A Family For Christmas Read Online Free PDF

for years,’ Eliza retorted, indignant at being questioned about such
minor tasks.
    ‘Well, there you are then; hardly useless,
are you?’ Fay commented.
    ‘But it wasn’t enough for
them,’ Eliza cried. ‘You wouldn’t understand what it’s like to feel
lonely.’
    ‘Is that so?’ Fay sighed, staring
into the fire. Then her manner became brisk again. ‘Now, having been confined to barracks,
which I detest, I’ve used the time to mend your clothes. You were so drenched I literally
had to peel all your things from you. They were torn and covered in
mud, beggar’s buttons and all kinds of animal waste,’
she said with a grimace. ‘Why, I even had to cut burrs out of your hair, it was that
matted.’
    Remembering the leap she’d had to make into
the ditch and her night spent in the animal byre, Eliza shuddered. Then the implication of what
Fay had said sunk in. Gingerly she peered under the cover. Sure enough she was wearing only a
chemise, and her legs and feet were quite bare. Quickly she covered herself up again. Then a
thought struck.
    ‘Duncan – did he help … you
know, undress me?’ she whispered in horror.
    To her surprise, Fay chuckled. ‘Don’t
look so worried. You were decently bedded down long before he appeared. And now I’ve
washed your dress, you can be respectably attired when he next appears. I’ve added a
flounce to hide the worst of the damage.’ She passed the garment to Eliza, who stared at
her old dress in amazement. The varying shades of green sewn onto her homespun made it look like
a patchwork of fields in summertime.
    ‘That’s beautiful,’ she gasped.
‘Thank you.’
    Fay shrugged. ‘Like I said, it was a good
way of passing the time. I’m not one to be idle, or indoors, come to that. Besides, it was
just some spare cloth I had.’ That the woman should have material of such fine quality
lying around amazed Eliza, but she wasn’t going to question her good fortune.
    ‘I collected up the things you dropped in
the snow when you fell.’
    Eliza’s eyes lit up. ‘You found my
box then?’
    ‘Your box?’
    ‘Yes, my treasure box. Grampy made it for me and I keep my
flowers in it. I wrapped it in my bundle,’ Eliza cried.
    ‘There wasn’t any box amongst your
things,’ Fay said.
    ‘Are you sure?’ Eliza asked, her
heart sinking.
    The woman frowned. ‘I know a box when I see
one.’
    Feeling tears well, Eliza quickly turned her head
away so the woman wouldn’t see.
    ‘I’ll take another look around when I
go out for more wood,’ Fay said brusquely. ‘Now, you’ve had quite enough
excitement for one day. Lie down and get some rest.’
    Eliza did as she was told, not thinking for one
moment she’d be able to sleep, but when she opened her eyes again bright sunshine was
streaming through the window from the east.
    ‘So, Sleeping Beauty wakes at last,’
Fay said as she struggled to sit up. ‘How are you feeling today?’
    ‘Much better, thank you,’ Eliza
answered as her stomach gave a loud rumble.
    Fay grunted. ‘I’ll pour you some
broth and when you’ve eaten, we’ll get you cleaned up. A wash and change of clothes
will make you feel and smell better.’
    Eliza spent the next few days sitting in the
chair beside the fire. To her chagrin, Fay refused to let her help with the household chores,
insisting she rest. Although the woman was civil, Eliza still felt uncomfortable in her presence
and hoped Duncan would soon reappear.
    Fay could not stay still, though, and whilst she
bustled around tidying the room Eliza took in her surroundings, noticing for the first time how
spartan they were. A table
tucked under the small
window was scattered with papers and books, the two mattresses were propped against the wall on
one side of the fireplace, and there was a heavy dresser stacked with odd dishes. The various
knives in their leather sheaves still hung from their hooks, and the gun was on the back of the
door. Further along, an old satchel was slung over a