Lady in the Veil by Leah Fleming Read Free Book Online Page A

looked twice at her little sister but how easily he was fooled now. He saw what he wanted to see
and averted his eyes from Mirabel as if she was invisible.
    He was still handsome and full of ambition and when he gazed lovingly at her sister she felt the first stabs of envy. The man really believed it was her and she was touched at how ardently he
had prepared for this day. This deception was not easy to stomach. It was hard trying to behave like a servant in the hall. Mostly she was ignored and given orders. The life below stairs was not to
her liking but Eliza had insisted that her maid slept close by in their old nursery rooms and she meanwhile busied herself trying not to show her ignorance to the other staff who avoided her. Once
or twice she had caught the kitchen staff staring at her proud manner and cultured accent.
    Once they had their own house up on the hill, they could live together undisturbed. She hated to deceive Papa who looked so weary of life. How could he not recognize his own daughter? Like Matt,
he too saw only what he wanted to see and servants were invisible.
    ‘I can’t go through with this wedding. You know I can’t cross the threshold for fear of my life. You know when I see the sky I can’t breathe, my chest tightens and I feel
faint. You can’t make me go to church or I shall die,’ Eliza whined.
    ‘Only a few more days to go and then we can both live together undisturbed, out of sight, and you can sew to your heart’s delight. I promise then I will be your arms and legs and
messenger. No one will trouble you up there.’
    ‘But the doctor in York said I had an imbalance of humours and that my womb roams around my body at will. He says the loving touch of a husband will cure me of all fears but I cannot bear
the thought of such touches. You can bleed me like a stuck pig but nothing will induce me to walk down that aisle unaided. We shall have to tell Papa the truth.’ Eliza threw her silks down in
a tantrum. ‘And you can pick them up!’
    ‘I said I would take care of all that business and I will’ Mirabel said through her teeth. ‘Whatever it takes, but don’t tell Papa. He has enough worries. The house may
have to be sold soon to pay all his debts. No one else will take good care of us. Believe me, this is our best offer.’
    ‘But to tell Papa that I was dead was a stupid idea! I was happy just making pictures and counting stitches. How can you make us live on a smelly farm in such a lowly family?’
    ‘Oh grow up, Eliza! There’s no money left here to indulge you any more. If anything happens to Papa, you’ll have to take up sewing, hire yourself out like a servant.
There’ll be no money for silks and fine linens then. We’re ruined every which way and I can’t help you then . . .’ Mirabel pleaded as she laid out the beautiful wedding gown
on the bed for her Mistress to inspect.
    ‘I care nothing for this robe,’ said Eliza, picking up the lilac silk gown and throwing it back. ‘This might look like gossamer but it will be like a lead cloak on me. How can
I stand before the altar and make such hideous vows when I can scarce walk a step unaided? Send word to Farmer Stockdale that I’m too ill. Bring the Parson here if you must. Let him wed us in
the drawing room. I care not one way or the other. This was your scheme so you can sort it out. You know I can’t help my fear. It’s not going to go away.’
    ‘I am trying to be patient, Eliza, but you have to go through with this for my sake and Papa’s. We’ll be a burden off his hands. Don’t shame him before his servants. We
have to go through with this now,’ she sighed, knowing it was far too late to turn back. To be truthful, the whole scheme had spiralled out of control. Matt Stockdale’s proposal was
timely but neither of them was ready to live out their pretences quite so soon.
    On the night before the wedding the groom paced through the new farmhouse rooms examining every detail. Would there