Chapter 29
S carlett felt weak in the knees.
What the very fuck was all that about?
She felt the remnants of their… she wasn’t actually sure what that had been; it hadn’t just been sex, but it wasn’t like the other times either.
Sure, he’d been considerate and even tender, especially when he’d redressed her, but there was an undercurrent of something else that she was struggling to name or even describe.
It’d seemed so emotionally charged but simultaneously distant, and it made her uneasy, and that he’d left like that made her feel hurt and used– not something she wanted to experience again. No matter how much she liked him.
Scarlett also didn’t like how her knickers felt damp and uncomfortable, and she sighed, irritated that she’d have to head back to the flat again to wash and change.
She was also feeling an uncomfortable ache in her lower abdomen, which she recognised as the first sign of something she hadn’t experienced in a long time but was difficult to forget.
She’d been prone to UTIs from when she and Jason were much more sexually active than they had been in recent years, and the symptoms were never pleasant.
Fucking great.
The rest of the day, thankfully, passed without further incident or much interaction with anyone in the house.
She had some brief chats with people in passing, but everyone seemed very much preoccupied with their own tasks and affairs, leaving Scarlett able to complete her to-do list in relative peace.
On a couple of occasions, she’d spotted Edward leaving or entering the house, his own personal thunderstorm hanging over his head, no match even for the unrelenting rain that had descended on the house.
What on earth is the matter with him today?
She paused to watch him from the third-floor corridor, where she was working in the guest rooms. There were twelve on that floor, and another eight above that she might or might not get to in time for the wedding.
She still had several to clean and prepare before the guests arrived. Much to be done.
Most of the rooms hadn’t been used in decades, and although Mrs Wilson had them cleaned periodically, each had to be aired, deep-cleaned, checked for faults with electrics, water, and furniture, and all the bedding stripped and replaced.
Scarlett had felt in control of the schedule up to this point, but with the constant distraction of Edward, she was feeling increasingly behind. But despite that being the case, she still couldn’t make herself move from the window, watching as his slightly stooped figure walked towards the woods.
There was such a vulnerability to him that reminded her of a little boy, which was ridiculous as she’d never come across such a capable and commanding man in her life; yet it didn’t stop her from wanting to envelop him in love and kindness.
He was absolutely impossible in every way, which was making her frustrated as hell.
“Scarlett, there you are!” An American accent floated down the corridor towards her.
She turned to see Ana?se, her golden hair bunched on top of her head in a messy bun.
“Hello, how are you?” Scarlett said, watching the approaching woman with interest. She thought there was an air of sadness surrounding Ana?se, which she usually masked well, but judging by the purple under her eyes, it seemed today she was struggling to keep it entirely under wraps.
“Fine, thanks,” she replied, joining Scarlett to look out the window. “Although I really don’t understand how y’all cope with all this rain. It doesn’t stop.”
“Hmm, I’m not used to it either. It’s not even like this where I live… lived in England.”
“It’s no wonder their mother moved back home. I wouldn’t cope either. I don’t know how she did for so long!”
Scarlett simply nodded in agreement, distracted again by the sight of Edward walking further on in the pouring rain.
“Verity had her art, I suppose.” Ana?se shrugged.
Scarlett hummed in noncommittal agreement, although she made a mental note of Edward’s mother’s name.
Ana?se continued, “And I think she travelled a lot, especially to Asia. She built up that massive collection of antiques that are randomly spread all over this crazy house that Mrs Wilson enjoys explaining to me in the greatest of detail.” She paused and briefly glanced at Scarlett before looking back out the window.
“He’s very different from Leonard, you know. ”
Scarlett shook herself from her own thoughts, feeling caught out. “Who is?”
Ana?se smiled, but it wasn’t mocking and held an element of warmth.
“Edward, he skulks around this place like some tragically wounded animal– all hot air and grump, but I see a lot of their mother in him. The softness.”
She now had Scarlett’s full attention. “You think so?”
“A hundred percent, which is ironic, as she’s not even Edward’s biological mother.
” Ana?se continued, despite Scarlett’s raised eyebrows.
“She’s pretty formidable, but she’s a good woman, albeit a bit out there.
” Ana?se threw Scarlett a conspiratorial smile.
“Although, in my opinion, all the best ones are.”
Here reference to Alice in Wonderland made her smile and the two women stood in silence for a while, both watching Edward disappear into the woods.
“Leonard isn’t all bad either. He’s just a bit angry and lost. Funny how families can mess us all up, ain’t it?”
Scarlett nodded. “Yes, it is.”
“Did you have a good upbringing?”
Slightly taken aback by the quick change and candid nature of the conversation, Scarlett paused for a moment, wondering if she should trust it.
Realising she had nothing to hide, she responded, “It wasn’t bad.
It was just lonely– single working mother, and when she was there in person, her mind was usually elsewhere. ”
“Your mother works here, doesn’t she? The lady gardener?”
Scarlett smiled at Ana?se’s description. “Yes, that’s her. We’ve started making our peace since I’ve been here.”
This time, it was Ana?se’s turn to pause. “Lost in books of faraway places and times. Could be a response to pain, you know.”
Ignoring the psych diagnosis, Scarlett asked, “How do you know about the books?”
“Leonard– he knows everything about everyone. It’s one of his charms, until it gets a tad tiresome and annoying.
” Ana?se laughed, but Scarlett noticed an edge of bitterness to it.
“Like I said, he’s not all bad.” She looked across at Scarlett.
“But you need to watch out for him. He’s a bit of a fox, in every sense. Don’t be caught unawares, okay?”
Scarlett was confused but nodded. “Okay.”
“Anyway, there’s a reason I came to find you.
I feel completely overwhelmed by the amount of clothing in my bedroom– not sure why we brought so much, truth be told– and Mrs Wilson said there are enough rooms still available on my floor where we could either rehouse some of them or potentially give them away. ”
Scarlett nodded and replied, “Okay.”
“I have zero interest in selling them, even though I hear it’s all the rage, so I’d like to go through what I don’t want and then you can take what you like and do with the rest whatever you see fit… Although, you don’t look well. Are you alright?” Ana?se was scanning Scarlett’s face.
Scarlett was definitely not alright and feeling definitively off . The ache in her lower abdomen was worsening, and it felt like a chill was making a home there too. She desperately needed a hot bath, a hot water bottle, and potentially some antibiotics.
“Come on, let’s get you downstairs. I’ll get Mrs Wilson.”
“Please don’t. I know what it is, and it’s embarrassing and probably very much self-inflicted.” Scarlett was whining, but she didn’t care– Mrs Wilson was not an option right now.
Ana?se looked at Scarlett with genuine concern. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
Scarlett closed her eyes as the pain worsened, accompanied by the urgent need to pee. “I’m pretty sure I’ve got a bout of cystitis.” Scarlett cringed as the words left her mouth.
“Oh, you poor dear.” Ana?se was genuinely sympathetic. “Do you know they used to actually call it the honeymoon disease? Fucking delightful, huh?”
Scarlett went to laugh, but the pain was becoming unbearable.
“Right, let’s get you down to my room. I’ll get this sorted.” Scarlett found the idea of Ana?se sorting anything out for herself, let alone anyone else, slightly bizarre, but she had very little fight in her.
Avoiding anyone on their way, Ana?se ushered Scarlett into her ensuite toilet. “I’m going to run you a bath—”
“Not in your room!” The idea horrified Scarlett.
Ana?se’s room was like something you’d expect in a boutique hotel, with a freestanding Victoria and Albert chrome bath with claw feet, installed by Edward’s mother during her time there. It was too much, though. Mrs Wilson would fly through the roof. Besides, it was fucking weird.
“Really, it’s fine. Let me use the toilet and I’ll go home,” Scarlett said, trying to breathe through the pain.
“Hush now, and do what you’re told. Don’t start being like Millie on me now!” Ana?se closed the bathroom door behind her and whilst Scarlett relieved herself, doubled over, she could hear Ana?se running the bath and calling Miranda into her room.
“Fuck’s sake!” Scarlett muttered under her breath; this was the last thing she needed. But the pain was crippling, and she closed her eyes tightly, no longer interested in trying to make out what the hushed voices on the other side of the door were saying.
She eventually heard the bedroom door closing and the water of the bath being turned off.
“Sweetheart, you’ll feel better coming off that toilet and getting in this bath for a while. I’ve put some Epsom salts in there.” Ana?se’s tone was warm and full of empathy. But Scarlett couldn’t speak. A mixture of pain and humiliation had dried up her vocal cords.
“Listen, I know how this feels. I had bouts of these to a chronic degree for years. Miranda has gone to make Leonard take her to the store to get some of those cranberry sachets and juice. Not that crappy sugary stuff, though.” Ana?se sighed.
“She’s a doll, really. She’s telling him it’s for me, and she’s going to have a real quiet word with your mom– as we all know how she reacts when you go AWOL…
although, at least this time you’re still on the grounds and haven’t absconded with her boss! ”
Scarlett appreciated Ana?se’s attempt at humour and managed a smile.
“Come on now, I’ve locked the bedroom door. It’s just us.”
Scarlett sorted herself, wincing at the effort, but she relented and opened the bathroom door to face Ana?se, who was all smiles and genuine warmth. She briefly wondered if aliens had come down and possessed her, but realised this side of Ana?se had probably always been there.
Despite Scarlett’s weak attempts not to, she’d been dismissive and prejudiced against Ana?se and her friends, for no justified reason, and Scarlett disliked herself for it.
Looking over at the bath, she felt an immense amount of gratitude towards her unlikely friend, if she could call her that, and in that moment couldn’t think of anywhere else she’d rather be or who she’d rather be with.
Scarlett felt cold to her core, and the chilled ache was now pulsating and clawing at her insides.
“Come on, let’s get you in there. I promise I won’t let anyone else in, okay?” Ana?se offered a warm smile.
Scarlett nodded and undressed, no longer caring that Ana?se was about to see her naked, and as soon as she sunk her body into the bath, a feeling of relief washed over her.
The heat soothed her, and she closed her eyes, completely submerging herself underneath the water. When she came up, Ana?se was kneeling beside her with a small towel.
“May sound silly but get this wet– the weight of this on your lower stomach will make you feel a little better. When you’re out, we’ll replace it with a hot water bottle, which should make its way to us shortly, courtesy of Mrs Wilson– she’s a dream, isn’t she?
I want to take her home with me. Although, I think Edward may take that shotgun of his and gun me down before I even got to the end of the drive!
Not to mention if I got her home, Millie would probably do the same before we made it even halfway up mine!
” Ana?se laughed at her own joke, making Scarlett smile.
“You know, us girls, we need to stick together; if we don’t have each other’s back, what have we got? ”
Scarlett again spotted that hint of sadness in her eyes, which Ana?se quickly blinked away.
“Right, you relax. I have to respond to some messages.” Ana?se waved her mobile.
“The world awaits, and while I have service, I need to make the most of it.” She stood and made her way to the chair by the window, now more talking to herself than directly at Scarlett.
“Like, seriously, there’s no rhyme or reason to it.
One day the Wi-Fi works just fine, and the next, you could hang out the attic window and you’re lucky if you can even get 3G! ”
Scarlett smiled to herself. Ana?se’s incessant chat relaxed and comforted her. She’d always imagined what it would be like to have a sister and wondered if it would feel a little like this.