Read Online Thursday's Child (Out of Time #5) by Monique Martin - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Monique Martin
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slaves in spotless liveries brought the food out on silver chargers in wave after wave. It took Elizabeth a few times of twisting awkwardly the wrong way, but she finally got the hang of serve-from-the-left and remove-from-the-right.
Elizabeth made a few more attempts to engage Colonel Stanton and each one floated like a pricked balloon to the floor. That was until she remembered some of the stories Gerald had told her when she and Simon had stayed with the Eldridges in 1906 San Francisco. Before Gerald had been rescued by Evan Eldridge, he'd served with the 21st Infantry Regiment in the Battle of Stoney Creek during the War of 1812. Elizabeth dropped a few details and must have asked the right questions, because the Colonel actually responded with more than a grunt.
By the time their last course had been taken away, Elizabeth's corset was feeling decidedly smaller than it had at the start. What she wouldn't give for some comfort clothes right now. Sadly, her lucky sweatpants were a thousand miles and one hundred and fifty years away.
The men and women split into groups each retiring to their own adjoining parlor. The ladies were offered cordials and brandy. Mrs. Goode declined sadly, but took out a small snuffbox and inhaled half of it.
Two of the women Elizabeth hadn't had a chance to talk to much during dinner were happily gossiping about the next entertainment that was going to arrive in town and how it had to be an improvement over Tom Thumb, who was shockingly small, but bereft of much other talent.
Rose told Elizabeth about River Run and Catherine offered stories about young Eli that made Rose blush. Whatever Catherine's proclivity to get a rise out of everyone whose path she crossed, she had a genuine affection for Rose. Although she hadn't known Rose for long, Elizabeth couldn't help but feel the same way, as if she were a small china doll that needed protecting.
After an hour the gentlemen joined them in their parlor. Eli slipped next to her on the small sofa forcing Simon to sit opposite. Simon arched an eyebrow, but didn't force the issue.
When a discussion on politics broke out, everyone including Mrs. Goode had an opinion to offer, everyone except Simon and Elizabeth, who remained as silent as possible on all topics. When a serious argument between Dr. Parish and Mr. Cobb erupted over whether Stephen Douglas or James Buchanan should receive the Democratic nomination for the presidency, Elizabeth knew they'd been wise to stay on the sidelines. The names might have changed, but little else about politics had.
Elizabeth caught Simon's eye. He smiled and subtly raised his glass to her. She did the same and took a sip of her port. Her eyes dipped down to her glass briefly before flicking back to Simon.
But it wasn't Simon that grabbed her attention. Standing just beside his chair was a pale little girl, the little girl from the woods. The little girl in the white dress with the ribbon tied around her wrist. Mary.
~~~
Elizabeth gasped, but so softly only Eli, who was sitting right next to her, heard. He turned and asked her if she was all right. Elizabeth blinked and caught her breath, turning to him. “I'm fine.”
When Elizabeth turned back to look at Simon, the little girl was gone. It was clear no one else had seen her. She was pretty sure if anyone else had they'd be using smelling salts right about now. Heck, she could use a whiff herself.
“There aren't any children here tonight, are there?” she asked Eli.
“No,” he said drawing out the word in that way people did when they thought the questioner was half-nutty.
Elizabeth smiled and rubbed her temple. She glanced around the room. She'd only glanced away for a moment; there was no way a child could have gotten out of the room so quickly. It was Mary. She was sure of it. It was definitely the girl from the photograph Catherine had shown her. Why was she here? And why was she staring at Simon?
“Are you sure you're all right,” Eli
Elizabeth made a few more attempts to engage Colonel Stanton and each one floated like a pricked balloon to the floor. That was until she remembered some of the stories Gerald had told her when she and Simon had stayed with the Eldridges in 1906 San Francisco. Before Gerald had been rescued by Evan Eldridge, he'd served with the 21st Infantry Regiment in the Battle of Stoney Creek during the War of 1812. Elizabeth dropped a few details and must have asked the right questions, because the Colonel actually responded with more than a grunt.
By the time their last course had been taken away, Elizabeth's corset was feeling decidedly smaller than it had at the start. What she wouldn't give for some comfort clothes right now. Sadly, her lucky sweatpants were a thousand miles and one hundred and fifty years away.
The men and women split into groups each retiring to their own adjoining parlor. The ladies were offered cordials and brandy. Mrs. Goode declined sadly, but took out a small snuffbox and inhaled half of it.
Two of the women Elizabeth hadn't had a chance to talk to much during dinner were happily gossiping about the next entertainment that was going to arrive in town and how it had to be an improvement over Tom Thumb, who was shockingly small, but bereft of much other talent.
Rose told Elizabeth about River Run and Catherine offered stories about young Eli that made Rose blush. Whatever Catherine's proclivity to get a rise out of everyone whose path she crossed, she had a genuine affection for Rose. Although she hadn't known Rose for long, Elizabeth couldn't help but feel the same way, as if she were a small china doll that needed protecting.
After an hour the gentlemen joined them in their parlor. Eli slipped next to her on the small sofa forcing Simon to sit opposite. Simon arched an eyebrow, but didn't force the issue.
When a discussion on politics broke out, everyone including Mrs. Goode had an opinion to offer, everyone except Simon and Elizabeth, who remained as silent as possible on all topics. When a serious argument between Dr. Parish and Mr. Cobb erupted over whether Stephen Douglas or James Buchanan should receive the Democratic nomination for the presidency, Elizabeth knew they'd been wise to stay on the sidelines. The names might have changed, but little else about politics had.
Elizabeth caught Simon's eye. He smiled and subtly raised his glass to her. She did the same and took a sip of her port. Her eyes dipped down to her glass briefly before flicking back to Simon.
But it wasn't Simon that grabbed her attention. Standing just beside his chair was a pale little girl, the little girl from the woods. The little girl in the white dress with the ribbon tied around her wrist. Mary.
~~~
Elizabeth gasped, but so softly only Eli, who was sitting right next to her, heard. He turned and asked her if she was all right. Elizabeth blinked and caught her breath, turning to him. “I'm fine.”
When Elizabeth turned back to look at Simon, the little girl was gone. It was clear no one else had seen her. She was pretty sure if anyone else had they'd be using smelling salts right about now. Heck, she could use a whiff herself.
“There aren't any children here tonight, are there?” she asked Eli.
“No,” he said drawing out the word in that way people did when they thought the questioner was half-nutty.
Elizabeth smiled and rubbed her temple. She glanced around the room. She'd only glanced away for a moment; there was no way a child could have gotten out of the room so quickly. It was Mary. She was sure of it. It was definitely the girl from the photograph Catherine had shown her. Why was she here? And why was she staring at Simon?
“Are you sure you're all right,” Eli
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