by HR Mason
He stared through her, not quite seeing her.
“I don’t know why you can’t let things be the way they were before, Asta.”
As he spoke, his face crumpled and his eyes filled with tears. He took a step away from her, and Runa sprang into action. Without thinking twice, she shoved him and ran. Tears coursed down her cheeks. She struggled to catch her breath as her feet pounded through the maze. Every twist and turn looked exactly like the last, and she fought down the fear that she would never find her way out.
When she finally emerged, Everwine Manor swam into view. She ran as quickly as her aching legs would carry her, through the kitchen entrance, up the back staircase, and down the winding corridors to the east wing. Flinging open the door to her room, she practically fell inside, locking the door tightly behind her. Frantic with fear and confusion, she collapsed on the floor, sobbing and sucking in gulping breaths. She cried until her tears ran dry and exhaustion took over.
She didn’t know how much time had passed, but when she heard footsteps in the room, she sprang to her feet, terrified Easton had come after her. Runa’s eyes worked to adjust to the darkness around her as her breath came out in a ragged hiss.
“Runa?”
Chase’s familiar voice brought her back to reality. Barreling across the room toward her husband, she hurled herself into the safety of his arms.
“Chase—”
She didn’t have the capacity to say more, so she buried her face in his chest and sobbed. Chase swept her up in his arms, carried her across the room, and gently deposited her on their bed. Flicking on the bedside lamp, he grabbed a tissue and handed it to her. Wiping her face obediently, she tried to gain her composure.
“Darling, what is it? The door was locked. It’s a good thing I have a key.”
“It’s nothing.” Runa was unable to speak the truth.
“Runa, you were on the floor, completely terrified. I would say that’s something.”
“I… I can’t….”
“I’m your husband. I love you. You can tell me anything.”
“You’re not going to like it.”
“I don’t like coming home to find my wife afraid in our room. Tell me.”
Runa swallowed hard and tried to formulate an explanation.
“It’s your father.”
“What about my father?”
The muscles in Chase’s jaw clenched, and he fisted his hands.
“He was inappropriate.”
“How so?”
“He… well… he tried… to kiss me. He blocked me in the rose garden and wouldn’t let me pass.”
Chase recoiled. “What?”
“It’s true. And he called me by my mother’s name.”
His face progressed through several emotions as he processed the information. Runa held her breath, bracing herself for his certain anger toward Easton. Chase didn’t move for a couple minutes. He said nothing at all. Runa began to believe he hadn’t heard her.
When he did respond, it was nothing like she’d anticipated.
“Well, that’s my father for you.” Chase laughed heartily. “You never know what he’s going to do next.”
Betrayal and disbelief pounded in Runa’s brain.
“You’re laughing? You think this is funny?”
“I’m sure it wasn’t funny at the time, at least not to you. And I’m sorry he scared you. I’ll have a talk with him. But you mustn’t think anything of it, darling. My father will do anything for shock value. I think you misunderstood his intentions.”
“I didn’t misunderstand anything.”
“Runa—”
“You don’t believe me.”
“It’s not that, sweetheart. Clearly you’re upset, and I’m sorry for that. All I’m saying is you’ve misinterpreted his meaning. My father is harmless,” Chase explained, rubbing her shoulders gently.
“He’s harmless?” Runa shook her head numbly. “Just like your mother, right?”
“My mother? What did she do?”
“Nothing. I’m sure it’s all just one big misunderstanding on my part.”
Without another word, Runa shrugged his hands away and climbed under the covers, still fully clothed. Turning her back to her husband, she closed her eyes, doing her best to calm her racing mind.
“Runa—”
“I’m tired, Chase. I’m going to sleep now.”
Twenty-Five
Departure Cove, Oregon, 1902
“Isn’t she lovely? Just like her mother.”
Thomas stepped back and admired his two-year-old daughter as she spun, giggling as her skirt flounced. He’d purchased the fanciest, frilliest dress he could find, and he seemed quite satisfied with himself.
“You spoil her.”
Brynja chuckled as she kissed him on the cheek.
“It’s a sad day indeed when a father can’t spoil his daughter. Do you like your dress, Ingrid?”
The little girl bobbed her head, her blonde ringlets bouncing happily. Her blue eyes glistened as she clapped her chubby hands. Thomas smiled at his wife, then his daughter. Both of the women in his life had him wrapped around their little fingers.
“Of course you may spoil your daughter. Far be it from me to suggest otherwise.”
Brynja shook her head and feigned irritation, but they both knew it was a ruse. She found it impossible to remain angry with the man who had completely captured her heart.
“In case you were worried that I forgot about you”—Thomas reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a small box—“I’ve brought something else.”
Her eyes widened as she lifted the lid, seeing the lovely gold rose brooch with a diamond center inside.
“It’s beautiful.”
“I’m glad you like it. It reminded me of your rose garden, which is going to be a wonder once it grows.”
“Yes, it will.” Brynja hugged Thomas tightly. “Thank you.”
“I love buying gifts for you and Ingrid. You may call it spoiling if you like, but I will continue to do so.” He grinned.
“I know you will.”
“That’s not all I did in town today. I also had a meeting, Brynn.”
“I know.”
Brynja’s heart squeezed inside her chest. She knew what Thomas was going to say before the words were spoken. She would beg him to reconsider, but in the end, he wouldn’t listen.
“How do you know I had a meeting?”
“After all this time, Thomas, do you really need to ask?”
He shook his head. “I suppose I don’t.”
“Tell me about your meeting.”
Thomas sat on the velvet couch, and Brynja sank into the armchair opposite him. Ingrid, blissfully unaware of the drama between her parents, played with her blocks in the corner.
“I’m going to sea. There’s a shipment that needs to be delivered to San Francisco, and I’ll be the captain.”
“Thomas—”
“No one has more experience with the waters of that area than I do,” he explained.
“Please don’t go, Thomas.”
“It’s a course I’ve sailed plenty of times, Brynn. I’m the man to do it. I’ll be there and back in no time.”
“I’m begging you, please don’t go,” she persisted.
“Have you seen something that would convince me I shouldn’t?”
“Nothing definite, but I’ve seen things which worry me greatly.”
Brynja stood, then perched herself next to Thomas on the couch. She clutched his hand in hers, desperate to convey her concern.
“Tell me what you’ve seen, Brynn,” he persisted.
“I’ve been having dreams.”
“What does that mean?”
“You’re in danger. I’m afraid you won’t return.”
“Have you seen anything for certain?”
Brynja paused for a moment, considering her answer. She knew if she told Thomas she’d foreseen his death, he wouldn’t go. But to tell him that would be an outright
untruth, since she had seen no such thing. She detested dishonesty, and she couldn’t bring herself to tell Thomas a bald-faced lie. It was more an overwhelming sense of doom, something she couldn’t articulate.
“I have seen nothing for certain. It’s just a feeling.”
“Then we have our answer. If I were truly in danger, you would have seen it, my love. You always do,” Thomas reasoned. “I’ll leave tomorrow and be home before you know it.”
“But, Thomas—”
“Yes, darling?”
“I love you.”
Brynja was on the verge of falling apart. Terror squeezed her heart so tightly she could barely breathe.
More than anything in the world, she wanted to be wrong.
But somehow, she knew she wasn’t.
Twenty-Six
Dejected, Runa sat in her room scooping bites of food into her mouth. Her dinner was delicious, but eating alone gave her no enjoyment. Her solitary evenings had become the norm, and as a result, she’d settled into a bleak existence where she went to work and came home to an empty room.
Camille and Easton were away on a tour of Europe. As a way to boost her spirits, Chase dangled the fact that they were alone in the house like a carrot in front of her face. He told her he would be home for dinner every night while they were away, but so far, it hadn’t happened once. Runa wasn’t even upset. She’d grown too numb to care.
Ever since the incident with Easton, she’d had little to say to Chase. The rift between them grew wider by the day. She was angered by the fact that he hadn’t taken her seriously when she told him about his father. Instead, he’d made it seem as if she’d overreacted. Runa loved Chase more than anything, but it wasn’t a stretch to say there was a chink in the armor.
Chase knew she was angry with him, and he had been even sweeter than usual. Earlier that day, she’d come home to a dozen red roses on her bedside table. Last week he brought home her favorite chocolates. The week before, he’d given her a new bracelet. She knew he was trying to apologize, but she was still bitter about the fact that he hadn’t believed her.
She stabbed a green bean with the tines of her fork and jumped when her phone rang. She saw it was Chase and mentally prepared herself for the conversation which had become routine.
“Hello.”
“Hello, darling. What are you doing?”
“Eating dinner. Alone.”
“I’m sorry I missed it. Again. But I have good news. I’ve finished my meeting early, and I’ll be home in an hour or so.”
“Really?” She wasn’t expecting that.
“Yes, really. Since you’re eating now, I’ll grab a quick bite at the office while I finish up some paperwork. When I get home, we can take a walk through the grounds or watch a movie. It will be just the two of us, all night long.”
“That sounds really nice, Chase.”
“It does, doesn’t it? I’m sorry things have been so hectic. I feel like we saw more of each other before we were married.”
“That’s because we did,” she answered matter-of-factly.
“I know. I’m going to do my best to change that.”
“I hope so. It’s been… lonely.”
“I know, darling, and I’m sorry. I’ll finish up and be home soon.”
Runa hung up the phone, surprised by how much the thought of spending time with Chase raised her spirits. Maybe things would be fine after all. Settling into marriage was a transition, and they hadn’t had time to do it well. They just needed to reconnect; then everything would be better.
Finishing her meal, she placed the lid on the tray and left it outside the door for Maisie. She had a bit of time before Chase would arrive, and she wanted to do something besides twiddle her thumbs. He had mentioned them taking a walk, so that was out. She could read a book, but her thoughts were too scattered to focus.
Remembering that Camille and Easton were gone, it seemed like a good time to explore the inside of Everwine Manor. She’d basically hibernated inside her own suite of rooms and was long overdue for familiarizing herself with the rest of the estate. With no one around but the servants, the timing was perfect.
Sliding her cell phone into the pocket of her sweater, Runa slipped into the silent hallway. The east wing was deserted, as usual. Creeping quietly down the mile-long corridor, she rounded several turns, finally opening the French doors connecting the wings. Closing them softly behind her, she climbed the small staircase leading to the west wing.
The evening had grown dark, and there were no lights on in the hallway. Reaching into her pocket, Runa grabbed her phone and turned on the flashlight. It faintly illuminated the darkness but also cast strange shadows along the walls and ceilings. Shivering, she found a light fixture on the wall and flipped it on quickly.
She wasn’t sure where she was going or what she was looking for, and she was terrified of getting caught. She’d never been in the west wing of Everwine Manor, but her curiosity outweighed her fear. Runa continued on, her footsteps making virtually no sound as they sank into the plush carpet in the high-ceilinged hallway.
Peering at the intricately carved woodwork on the walls, she ran her fingertips across the molding, marveling at the craftsmanship exhibited in every inch of the home. Her eyes bulged at the various works of art hanging in the vast hall, some of which probably belonged in a museum. Obvious thought and care had gone into the selection of each piece.
When she came to the end of the hallway, she saw doors on both her left and her right. She turned the glass doorknob on the door to her right, opening it slowly. It creaked and groaned, echoing in the stillness. Runa wiped her sweaty palms on her pants, certain that at any moment a servant would come along and catch her snooping.
When the door opened a crack, she peered inside. It was mostly dark, but a light had been left on in the corner. It was a suite of rooms similar to her own but much more opulent. She decided it must belong to Camille and Easton, so she shut the door quietly, backing away as quickly as she could. She had no desire to go inside.
Turning around to the door on the left, Runa twisted the knob. It was dark, but she soon found a light switch next to the doorway. When the room was illuminated, she smiled. It was a beautiful sitting room, filled with some of the most exquisite decor she’d ever seen. Stepping inside, she ran her hands across the lovely floral wallpaper. She was excited to explore it, but her phone vibrated in her pocket.
“Hello,” she said when she answered the call.
“Hello, darling,” Chase greeted. “I just called to tell you I’m about ten minutes away.”
“Oh, really?” She glanced at the time on her watch, startled to see it had been an hour since they’d spoken. “The time just flew by.”
“You must be doing something interesting.” He chuckled.
“Not really. Just waiting for you,” she diverted.
“I’ll be right there.”
Saying goodbye, she dropped the phone back into her pocket. Her explorations would have to wait for another day. She didn’t want Chase to catch her in the west wing.
Turning off the light, she left the room and shut the door behind her. She was about to go back the way she came when she noticed one more doorway at the end of the hall.
Runa knew she should ignore the impulse to check it out, but she simply wanted to take a quick look.
Walking to the end of the hallway, she opened the door. It was dark, with no visible light switch, so she turned on her phone’s flashlight and shined it into the blackness.
She was shocked to find another staircase, quite large and twisting, leading upward as far as the eye could see, presumably to another section of the house. She guessed it must be the way to the attic. The rickety stairs were old, appearing quite precarious. The wallpaper on the landing was faded, ripped in several places, and the carpet was threadbare. The area was incongruently shabby in comparison to the opulence of the rest of the house.
Runa was so wrapped up in her discovery that she didn’t h
ear footsteps behind her until it was too late.
Maisie cleared her throat loudly. “Are you looking for something, ma’am?”
The unexpected sound cut through the quiet like a knife. Unprepared, Runa let out a loud scream, gripping the doorway for stability. Maisie must have known she would startle Runa, as was evidenced by the satisfied smirk on the servant’s face.
“Can I help you find something?” Maisie asked matter-of-factly.
“Oh, Maisie, you scared me half to death,” Runa panted.
“I can see that.”
“I-I was just—”
“Just what, ma’am?”
“I don’t know. I guess I was lost,” she offered weakly.
“I see. What were you looking for?”
Runa worked to gain control, trying to come up with a good reason for being in the west wing. Unfortunately, there wasn’t one, so she said the first thing that came to her mind.
“What’s up there?” She motioned toward the old staircase.
“The third floor.”
Maisie didn’t elaborate.
“What’s on the third floor?”
“Nothing.”
“There’s nothing up there? It’s empty?”
“Of course it’s not empty, ma’am. But no one goes up there.”
“Why?”
“It’s been closed off for years. It isn’t safe.”
Something about Maisie’s words sent a shiver down Runa’s spine. It wasn’t what she said but the underlying connotation. It felt like a warning, an undercurrent of meaning that wasn’t spoken yet was perfectly understood.
“Du er i fare,” a voice whispered in Runa’s ear.
Suddenly the walls were closing in. She could almost hear the footsteps of the ghosts of the past traversing the old staircase.
She slammed the door and practically ran down the hallway, back toward the east wing.
“That’s right, ma’am. You should stay away from there,” Maisie called behind her. “The Everwines wouldn’t like you poking around where you don’t belong.”
Twenty-Seven