“This is not funny.C’est terrible.”
“It isn’t that bad.”
“Not for you. You are here only at the week end. She saves the tripe mash and greasy cabbage until you are gone to London.”
He smiled. “Why do we not go to the inn in the village tomorrow. Kendall said the food there is fine.”
“I doubt they have anything that resembles cuisine in that little fishing village.”
“Well, let us venture there and find out, shall we?”
“I do not know if I shall feel up to it, Daniel. Let us see what tomorrow brings.”
“Dr. Taylor?”
He opened his eyes. Mrs. Beebe stood in the parlor doorway.
“Hmm?” He had fallen asleep in a chair, tired from the coach trip and the long nights at the Manor before. He glanced at the mantel clock. He’d been asleep for nearly an hour.
“I thought you should know—the missus has gone out in the rain.”
“What?” He looked toward the window. The rain that had been pouring down all afternoon had slowed to a steady drizzle.
“When?”
“A quarter hour or more.”
“Did she say—?”
Mrs. Beebe shook her head. “Didn’t say a word. I thought of sending Mr. Beebe, but after the way your missus chewed my ears after supper, he isn’t feeling too charitable toward her—if you know what I mean.”
“I understand. And I am sorry for it. I will go. Do not trouble yourself further. Mrs. Taylor has always liked the rain.”
This was not true, and he felt guilty for the lie as well as the motive behind it. He didn’t want others to realize—didn’t want to realize it himself.It is happening again... .
He found his wife sitting on the bench overlooking the sea.
She sat perfectly still, her hair, dress, and face thoroughly soaked.
“Lizette, my love, what are you doing?”
“Trying to see France. Smell France. And, after that wretched supper,tasteFrance. I cannot see it by day with this country’s ever-present fog and rain ...”
“The channel is too wide here. I wish I could take you, but things are still too volatile—”
“But tonight I saw a light,” she said urgently, as if he hadn’t spoken. “On the horizon. I thought,voilà! Bien sûr!At night I can see France. I watched the light for a long time. It did not move. Just winked at me, called to me. I felt so happy. But then the light moved. Sailed closer and away down the coast. Just another stinking fishing boat. Bringing more stinking cod for your Mrs. Beebe to fry in her mutton fat.”
“You might have spoken more kindly to her.”
“I should repay with kindness the poison she feeds me? I can feel it, Daniel, filling my bowels and flowing through my veins. Poisoning me. Changing me. I used to be so ... so different. So alive, so lovely.”
He knelt beside her. “You are still.”
“I used to be so happy too—remember?”
Tears filled his eyes. “I remember,” he said quietly. He laid his hands on her knees. The hot tears trailed down his cheeks, mingling with the cool raindrops on his face. “You will be happy again, my love.Wewill be happy again.”
The following afternoon, Marie brought in a tray of tea things, but Lizette waved the servant away. She picked up the book, glanced at a single line, and tossed it down again. She rose from the settee and stalked about the room, as restless as a creature caged.
