Page 19 of The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon
“Do you think it’s odd that he sleeps all day?”Lillianasked, covering the rolls with a tea towel.
Ella shrugged, dropping the dirty dishes into the washtub.Anyone’snegative remarks aboutThanepicked at something.Shefelt the need to defend him.Maybeit was because they were both outsiders.Evenafter a year, when something went wrong, her name was always whispered. “Mr.Crawfordis sixty-six, and he wets his bed like a child.Ifind that odder.”
“You know whatImean.”Lillianplaced the rolls closer to the fire. “Mothertold me about the fight you and she had.She’sworried you’ll end up in the workhouse, or worse.”
Ella set a clean plate in the drying rack before turning toLillian.Shewas tired of having this conversation.Wasthere nothing else going on in the village? “AsItold your mother,I’mnot ready to marry.Andyes,IrealizeI’mon the cusp of being an old maid.Andmaybe that is what fate has decided my destiny will be.”
Lillian rolled her eyes, shaking her head. “Idoubt fate would give you such beauty if you were destined to live under a bridge.SoIhave a proposition for you.Sincewe are your only family,Darbywill hire you on to our household.Youwill take care ofMotherandDarby’smother and whatever we may need.Youwould work for room and board and a small stipend.Itisn’t a long-term solution.Butit would give you a little more time to figure things out.”
Ella stacked the plates to dry.Whydid everyone think they needed to solve this for her?Shedidn’t remember asking anyone to. “Thatis very kind of you to offer, butIwill find my own way.”
“CanIask you something?”Lillianstepped over to the large wooden sink. “Whatdo you think your life was like?”
Ella knew this conversation was coming fromMrs.A. “Well, sinceIhave no idea how to cook and didn’t know the first thing about laundry,IassumeIwas not poor.”
“What if you just forgot how to do those things?”
“But not how to read?”NeitherSissynorClaraknew how to read.Itwas a skill they didn’t need.AilithandLilliancould read names, numbers, and a few words.ButEllacould read books, full ledgers, and the newsprint that came out.Thenthere was the beautiful black ball gown she had been found in.Itwas made of silk and crystal beads.Thestyle was out of date, but the dress belonged to someone with wealth.Someonewho had the means to host an event that needed a gown of such beauty.
“Okay, so let’s say you did come from a family of means.Whythe cuts on your face and hands?Thedoctor said it looked like you’d crawled through rocks.Whywould a woman of such means be doing that?”
“I don’t know.WhatifIwas kidnapped?”
“Were you wealthy, the kidnappers would have ransomed you.Ormaybe they did and your family chose not to pay the ransom?”Lilliancrossed her arms over her chest.
“What if they did butIescaped?”Ellashot back. “Andwhy do you care?”Ellawas a bit hurt byLillian’scomments.ItseemedAilithandLillianhad made it their mission to prove to her that whatever life she had wasn’t worth remembering.
“BecauseIcare about you and want you to be happy.”
“I would be much happier if everyone would stop worrying about me.Youhave bigger things to worry about, like a wedding.”Ellahoped the change of subject would put the focus on something else.
“Oh gods below, that is just as big of a headache.Darby’smother suddenly wants to have the wedding at their estate.Ihave told her no.Itwill be here.Ilove the way the inn looks in the autumn.Besides, it’s my last one here.Iwant it to be special.Speakingof special, did you see that dressMr.Tenebrisordered?Wheredo you suppose he got those beads?Iwould love to get my hands on a few of those.”
“You saw the dress?”
“I was changing the linens.Itwas draped over the chair.Thesilk is very high quality.Hemust have plans for it.Whyelse would he have it sent here toRiverton?”Lillianwashed her teacup. “Wouldyou run off with him if he asked?”
“Why would you ask that?”
Lillian shrugged. “Heseems very interested in you.Heis always asking questions about you.Atfirst,Ithought it was like most people inRiverton.Buthis questions are very specific.”
“Questions about what?”Whyhad he not asked her?
Lillian shrugged. “Ifwe ever tried to search for your family.Ifanyone has come looking for you.Andrecently he asked aboutWilliamand your relationship with him.IknowMr.Tenebrisis handsome.Andwealthy.DidImention handsome?”Lillianteased. “Ijust don’t want you to make any foolish decisions because of a pretty face.”
Ella bit back the annoyance she felt atLillian’scomment.Shewas not easily swayed by a pretty face.Ifthat were true, she’d be married toWilliamnow. “Idon’t thinkMr.Tenebrisis going to ask me to run off with him.I’msure his questions have to do with the woman he’s looking?—”
“Ella.”Sissybusted through the door. “Hurry, we have to hide you.”ShepushedEllatoward the back door.
“Why?”Elladidn’t even have time to set the plates down.
“Albert is here, demanding you speak to him.”SissyhandedEllaher cloak, pushing her to the back door. “Hurry.”
Ella stumbled out the back door.Sheturned to handSissythe plates, but the girl slammed the door in her face.Therain started again. “Ofcourse,”Ellagroaned, lifting the plates over her head, deciding what to do.Mudsoaked through her slippers, and the rain made her cloak heavy.Sheran to the small barn, hoping for some relief under the eaves.Shepressed her back against the rough wood.Therain splashed down on her slippers.
She saw the back door open,Sissywaving frantically.Ellalooked around.Shewas in the middle of a barnyard; where was she supposed to hide?Thesmall pen where they kept the goats, milk cow, and chickens had three walls and a roof.Ellaslid around the back and under the willow.Thesad branches of the tree protected her from the rain and prying eyes.
“Why are you holding plates and hiding under a tree?”
