A sob strangled in her throat.
“Now, now, Miss Inman. Your sister is merely making a natural progression from girl to young lady. I understand these things are hard on the heart, but ultimately they’re good for the soul in that she—and you—will have to trust God with each other all the more.” Mr. Blackwood reached a hand toward her but, inches from contact, withdrew it. “After all, you and your sister are in God’s hands, and there is no better place to be. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have an excessive amount of paperwork to finish. It’s revenue day, you know. Good-bye.”
He wheeled about, the grey tails of his coat flapping in his haste.
Callous, harsh man. Leaving her to mourn the loss of her only family member alone on this grey December morn. Could he not have tarried just a moment more?
Then again, did she really want him to?
Eva stomped back to the pony cart and, with a sharp click of her tongue, ordered Dusty to walk on. A snarling mess of sorrow and anger chased circles in her belly all the way to High Street, and she fought tears the entire drive. Letting loose a torrent now would be a disaster. Penny had her handkerchief.
She stopped the cart in front of the Royston Postal Office, then secured Dusty’s reins. If God would but smile upon her—Oh,God,please!—then a telegram from Bram awaited her just inside. Tossing back her shoulders, she marched through the door, the jingle of the bell more grating than merry. Even so, she approached the telegraph window, determined to think only the best of what might be.
A silver-haired fellow with pockmarked cheeks peered at her from his stool. “May I help you?”
“Yes, have you a telegram for Miss Eva Inman?”
He reached for a spindle of papers and riffled through themone by one. There weren’t many, yet it seemed like an eternity before he glanced back up at her. “Sorry, miss. There’s not one here.”
“Are you certain?” She clutched her reticule, acutely aware of how light it felt. “Perhaps the message is addressed to Inman Manor?”
Once again the clerk fingered through the yellow squares of paper, a slight shake to his head. “Nothing, Miss Inman. Sorry.”
Her heart dropped to her shoes. No telegram meant no money would be arriving today.
So she had no choice.
“Thank you.” The words barely pushed past her teeth.
Her steps dragged over to the postal counter on the other side of the shop. She pulled the acceptance letter to Mrs. Pempernill from her pocket and a coin from her purse. “I should like this delivered right away, please.”
“You’re in luck, missy. The morning delivery is just out back.” He shoved the coin in the register drawer, then waved the envelope in the air. “I’ll see this gets in today’s load.”
He disappeared out a side door before she could thank him, which was just as well. She wasn’t feeling very grateful at the moment, not with what she must do next.
Heart heavy, she trudged from the postal service to the revenue office. Bram was gone. As was her sister. And if she didn’t do some elaborate talking, her house would be too.
She reached for the office door just as a man with a red face and monstrous scowl thundered out. “Thieves!” He shook his fist in the air. “The lot of them! Blasted bloodsuckers.”
Eva jumped out of his way, doubtful he even saw her, so noxious was his wrath.
That didn’t bode well.
Sucking in a breath of courage, she entered into a bare-bones office. She approached Mr. Buckle’s desk. “Good day, Mr. Buckle.”
“Good day, Miss...” He narrowed his eyes, his moustache crawling ever farther down the sides of his mouth. “Inman, is it not?”
She dipped her head.
He pulled a wooden box across his desk and fingered through some cards, eventually retrieving one. “I’ve got your statement right here. Once you pay the total amount, you may sign on this line.” He set the paper down and tapped his finger on the mark.
She retrieved the few banknotes in her reticule, reluctant to part with them, then handed them over. “I, em, it is not all quite there, but mostly is.”
His lips moved as he silently counted, then recounted. His gaze sought hers. “You are thirty pounds short.”
“I am.” She forced a brilliant smile. “But you will be happy to know I have taken a job and will make payments to account for the difference.”
He shook his head. “Today is the deadline.”
