as white as snow peeked out along the edges. Her hands lay sedate over the arms of the chair. A golden band with a small pearl glinted on her finger, and a terrier rested his head on the old woman’s arm.
She shifted in her chair, and her dog leapt off her lap to the floor and curled up on the hearthrug. “Burke, I am in desperate need of tea. Be sure it is plenty hot, for I am chilled to the bone today.”
“You had tea but an hour ago, ma’am.”
“Did I?”
“Yes, ma’am. I shall bring you some broth instead. That’ll warm you up for sure, and it is good nourishment.”
Waving her hand, Mrs. Burke made a gesture for Darcy to come further inside the room. The terrier yapped, and Mrs. Burke shook a reproving finger at the pup. Darcy held her hand out to him. He moved to her to be sedated by a gentle stroke over his pointy ears.
“Quiet, Maxwell,” her grandmother ordered. “Hmm. I rarely hear him bark. Maybe he looked out the window and saw that man again, poaching my birds no doubt. Where is Edward? You must tell him straightaway.”
With a gentle touch, Mrs. Burke gathered Madeline’s shawl over her sloping shoulders. “Do not fret, ma’am. Perhaps the man will bring us a plump bird for our supper.”
“I will let my husband decide … ”
“He has, as you know, been dead these last ten years, ma’am.”
Madeline shivered and her eyes opened wide, gray and watery. “Dead?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Ten years you say?”
“Nearly eleven, ma’am.”
“Edward. My Edward,” Madeline sighed.
Darcy marked how lovingly his name slipped through her grandmother’s lips, as if it were the only name on earth, and he the only man she had ever loved. It caused her to whisper Ethan in her mind, to feel the tone and cadence of his name spring into her heart.
“Oh, how I loved him.” With a lift of her wrinkled hand, Madeline touched Mrs. Burke’s arm. “He has left me lonely, you know.” Her eyes shifted toward the door when Maxwell whined for another touch from Darcy. “Who is that young woman? Why is she standing on my carpet speechless?”
Darcy stepped forward, and her grandmother looked up at her confused. “Is that you, Eliza Bloome?” Her eyes squinted and she looked alarmed. “Where is Hayward? Where is my son? I demand to know.” Half rising from her chair, she dropped back down when her strength gave out.
Darcy approached. “I am Darcy, ma’am, your granddaughter. You wrote to me and asked that I come visit you.”
Madeline’s lips quivered. Surprise lit her face and she searched for Darcy’s hands. “My son Hayward’s child?”
“Yes, Grandmother.”
“For a moment I thought you were Eliza.” She drew her spectacles on and looked up at Darcy. “But I see now you are not. There is no real resemblance. You have taken after Hayward, I see.”
“I hope that pleases you, Grandmother.”
“Very much so. Such a courageous girl you are to have come all the way across the ocean.” Madeline leaned forward as Darcy crouched down to her. “I imagine it was exciting.”
Darcy smiled. “At times. But it was mostly dull. I am glad to have my feet back on solid ground.”
Madeline pursed her lips. “Strange ground though.” With an effort, the old woman leaned her cheek up to Darcy. Darcy kissed it and then sat in the chair opposite. Her grandmother smelled of rice powder, rosewater, and age. Her cheek felt cold, even with the fire blazing in the hearth.
Darcy glanced down at her soiled hem. “I am sorry for my appearance. I wish I had arrived more neatly attired, but I had so far to travel.”
Madeline shook her head. “It is to be expected. You came by coach?”
“Part way. They set me down several miles from here where the road forks. The coach route turned north, you see, and so I had to be let out.”
A slow breath eased from Madeline’s lips. “You mean to say you walked the rest of the way unaccompanied?”
“I enjoy walking, and the countryside is lovely here.” She did not tell her that the sun was setting when she got out of the coach, nor that she had to sleep in that old ruin a full night—with a haunting wind and distressing sounds.
Her grandmother’s brows shot up. “But you do not know the country here. You were all alone. You could have gotten lost or kidnapped by gypsies.”
Darcy smiled. Her grandmother had no idea how free she ran beside the two rivers