“Are you all right?”
I glanced around the room and nodded, sitting up a little in my bed. “Must have been a nightmare. I didn’t wake you did I?”
Bess walked over to me with her hand over her chest. “Dearie, you have been asleep all day. It is Friday in the evening now.”
My eyes went to the window again and then back to my father. “But…I slept all day?”
My father nodded his head. “Yes, and soundly until a few moments ago when you let out that scream.”
The word ‘scream’ reminded me of my dream, the entire thing flooding back to me. I nodded. “Oh.”
Bess sat down beside me looking me over. “Mister MacMurphy came by this afternoon, but I informed him you were resting still. He seemed eager to make sure you were all right. He…told us about last night. About what happened at the party?”
I rolled my eyes. “Oh, he did, did he? What exactly did he say happened?”
“He said Sean was asking you about the play and you got angered and made a scene. Then you ran out of the house and were quite ill in the carriage.” The tone of my father’s voice hinted he was unconvinced by the story Dale had told.
I shook my head, more to myself. He was wrong. I turned towards them and nodded, assuring them. “Yes, that is what happened.”
My father eyed me warily. He nodded once as he turned and began for the door. “Well, Bess will help you get ready, you missed supper, but I am sure she will fix you something. I need to head over to the office…” He looked at Bess who nodded her reassurance.
I felt an icy chill run up my spine.
He walked out of the room as Bess pulled back my blankets and helped me wash and dress. I ate the supper Bess kept for me. I realized while eating that, for once, my father was home in time for supper and I had missed it. I ate slowly, but I was actually feeling quite hungry, having missed the entire day.
Bess commented on my sleep, claiming it was sheer exhaustion. I wasn’t going to question her, though I did wish she had woken me, that way I wouldn’t have slept the entire day away.
Bess sat beside me, resting her chin on her hand, sleepily closing her eyes.
“I was thinking I would go down and visit the stable, I want to ride for a bit.” I put my fork down and grabbed my glass of water.
Bess shook her head. “No, dearie, your father asked you stay in tonight. You can ride tomorrow after we come back from town. Your father wants you to come by his office for lunch, bring some papers home.”
“Why not, though? I want to ride now, not tomorrow,” I protested.
“Because six girls have gone missing. Your father doesn’t want you to be the seventh.” She got up and picked up my empty plate and utensils.
I sighed. “What do you know of these disappearances? Who were the girls?”
“They were just passing through. I believe a few were street walkers,” she said as she grabbed my napkin.
“So none of them are girls who live here permanently?” I was trying to make a point so I could easily escape. My dream didn’t dissuade me from riding. In fact, I wanted to ride all the more for some reason.
“No. That’s that. Just humor your father and me. Not another word, please.” She turned and made her way into the kitchen, putting away my dishes.
We sat in the sitting room, Bess doing some embroidery while I read a book. I couldn’t read two sentences without my mind slipping off to the missing girls in town. How did they know they were missing? If they were just passing through or street walkers, they could have just simply up and left.
I turned to Bess to ask the question but saw she was asleep, needle still in hand. I slowly put my book down on the table beside me and stood up as quietly as possible. I tip-toed passed Higgins who was asleep by the fire, snoring much like Bess. I ran out of the room and down the hall, grabbing my cloak off the coat rack and making my way out the door.
I smiled as I ran down the path in the yard to the stable, where I got my horse saddled and ready for a ride. I knew I was going to get into trouble but I didn’t care. My father knew better than to tell me not to do something. To tell me not to makes me want to do it that much more. There is no stopping me. What was the worst he could do? Tell me I couldn’t go to any parties or dinners? That was fine with me. I was quite wary about showing my face anywhere in town, especially after my outburst.
I mounted my horse and started off, just riding around the field. I noticed the differences between my dream and reality. In reality the stars were bright, as was the moon, and the shadows weren’t black, they were normal deep dark blues.
I smiled as I felt the wind brush by face, the cold making it burn and feel amazing. My horse slowed, shaking her head and stomping her feet. I looked around, wondering if there was a wild animal that had startled her. I had quick flashes of my dream, though I reminded myself that in reality things were much clearer and I had a voice.
“Shh, what’s wrong?”
She reared suddenly, kicking her feet out and sending me to the ground. This time I felt the pain of the fall. I grabbed the back of my head. “Ow.” My mouth scrunched at the side as I looked up to her. “What was that for?”
I was about to get up when a hand came out in front of me.
“Are you all right?”
I recognized the voice immediately, how deep and smooth it was. I looked up to see my newcomer’s face staring back at me, the moon reflecting off his skin brightly. His eyes were filled with the same concern I saw during the party, and when I hallucinated in my room, seeing him before me, the moonlight bouncing off of his frock coat and shining softly.
I nodded. “Yes, I am fine.”
He helped me up and grabbed my horse’s reins, pulling her forward. “You should really be more careful,” he said angrily, looking away from me.
I stuttered for a moment. “Well…I…I am sorry?” I straightened out the hood of my cloak, brushed some grass off the skirt of my gown.
“You seem to always need a hero, someone to save you from a situation, constantly watch you.” He kept his eyes to the horse and began to pet her nose, though I could tell he was still annoyed.
“Excuse me?” My mouth fell opened shocked he was being so blunt, so rude.
He looked over to me. “First your ring, now this. One wonders if you like having a champion to rescue you, my lady.”
His eyes were bright as he smirked, enjoying his antics, though his voice was still angered, as if I distracted him in some way, took up his time.
“I will have you know I would have found my ring by myself and I am quite capable of helping myself back onto my horse. I do not fall from her often, but I still know how to get back up.” I grabbed the reins angrily and began to walk away, but stopped, not recognizing the area I was in.
He began to laugh. “You don’t know where you are, do you?”
He stepped forward walking passed me.
I quickly surveyed the area before I looked to him. “Of course I do.” I wanted to look away, but his aura drew me in, his eyes stabbing out of the darkness. I bit my bottom lip as I looked around.
“Well, if you didn’t, you would want to know you should head north. I believe that is where your father’s home is. You have only stepped briefly off his land. But that is not something you need to know, is it?” He stepped close to me, a wonderful fragrance wafting off of him as the wind blew through his clothes.
I closed my eyes momentarily, taking in the smell, but stopped myself. “Well, thank you again. I must be off.”
I began to walk off quickly, forcing myself not to look back to him.
“North is that way.” He pointed in the opposite direction of where I walked, chuckling, enjoying my blunder.
I turned around slowly, leading my horse the other way, walking as quickly as I could away from him.
He occupied my thoughts the entire journey back to my home—there was no way for me to not think about him. I was angered by him being so cocky, so blunt and rude to a lady
. A part of me swooned over his mysterious aura, his beautiful eyes and the amazing fragrance he gave off. I had a constant inner struggle, convincing myself he was boorish and crude, yet handsome and alluring.
Stupid girl.
When I arrived home, Bess was still asleep in the sitting room with Higgins beside her. I sighed as I looked in and saw her, but felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned to see my father’s face staring at me.
“And where were you?”
I gave him a little smile, wincing. “Umm…nowhere?”
His eyes burned angrily. “You went riding, didn’t you? Annalee, do you not understand that during the evening is the time when you are most vulnerable?”
“But I’m fine, nothing happened. I didn’t even see anyone,” I lied. I found I was lying and keeping things from everyone recently. I despised lying. Characteristics of Sean and his friends, but the little lies seemed like a necessity.
“If you want to go out riding, you will do so during the light. After sunset, unless you are in the company of a gentleman, you are not to leave this house,” his voice boomed angrily, frightening me a little. I had never heard my father so angered—his voice was often soft and gentle.
I nodded my head. “Yes, sir.”
He nodded his head. “Good. I lost your mother, Annalee, I don’t plan on losing you, especially if I can prevent it.”
I suddenly felt a deep guilt in the pit of my stomach. “I’m sorry, Daddy, I didn’t mean to.”
He nodded and wrapped his arms around me. “I know you didn’t, Poppet. But from now on you are not to go anywhere without an escort, and a chaperone.” He kissed my forehead. “You should go wake Bess, perhaps go to your bedchamber and read.”
He walked off, down towards his office.
I woke Bess gently and we went up to my bedchamber, helping me back into my nightgown, which I had only just got out of a few hours ago. I sat in bed and suddenly found myself very tired, my eyes closing heavily. As I closed my eyes, I felt a shiver of a draft in my room again and my newcomer’s voice seemed to echo in my head as I drifted off to sleep.
* * * *
I awoke to the sun beaming in through my window. Bess tore the curtain back, the sun casting all over my room. She helped me out of bed and into a white robe à l’Anglaise, with a blue flower-patterned petticoat.
I had time to dawdle, not needing to be in town until noon, but found when I arrived downstairs for breakfast, my father had left early. Though, I did not eat alone. Peter stopped by to check I was all right and joined me.
I smiled. “So, how are things with Miss O’Neil?”
I poured him a cup of tea as he arranged the silverware Bess had brought for him, setting a place beside me.
He nodded. “Oh, very well. She is accompanying me to the masked ball tomorrow night. Are you still going?” He looked up to me, pulling the cuffs of his frock coat up.
I let my chin rest on my hand. “Yes, I am. I am going alone though. Well, with my father. I am planning on speaking with Dale on the subject. I just don’t think I can stay in his social circle. As you saw, it makes me ill.”
I sat back as Bess brought us two plates of waffles, which were my favorite.
“Ah yes, your little outburst on Thursday. Everyone is saying it was fever. Once they heard you were ill yesterday, they came to their own conclusions.” He chuckled as Bess scrambled out of the room. “Though you do look better today.”
“I was not ill yesterday, I was exhausted. Embarrassing yourself in front of the entire town and strangers takes a lot out of you.” I grabbed my fork and knife and began to cut up my breakfast.
He laughed lightly. “Well, I knew it was because Sean was being a bloody cad as usual. Excuse my language, Annalee.” He reached for his cup of tea.
“That is quite all right. I am not so kind with my words when speaking of Sean myself.” I smiled as I brought my fork to my mouth.
He laughed again. “I did see the new American. You should know that after you left, he also left quite abruptly. I saw him around town yesterday. He was buying from my father’s shop.”
My head tilted to the side picturing my newcomer in Mister Wilks’ furniture shop. “Oh? Well, Sean mentioned he had acquired the property on the hill just down the road, outside of town. One would assume he would need furniture.”
He shook his head. “It was strange, the things he wanted. He wanted these big curtains and candle sticks. I heard he purchased an extravagant bed and a wooden dinette set.”
I scrunched my mouth to the side. “Well, that sounds perfectly normal.”
“I had heard he is having things brought over from wherever he has moved from. Would he not already have those things?”
I pouted as I shrugged. “I suppose that is true…he was very interested in the art that covers Sean’s parent’s home.”
He nodded as he put his fork down. “Yes, he purchased some from a local artist. He is spending a pretty penny.”
I tilted my head as I took a sip of my tea. “He seems like an interesting person. Does anyone know what his profession is? Why he is here in England?”
He shook his head. “No. I haven’t spoken to him. My father said he was not one for chit chat either. He was very straight to the point.”
“Hmm…” I brought my fork to my mouth once more, thinking about the night before, my newcomer’s face and voice still fresh in my mind.
Peter walked with me around the house after breakfast, talking about Miss O’Neil and how things were. He left with a few cautious words about going out unescorted.
My day seemed to be taking a turn for the best. Peter arriving was a pleasant surprise and having someone to sit with during breakfast was enjoyable. Soon enough, Bess and I were making our way to town to visit my father for lunch and to pick up his papers.
I was smiling and laughing, making jokes and being childish, Bess indulging me as we walked along the street, stopping at the jewelry shop before we went to meet my father.
We picked out some new jewelry to go with my gown for the ball, a close fitting necklace made of pink silk ribbon with a big gold gem in the center and rounded with diamonds. We also bought a gold ring with a glittering topaz heart-shaped gem in the center of it.
I looked around the shop while the clerk was wrapping up my new jewelry, spotting my newcomer in his red silk frock coat with gold trim walking into the perfume shop across the way.
I turned to Bess. “I will be right back. I am going across to the perfume shop.”
I quickly dashed out, hearing her voice call out, “All right—”
I ran across to the perfume store, stopping at the door to make sure it was indeed him. Though how could I ever mistake him? He was constantly on my mind, his face always in front of my eyes.
I ran up to him. “Hello again.”
His eyes came to me while circling the display of perfumes, his voice low. “Hello.”
I walked towards him. “You don’t remember me?”
I found it amazing he wouldn’t. I had seen him several times before and then the night before, helping me with my horse.
“Oh, I remember you,” he said, smiling as if it was obvious he would. He walked over to a shelf, looking over each perfume, grabbing one and not even opening the bottle, but seeming to know the scent.
I couldn’t help looking him over, admiring his features, up close and in daylight. He was stunning. I always thought that to be the wrong word to describe a man, something you usually say when referring to a woman or a painting, but that’s what he was. He was stunning, just the right height, perfect build, and a masculine air. His eyes took my very breath away with just one glance.
“That is all you have to say?” I walked up to him, standing beside him. I felt slightly intimidated standing next to him. I could almost feel the heat pulsing off of him to me, making me shudder.
He took another small bottle of perfume off the shelf, holding it in front of him and smiling, handing the bottle over to me. “This i
s quite beautiful. I would say it matches your natural scent. Almost.”
He didn’t open the bottle; he somehow knew the scent right off from admiring the label, or perhaps the bottle itself.
My brow furrowed as I took the bottle from him. “Who are you?”
He smiled. “Vincent Moor.”
He took the small bottle from me moving towards the counter to the clerk.
“Why are you here?” I wasn’t quite understanding him. What was worse was he was being cocky again. Or was that better?
He smiled as he handed the clerk some coins, who in turn handed him the little vial of perfume in a violet velvet bag. He handed me the bag. “I’m buying perfume.”
My eyes went to the bag in my hands as he walked away from me towards the door. I looked around the shop confused, not sure what I meant by my question. I quickly ran after him, catching up with him outside of the shop. “Wait!”
He stopped and turned to me, his jockey boots clicking off the walk. “Yes, my lady?”
I handed him back the bag. “I cannot accept this.”
His eyes went to my hand. “It is a gift. From me to you.” His eyes moved up to my own where they stopped and stayed.
I found myself stuttering, not able to compose a sentence. “Uh…well I…you see I just…um…”
“This is stimulating conversation but I must be off, Miss…?”
“Annalee Harding.” I gazed at him, dazed, as he grabbed my hand and pulled it up to his mouth, stopping inches away. He stood for a moment, his eyes closing before they went to mine.
“Annalee.”
He leaned down and hesitated once more but completed his motion and let his lips softly caress the back of my hand. I instantly felt my whole body shudder and my skin flush as I swallowed hard. His face seemed to wince in pain, he stood up and held his breath as he nodded lightly and walked off.
I felt Bess’ hand on my arm as she walked up to me. “There you are. Let’s go meet your father.”
I turned to her, dazed. Had she not seen my newcomer, Vincent? My head swam and I smiled, saying his name over and over to myself. Vincent.
Out of My Grave Page 8