A Family For Christmas Read Online Free PDF Page B

hook and in the corner stood a pail of
water. Then she spied the tiny jar of snowdrops on the sill of the window and felt a pang. Her
mother would have a fit if she saw those, believing the old superstition that white, shroud-like
flowers were redolent of death and should never be brought indoors.
    ‘Surprised to see the Fair Maids of
February blooming so early, eh?’ Fay said, breaking into her thoughts. ‘Got a
sheltered spot beyond the vegetable patch where, with a little attention, they thrive and arrive
a month earlier than the rest up here, just for old Fay,’ she chuckled.
    As the woman opened the door to sweep out the
dust, all Eliza could see was the snow-clad moorland spreading endlessly before her. A sudden
gust of wind made her shiver and, pulling the sheepskin cover round her, she watched as Fay
viciously stabbed the ice on top of a pail with the broom handle. With a shock, she realized the
woman was much older than she’d first thought. Her dark hair was streaked with silver
threads and she had reddened cheeks and roughened hands. Despite the cold, she was dressed only
in an old woollen shirt and baggy trousers; as she disappeared outside Eliza saw that from
behind she had the athletic appearance of a man.
    ‘I’ve had another look around but
couldn’t see any sign of your box, Eliza,’ she said, reappearing moments later.
Eliza’s heart sank. Her last link with Grampy
and the happy times she’d spent with him at home was gone. How could she have been so
careless as to lose her most treasured possession? Blinking back the tears, she watched as the
woman haphazardly threw the animal skins back down onto the earth floor.
    ‘There, that’s better, all
clean,’ Fay announced, hands on hips, staring around the room. Eliza didn’t like to
point out the cobwebs festooning the fireplace and corners, or the dust that covered every
surface.
    ‘I don’t know how much longer
you’ll have to stay here, Eliza, but …’ Fay was interrupted by a sharp rap on
the door. ‘This place is busier than a blessed hunt meeting,’ she grunted, flinging
open the door. ‘Oh, it’s you again. Haven’t you got your own home to go
to?’
    ‘Thought you’d like to know Rose had
her baby in the early hours. Little boy they’ve named Joshua. Mother and baby doing well,
Father exhausted, but I guess that’s the way of things,’ Duncan said with a
chuckle.
    ‘From what I can make out, you men just get
the fun bit of things, as you call it,’ Fay said, wagging her finger at him. ‘Still,
it is good news the baby’s delivered safely. Right, you can make yourself useful and
entertain our guest. It’ll give me a chance to get out of this place before I go barmy as
a Bath bun.’ Having thrown on her coat, she grabbed the satchel and was gone.
    Eliza’s eyes widened in shock but Duncan
grinned, seemingly unperturbed by the woman’s abrupt manner.
    ‘It’s good to see you up and dressed.
Are you feeling better, little un?’ he asked, lowering himself down on the rug beside
her.
    ‘Yes, but I really feel I’m in Fay’s way here. I
wish I was stronger so I could get up and go,’ she said miserably.
    ‘You mustn’t mind her. She’s
used to being by herself. I expect she’s finding company claustrophobic, especially only
having the one room.’
    ‘I intend leaving as soon as I can,’
Eliza assured him. ‘I shall seek work and board in the nearest town.’
    Duncan shook his head. ‘Take one day at a
time,’ he advised. ‘You certainly look different in that pretty dress,’ he
added, trying to calm her by changing the subject.
    ‘Fay added this flounce to my old
homespun,’ she said, holding out her skirt. ‘Why would she do that, if she hates me
so much?’
    ‘Look, Fay doesn’t hate you. In fact
she was out of her mind with worry when her own remedy failed to bring down your temperature.
That’s why she sent her precious Woody to get me.’
    ‘Woody? Is he a dog?’ Eliza said,
looking around as