Read Online The Quietness by Alison Rattle - Free Book Online Page A

Mary to bring us hot drinks and I’ll challenge you to a game of Old Maid!’ He started to run, pulling me along with him, and by the time we were back inside we were both out of breath and laughing.
    The following month was the most heavenly month of my whole life. Jacob chose not to go to the hospital every day, and sought me out time and time again when Father was out of the house. He strolled with me in the garden and we talked of books and clouds and examined each other’s knowledge of shrubs and flowers. Jacob invariably knew more than me and I was flattered that someone so clever should take such notice of me. He read me passages from his favourite books and I thrilled to hear of Jules Verne’s
A Journey to the Centre of the Earth
and of Dr Frankenstein and his hideous monster. I did not tell Jacob that Dr Frankenstein’s laboratory reminded me of Father’s dissecting room. I concentrated instead on the sound of Jacob’s voice and the way it changed when he spoke the words of different characters.
    I loved to watch his face as he talked; the way his lips moved as he formed words, the glimpse of his tongue as he moistened his lips between sentences and the way his eyebrows drew close together during a particularly harrowing or exciting passage. Most of all I loved it when he smiled or laughed. The sorrow that lurked behind his eyes disappeared at those times. He became carefree, and I wanted to always make him feel like that.
    He never talked of his mother and I did not take it upon myself to ask. One day, though, a silence fell between us and Jacob leaned towards me and looked directly into my eyes.
    ‘Mother would have approved of you,’ he said.
    I looked back at him; at the flecks of grey in the green of his eyes. A strange longing filled my insides and I began to tremble. He was so close I felt the warmth of his breath on my face. I knew I should pull away, but I could not move. Instead I closed my eyes. At that moment he put his lips on mine and kissed me softly. I could not help but sigh. I felt as helpless and weak as a baby bird, and it was a while before I could bring myself to open my eyes again. When I dared to look at him, Jacob was smiling foolishly and I felt like a shy child. But I knew then, with a certainty, that we were now sealed together forever.
    That night as Mary was brushing out my hair I stopped her hand and said, ‘Mary, have you ever been in love?’
    ‘Once or twice.’ She winked. ‘A long time ago, mind.’
    ‘So you know what it feels like, then?’
    ‘Can’t say as I do. It was so long ago.’
    ‘It can’t have been proper love, then, Mary. You would never have forgotten if you had ever felt like this.’
    ‘You go careful, miss.’ Mary looked worried. ‘Don’t fall too hard too soon. After all, we don’t know the boy that well yet, do we?’
    ‘Oh, Mary! What is there to know? He has lost his mother, he is all alone in the world and he has come here to us, his only family.’
    ‘I am just saying, miss. Take care. Take care of your feelings.’
    ‘Why are you saying this, Mary? I thought you would be glad for me.’
    ‘I . . . I am glad for you, miss. But . . .’
    ‘But what, Mary? What is it?’
    ‘Well, I didn’t like to say anything, miss, but . . . I just have a feeling that something isn’t quite right. And Ninny has been overhearing things.’
    ‘Ninny? What things has she been hearing?’
    ‘Well, raised voices, mostly, coming from your father’s study. Your father and Jacob arguing.’
    ‘And what were they arguing about?’
    ‘Oh, you know Ninny. She couldn’t quite make it out.’
    ‘I am sure it is nothing, Mary.’ I laughed. ‘I expect Jacob dared to question one of Father’s opinions, that is all!’ I pictured Jacob’s tender smile and his fearless green eyes. ‘He is not afraid you know, Mary. He is not afraid of Father one bit.’
    ‘I know,’ she said as she turned to leave. ‘That’s what worries me.’
    I had thought that