Free Cinders and Ashes by Rebecca King

to
unpack.
    Under
Amelia’s direction he carefully placed their mound of provisions in
their rightful places, and put the wrapped bundle of clothing in
her mending basket.
    “ So, today you have been from here to the village to purchase
provisions, then on to Sir Hubert’s to work, before collecting more
mending and finally returning home.” He didn’t need her
acknowledgement, and wasn’t surprised when she didn’t correct his
assumption.
    Sebastian felt his temper rise again, but given how tired she
looked couldn’t chastise her. She was only doing what she had to.
He wisely remained quiet, and instead set about preparing her a
plate of food. He was wealthy enough to ensure she would never have
to spend her days trudging around the countryside, or working from
dawn to dusk, ever again.
    He eyed
the small mound of food, and carefully assessed the number of days
it would last. With any luck they would just have enough before
they left for home.
    Amelia
didn’t bother nodding, and watched as he placed the now empty
baskets by the door. Although he didn’t say anything else, she
could tell from the rigid set of his shoulders and the dark scowl
on his face that something had angered him considerably. A quick
glance around the cottage showed nothing untoward, so what could
possibly have happened?
    “ Has anyone been by today?” Amelia murmured, eying the pie and
cheese Sebastian placed before her. She had briefly had time for
some broth in Sir Hubert’s kitchens, but that had been hours ago.
She hadn’t realised just how hungry she was until her nose was
assailed with the delicious smell of the pie. Without hesitation,
she began to eat.
    “ I haven’t seen or heard anyone all day. It has been as quiet
as a graveyard. I don’t know how you bear it.”
    Amelia
smiled sympathetically. “I don’t really spend any time here during
the daytime. I am at Sir Hubert’s all day.”
    “ Do you work from dawn to dusk every day?” Sebastian wondered
why she didn’t get at least an afternoon off, but wasn’t surprised
when she slowly shook her head.
    “ Sir Hubert is frail, and cannot fend for himself for too
long. I don’t mind really. As you quite rightly point out, it is as
quiet as the grave here - almost too quiet at times.”
    She
smiled when Sebastian nodded emphatically in agreement, and felt a
pang of bittersweet yearning for something indefinable. Putting her
plate upon the table, she took a drink and sat back
down.
    “ I did learn something in the village that might be of use to
you.” Her gaze met and held his across the dimness of the room. “I
was chatting with Mrs Ellsworthy; a very nice elderly lady but a
veritable gossip. Nothing happens in or around Glendowie without
Mrs Ellsworthy hearing about it. Anyway, when I asked her if
anything had happened lately, she told me there had been a carriage
accident on the main road going out of the village last week. On
the night I found you.”
    Sensing
Sebastian was about to interrupt, she held up a hand and continued.
“There was only one man aboard. Mrs Ellsworthy couldn’t tell me
much about the man, size or anything, just that there was
definitely only one man aboard and he had died of a broken neck.
His body is being held in the makeshift mortuary in the church
crypt for the time being. Until the road to town becomes passable
and they can summon the magistrate.”
    “ Damn,” Sebastian murmured with a frown.
    “ Why ‘damn’? Surely that is good news?” Amelia frowned, and
watched Sebastian pace awkwardly around the room.
    A small
pang of disquiet settled about her as she watched him. She briefly
wondered if she was going to cry. He had been with her for nearly a
week now and already his movements were easier and more natural.
His colour was back, and his now purple bruises had diminished
considerably. It wouldn’t be long before he was well enough to
return home to his family.
    “ It’s ‘damn’, because we need to identify whether it