Chapter Fifteen
Mattie worked through the day, sewing. As the afternoon crawled past, she found herself listening for the sound of Edward’s return. He’d only been gone four days, but if his business was brief, if his horses were fast . . .
She shook herself. “Fool!”
It was stupid to miss Edward, stupid to hope that he’d be back today, stupid to look forward to seeing his face again—and yet she couldn’t stop it. It was an animal, instinctive thing, utterly beyond her control. Just let me see him once more.
At dusk, she lit the candles and continued working. The reek of mutton fat filled the room as the tallow candles spluttered and flickered. When the clock struck half past five, Edward hadn’t arrived and the gown was almost finished. It lacked only buttons.
Mattie laid down her needle
