The Royal Lacemaker

The Royal Lacemaker Read Online Free PDF

Book: The Royal Lacemaker Read Online Free PDF
Author: Linda Finlay
or someone to see to, I’ll be thinking,’ he
     added, patting the donkey’s withers.
    Raising her eyebrows, Lily turned the
     cart for home. She was so busy reflecting on her first day at work that she passed
     by the clumps of violets without noticing them.
    The days passed and Lily settled into
     her new job with enthusiasm.
    Then to her surprise, on arriving back
     at the cottage a week after she’d started in Bransbeer, her mother was dressed
     and sitting by the fire. Rushing over, Lily bent to give her a kiss, but her joy
     quickly turned to concern when she saw the tears rolling down her cheeks.
    ‘Mother, whatever’s
     wrong?’ she asked, putting her arms around the woman’s shoulders. But
     her mother just stared at her with vacant eyes and Lily felt a shiver prickle her
     spine. It was almost as if she didn’t recognize her, she thought.
    Just then, Aunt Elizabeth came into the
     room with Beth.
    ‘I’ve been to play with
     Harriet,’ the little girl said, running over to Lily and throwing her arms
     around her legs.
    ‘That’s nice, and what did
     you play?’ Lily asked, smiling down at her. Then, she looked back at her
     mother, her brow creasing again.
    ‘You go outside and wash your
     hands, Beth,’ their aunt said, intercepting the look. ‘You can tell Lily
     about yourday over supper.’ As Beth hurried out to the pump,
     Aunt Elizabeth turned to Lily.
    ‘Your mother had a visit from
     Squire Clinsden earlier and I’m afraid what he had to say saddened her
     something sorry. She’s been sitting like that since he left an hour
     ago,’ she said, shaking her head.
    ‘What did he say that upset her so
     much, Auntie?’ Lily asked.
    ‘He was here to serve us an
     eviction notice,’ growled Robert, hobbling into the room with an armful of
     logs. Angrily he threw them down by the fire.
    ‘What?’ Lily gasped.
     ‘That can’t be right. We’re not behind with the rent; I made sure
     it was paid on the last quarter-day.’
    ‘Yes, but the cottage went with
     your father’s work as a labourer. Knowing the state of your mother’s
     health, the squire’s been kind enough to let you stay on these past few weeks.
     Now he’s had to take on someone new to work the farm. Goes by the name of
     Stanton, apparently. Anyhow, his lordship visited today. He could have just sent his
     land agent but had the decency to come himself,’ her aunt said.
    ‘But he can’t just evict us,
     surely?’ Lily asked, her eyes wide with shock.
    Her aunt looked at her and sighed.
     ‘I’m afraid he can, Lily dear. As I said, this is a coupled cottage and
     Stanton’s moving in on the next quarter-day. However, the squire has
     generously said you can stay till then.’
    ‘But that’s no time at all.
     It’s May already. Where does he expect us to go?’ Lily asked, her voice
     rising in panic. Beth, who’d crept back into the room unnoticed, gave awhimper and Aunt Elizabeth scooped her up into her arms.
    ‘Now calm yourself, Lily.
     You’re frightening Beth. I suggest we have our broth. Things always look
     better when you’ve a full stomach.’
    Lily nodded absent-mindedly as she went
     over to her mother, who hadn’t yet stirred.
    ‘Don’t worry, Mother,
     we’ll sort it out,’ she promised, patting the woman’s thin
     shoulders. But her mother didn’t answer. She just sat there staring blankly
     ahead of her.
    Her aunt, meanwhile, was filling mugs
     with broth from the pot over the fire. Despite the savoury aroma, they had little
     appetite and it was only Beth who ate. Gloomily they sat there, lost in thought as
     they pondered the future. A sudden tug at her skirt brought Lily back to the
     present.
    ‘Will you tell me a story,
     Lily?’ Beth asked, clambering onto her lap. Forcing a smile, Lily nodded and
     put down her mug.
    ‘Rob, you clear away and
     I’ll see to your mother,’ Aunt Elizabeth said. ‘I’ll give
     her some valerian root to calm her, then settle her in
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