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–surely that 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.”
For a moment a shadow crossed over her fine gray eyes, but then it was gone as soon as it appeared.
"There is no reason to worry about that right now," Gideon said, and there was a new mocking tone in his voice that I did not remember. “After all, you are quite a little girl compared to Ada.”
My cheeks burned with humiliation. But Ada smiled so kindly on me, taking my cold hand in hers.
"Of course. I wouldn't d-dream of taking her place."
At least not the first day.
"I will be happy to show you the areas it is safe for you to be in," Ada said sweetly. “Stay in the east wing of the house, for there are renovations going on in the west wing. There is a library in the east wing, and you may read if you are careful with the books. You are also free to wander about the grounds, but, of course, take caution on the moors. It is a very wild place, and villagers at St. Mary’s have died by falling into deep ravines or off of slippery high rocks.”
As we sat down, Ada seemed to sense that I was nervous, for she began to ask me questions about my family and where I had grown up.
I answered as best I could, but inside I was wracked with confusion.
Gideon barely looked at me, instead talking with Ada about what had transpired at Grayspires while he was gone.
It was the topic that had most animated him, and I wished I could contribute to the conversation.
If my husband loved Grayspires, I would too.
“Go to your room now,” Gideon ordered after we were done. “I will be there shortly.”
Ada seemed to sense my fears and anxieties, for she patted my hand encouragingly. I was rather pathetically grateful for the kindness and attention she showed me, for I feared I did not yet feel as much as I wanted from my husband.
But I hoped I could count at least one friend in Grayspires Manor.
I hurried to my room. Beyond the dining hall, the manor was shrouded in almost total darkness. I could hear no sounds except the panting of my own breath and the rustle of my own skirts as I groped my way up the stairs and then down to my own room.
There I waited, not knowing what to do, until I heard my husband's footsteps in the corridor.
And then, of course, it was a very easy matter to know what to do in the darkness. . .