My heart clenched a little as I donned my coat and scarf; the idea of going back to school after so long was terrifying. I skipped out of the door, down the front steps to our little cottage and out into the yard, trying to release some of the nervous energy pent up inside.
Father’s drinking bothered me, and when he woke up, he didn’t even say anything. Why? Why wouldn’t he hug me or kiss me or wish me a good day at school? I didn’t know the answer to that, so I crossed the yard in a hurry to be away.
The air was crisp and fresh; it felt a little like snow was on its way. The last snow had already melted, only to be found in little patches under trees and shadows along the lanes, but it might start up again any time since it was January. Right now, it was only misty and I could feel the mist coating my hair, face and eyelashes beginning to freeze. The temperature was dropping, and I pulled my scarf up closer against my face to make the walk into the village a little less miserable.
The gate to the yard shut with a little click of the latch behind me, and I turned to walk down the lane. The primer was tucked into my interior coat pocket, leaving my hands free, but I stuffed them into the pocket linings to protect them against the cold. Why did I forget my gloves?
My heart twisted when I thought of going back into the house for them, so I just continued on. Hopefully, the day would warm up, and the weather wouldn’t get worse. I’ll remember them when I come home for lunch. Evie thought to herself.
Kicking stones and avoiding puddles, she hurried along the lane towards the village. It was only a half-mile into town, but it wouldn’t do to tarry. She would get in trouble for being late, she knew. When she came upon the village’s outskirts, only a few people were about. Morning chores having already been completed, most were inside warming themselves to their breakfasts.
Her best friend Katie Cross skipped up to her and bodily rammed her, nearly knocking her into a particularly large puddle.
“Katie!!! DON’T DO THAT!” Evie snapped at her, adjusting her primer in her coat and checking her shoes for splatter.
Katie Laughed and whirled away, singing, “ooooo, You don’t want to get dirty just in case Johnny might see you!”
Johnny Milford was the cutest boy in the village and only a year older than Evie. His father owned the local Dairy, and he was set to inherit as his older brother Milton hadn’t been heard of since he was shipped off to the war. His father had already begun apprenticing him to run the farm in his stead when he was older.
“Katie, we are not children anymore, you must conduct yourself as a young lady,” Evie chided at her.
“Well I’m not a lady yet am I? I refuse to grow up! I will never be old like you are!” Katie rebuked with her arms spread wide to the sky and spinning about like a top.
“You’ll get your shoes dirty!” Evie laughed as she stopped her by grabbing her arm and winding her own about it. They continued on in a huddled embrace, steps in time and whispering to each other contentedly.
Katie was the daughter of her mother’s best friend growing up and was indeed her own. It was said that their mothers had a pact stating that neither would have a child before the other did. They would marry at the same time and have children at the same time so that their children could be best friends just as they were.
Unlike Evie’s dark brown hair, so dark as to be nearly black, and dark brown eyes to match. Katie had such bright red and wild hair that it was a shock to the eyes every time you might look at it. She had sky blue eyes and a face spattered with freckles that flushed to a dark red any time she was overcome by any particularly strong emotion. It was her father’s colouring, and she had the spirit to match it.
In other, darker times, she would be considered a witch, but now she was just a wild and happy child, careless of the worries of the world. She spent her days spinning about the fields and finding and caring for the baby birds blown from their nests. She would become an apothecary and, like her mother, would follow in her footsteps to become the area midwife. There was a doctor two towns over, but nobody bothered to see him when Missus Louisa Cross did excellent work. They could go down to Derby if they needed hospital, but it was almost entirely unnecessary.
“Did you see the river? It’s almost completely frozen over!” Katie exclaimed, “if the lake freezes too, maybe we can go ice skating!”
“Katie, we can’t do that! Its Dangerous!” Evie chided, ever the careful child, “You could fall in, and then what would your mother say!”
“It’s ok, she’s still got my brother and sister, I’m expendable,” Katie said in her laughing way. “Come on Evie! We should go see if its ready for skating after school!”
“I’ll ask mother if it’s alright when I go home for midday meal, do you want to come with me? Mother wont mind.” She said, looking into her friend’s bright blue eyes. She might not admit it, but she secretly loved how daring her friend was. And if anyone were going to convince Mother to let her go, it would be Katie.
“Sure! And with both of us there she DEFINITELY won’t say no!” Katie beamed, catching on to what Evie was asking without it being said. That’s why they were best friends. They could communicate so that the other would always know what was meant without being said.
The school bell began to ring to warn the time as they approached the small chapel in the centre of town that served as the village’s school. The younger children were separated from the older ones by rooms. Their teachers would eventually separate them by gender as they got older. The older boys and girls were taught separately, though Evie never understood why that was. It wasn’t as if they were receiving any further education, only that they were also taught deportment as though that mattered. The local lord’s late lady thought that it mattered, and she was the one who funded the school, so if it mattered to her, then it mattered to them.
School went by abysmally as usual, and by midday, they were ready to be free of the tiny rooms, repeating their lessons and chanting their mathematical tables. None would be there if not forced. There was work at home, and half the class would not return for afternoons lessons. Evie wished she were one of them.
“Going home for midday?” said a boy’s voice from behind. Evie started as she had been absorbed in putting on her coat and ensuring her copybook was in its place within her coat. Turning, she saw the pale handsome face and blue eyes of Johnnie Milford.
“Oh! Ah… Yes,” she stammered, a flush creeping up her cheeks. He had never spoken directly to her before. “I am.” She finished lamely, unsure of what else to say.
“My mother will have extra if you’d like to save yourself the walk,” he supplied, covering her awkwardness.
He wanted her to come for dinner! Oh, how exciting!
“Thank you, but I must go and ask if I can borrow my mothers Ice skates. Katie is wanting us to go after afternoon lessons.” She said, focusing her eyes on the collar of his shirt, not knowing where to look. Glancing into his handsome face set her cheeks to warm again.
“You should come!” She rushed, not wanting him to get the impression that she was not interested in his company.
“All right then, sounds right fun. I’ll ask me Da if he’ll let me off afternoon chores.” He said pleased. Was he blushing too? A faint reddening crept up his neck, turning his ears bright red.
“Well then, I’ll see you soon. Good day,” She finished and rushed off before he could reply. Johnnie Milford asked her for a midday meal! And he would come to skate on the ice! What would Katie say!?
She did not have to wait long as Katie, spying her exit, extricated herself from the group of girls she was standing and chatting with and rushed to Evie’s side. Pushing her arm through the crook of Evie’s elbow, she whispered furiously as they left the chapels warmth.
“Was that Robbie Milford who was chatting with you?” She asked, needing no response, “What did he want? What did he say? What did YOU say?” A blast of cold air nearly knocked them down, and they spent a few moments re-wrapping scarves and adjusting coats.
“He wanted to ask me if I would save myself the walk and have midday meal with him! He invited me to his house, to meet his mother.” She said with emphasis. It was not as though she did not already know Mistress Milford, who made the best cheese in town, but it was an entirely different thing to be invited for a meal with his family.
“OOOO,” Katie’s long face rounded with the shape of her sounds, “He’s interested! In you!” she gave Evie’s arm a little slap, “Why didn’t you go!”
“And leave you all alone?” She jested back to her, “No! Plus, you have to ask Mother if I can come with you to the pond.” Evie did not trust that her mother would allow her this bit of fun if Katie were not the one to ask.
“But…” she trailed, waiting for Katie to look at her with mischief in her eyes, “I DID ask him to come with us to the pond. Maybe he’ll bring Richard and James with him!”
“EEEEK”, Katie trilled, stamping her little feet and hitting Evie’s shoulder while nearly landing them in a puddle as they hurried along the lane to Evie’s farm.
“You DIDN’T.” She gasped. James was the second most attractive boy in town and was the son of the Milner.
“I did,” grinned Evie wickedly.