Page 59 of The Lovers (Echoes from the Past #1)
FORTY-FOUR
Suffolk, England
Elise moved into the manor house two days after arriving in Suffolk.
The house was gloomy and silent, as if it resented human presence and wanted only to be left vacant to continue its slow descent into decay.
It smelled of dust and disuse after months, if not years, of being shut up and seemed to squint in irritation as shutters were thrown open and light penetrated shadowy corners.
Mouse droppings littered the flagstone floor in the kitchen, making Elise wrinkle her nose in disgust, and a layer of grime covered the pots and pans that hung from the ceiling.
Elise walked from room to room, noting those that appealed to her.
There were few. The house was decorated in an old-fashioned, almost medieval style, with oppressive dark paneling and heavy, uncomfortable furniture that didn’t boast so much as a cushion to soften the hard wooden seats.
There were several faded tapestries, the colors muted by years of accumulated dust, and a few paintings of Edward’s illustrious forbearers.
She chose a back bedroom for herself. Decorated in shades of dark green and mauve, it wasn’t overly pretty or feminine, but Elise was enchanted by views of the sea.
She’d never seen the sea before, and the vast body of water that stretched all the way to the horizon and seemed to flow right into the sky intrigued and frightened her at the same time.
When she opened the window, she could hear the sound of the surf crashing onto the beach, and a fresh, briny smell filled her nostrils.
The fresh breeze blew away the stale smell of the room in seconds and fluttered the heavy curtains, releasing a cloud of dust.
“Ye’d best close that, me lady,” a voice behind her said. “Ye’ll catch a chill.”
Elise reluctantly closed the window and turned to Mistress Benford.
The older woman would act as cook and housekeeper, and there were two girls who would come in from town to help out with cleaning and laundry.
Peg would see to Elise and Barbara, and two lads had been sent over by the estate agent to care for the horses and help with any heavy tasks that were too much for the women.
There was no permanent staff because Edward had not lived in the house since his wife died and he met with his riding accident.
They were to be a small household, but that suited Elise just fine.
She didn’t need an army of servants to spy on her every move.
“Mistress Benford, I will choose several rooms to be cleaned and aired out. The rest can remain closed for now since we won’t be using them at this time.
The kitchen and everything in it needs to be scrubbed from top to bottom and all the supplies laid in fresh before any food is prepared.
I prefer simple meals of mostly fish, fowl, or broth, and I take my supper early,” Elise informed her.
She hated to eat just before going to bed with the food sitting in her stomach and making her feel ill.
“Surely ye need to eat well in yer condition, me lady,” Mistress Benford protested. “Meat and blood pudding and such. ’Tis good for the baby.”
“I don’t much care for meat, but I suppose if you prepare a meat dish once a week, I’ll partake of it.
For the baby,” she added. But really it was for James.
He liked meat, and Elise hoped that he would dine with her at least several times a week.
Of course, for the lady of the house to dine with her husband’s manservant was unseemly and would reach Edward’s ears sooner rather than later, but she didn’t care.
Here, in Suffolk, she would do as she liked.
Elise smiled to herself, pleased with her decision.
Exercising a modicum of control—no matter how small—over her life was intoxicating.