A Family For Christmas Read Online Free PDF Page A

surprise, Eliza found she was ravenous and
tucked into the coddled egg. Fay sat in her chair on the other side of the fire stitching away
at a length of material that looked familiar. Surely that was her dress, Eliza thought, but the
woman was concentrating so fiercely, she didn’t like to interrupt. She ate her meal, then
sighed contentedly.
    ‘That was delicious, thank you.’
    Fay grunted, put down her sewing and took away
the platter.
    ‘Now you’re feeling stronger, we need
to talk,’ she said, returning to her chair.
    Eliza looked at the woman’s serious
expression and swallowed hard. Was she going to turn her out so soon?
    ‘You gave me a real scare collapsing outside like that. Only
a fool would wander around in that atrocious weather so I’m guessing you must have run
away from home.’ Eliza looked down at the floor and Fay nodded. ‘I thought as much.
I don’t know what caused you to take such drastic action but I’m sure your parents
will be worried sick.’
    Eliza shook her head. ‘Father will be
pleased I’ve gone. He said I was naught but a burden,’ she burst out.
    ‘Sometimes things are said in the heat of
the moment. I’m sure he will now be regretting his harsh words.’
    ‘You don’t understand. He called me
useless, saying no man will want to marry me.’
    Fay gave a harsh laugh. ‘Marry you? Why,
you have years yet before you need think of such a thing. How old are you – eleven?’
Eliza shook her head. ‘Well, twelve at the most then?’
    ‘I shall be fifteen on the 19th of
February,’ Eliza burst out indignantly.
    Fay narrowed her eyes. ‘I warn you, I have
no time for liars, girl. Deceit is the work of the devil,’ she spat.
    ‘But that’s what I am. A child of the
devil,’ Eliza muttered.

4
    Fay stared at Eliza in horror, the crackling of
the logs in the hearth sounded unnaturally loud in the long silence.
    ‘Why would you think such a preposterous
thing?’ Fay asked eventually.
    ‘Father called me that. I was born with a
twisted foot, you see.’
    ‘I have seen your foot, Eliza, a tragic
birthing accident certainly, but no work of the devil. I thought that kind of fallacy lost in
the mists of time. Surely your mother understands that?’
    ‘Mother tries to stand up to Father, but as
head of the household what he says goes, doesn’t it?’
    Fay pursed her lips but said nothing.
    Eliza stared dismally into the fire, recalling
her father’s harsh words, the crack of his belt … ‘He’s always taken
against me and I am not going back, ever,’ she cried.
    ‘Calm down, Eliza. I take it your name
really is Eliza?’ Fay asked, shooting her a penetrating look.
    Eliza nodded.
    ‘You claim to be nearly fifteen
…’
    ‘Yes, I am. Whatever you may think, I am no
liar,’ Eliza protested.
    ‘I can’t help unless I know the
facts. You have been very ill and are little more than skin and bones, although it is my guess
you were malnourished to begin with. As it’s
going to take a while for you to regain enough strength to go
anywhere, I was trying to establish if we need to inform anyone of your whereabouts.’
    Eliza shook her head.
    ‘Your family will be worrying,
surely?’ Fay persisted.
    ‘No! They’ll be glad to be rid of me,
as will you,’ Eliza shouted. Silence descended like a fog and, ashamed of her outburst,
she stared miserably into the fire.
    ‘I can’t deny I prefer my
solitude,’ Fay finally admitted. ‘However, I believe in the moorland ways, which
would not permit me to let you leave before you’ve regained your strength. Any caring
human would surely think the same. That’s why I can’t believe your parents
won’t be worrying about you and wishing you safely back with them.’
    Eliza gave a harsh laugh. ‘Believe you me,
that’ll be the last thing they’re wishing. They think I’m worthless, totally
and utterly useless.’
    ‘Rubbish. Can you cook? Clean a house?
Sew?’
    ‘Of course. I’ve been doing all of
those things at home