by Sable Grey
“A sensible outlook,” Mrs. Loman agreed.
“I took him outside earlier. I hope that was not against any rules.” I watched her look at me with surprise. “I’ve found that those with much energy are more attentive to studies when they have stretched their legs.”
“Of course there are no rules against it. We don’t let him stray far because we all have duties to attend. In season, the master takes him out to hunt often.”
“The other two children, the babes you mentioned. Are they Ritchie’s siblings?”
“Yes.” Again she offered no more information as she set her cup aside. “I’ve work now to do, and I shall let you get back to yours.” She stood and quietly left me alone again.
The rest of the morning passed quickly. After we’d taken our midday meal and, satisfied with his progress, I dismissed Ritchie from his studies, but warned him to keep out of mischief. He dashed to his room and left me to plan the rest of the week’s routine for him.
After dinner, I was told I was to accompany Ritchie to the library where I would meet with Master Leander Overton. As I wanted my first impression with the master to be a good one, I donned the best of my simple dresses and spent more time in front of the mirror than I would normally.
*****
Leander Overton was a handsome man with soft features and gray at the temples that whispered he might be in his mid-forties. While I was relieved that he was not the man I’d seen in the corridor the night before, my fear was not completely diminished for I could see that there was some kind of relation because of the resemblances.
I waited near the door in silence while Mrs. Loman poured the master a drink. Once he took it and indulged a small swallow, she waved for me to come forward. I tried to move as she did without making a sound, but succeeded only in a quiet step as I walked across the room.
The library was a marvelous atmosphere of book-filled shelves reaching from floor to ceiling along two walls. At either end of the room, the shelves broke to make way for more comfort and entertainment. On the east wall, the fireplace and chairs, and against the opposite wall, a piano forte waited quietly to be played. In the center was a much-used oak desk.
From near the fire, Ritchie looked up from his drawings to smile at me before returning his attention to the parchment in front of him. With a quick glance, I could see the boy did have a gift with charcoals and made a mental note to explore and encourage his interest in art.
“And who is this person?” The master’s voice was softer than the man’s in the corridor, whom I assumed must be a brother and, when he lifted his attention to me, I found his gaze less intense, less predatory.
“This is Elizabeth Mason, the governess I’ve employed for Ritchie,” Mrs. Loman introduced, and I curtsied respectfully.
“I’ve heard all afternoon of nothing but a great adventure outdoors and the remarkable Miss Mason.” He smiled easily as he stood. “You’ve made quite a first impression with my nephew.”
“As he has with me, sir.” I returned the smile.
“Now that I’ve presented her, please excuse me. I must speak with the cook about tomorrow’s dinner before he leaves for the evening.” Mrs. Loman left us there, patting Ritchie’s head affectionately as she passed.
“Will your brother join us this evening, sir?” I waited to ask until the master’s gaze returned to me after watching Mrs. Loman leave the room.
That gaze narrowed slightly. “No. Why should you ask such a question?”
“I only wondered because I believe I met him last night and wished to thank him for carrying me back to my room. I’m afraid my overactive imagination caused me to faint at his feet, I’m quite embarrassed to admit. I cannot imagine what he must think.”
“I see. No, my brother is not at home at the moment.” He indicated the chair across from him, so I sat. “How have you found Blakewood?”
“It’s quite impressive, sir. The room I was given is lovely.” I glanced around the library as I continued. “Though I cannot imagine any room as interesting as this one. Have you read all of these books, sir?” I knew I shouldn’t ask more questions of him. I was supposed to be answering his about myself, but my curiosity got the best of me.
“I find reading a relaxing pastime. If I continue, however, I shall have to extend the room lest I begin stacking the books up around myself.” He tapped the pile of three books on the small table beside his chair with a soft chuckle.
“Such a prison doesn’t sound so difficult to bear. I’ve always had a fondness for books myself, though I’ve never seen so many in one room before. It makes me wonder what adventures could be found behind the material that binds them.” I could have kicked myself as I realized I was chattering freely. Normally, I did not do so, but there was something about Leander Overton that made it easy to forget to hold my tongue.
“You may feel free to explore those adventures as you like, granted you do not allow the indulgence to interfere with your work,” he offered to my delight. “Beatrice has gone on and on about your education and recommendations. She’s quite impressed with you and that impresses me. She normally doesn’t warm so quickly to someone.” He lifted his drink, watching me over the crystal rim of his glass. I hadn’t realized Mrs. Loman had warmed to me at all. In fact, in the few times we’d spoken, she’d seemed a bit reserved, but I concluded that perhaps it was just her way.
Ritchie rose from his spot on the floor and stepped to my side, holding out his drawing. “This is for you, Miss.” It was a picture of the stone bench in the middle of the parkland.
“What a lovely gift, Ritchie. A captured memory of our first day as friends.” I took the drawing and made a show of looking over it. He beamed, but when I looked at him, he seemed embarrassed and quickly returned to the fireplace.
“He usually retires at seven.”
As if on command, the clock behind the master began to chime that very hour. I rose and waited for Ritchie to put away his drawing papers and charcoals then held out my hand. He took it without hesitation.
“Good night, sir.” I curtsied before Ritchie, and I escaped to his room where I spent the next half hour making up a story that he could continue in his dreams. Once he was tucked in, I wandered back to the library. Happy to find it empty, I quickly searched the tomes until I found one that piqued my interest and hurried back to my room where I then sat for hours reading by candle light before finally drifting off to sleep.
Chapter Three
Every room at Blakewood was someone’s responsibility to be kept. Mine belonged to Mildred, a red-haired, friendly maid who chattered easily as if we were old friends. I’d met her in the morning of my third day at Blakewood and, while I had studies to deliver to Richard, she promised to visit my room that evening after she was dismissed so we could chat.
When she returned as she'd promised, she did so with sweet bread and tea. “I don’t know how you can bear that little terror. A good walloping is what he needs,” she said around a mouthful of bread.
“Ritchie only requires a little guidance. He’s very bright,” I defended.
“You’ve more patience than I.” Mildred sipped her tea and, after a moment as if she could contain herself no longer, leaned forward. “There are whispers that you saw the master naked.”
Heat rushed to my cheeks instantly. “No, I believe it was his brother.”
“His brother has been gone for months.” Mildred’s green eyes danced with devilment. “It could only be the master. Well, what did he look like naked?”
I laughed. “It wasn’t Leander Overton, and it’s not as if I stood staring at him.” That was quite certainly the biggest lie I’d ever told in my life.
Mildred frowned. “He does have an associate who visits often. We think he’s related because he resembles the Overtons. It could have been him. I keep clear of him if I can.”
“That must have been who I’d seen.” I deduced. “He made me very uncomfortable and not just because he was naked, but because of the way h
e looked at me.”
“As if you are his next meal.” Mildred nodded. “Yes, that’s Mister Highcrest. He spends too much time with the women in the west wing if you ask me and less time working. It’s too bad it wasn’t the master you’d seen. I’d be curious to know how he compares to others.”
“What women in the west wing?”
Mildred grinned. “You’ve not seen them yet? It’s several of them, kept separate from the rest of us. No one really knows what position they have here, but we all have a pretty good idea. They entertain.”
“Entertain?” I repeated.
“Keep the master company at night,” Mildred explained delicately. “And his associate as well, I suppose. I don’t like him. None of the maids do. He slinks about in the dark as if he owns the place. I wish Master Overton would send him away.”
“Why doesn’t he?”
“He runs the Overton shipping business. It’s one of the reasons, outside the obvious resemblances, that we think he’s related to the Overtons. Best keep clear of him. If he gets you alone, he might try to get into your knickers.” Mildred waved a hand dismissing the topic of Mister Highcrest. “Have you a beau?”
“I do not.”
“Why not? I have one.” She giggled girlishly “We meet secretly at night.”
“I thought we were to keep to our rooms at night,” I reminded her of the rule her father had told me my first day.
“You aren’t breaking rules if you don’t get caught.” Mildred’s eyes glittered. “Will you come with me tonight? I’m to meet him in the stables. You can keep watch for me.”
I’m not one to oft tag along with trouble, but there was something about Mildred, something I’d missed when I was her age, that made me want to be a part of her exuberance and youth. So I agreed and crept downstairs and out from the manor with her.
“You mustn’t tell anyone that we meet like this. My father wouldn’t approve. You won’t tell, will you?” Mildred whispered in the night as we reached a small garden wall opposite the stables.
“I’ll keep your secret,” I vowed.
“We are going to be great friends, I can tell. Stay here and don’t leave without me.” She raced toward the stables and, when she opened the door, I could see a lit candle indicating there was indeed someone already there.
Blakewood was proving a curious place to live, but I had to admit that the mystery of it all was stirring to my blood. The households I’d been employed in before had been boring and the employers equally uninteresting.
“One would think an older influence would discourage a girl from sneaking off into the dark with a man.” A deep voice broke the silence, and I whirled to find Mister Highcrest standing just on the other side of the garden wall. In one fluid movement, he placed his hands atop the wall and swung himself over the top of it. He looked disheveled, his hair hanging free around his shoulders, and he wore no vest. only a coat over the shirt that was opened at the top and un-tucked from his trousers.
“Forgive me, I did not see you there, Mister Highcrest.” I felt torn between my curiosity of the man and the urge to run away from him as fast as I could.
“Young Mildred off to meet with George Delaney again I see.” He leaned back against the wall, resting his elbows on the top of it. “Thom Simpers will be livid when he finds out.”
I glanced at the stables. “You won’t tell, will you? No one needs to know.”
“Simpers will know well enough, as will the rest, when his daughter’s middle begins to swell.” He tilted his head to the side as he regarded me. “You are in the habit of keeping secrets?”
“It is not my place to reveal what others wish to keep quiet, sir.” The way he looked at me made me nervous. “I wanted to apologize for my behavior when we first met, sir, and thank you for carrying me back to my room. It was kind of you to do so after I was so sharp with you. I’d no idea that you were of relation to the Overtons.”
He said nothing, which only intensified the tension in the air. I felt the need to fill the silence, and my mind raced for anything to say, but when he pushed off from the wall, I tensed. His step was lazy as he strolled in a circle around me and, when he neared, I took a step backwards until I found my back against the wall.
“What if I told you a secret? Would you keep it as dedicatedly as you mean to keep Mildred’s?”
Closer still and my heart began to beat faster. “I keep Mildred’s confidence because she trusts me.” I clasped my hands together to keep them from shaking.
“I see. So I should earn your trust before I confide my darkest secrets to you?” His eyes seemed to dance in the moonlight.
“Why should you wish to confide in me? You barely know me.” I laughed nervously. “I’d imagine the master a better confidant for you than his hired governess.”
“Overton knows my secrets, but he is weak and jealous of my freedom.” He scowled, but then turned his face into the wind when it picked up. I marveled at the softness that found his face in those moments when he breathed in deeply as if taking the very breeze into himself.
“I was told that you are the manager of his shipping business. I imagine you have travelled and seen many places I’ve only read about.” I forced a smile when his attention dropped back to me. “It would be difficult not to envy those experiences.”
“Would it? Then if given the opportunity you would leave with me to sail the world rather than remain here with the child?” He tilted his head to the side. “You long for the toss of a storm on the ocean? Perhaps the feel of a strange land beneath your feet? Or do you the crave the tastes and smells of exotic foods?”
“It sounds very exciting and tempting,” I admitted.
He stepped closer and closer still until there was but a breath between us. “I would feed your desire for exploration and discovery and show you the world. We could experience it all together.”
His voice wove excitement through my veins and, for a moment, I felt swept away by his promises. “But at what cost? Sooner or later, one must settle down.”
“Why?” His gaze swept over me. “Are you content with continuing as a governess until your youth is sucked from your body and you are frail and gray? Is life more than a promised grave where you are only a faint memory and eventually forgotten? Perhaps you marry, but could you stand your boredom or the disappointment when you found he had a mistress? Perhaps you are Mrs. Loman and only married to your work and, when you die, you do so alone?”
I stared up at him. He'd voiced every fear I’d ever entertained when I allowed my spirit to darken. “One should be content with their work and their life.”
“But which life do you choose to be content with? One filled with the raising of another’s brat or one where you are free to do whatever you wish.” He shook his head. “I choose the latter. I choose freedom.”
In my mind, I saw myself upon a ship, on the horizon the sandy beaches I’d read about. It was so real I could imagine the smell in the air filled with spices that promised the very exotic food Mister Highcrest had spoken of. It filled me with yearning for something I knew I would never know.
“I fear, Mister Highcrest, you are the voice of the very devil for you feed the imaginations of a silly woman, but that sense of adventure does not feed the belly. And while I am tempted, I must remember that I do value security that only comes from a solid position.”
“Perhaps in time, I can change your mind and unbutton you.” He lifted a hand, and I grew still when he dragged his forefinger down my cheek. In the next moment, his lips were upon mine. It was not the first time I’d been kissed, but I could not recall any of my past experiences. His was not a gentle brush of his mouth or a tender press of his lips. He captured me completely so that my feet felt rooted into the ground. His hot tongue delved into me, possessed me.
When his hands found my breasts, the sensible part of me screamed to run away from him, but I couldn’t. Instead, my body betrayed me and arched to his attention, craving more of the heat he filled me w
ith.
His lips tore from mine and that twisted smile gleamed down at me. “I knew there was passion there.” He turned his head slightly as if he’d heard something in the night. “Here comes your little friend.” And then he was gone, sweeping over the wall and ducking from sight.
A moment later, the stable door opened and Mildred appeared.
Chapter Four
Ritchie disappeared ahead of me through the doors of the library, his laughter echoing behind as I took chase. I stopped short, however, once I entered when I found Ritchie showing his prize to Leander Overton. As the master looked up, I tried to steady my breathing, but to little avail since the boy had made me chase him through much of the manor.