well, he can hardly object to my riding him, can he? Not any more.’
    Before she could reply he left the room and she watched from the window as he strode towards the stables. Soon the sound of horses’ hooves could be heard on the stable-yard cobbles, and she watched as Timmy, the youngest stable boy, led Lightning and his rider through the gate. She could see Charles talking down at him and Timmy pointing towards the north pasture, probably indicating the best areas for riding. She waited until Charles had disappeared into the distance, before going outside.
    Timmy stood rooted to the spot, still watching the rider, who was now no more than a dot on the horizon. It wasn’t until she had almost reached him that he became aware of her and turned around with guilty eyes.
    â€˜He ordered me to saddle the master’s horse, mistress.’
    â€˜I know, Timmy, it’s all right,’ she patted his shoulder. It felt thin beneath her fingers. ‘You’ll have to eat more, get some flesh on those bones.’
    â€˜Yes, mistress. My da says I eat like a horse and look like a greyhound, but I’m strong.’
    â€˜I’m sure you are, Timmy.’
    She could see why her husband had been so fond of this boy. Always willing and not afraid of hard work John had said, but there was something else too. The very air around him seemed to crackle with energy. He had a thirst for life. Her thoughts were interrupted by a shout from within the stable-yard.
    â€˜Timmy, you good-for-nothing wretch, where the hell are you?’
    Jack Carey. He was head groom, and the bane of those who worked under him. She watched as Carey walked over to the gate, looking all around him for the boy, who stood mute at her side. On seeing them, he feigned surprise, but walked forward smiling and doffing his cap.
    â€˜Good day to you, mistress.’
    â€˜Good day, Carey.’ She neither smiled, nor looked directly at him. ‘I borrowed your young man here,’ she smiled down at Timmy. ‘He’s been a great help in saddling his lordship’s mount.’
    â€˜His lordship’s horse?’ He was taken aback, until he realised that she meant his new master. He had wanted to meet him first and get on a good footing before anyone else.
    â€˜Thank you, Timmy.’ She nodded to them both, and turned towards the house. Stopping before the door, she looked back and watched the man and boy enter the stables. Carey’s sheer size was