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Trying to contain my own excitement, I ladled a bowl of stew out for myself and settled on a stool to enjoy it as I debated what to do with the afternoon. I wanted to get out of the house since I rarely got the chance, and decided a walk through the woods would be a nice reward, and I could take a basket to collect herbs as an excuse.
Once I was done with my lunch, I wrapped a shawl around my shoulders and grabbed my basket. I hoped to run across something I could use in my meals to make them stretch further, if I got back early enough to hide them. My aunt was a miser when it came to the food budget, but still expected proper meals to grace her table each day, and I was only allowed the scraps once the others had eaten.
But not today.
Today, I had eaten first, and hopefully I’d get a second bowl before the others returned. If luck was with me, I’d have something fresh to add to my stash for the days when I didn’t get enough.
Smiling like I hadn’t in a long time, I stepped out into the afternoon sun and looked up at the mountains in the distance. I was the only household servant left, but my aunt still employed one of the old laborers to look after the grounds and animals, so it was rare that I got to enjoy nice weather.
Humming to myself as I passed into the shade under the trees, I let myself wander until my basket was full and my feet ached from the rocks and branches my thin slippers couldn’t protect me from before returning home. I had my finds cleaned and put away, and had eaten another bowl of stew, before I heard the carriage rolling up to the front of the house. I rushed to the door just in time for my aunt and Margaret to breeze past. Each carried a hatbox, while William followed with more parcels.
It looked like my aunt was going to have to sell another piece of land to fund what they’d bought for the festival, unless the business was suddenly doing better than the conversations I’d overheard suggested.
Piling the boxes by the door, William left me to gather everything and follow the two women upstairs. Unsure which packages were my aunt’s, and which were Margaret’s, I was relieved when they both headed to Aunt Mary’s room.
As they settled in the chairs by the fireplace, I set the boxes close by, knowing they would want to take out their items and gloat before I put them away. Margaret hadn’t stopped chattering since they walked through the door, but I was used to tuning out most of what she said. My aunt was the one I had to pay attention to.
“Go fetch our dinner, Ivy. We’ll take it here tonight, so we can sort these.”
Nodding, I left, heading to the kitchen for the three bowls I had ready. I took William’s bowl to his room and placed it by the fire since he wasn’t there, then returned to where I’d left the two women. They already had every box open, tissue paper and gloves scattered around the sitting area, some at risk of catching fire.
I nudged the boxes off the hearth as I came around with the tray and set it to the side where it was safe from being spilled, then waited for my aunt’s nod to bring them their bowls. Margaret was still gushing over their new accessories, and I briefly wondered if she would bother to stop speaking long enough to eat, but apparently my cousin was hungry enough to finally shut up.
She started up again between bites, complaining about the plain fare, but eventually my aunt grew weary of it.
“I’ve had enough noise for the day. Finish your dinner and take yourself to your room. Ivy will be along once my things are put away.”
The stern glare seemed to cow Margaret, whose diatribe ended mid-sentence. Her bowl quickly emptied, and she gathered her skirts and murmured, “Good night,” to her mother before heading to her room.
Once my aunt had directed me where to put her things, I gathered the remaining items and followed after my cousin. Margaret was sullen over being chastised in front of me and took it out by making me rearrange the entire armoire and dresser before allowing me to put her things away and help her out of her gown.
Finally able to slip away, I made my way back to the kitchen with the empty bowls, grabbing William’s from outside his door as I passed. By the time I had washed and dried them, I was aching from the extra walking I’d done, and decided to sleep on the hearth in the kitchen like I did during the winter so the fire could bake the pain away.
Dragging a quilt from the cabinet where I kept it for such nights, I made myself a little nest and settled onto the warm stones with a sigh, memories of my afternoon soothing me to sleep.
Chapter Three
Ivy
The following days passed like the ones before. Endless, filled with chores and complaints, completed by too-short nights without enough rest, in a pitiful nest that gave me no comfort.
Summer slowly forced its way in, replacing dreary, soggy spring days, with warmer, sunny ones. I had worried that this spring would be the one I’d finally go into heat, but it seemed as if I’d been spared for another season.
Word reached Barcole that Beqhner was not to be the new governor. According to Aunt Mary, he’d insulted someone of importance, and he had been sent home in disgrace. Barcole was being assigned someone else to lead us, and whoever it was would be sworn into their position while in Perlynn before coming here.
The people of Barcole were invited to the ceremony, of course, but most couldn’t afford to make the trip. The town decided to keep the festival they had planned for Beqhner, but it had to be delayed until the new governor arrived since his ceremony in Perlynn was on Midsummer’s Eve.
Of course Aunt Mary declared they would attend the ceremony. The other upper-class members were going, and she couldn’t be the only one not to. It meant selling the plot of land beside the house with the barn and corrals for their carriage horses, but she hadn’t been left with much choice if she didn’t want to lose face.
I overheard Margaret saying the new governor was an alpha whose mate had died in childbirth, which meant Aunt Mary was on the hunt, and not just for her children now. Marriages between betas and alphas were common with so few omegas, and it was doubtful the alpha would be interested in another mate after surviving the death of his first.
I couldn’t express how glad I was to see the day of their departure arrive. The number of times I’d been forced to pack and unpack their travel chests to be sure they didn’t forget some important item they justhad to have,was more than I could count. Margaret and Aunt Mary had made two more trips to the seamstress for fittings and dresses appropriate for the ceremony in Perlynn, though William had remained home, and they were going to pick up their new gowns as they passed through town.
I said a small prayer for the seamstress as I helped load the carriage. I knew Margaret well enough to know that no matter how well the woman had done, some fault would be found, and if therereallywas an issue, then gods help the poor woman. Aunt Mary could be even worse when the mood struck her, but hopefully they would be preoccupied with more important matters. They hadn’t stopped talking about what eligible bachelors they might meet in Perlynn since the trip had been announced.
Heaving a sigh as the carriage rolled out of sight, I slumped against the doorframe. There were chores to be done, and as much as I longed to let my body rest, I needed to do them on the off chance something happened, and the carriage returned.
With a weary groan I pushed myself away from the wall and cast a glance around the house. My aunt and cousins liked the curtains drawn and windows closed to keep the house cool and prevent neighbors from snooping, but it was stuffy, and the rooms hadn’t been aired out in ages. Their scents were layered so thick I could almost taste them, and I couldn’t stand it any longer.
