The Diary of Cozette Read Free Page A

offense, you must believe me.”
    “Frederick?”
    My uncle at last drew his gaze to mine and seeing his haggard look, I knew he had no choice.
    It did not take long for my aunt to arrange to send me away, citing that I was unruly and had tried to use my evil manner to corrupt her precious son. I will be sent to a place called Foxhead Asylum, a home for orphans with a strict code of conduct required by its proprietors.
    “Perhaps they can manage to teach you what I cannot,” she sniffed, handing me my bag.
    Over her shoulder, I could see Edward’s wicked grin, meant to mock me as the carriage ambled away. It only stiffens my resolve not to let him see me cry.
    ~A.C.B.

January 11, 1871
    I’ve not had reason or desire in truth, until now, to continue my writing. The rejection of my family and Edward’s abuse has taken its toll. I was sure that coming to the orphanage I would most assuredly shrivel up and die, alone.
    Elizabeth changed all of that with her arrival at Foxhead. Unlike other children who arrive in battered clothes, Elizabeth arrived wearing a lovely plaid skirt and a pristine white blouse. Her skin is pale and creamy, her eyes blue as a sunny winter day.
    “My name is Elizabeth.”
    I glanced up from scrubbing the front hall of the main house. I suspected that the Abbots had hired a new schoolmistress to teach us. “Anne Cozette, mum.” I rose to offer a clumsy curtsy.
    She giggled.
    “I am here as you are, a new resident of Foxhead. Mrs. Abbot instructed that I should find you and you would teach me the proper way to scrub floors.”
    I looked at her fine clothing and my gaze traveled to her hands, soft and flawless, like the rest of her. “You’ve never scrubbed a floor?” I glanced down at my ragged skirt, soaked dark with muddy water.
    Her smile permeated the darkness in my heart and from then on, we were inseparable.
    We stole away together after the noonday meal and wrapped in blankets against the weather we perched on the railing of the back porch.
    “Do you know his name?”
    Elizabeth nudged me through the woolen blanket.
    I followed to where she focused her attention. A young man, whom I had seen from time to time, was chopping wood and wore no coat. The sweat from his exertion caused his white muslin shirt to stick to his solid torso. “I think his name is Ernest.” I took a bite of a cold biscuit, savoring each precious crumb. “He works for Mr. Abbot.”
    “He is very handsome,” Elizabeth remarked with a grin.
    Her gaze was intent and I frowned, quite unsure what she saw as so remarkable.
    “Have you made his acquaintance?” she prodded.
    “Are you mad?” I stared at her in bewilderment, and then remembered she hadn’t been here long. “He’s a strange boy, quite of some strength you may have noticed—”
    “Indeed, I had.” She giggled.
    “We are quite defenseless here, you know. Anything could happen and no one would be the wiser. No thank you, I have kept to myself and been quite content as a result.”
    She glanced at me and the corner of her mouth quirked in a sly grin.
    “What notions are you entertaining, Elizabeth?” I looked at her warily.
    “We were strangers once, just earlier today and look at us now. We are strangers no longer. Come on.”
    She hugged her blanket tightly as she gingerly maneuvered down the narrow wood steps. I sat, jaw agape in amazement at her lack of regard for our safety, but did not know what more I could say. Obviously, I would have to trot along with her scheme to keep her out of trouble. With a loud sigh, I hoped she would see my disapproval as I followed but kept an eye out for Mr. and Mrs. Abbot. They would use the whip if they caught wind of fraternizing between the boys and the girls.
    I grabbed Elizabeth’s arm. “What if the Abbots should see us? You can’t simply walk up and introduce yourself in plain sight. Come Elizabeth, I beg you to see reason. This is most unwise.”
    Her gaze darted to the house. “We’ll pretend