"It's the room your master has given you. Dinner is at 8:30 pm sharp. We keep country hours here."
"Of course," I said, hating how awkward I felt. “I truly appreciate Mr–Gideon for coming to rescue a poor country cousin.”
“Of course,” Mariam said, then dropped the barest curtsey and left.
I was determined to do better. As mistress of the house, there would of course be a trial period when the servants were unsure of me, but I had had an excellent rapport with all the servants at The Gables and knew my kindness and care would win them over.
Grayspires was my new home. I had no other. And after seeing the condition it was in, I was even more impressed with Gideon for coming to rescue me.
Perhaps he had been a little rough–a little wild–in the carriage. But, after all, he had done the honorable thing and married me.
I barely had time to tidy myself for dinner, but the room appeared to have some spare clothing in it–very ugly plain grayish frocks that were several sizes too big, so I did the best I could without a servant and changed clothes, washed my face, and attempted to straighten my thick braid.
I would have to find out who my new abigail was, soon.
Once that was done, I walked out of my room, into the darkness of the hall. At first I had no idea which way to go, but I calmed my silly fears, and went back to look in my room for a candle. Grayspires might need work but it was a good, solid house, was it not? Nothing that we couldn’t fix over time.
Sure enough, there were candles in my room and I lit one and went back out into the hall. The flickering light cast strange shadows, making the paintings on the wall look huge, grotesque.
There was one just above the staircase that had something strange spattered on it.
Without thinking, I stretched my fingers out and brushed across the scarlet spots. Were they still sticky or was that just my overheated imagination? What had happened? A painting accident? I raised my candle and looked slowly up the portrait to find—the head was gone! Cut out, in jagged, uneven cuts.
I shivered and hurried down the stairs.
Had animals gotten in at some point? I would have to ask my husband.
The dining room was more sumptuously furnished than my own room, and one would have to look closely to see the wear on the edges and legs of the fine carved chairs.
"Hello," I heard a low, throaty woman's voice from behind me. "Welcome to Grayspires Manor."
CHAPTER 4
Deliverance
Ispun around to see a very beautiful woman standing behind me. She was perhaps five or so years older, very tall and elegant, with sleek, chestnut hair and full, plump lips in a bright face.
"I--thank you," I stuttered out, wondering who she was, for she carried herself with poise and confidence. I wasn't sure how to address her. Was she another relative? A friend of the family?
"I am Deliverance--Nightshade," I said. "Are you a--Nightshade, too?"
It was very awkward to know what to say to such a beautiful, enviable person, and I wished desperately for a moment that I had half of this woman's breeding and elegance.
"This is my sister Ada," Gideon said from behind me. "She has been keeping house for me for many years."
Oh--his sister.
But–
“I thought you said Grayspires needed a woman’s touch!” I cried, without thinking.
“Did I?” Gideon asked, opening up a glass decanter of whiskey and pouring himself a tumblerful. “I don’t recall that.”
But, surely–surelythat was what he had said? Wasn’t that the whole reason I had gone with him, to be mistress of Grayspires?
Well, no matter. Although I was a bit jealous of how poised she was, there was no need to be competitive. She could be a great resource and friend.
"It is very lovely to meet you. I look forward to–to anything you can teach me about being mistress of Grayspires.”
