Barbara Erskine

The Darkest Hour


Скачать книгу

must be away on one of his trips. The woman was living alone in the house with nothing but the ghosts of the past for company.

      She looked up as her hostess put the plate of biscuits in front of her. ‘Do people in the village remember the Lucases?’ she asked, trying to change the mood.

      Elizabeth shook her head. ‘I doubt it. I don’t know. To be honest we don’t mix with the village much any more.’ She reached down the teapot from a shelf and set it on the hotplate to warm.

      ‘But your family come down to see you?’ As soon as she had said it Lucy regretted it. She had already guessed what the answer would be

      ‘They used to. All the time. But they have other calls on their time now. The children have grown out of the countryside. They want to go abroad or spend the holidays with their friends. You know how it is.’ Elizabeth helped herself to a biscuit and broke it in half, scattering crumbs on the pine table before putting it down without tasting it. She didn’t seem to notice. ‘There was a time when I could have offered you a homemade biscuit. Not any more. It’s not worth making them just for me. I bake when there is something on in the village of course. I do my bit, but even that has been taken over now by young families. The mothers are very energetic, very bossy,’ she laughed quietly. ‘They like to do things their way.’

      Lucy’s heart went out to her.

      Behind them the kettle began to whistle. Elizabeth stood up abruptly and went over to the Aga. She made the tea and came back to the table. ‘There you are, my dear. I am so sorry; you must think I am pathetic. Drink that, and then we’ll go outside. I love my garden. It’s mine. Out there I have no sense of Rachel at all. Out there I feel as if I still have a use in the world. I’ll show you.’

      Rachel. Once more she was talking about Rachel. Only in the studio was there an echo of Evie left behind.

      Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.

      Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».

      Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.

      Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.

/9j/4SCORXhpZgAATU0AKgAAAAgABwESAAMAAAABAAEAAAEaAAUAAAABAAAAYgEbAAUAAAABAAAA agEoAAMAAAABAAIAAAExAAIAAAAiAAAAcgEyAAIAAAAUAAAAlIdpAAQAAAABAAAAqAAAANQANWfg AAAnEAA1Z+AAACcQQWRvYmUgUGhvdG9zaG9wIENDIDIwMTUgKFdpbmRvd3MpADIwMTg6MDE6MzAg MTY6NDE6NDcAAAOgAQADAAAAAQABAACgAgAEAAAAAQAAAu6gAwAEAAAAAQAABHEAAAAAAAAABgED AAMAAAABAAYAAAEaAAUAAAABAAABIgEbAAUAAAABAAABKgEoAAMAAAABAAIAAAIBAAQAAAABAAAB MgICAAQAAAABAAAfVAAAAAAAAABIAAAAAQAAAEgAAAAB/9j/7QAMQWRvYmVfQ00AAf/uAA5BZG9i ZQBkgAAAAAH/2wCEAAwICAgJCAwJCQwRCwoLERUPDAwPFRgTExUTExgRDAwMDAwMEQwMDAwMDAwM DAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwBDQsLDQ4NEA4OEBQODg4UFA4ODg4UEQwMDAwMEREMDAwMDAwR DAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDP/AABEIAKAAagMBIgACEQEDEQH/3QAEAAf/xAE/ AAABBQEBAQEBAQAAAAAAAAADAAECBAUGBwgJCgsBAAEFAQEBAQEBAAAAAAAAAAEAAgMEBQYHCAkK CxAAAQQBAwIEAgUHBggFAwwzAQACEQMEIRIxBUFRYRMicYEyBhSRobFCIyQVUsFiMzRygtFDByWS U/Dh8WNzNRaisoMmRJNUZEXCo3Q2F9JV4mXys4TD03Xj80YnlKSFtJXE1OT0pbXF1eX1VmZ2hpam tsbW5vY3R1dnd4eXp7fH1+f3EQACAgECBAQDBAUGBwcGBTUBAAIRAyExEgRBUWFxIhMFMoGRFKGx QiPBUtHwMyRi4XKCkkNTFWNzNPElBhaisoMHJjXC0kSTVKMXZEVVNnRl4vKzhMPTdePzRpSkhbSV xNTk9KW1xdXl9VZmdoaWprbG1ub2JzdHV2d3h5ent8f/2gAMAwEAAhEDEQA/AO56VjV4PT24wez1 wQ+9kh222GWPra327G072f8ADKp1R32i3FxWAGyywX2DkemxrqrX2/yLN9eOxi5ikZ+RmsGMXuuB L6XPjeA523f7fz938/8A1P8ACVrc6ax1dTrHvL8gn07zuLg51ffe/wB3sdY/+QouWmMsRjGPhiK9 R/dj2/rLc3oPFxWezLq3SjkV0/Y2Br8OpzW1sDg/27PQaxzfp+gxj/SZ/pP+uK10F2dVjPqzd/rC x75sJcSCGO/Ru3fQ2/8Agv8ANp3Q727dYjSfceyTiHGYkg6uBIMBWxysBkOQWCRRH6Pmwe9Lh4ex +qX1/c4jdH5pHHw1WN1bpV9+Rbm0P32Wul1ZIa4NPp1vYzfuY6v0vU3ep/xXprUhkj8xruCfL5JO DY9pB7c66J2bl8eUcMwfCtwthllA2EouNYYxjz6bAGMOpdDR6bZcVUy8bGy22F7fTssa1nrM+kG1 uF1bRO5uz1B7mf4REc7czx2e2e4/O2uSElnE+CkOOEo8JAMdlvHIHQ67tbJ6X0/IDNwsYGOc4msw Xb3epa2xzt25rnuc7+2o9WprtxqmMqY5lB0da5wZUxrHfpHx73+1jW/1/T9VWw0zBnTvCcGJ/EJk uXxESAiBxgCRrsuGWdgkn07OBgdL+0muy1rjU9nqveHbXh7wXVOYTv8AUb+ata3rleHn3VPG1zq2 AbXNMFurXe5w2Wu+0WPs3/6NWQGsraGiGgbWhvAAEBc/1XBbXnWnaLBe4WuYdND9Jm4T+dvVPLh+ 7YonGAZcQ45H+7ws0MnuzIkSBWgDebmXXuqw+t1Nrzt7a6ri1251dg9O0+iA7Et+0+2n9H+j/Sfz H6NUP2A3/T/96H7P+k36P7/H9I/12KlXkPFvrFxsDBIF49QAn9C31GWb2OaxiFr4M+j+6Po+Kofe NQeuo47/AFvt/L8/7/6HG2fb/jw16OL+6//QM3GuNtuN6b357D6lzwd7wyNj/Th36Xe21jt61Ogu LWWy0j0y1jnGWt0Eentd797Nn9fZ9P8AcVnpNrLMJjmtd7B6Re+JIHv2Nsb/ADlX+jVqusMa81t2 STY8t43H6djvu/OQ5XkxEwyiVirrwl8v+F+9Nhy5iRKBFH+DMGOQHDx1jn6TVP2lwJaRvjdBn8P6 35yGHF7huj2gAA+WndEa1sFo1nk6q+WuGXpl+4AguYNAdO8Ha0/vNQvQL3gwWnje0wdOPd9H/PRX D87y8/h7lUvy+patowS8xHqXW1saP7LHWPUc5iI1BP8AdjKf/QXCNnoPMiP/AEkFwzqXnKc5l9Ab DwAK3tYDJ36+ld6f+k/R2f8ABqvm9YaypzaWllr2yy1/0Gn95w2uc5/7rLGVqTsDreWQMq2uuk6i mokgka++GO8P30SvoNHpFmTZZb7g4bCa2NDQQ2tlcv8A3vpv96qSPMS4hhjKEZXrlPqv+r/lPUzA YxRyESI/c/lwJ8DJflYtd7miouB3N7S0lp2k/mO/MR2skBxgfLVFrxqm1Mpa0w0BrZJJgD27nv8A d/aQvTsa9vEnjuVdhfCBI3IAcR/ePUsEhqSBpejNgBeNx2tEKvmY1WXtbbI9Nwc1w8nNc72/Re12 z85HcA1xmNNIS0cYmPDzSlGMgRIXEjZQJBsGiHnHsr6dbay+kOrG61trHfpXMeW1+38xnp/T96X7 Nwv+5dnOzn/tN4/zf89/3VWzl4Nd9dxG1t9lXpC1wmGTvLe7f7X/AFxY+6//ALn5X83H0sj+c/e/ mv6N/wAB/S1Q+5/reA17fzjvwcXrh/0Gx73o4teL5T516ZP/0djpmPY/IpyXOsqfXXsdWQ7ZYwSy p27+bZ7NjvS+n7PV/wAItpxZpDdB+dGp/rKh0wUuYy4E7ramuY0iIbL2u0/lub+k2fo/0fqM9P1F e7R34Oim5SIGIV19RN3xf1mrmJMz4aIr8qih1DLd5ORY2mkMbuJe4PsZVOmzcxj/AKXsUsfLqyPU bUXB9LxVbW9pY9jyG2bXtf8Av1vZZS9n6K2r6CqdWY1tvRwHCvd1KmDoY/RZXZ3wUKL2syeqUVva +99mPUzNHD7rqzUzHeyfS9XpePX6766H/wAx/Ofp/U9SUy1paAadPEycfLbY/Hf6rarX0WADX1av psG7b9Ld7H/4RirVdVwMpmLaze2rOO3FtsY5rbH+4+mHu+hY/wBOz067vT9T/BIWDtwPrCcWxzPT 6nSy3HDZaBdh7Ma5uyx9jt1uC7Ff9L/tIszpbmM6B0C7IeLsT16WemPbttfZdXh3m1rv032bIc13 oP2f6b/A+m8cRTTs2dVwqW5D3+o1mE8V5dnpksrJay3fZt3O9L0ra7X3tZ6ddb/0qLlZWPh1G7Js DKxYyrdyN9jhVXx+buf7n/6P3rGyixtX1mdZcxlLbv0tT422AYeLuxn2Mc29n2r+jfoP03+iWhdU OsVWYz9uPU7H9HIqsG51dmVW1z6iGPq2W4VHpf8AbyVqpt5WZXjuprtD9+RZ6NQa3dL2tfb6f8j9 HXa/3KFGRTkF/pTvof6d1Tmlj2PgP2PY8D6db2WVv/mra/5tZTc5+bi/V+6yxrMwZ7qcsy123Ipx 83HyvbP51te/+pbWi0ZDar+qY+9v7SN1DDeTt3m+prcB4qn9D9jobbvpa7/tPZfv/TexAqIb9GTj ZgsdS8PFNr8ezQiH1x6jf6vvbsf/AIRinAiGnaeNFnUEYPWzjuez0up0NfUGy39NhBtFjNr32u32 9Pso/wDYNajp2n3acCCnA91pCItIB3AkP7NJn+ztcNqobR/3Ofxu/sfufS/o38v6a0hU1wLLD7Xa OB1BnSNfaqUD/Rf9qfsP0T/Nf6P/AMzSPzj+6f8AuVfonzf/0utxxsxqw1jHPDTt2aS4+5wY9251 bLX+5yq4PWn5wyDTgub9mufiWl9zB+krj1Nn6OzdX7vY9XKzvcyxx1O3y7D+ysL6t25FbeqtqoF4 PVMn3eq2vWa9Nr2u/wA9WxEAAD8GkZE2XZoyH233U5eKzHGOyt4c97LWuZYLd1m4Nb6TWfZ9vuRG Z3STtYcnE2AwyLKtrSf3PdsY9zv3Uum5F2RRTfc307nOd6jBB2ltllYZvb7X7Gt271j9Az+n43Sc 6vNINTs/NFtDmFzXtdcR6Ttzfs7vV+h+kf6f+kQK4PQWVVhxfa1vtaS71A0QG/S3Of8ARa1CoyMC 79HRdRZu19NhYZnh3p/n/wBfasR3TOs4/wBUcHCNH2rKwrqbsjB3hxsx6rXZA6Z6r/Zc6in0Gf6O 30PT/S/n3sPrHSOuZNQrtcM3BebvsmQ308mslj6bA6q73bNl36X7O5K003hbgPyBVVbjvyWEwxpr NoIku9o/StemryunzYGXU+owF1219cgfvX7Tub/1xYuR1LH6b9ZOsX5D2s34/T6mOfuFe+w211nI ta13oY7XO/TWv/wa3MLFOM4NLi+11osybXCHWWmGuteB9H2tbVTX/gcf06a/oJAoO6P7R011Zcyz FdUw++xrqiGzozc8HbX9FSZ9myGNvqNWRWZ22t2WNMHadljd30HLJ+rMN+rFhiNt+eQeOLb0JzWf VrJZnMaG9C6kKzm1tADcTKe1rGZzGtHsw8p36PJ/0dn/AFpiXFVK4dS6/q4Zuc0WUm+uS9m5he0M 1c543epXtUf2h07kZePtnkWsI/6tEr319Wud/wB1sUE8/RtzHDX+0sboOfXi9N6i9zLn+nn59pFV VjwYs3fzlVdjPzUbKKDrsycZ1P2ip7bKNT6lZ3MOwlr9r2b9+x7dvtXMfbrPBv8ATvtH5/0v+2// AFL/AMCuqfUz7LY2uaq7fUscQQYNs22+6HN93qP92xcV9kt/0Z/nPR7/AOaozKXvxHT25n/C4sa4 AcB/vR+ypP8A/9PrcVwDKrhutqa1ryA0y5pAj9Ef3/8ARrM6Dj5eE3qH2jAyx6+ffkU7K63zVYWe lub6vss9vvrV/CLn4lJtJc4sbuL/AGuJidx+lt3e3+urbXzuA0B1g6wZlzt/9pWokyhGQO4DT0BI Pdr42Tdb1Da7GyaMWqgkm9gaX276/RbTtsse91dDb/8AtxV/q1j5NGHfTl476hZmZNxZaBsfTfYX tn3Pa/dX/OVuVu/7TW6s1V+puJ3tHIAgabnM+l7vc5IWXNrJ+yPPjDhLjH5u4N+g5Hh7m1X0qnO6 Nj9Wwui4+Lbi2usw731uqIa55xN13oHHe9+y70K3Y/sZZ6vp1+miZuF+0eodMyG1WMswLxfZmW1u qIrDXtODX6wZdf8AarH17vZ6NFTLPf8AmWXfVzmaPxyawTscDBAB/e/O9v8AJUxl2uZXYzGscHtB dB+iSdux28N9/wCchR2tNi72c+rDfd17qr8rFe/AzsbHxwbGfo7PRFoyGPE72s9/6Ozb7/8ABJuj Nz+l5D+nX035PTsVwOB1At3O9L6X2LIG71Xvx/5vHyWV+ncz2LQ+05ke7GJky2CAAD+9p9KtPZdk k2NbV7WMcay7Xe+R6cbT9Hb79iXCom3L6Pj5WJ9W8jFvx7WZm/MLKC2S77Q+59Gwtc6t302b/d+h /wAKtWpleTgCjJpLqraRTdRc2JG1tdjHNQXWZBuDa6HenuI3PgSOGluvt+l6n/FsUjde5zm117Az Y2XEEmX7XPEfzf6LfYjw/VHFrdNLomBk9MsysTJe7IxMYU19NyCN1jscevaMeyHe+/EdZ6H8tnpI XRPtGFh5VGTh5QN2blXsaKg8Oquf6lTnQ/8AOZ9Kta2Ldk