by A. L. Tyler
“How?”
Howard took a deep breath and looked out the window. A moment later he looked back. “I don’t know. But you know what? You’re a smart one. You’ve snuck out of this house twice without anyone knowing until after the fact, you’ve managed to learn the whole of Latito in only a few months, you know exactly what to do to aggravate every person living here, and you got yourself onto the Council with a much better margin than anyone expected. And you’ve been here just over a year—it’s truly impressive what you’ve accomplished in so short a time. You’re clever, and you’ll figure it out. You’ll find a way to make them trust you.”
Lena smiled. It was good to know that someone had faith in her. Maybe she would figure it out. She certainly didn’t think she could, but if Howard did, then maybe she would.
June 30th was as bright and cheerful as anyone could have asked. The lawn was a deep, sultry green and Pete had been keeping up well with the gardens. Marie had been helping him since she wanted to stay as far away from Master Daray as possible. She had quite a gift, and as Lena and Howard sat outside waiting for Hesper and Eric’s arrival, he commented that he had never seen the flowers look so bright before. Reds, yellows, oranges, whites, and pinks danced in the slight summer breeze as butterflies, the first ones Lena had ever seen at Waldgrave, flittered about between them.
A grey sedan pulled up the drive and parked at the side of the house. Howard and Lena helped the guests move the luggage into the house where it was cooler, and then they settled into the living room. Hesper lifted the blanket cover from the car seat carrier, revealing a pink, wrinkled little body clothed in a bright white creeper with a glitter heart on it. Her name was Maren Delaney; the former name came from Eric’s mother, who had died when he was very young. ‘Delaney’ had been the name on a piece of mail accidentally delivered to the Mason household on the day of the birth, and Hesper, tired and delusional from all the drugs, had liked it so much that she had written it down on the birth certificate. Maren yawned and stretched her tiny arms, then settled back into her nap.
Eric took her up to a room on the second floor to let her nap and to unpack their bags, and Hesper and Lena sat in the living room a while longer. Ava had wandered off when Maren left, and Howard excused himself to give the two friends some privacy.
“So. You’re looking good.” This, in fact, was an understatement. Hesper didn’t look any different than she had before the pregnancy.
“Thanks. I’ve got three more pounds to go.” Hesper smiled and stretched out on the couch. “How are you?”
“Good.” Lena shrugged.
Hesper gave her a look and smiled slyly. “Just good?”
Hesper bobbed her eyebrows suggestively, and Lena laughed. “What do you mean?”
“Griffin moved back in, didn’t he?” Hesper pointed towards the upper floors.
“Oh. Yeah.” Lena’s voice deflated.
“Shut up. You’ve always had a crush on him and you know it.”
“He’s not the way he used to be. And you shut up, because I don’t. He’s a jerk.” Lena sighed.
Hesper rolled her eyes. “How’s everything else, then?”
“Well, speaking of Griffin, he’s going to get back tomorrow with your mom. Apparently there’s been some trouble with the family servants, so they’ll probably both be in a great mood when they get here.”
Hesper cracked a wry smile. “You’re just one big freakin’ ray of sunshine today, aren’t you? What happened?”
Lena sank down on the couch. She had only heard what Howard had been told by Griffin, who had slated it to sound like an unfounded mutiny. “Well, you know your mom was a little high strung to begin with, right? And then there was the thing with your dad, and she’s alone in the house except for the baby, and she started drinking a little so the staff took the baby away to keep him safe. Well, your mom still maintains that your dad didn’t kill himself and that he was somehow murdered. She thinks the staff are trying to kill her and Darius Jr., and they got so fed up with her abuse that some of them walked out. Griffin disbanded the rest of the house because he’s bringing the two of them here.”
Hesper remained quiet for a moment, a pensive look on her face, then sat forward. “I guess it was bound to happen someday. My dad was the only one keeping order there. The baby’s okay?”
Lena stood up and started walking to the kitchen; she needed something to rip apart with her teeth. “Yeah…about him. I’m not sure what’s going to happen to him. Griffin is about ready to have her legally declared incompetent, and I think he thinks I’m going to surrogate his little brother, which isn’t going to happen.” She threw the refrigerator door open and pulled out some leftover meatloaf.
“He wants the baby to stay here?” Hesper asked in a surprised, slightly twanging tone. “Can’t Ava take him?”
Lena shut the refrigerator door and glared at Hesper, raising her eyebrows sarcastically. Ava couldn’t be trusted to take care of herself for more than a few hours, let alone a baby.
“Oh…right. Well, what about Mrs. Ralston?”
“Do you want some?” Hesper accepted the offer, having briefly forgone her vegetarian diet during her pregnancy and breastfeeding, and Lena pulled down two plates and started hacking away. “My grandfather doesn’t believe that human-borns should be allowed to raise ‘high-blooded’—his words, not mine—Silenti. So we have a competent parent who’s unacceptable, an incompetent parent who is acceptable, and me. And I am sure as hell not going to adopt the kid, because I have no freaking clue how to raise a child, and I’m not going to ditch my political career to learn how. Griffin can get in touch with his maternal instinct.”
Hesper took her meatloaf and they sat down at the table. “You’re a little stressed out today. What’s really up?”
Lena sighed as she fell into a chair. She’d been a little vicious with the meatloaf, and it wasn’t really a loaf anymore. She stared at the meat crumbs on her plate. “I’ve got to get out of here. I’ve got to get out of here before I’m responsible for a child and I can’t leave. And I can’t leave because they don’t trust me not to bring about the apocalypse.”
They ate silently for a while. Lena could sense Hesper’s sympathy, and wanted to feel better for it, but her life was just too dark. She couldn’t shake the cloud that had been hanging over her since she had been disallowed from the rafting trip, no matter how hard she tried.
“I’m sorry Lena. I really am. If the portal hadn’t been stolen so many years ago, this wouldn’t be happening, but it is, and there’s nothing we can do about it. Whoever had it probably got rid of it, but for a lot of people here there’s a fear and a hope that it’s out there waiting to be found. A lot of them are scared or wishful that it’s a lot closer than we all think.” She smiled and reached out to touch Lena’s hand. “Come on. Let’s go play with a baby—I promise it will make you feel better.”
Lena smiled. Playing with a baby could make anyone feel better—just as long as it wasn’t her baby.
Dinner that evening was a quiet affair. Howard had greatly hoped that Master Daray would have taken to eating upstairs while Hesper and Eric were visiting, but he hadn’t. Everyone sat at the table staring at each other uncomfortably, except for Maren, who was cooing contentedly in a carrier in the chair next to Eric. Her intelligent little eyes kept darting to Master Daray’s face, and she would smile at his almost comical level of displeasure. She was definitely taking after Hesper.
The next day Lena hid upstairs with her guests as Griffin settled his mother and brother into a room, and then they found themselves at yet another awkward dinner. Unfortunately, Hesper wasn’t going to be nearly as shy with Griffin as she was with Master Daray.
“So, Lena says you’ve been a real jerk lately.” She said, serenely lifting her fork. You really know what women want, don’t you?”
Lena flinched and gazed into her broccoli trying to think of something to say. When she looked up, she saw Griffin staring at her. He wasn’t smi
ling, but his eyes were very amused. He smirked and confidently looked back at Hesper. “Lena’s a Council member now, not a woman.”
“Uh huh. Sure. So why are you being a jerk lately?” It was evident that Hesper was trying to help, but Lena wished she would just stop. Fighting with Griffin never worked out well for either of them, because the stalemate enforced by the Council often resulted in drawn-out conflicts where they both tried to subtly sabotage the other without getting caught. And, much to Lena’s chagrin, when the adults in the household finally did realize that something was happening, they were much more apt to try and stop Lena. Griffin didn’t take orders from anyone but Master Daray.
Griffin kept cutting up his steak. When he had a bite ready on his fork, he looked back at Lena. “Lena? I’ll defer this question to you.”
Lena looked over at Howard, who was trying very hard to ignore the situation in hopes that it would go away, but Lena wasn’t going to let the opportunity slip since no one had yet told her to behave herself. She looked back at Griffin. “Maybe it’s because your lips are perpetually attached to someone’s ass, Griffin. I’d imagine that kind of behavior would make anyone a little cranky.”
Ava gasped and Howard almost choked on a mouthful of greens. Hesper tried not to laugh, Eric looked uncomfortable, and Master Daray had chosen not to honor her quip with a response of any kind. Griffin raised his eyebrows, but didn’t look phased—in fact, he was looking at her like she was an animal doing a trick. She wanted to wipe the smug look off his face by saying something low, but he beat her to the punch.
“How’s Australia, Hesper? I’m going to be spending some time in Cairns next week. After that I’m going to England to visit relatives, and then I’m going to a small political function in India. After that, if Master Daray can spare me for a week, I might take some time off in Greece.” He looked back over at Lena. “I’ll be sure to send you a postcard.”
Lena took a deep breath. She was going to say something really low, something about his mother being a crazy, incompetent, old widow with a swinging husband, but Howard intervened. Don’t. Just stop.
She looked back into her broccoli. Unfortunately, Griffin wasn’t ready to let it go. I really will send you a postcard. I mean it. He’s got me picking up some sort of artifact that someone dug up—cost him a load, too. It’s another book; we’ll read it together after I get back, but until then I’ll be enjoying my vacation on the beach.
Lena tried to hold back her tears with some success. She would be here, like she always was, sitting around reading or helping with the chores, or doing Howard’s paperwork, or trying on clothes so that Mrs. Ralston could send them back to get the next size up. Hesper reached over and grabbed her hand under the table, and the rest of the meal passed in silence.
Mrs. Corbett wasn’t seen at all over the next few days, and Lena got a shred of revenge one day when she caught Griffin taking food up to her ‘like a common servant.’ Apparently Mrs. Corbett had become so paranoid when Mrs. Ralston had arrived at her door the first day, she wouldn’t eat anything unless it was provided by Griffin. She kept her baby close, and no one had seen little Darius yet. Hesper was starting to worry that her mother would hurt the baby, and though Griffin wasn’t openly agreeing with her, he was getting very anxious about the situation. Lena wasn’t sure what was going to happen to Mrs. Corbett and her baby, but she was glad it wasn’t her decision to make.
When Lena woke up on one bright July morning, and saw a card pushed halfway under her bedroom door, she assumed it was because Griffin was going to miss her birthday due to the fact that he was living a life she was desperately jealous of. When she opened it, she was filled with a mixture of amused anger and outright disbelief. Since she had become a member of the Council, he hadn’t been able to push her around or tell her what do as much. As a result, he had become much more devious in his methods.
You’ll be caring for my mother and brother while I’m out of town. They’re staying in one of the larger bedroom suites on the east side of the fourth floor. I’ve attached a schedule—be prompt, as she gets very irritable when she’s kept waiting.
My plane left at six this morning, and if you’re waking at the typical hour, you’re already late for her breakfast. I suggest you run.
Griffin
Well, that’s just great. Lena checked the schedule on the next page, looked over at the clock on the nightstand, and saw that she was late by almost an hour. She grabbed her cell phone and dialed Griffin. He didn’t answer. Taking a deep breath, she grappled with her options.
She was the only one who knew. Mrs. Corbett wasn’t likely to trust any of the kitchen staff Waldgrave currently had, and judging from what Lena knew of the late Master Corbett, she probably wasn’t fond of Howard, either. Hesper and Eric weren’t on a favorable list either, even if Lena had had the heart to try to make them do it. Ava was just short of completely hopeless. That left Master Daray; there was a snow ball’s chance in hell that he would be providing services to anyone, even a mother in need.
Lena sighed, got dressed, and went down to the kitchen, where breakfast had already been prepared. She shoveled some eggs, bacon, and toast onto a plate, poured a glass of orange juice, and ignored Hesper’s funny look before making her way to the fourth floor. She knocked and waited at three different doors before Griffin’s inept directions led her to the right one.
Only two or three seconds after Lena had knocked, the door had opened just a crack, and a darkly outlined, clear blue eye had looked her over sharply. A moment later, Mrs. Corbett walked away from the door, leaving it slightly ajar. When she hadn’t come back after several minutes of waiting, Lena timidly pushed the door open.
“Mrs. Corbett?” She shifted the tray awkwardly in her hands, trying to be sure none of the juice sloshed.
“I’m waiting.” And indeed she was. Lena looked around the room and saw her seated at a small table, her hand resting on a cradle that was tucked closely next to her chair. She was a stern looking woman in a blue blouse, a semi-fitted black ankle-length skirt, and expensive, designer shoes. Her deep brown hair was done up in a perfect bun, and her makeup was flawless. For a woman who planned to stay in the same room all day, and for nine o’clock in the morning, she was looking better than Lena did on most formal occasions. Lena suddenly realized that Mrs. Corbett’s piercing blue eyes were still watching her. There was an annoyed, sour look on her face.
Lena started to walk toward the table.
“Shut the door.” She snapped.
Lena kicked the door shut with her foot, which caused Mrs. Corbett to give her a disapproving glare, and continued on to the table. She set the tray of food down and turned to leave.
“You’ll stay and watch the baby while I eat, and then take the tray away with you. It lessens the intrusion of my needing to answer the door a second time.” She said all of this without looking at Lena, who paused, turned around, and looked into the cradle. He looked exactly like Griffin, except smaller, chubbier, and balder. She reminded herself that he wasn’t cute; he was the enemy. The enemy she wasn’t going to get attached to.
“He’s sleeping.” Lena said.
As Mrs. Corbett placed her napkin firmly in her lap she glared up at Lena again. “Then you’ll sit and wait in case if he wakes up.”
Lena looked around and saw a chair against the far wall, which she sat down in. She watched Mrs. Corbett eat her breakfast; her stomach growled, as she’d skipped her own breakfast to get Mrs. Corbett’s to her faster. When she finally brought her napkin to her lips—being careful not to smudge her sleek lipstick—and set it on her tray, Lena got up to fetch the plate and claim her freedom until lunch was due. When she reached out for the plate, though, Mrs. Corbett caught her arm.
“Not so quickly. Turn.”
Lena gave her a confused look. “What?”
“Turn. Turn around, so I can look at you.”
Lena hesitantly took a few steps back and turned around, keeping her eyes always on Mrs. Corbe
tt. She made a mental note not to bring up a knife next time. Mrs. Corbett sighed and relaxed slightly into her chair. She crossed her legs.
“You’re a beauty, but those pants don’t suit you.” She said. “That—shirt—is a size too large and your hair needs a professional. You need makeup and your eyebrows need waxing, but you have potential.”
She looked at Lena a moment longer, and Lena wondered if she was waiting for a reply of some sort. She wasn’t going to get one. Then she started talking again.
“Everything was cold. I don’t eat bacon or eggs cooked in bacon grease, and the orange juice had pulp in it, which is already upsetting my stomach. It won’t happen again. I’ll have a turkey sandwich on wheat for lunch with lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise on one side of the bread. Keep it light. I want the crusts trimmed off but still on the plate, not touching the rest of the sandwich. One apple, cored, cut into small enough pieces that I won’t smudge my lipstick while eating it. A mug of hot water and a glass of cold water, no ice, and an unopened individually sealed tea bag. Is that clear?”
“Sure…” Lena said, not sure what else to say.
Lena turned and walked toward the door, beginning to see for the first time how possible it was that someone had become annoyed enough with the woman to want to kill her. She rolled her eyes. At least I have potential… She thought to herself.