“Nah, man,” I say, turning around to start shuffling back to my car. I half expect him to raise an objection, but I see him out of the corner of my eye just nodding. He just stands there, stalwartly seeing me off, and he isn’t shy about it.
Later. You will take her later.
Chapter 8
Mary
1703
I half expected Malvina to have passed when I woke up, but there she sat, still holding my hand. The pregnancy was effectively ended and Mr. Worthe was none the wiser, and I began taking herbs to stop his seed from implanting.
As the years came and went, I prayed for Mr. Worthe to not come home again, but month after month he showed up, drunk and disruptive and I gave into him to save Iris from what she may see or what he may do.
It was my twelfth year at the cottage when I encountered George. He was so handsome and dashing with an easy smile, sitting atop his horse, watching me intently as I gathered dandelion greens in the field near the cottage one day.
I lifted at the waist and held my hand up to shade my eyes. He waved confidently and I froze, wondering what he could possibly want. I recognized him from my few trips to town. He seemed to be from a proper family and was esteemed and earned admiring gazes as he moved easily about town.
He was strikingly handsome, with golden hair, eyes the color of sea glass and bold features. He was uncommonly tall, and cut a fine figure in his expensive clothing. I’d scarcely had time to be interested in the opposite sex as I’d been so young when I’d been taken. For the past many years I’d only had my cruel and unattractive husband’s countenance to gaze upon, thereby extinguishing any desire that may have continued sprouting from the seed sown briefly in my adolescence.
As a young woman, my beauty had been much commented upon. My mother’s pride at my blossoming appearance had been apparent, and many had believed that it would help me make a fine match. Now I’d become convinced that my beauty was a curse. Another thing that enticed the attention of my slovenly husband, and if not him, it would just be another seeking to use and possess me. Malvina had told me as much many times as she had spoken of her own surpassing beauty in youth and how it had rendered her a consumable commodity.
These long held thoughts appeared to take flight from me as I was helpless but to meet eyes with George, watching as his crinkled with the enthusiastic raising at the corners of his lips.
I watched reticently as he jumped off his horse and began to slowly approach, holding his hand out in a gesture of innocence as though I were a bunny in danger of fleeing, and perhaps I was, though his snare felt inviting.
As he approached, the spectacular arrangement of his face became more apparent, and the twinkle in his eye ignited feelings in me that were foreign. His smile was warm, and his eyes held an interest that, for once, did not feel unwelcome.
“Hello,” he said, staring directly into my eyes. “How are you this fine day?”
I was both frightened by my feelings and the encounter and vaguely tried to calculate the propriety of this meeting, but my brushes with polite society were but a disappearing flash in my past. I found myself mute and continued to just stare.
“May I know your name?” he asked politely, watching my face carefully, and in my silence he continued his engagement. “Your attendance in town has been scarce, but I have seen you on occasion. I’m called George.”
“I know,” I said sharply.
“I mean you no harm,” he offered quickly. “You are intriguing and I just thought that we may be friends?”
“Men and women may never be friends,” I said before I could stop myself, the words tumbling out bitterly.
“I shall prove that is untrue,” his smile lit up the field, even though it was resplendent with verdant scenery already. “May I meet you here again?”
“I do not know.” Careful hesitation tempered my cadence as I clasped my hands in front of my gathering apron, feeling my bare feet dig into the ground.
“Perhaps I shall ride by occasionally and will consider it a blessing if you happen to be gracing this fine field.” He watched my slight nod and beamed. “I shall look for your beautiful raven hair, tumbling like a meadow nymph’s would.”
He bent over and picked a daisy which he handed to me gently. “Perhaps you could decorate it with this? Something natural for such an earthy beauty.”
I snatched the offering and tucked it behind my ear, watching him bite his lower lip flirtingly as he gazed at my hair and face. I flushed at his eyes on me and turned abruptly to walk off without a word. I was tempted to turn and meet his eyes one last time, but stayed my course through the woods and back to my home, where Iris and Malvina would be waiting on me.
When they came into view, Iris dropped her doll and ran up to me, fawning about the beautiful flower in my hair. I shrugged dismissively but caught Malvina’s careful stare. Inscrutable as always, I was unable to glean if it was disapproval hanging in those sage eyes. I quickly took the flower and tucked it behind Iris’s sweet ear, marveling again at her beauty. She favored me, but did have her father’s lovely amber eyes. The one interesting thing on his plain face.
Malvina came to stand next to me. “Careful, child,” was all she said.
“I’ve done nothing,” I said quickly.
“There is nothing wrong with taking pleasure in men, but you must take care,” she whispered, patting my hand gently.
“Malvina…” I warn.
“The future marches on,” she said cryptically as she began hobbling back to the cottage.
I was confused by her contradictions and it took all
