by Eden Reign
Leah gave a light laugh. Her face looked as though it were a painting, almost taut in its stillness. “How lovely,” she said. “A child. I do love children. I know just the thing! I’ll bring him one of my firehearts as a little present.”
Chapter 18
Manda
Nearly four weeks had passed at a tortoise’s pace since Jackson’s departure, and Manda spent the days a shadow of her former self. She thought she was doing well until Grey interrupted her in the middle of an explanation about the lightning bugs that had begun to illuminate the tall grasses behind the plantation. He held her hand gently, his wide blue-grey eyes serious as he asked her not to be sad anymore.
“Why do you think I’m sad, Grey?” she asked, crouching to eye level with him.
“Because you look sad, Miss Rivers.”
Manda’s smile faltered. With what superior wisdom had the elements gifted this child who had such wide, knowing eyes? He saw her with startling, and sometimes unnerving, insight.
She squeezed his shoulder. “I’m not sad, Grey, just—thoughtful, maybe.”
“What about?”
“Many things. I think about you, and Coalhaven, and everyone here at the plantation, and—well, many things,” she repeated.
“Do you think about Master Coal, Miss Rivers?”
“What?” Manda dropped her hand from his shoulder. “What makes you say that?”
Grey shrugged. “After he left, you changed. I thought maybe that had something to do with it.”
A denial hovered on Manda’s lips, but she couldn’t make herself utter it. He’d pegged the truth with startling clarity, and there was no use refuting it.
Grey peered over her shoulder. “Mr. Stone!” he called.
Manda turned as the boy sprinted toward the butler, who had come to find them in the dusky twilight. Grey threw his arms around the man’s waist and laughed when Mr. Stone swept him off the ground and tossed him high in the air, no small feat with a seven-year-old. Mr. Stone set the giggling boy on the ground again and walked toward Manda.
Manda laughed at their games. “Do you have children, Mr. Stone?” she asked. He was so natural with Grey, she thought he must have, although he had never mentioned a wife or family. He looked to be around thirty, though his bronze face still refused the lines of age and weather. She wondered what his story was.
A shadow darkened the butler’s gaze. “No,” he said shortly. He didn’t elaborate, and Manda didn’t press him. The sadness in his tone told her all she needed to know.
“Miss Rivers,” Mr. Stone said as he took Grey’s hand. “I’ve had a message from Master Coal. He’ll be returning to Coalhaven tomorrow.”
Manda’s heartbeat stuttered, tripped, danced wildly, and then resumed its normal rhythm. She nodded, carefully calm. “All right. I’ll bring Grey down from the school room on his return. What time do you expect him?”
“Likely mid-afternoon.” Mr. Stone paused.
Manda halted, too, seeing hesitation in the man’s gaze. “What’s the matter?”
“Oh, nothing, Miss Rivers. That is, it seems he is bringing a party with him. He has written for you and Grey to be ready to welcome them later tomorrow afternoon.”
Manda swallowed. “What party? Why must we greet them?”
“Master Coal has invited Master Blazen and his wife as guests of Coalhaven—”
“The Blazens!” Manda nearly shouted. She smoothed her hair back with shaking hands. What could Jackson be thinking, bringing fullmages to the plantation, forcing she and Grey to hide? Had they not had to leave the plantation during the inspection to avoid meeting Daniel Lake and Wilcott Blazen and others? “I—I don’t understand.”
“It won’t be only Master Blazen and his wife,” Mr. Stone said. “Leah Blazen, their daughter, will accompany them.”
Manda blushed, half in anger, half in mortification. So Jackson was returning—with a young lady of marriageable age—a fullmage—and her fullmage parents. She wanted to shriek at him until he returned to his senses. What had possessed him?
“I—I see.” Her voice sounded hollow, and she hated it. She was as easy to read as a book. “And they’ll be staying how long?” she asked.
“It remains to be seen, Miss, depending on—how things go.” Compassion shone from Mr. Stone’s eyes. He knew the truth; he’d guessed everything she hadn’t said.
“Do you mean that he is thinking of marrying her?” Manda couldn’t bring herself even to pretend a brave smile. She wasn’t brave; she was withering inside, all because she’d allowed a fancy to twine its fingers around her heart with an unbreakable grip when she wasn’t paying attention. She would pay dearly for that mistake.
“I believe that may be the case, Miss Rivers.”
Involuntary tears flooded Manda’s eyes, and she turned her back on Mr. Stone, straining for control and failing miserably.
The future was a bleak veil. How could Jackson think to place Leah Blazen, a known blood purist, as the mistress of Coalhaven plantation and the stepmother to Jackson’s halfmage ward? Impossible. Absolutely not! She would take Grey away with her before she would allow that to happen.
Mr. Stone touched her shoulder, and when she turned, he pressed his handkerchief into her hand. “I’m sorry, Miss Rivers.” His sympathy only brought more tears, and she dropped her gaze, nodding because she could not speak.
Mr. Stone cleared his throat. “There’s more, Miss Rivers.”
Manda moved her numb gaze to his. “What more?”
“Master Coal has also sent instructions for—a dance, a ball to welcome the Blazens to his home, to be given in six days. I have taken steps to hire temporary staff for the ball already, and it appears that most of the younger fullmage set of Savana and Chalton are invited.”
Manda dropped her hands helplessly to her sides. “He surely cannot mean—you are certain that he ordered a dance? A ball?” Such an action was incomprehensible to her; neither she nor Grey could show their faces if any of Savana’s Brotherhood fanatics entered the premises.
Mr. Stone nodded gravely. “Quite certain, Miss Rivers. I know I cannot take back the master’s orders, but I want you to know that no one will lay a hand on you or Grey while I am here. You have myself and Miss Westerly to help.”
Manda’s throat clogged. She smiled tremulously. “Thank you, Mr. Stone.”
Mr. Stone nodded, concern blackening his gaze. He forced a smile, turning to Grey. “Come on, Grey, I have a few things I’d like to show you.” Mr. Stone herded Grey away from Manda. “Have you ever seen my collection of throwing knives?” His words trailed into the darkness as Manda stood alone, bleakly watching the lightning bugs paint their tapestry of fireworks throughout the dark magnolia gardens.
She and Grey would have to move from their quarters in the house. It would not do for the Blazens to find them there. And starting the next day, all lessons would have to be out of sight of the house. She sighed. After four weeks of counting the days until she could be in Jackson’s presence again, he would be barred from her—and by his own foolish, reckless actions. What could he be thinking? She hated the weakness that caused her tears, but it was no use. They would come, and she couldn’t hold them back.
The next morning, Manda dropped everything she picked up and broke everything she handled. She had moved all objects that gave a hint of a child’s presence to an empty house in the servants’ quarters the night before, but after packaging sheets and clothes, rolling up knick-knacks and science experiments, she hadn’t had the energy to clear the school room. She set sums for Grey while she struggled to clean the room, but after the sixth pencil snapped against Grey’s slate in her agitation, she gave up, dropping the slate a little harder on the table than she had intended, and paced to the window.
She would help Mr. Stone manage the new servants in another hour. First thing that morning, six new maids had crowded into the outdoor kitchen, much to Abigail Windham’s pleasure. The young woman had begun ordering around the temporary m
aids. “Call me Mrs. Windham,” she’d said, taking on the more mature “Mrs.” only a housekeeper was entitled to use.
Rose had hurried to claim two maids for help in the kitchen, else Abigail would have delegated household duties to them all. Hired footmen had accompanied the new maids in the wagon from Savana, and they were at this moment clearing the great room, pushing furniture against the walls and waxing the hickory floors to a sheen. With the morning post at ten of the clock, acceptance cards had poured into the silver tray in the foyer. The eager guests, Manda thought, probably accepted more to get a glimpse of Coalhaven’s beautiful grounds and to see the notorious Leveler rebel than because they considered Master Coal a friend.
Grey watched her curiously. “Did you want me to finish the sums?” he asked. She had taken his chalk pencil.
“No!” Manda sighed and rubbed the back of her neck. “I’m sorry, Grey, I didn’t mean to snap. No, I don’t think we’ll finish the sums today. I—today is a holiday.” She tried to smile. “Let’s take the day off.”
Grey’s eyes widened. “Master Coal will allow that?”
It’s not for Master Coal to decide. Master Coal ran off to Blazenfields and left us here at the mercy of Daniel Lake, by the Good Waters, so I don’t much care what Master Coal has to say about it. Not to mention that he’s returning with a party of rabid blood purists in tow for a social visit, as well as throwing a ball in their honor, all while Grey is just beginning to feel safe in his new life here at Coalhaven. No. Master Coal’s desires were low on the list of Manda’s priorities at the moment.
She smiled tightly. “Oh, yes. Yes, he will.”
Grey’s grin nearly stretched off his face. He ran for the door, pounding onto the walkway that overlooked the great room. He clattered down the stairs and back into Manda’s sight beyond the rear verandah, where he climbed into the nearest magnolia.
Manda sighed and turned back to the room, cleaning up the chalky mess of her broken pencils.
Soon, Jackson Coal would enter the doors of Coalhaven again, and she would stay out of his sight for as long as he paraded the fullmage bureaucrats around his house. She picked up a teaching book from her desk and slammed it onto the surface. She grabbed the next one and tossed it on top of the other with a vengeful slap. Another, and another.
She would have to face Jackson Coal again, but only when it was safe. When she did, she would have to smile a brittle smile that didn’t look easily broken, never letting him know how much he’d hurt her by bringing the Blazens here. She would have to go on being Grey’s governess, because who else would? What other person could understand Grey and his halfmage magic like she could? If Jackson could understand it, he wasn’t acting like it; if he had taken thought at all for the safety of his ward, he’d never have allowed the Blazens on his property or scheduled a ball. What was he thinking? That he would keep Grey and allow Leah Blazen to share guardianship for the halfmage boy? Leah Blazen certainly couldn’t handle Grey Lake, Manda thought caustically as she slammed the last book onto the pile and emptied the chalk dust in the wastebasket.
You’re reading too much into it, Manda scolded herself, sliding the slate onto the top of the stack and picking up the heavy books Jackson had ordered for her. She tossed a careful glance around the room, checking for any signs of a child’s activity. It looked spare and clean. She sighed. Perhaps he is only bringing them—bringing her—as—as—
As a prospective bride. Manda knew it, Mr. Stone knew it, everyone knew it.
Leah Blazen was entering Coalhaven as its potential future mistress, and everything she saw and touched would be under her scrutiny. If she were indeed introduced to Grey, what would she make of the boy and his in-the-way governess?
It was utter insanity. What had possessed Jackson? Had he fallen in love with Leah Blazen? Could four weeks truly change a person so much?
Manda finished helping Mr. Stone roll up the intricate woven rug in the breakfast room and pull more chairs around the tables. Two other maids assisted them, removing drapes to be taken outside and beaten, while the sound of the new servants chattering pleasantly in the great room outside the door accompanied their efforts.
“What is the plan for the food service, Mr. Stone?” one of the maids asked.
“First it will be a round of drinks. Then we’ll serve hors d’oeuvres, of course, before the main supper. I’ll speak to Miss Westerly about setting up the courses in shifts so we have plenty of room at the tables for the guests.”
Manda glanced up. “I can help her in the kitchen.”
“That won’t be necessary, Miss Rivers,” Rose said, breezing by balancing two tea trays. “It is best that you and the kitchen are separated, don’t you think?” Her eyelid dropped in the barest hint of a wink.
Abigail marched in from the great room, herding three other maids, like a sheepdog. “We still need to set up seating for the musicians,” she said. “The guest rooms have been aired, the beds are ready. You, Daisy,” she gestured to the last maid in line. “Make sure there’s a fresh bar of soap on all of the washstands upstairs. Hurry along now, no dawdling. We have fullmages from the High Families coming! This is important!”
Mr. Stone rolled his eyes to Manda as Abigail and the maids marched back out, a steady stream of orders issuing from the young blonde’s mouth.
“I think the house is nearly ready, don’t you? That was a lot of work for such short notice, but when we have the dance in five days, Coalhaven will not be put to shame, despite Abigail’s fears,” Mr. Stone said.
Manda nodded. “Nearly ready, indeed,” she said, not completely barring the bitter note from her voice.
Mr. Stone surveyed her face. “Perhaps it’s best to take Grey out of sight for now. Master Coal is expected soon.”
Manda was relieved. She didn’t want to see Jackson when he came, even if he had been fool enough to demand her and Grey welcome the Blazens. It would be difficult to control her temper around him. She exited the house and found Grey in his favorite magnolia.
When the sound of horses kicking up the gravel in the driveway spit across the back gardens, Manda ordered Grey down from the tree and walked with him nearly out of sight of the house through a bough-strewn meadow, knee-high with cattails and dandelions and filled with butterflies. Grey succeeded in capturing a poor butterfly in his cupped palms and almost dewinging it as he tried to get a closer view. Manda rescued the poor insect and instructed Grey to only look at the beautiful creatures.
The Coalhaven carriage wound up the long driveway, followed by another carriage Manda did not recognize. When both had disappeared around the front of the house, Manda sat in the roots of a massive oak and watched Grey chase the butterflies.
There was no commotion from the house. Likely they were settling into the guest quarters adjacent to where her bedroom had been. She and Grey had slept in the servants’ quarters the night before, in the most remote cottage to avoid contact with the temporary servants who had recently moved into the small houses. The beds were harder, but sufficient. Manda’s new window looked out at the distant northwestern wing of the plantation manor, its grand expanse nearly obscured beneath wisteria vines over the sun porch. She missed her morning view of the front fountain-woman and the manicured lawn rising to a crest and overlooking the sea, but she pushed those thoughts aside. She had to focus on keeping Grey out of sight of the Blazens and out from underfoot at the ball. Then—somehow—she had to remind Jackson of the dangers these Brotherhood supporters presented. She wished she could take Grey from this whole tangled mess.
The new quarters were in a smaller house with one bedroom and a tiny sitting room. The house was near the well. Manda was at least grateful for that— it meant she had recourse to water—and her magic—in the case of an emergency.
A small mercy. She gazed at the treetops and the leaves that waved gently high above her.
A door slammed, the sound reaching across the creek to where she and Grey sat. Manda jerked upright. She hadn’t expected
them to come outside so soon. “Grey, come here.” They would have to take the wood path back to the servants’ quarters. The gardens were too near the house.
“Manda!” Jackson’s voice called far too loudly to hide it from his guests. Manda froze, staring through the trees. What was he doing?
“Man—that is, Miss Rivers!” He was jogging along the river’s bank and through the trees. He spotted her. “Manda!”
Manda slowly rose to her feet. Her breath fled her body. All she could do was stare helplessly as he waded across a shallow section of the creek, climbing the bank on the other side, stalking through the trees toward her.
“Master Coal!” Manda said, her traitorous voice shaking. “How did you find me?” Her clearing was not visible from the house.
Jackson stopped before her and looked around as though he had no idea where he was or how he’d gotten there. “I—I just knew where you were.” He squeezed one fist over his chest and stared at her as though she were a rare mythical creature. “You are here,” he tapped his chest, “always with me.”
“Master Coal!” Manda cried in utter surprise. How could he say such things after inviting Leah Blazen here?
“Manda.” Jackson’s hands twitched toward her shoulders as though to embrace her, but he pulled them back to his sides. After a moment’s hesitation, he wrapped his fingers around hers. His brown eyes sparked, brilliant and manic. He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it ardently. “Manda, you’re like water in the desert.” He pulled her closer, not releasing her hand. “It’s been far too long. I’ve missed you.”
The words that once would have melted Manda in a trice angered her now. It was by your own choice that you stayed away, and what of those you brought back with you? “Master Coal—your guests!”