Sins of Omission by Irina Shapiro Read Free Book Online Page B

the house, a fact he tried to hide from me, but I noticed nonetheless.  I was sure that Hugo wasn’t telling me the whole truth of our situation, but I made a conscious decision to put off all heavy conversations and life-changing decisions until after the birth.  Sometimes ignorance was bliss, and although I was feeling far from blissful, I was more at peace than I had been in months.
    “Are you sure you will be all right on your own?” Hugo asked yet again. 
    “I will be just fine.  Besides, I won’t be alone; Archie will be here, and so will the servants.”  Hugo rolled his eyes at the mention of the servants, but he knew I would be safe with Archie.  During the long winter evenings, we discovered that we shared a love of chess, so Archie and I were looking forward to a game with no interruptions, and maybe a couple of snacks pilfered from the kitchen.  I found that I got awfully hungry at bedtime, and Archie had a sweet tooth that I liked to tease him about.  He was as bad as Jem, who would sell his soul for a sweetie.
    I watched through the window as Hugo escorted Frances to the waiting carriage sent around by Luke.  The snow of a few days ago had melted, but it was still slushy and wet, so Frances wore wooden pattens over her slippers to keep them from getting wet, and a fur-lined cloak with a trimmed hood.  She looked a picture.  Hugo handed her into the carriage and looked up at the window, blowing me a kiss before following Frances into the vehicle. 
    I’d put on a brave face, but secretly, I would have given anything to attend this musical evening.  I was so tired of being cooped up in the house, hidden from view.  I hadn’t heard music since a few sailors played some old French songs aboard the ship and danced on deck.  What I wouldn’t give for an iPod or even an old-fashioned record player.  I longed to hear something besides the howling of the wind or the crackling of the fire.  Archie had a lovely baritone, but he wouldn’t sing if I asked him.  I’d heard him singing once in the stables, and it had been beautiful.  He sang some haunting old folk song about love and loss, but had clammed up as soon as he realized I’d been listening.  Archie was not one to appreciate an audience.
    There were so many things I missed about the modern world, especially now that my due date was almost upon me.  Had we been back in the twenty-first century, we would be picking out a layette and decorating a nursery.  Countless little outfits would fill the dresser drawers; a shiny new pram would be standing in the corridor, and there would be toys, and books on the shelf.  I would have weekly appointments to monitor the baby’s and my health before delivery, safe in the hands of trained professionals who would do everything in their power to save us should anything go wrong.  And I missed food.  I had such cravings.  I would give anything for some fish and chips, or Indian takeaway. 
    I tried not to dwell on what could never be, knowing it to be pointless, but there were moments when I felt as if I would burst if I didn’t go for a walk, or do something to get out of my own head for a few hours.  I drew the curtains and turned from the window, determined to make the most of my evening.  I set up the chess set and sat in my favorite armchair by the fire waiting for Archie. 
    “Can I watch you play?” Jem asked as he sauntered into the parlor and perched on the other chair.  “I wish I could go to a musical evening as well,” he complained.
    “You and me both,” I agreed and gave him a smile.  “You can watch until it’s time for bed.  Or perhaps, you can read a little and make his lordship happy tomorrow when you dazzle him with your newfound knowledge.”
    “No, I’d rather watch,” Jem replied happily.  Dazzling Hugo wasn’t high on his list of priorities.  He jumped up and pulled open the door as Archie carefully maneuvered his way in without upsetting his laden tray.