Chapter 31

“But it isn’t even lunchtime,” Mrs. Darnley said, shaking flour from her apron.

“Have you seen the weather?” Charles said, pointing to the window. “If you and Darnley don’t go now you may not make the village. I would not wish to be answerable to your entire family if they missed out on your dinner.”

She looked out and sighed just as her husband came into the kitchen, stomping snow from his boots making Horatio flick his tail in disgust.

“Darnley, my dear fellow, will you have words with your good wife?” Charles said. “You need to leave. I have enough food to feed an army. Several armies. I will not starve if you leave now.”

Darnley stuffed his cap in his coat pocket. “He’s right, m’love. Temperature is dropping and there’s a north wind coming in. I reckon snow’s set in for a day or two.”

All three stared at the whitening landscape and listened to the howling wind for a moment and then Mrs. Darnley sighed. “I don’t like leaving you here alone.”