by Daye, Elissa
Nivea could not save her. She had taxed her energy by using everything she knew, every spell, every potion, anything that would bring her back to her family, but to no avail. When they had learned that she was carrying their grandchild the only thing they could do was make sure that Andraya’s health did not deteriorate long enough for the child to be born. Andraya had been like a mute child, following their directions on cue, but never interacting from the quiet throne she sat upon inside her mind.
After Malinda was born her grandmother had great hopes that Andraya would snap out of her melancholy, but nothing worked. Nivea could not spend any more time on Andraya, for the infant born to her daughter was frail and needed every ounce of love and light she could gather around her. When Nivea transferred her efforts from her daughter to the infant the rest of the light snuffed from Andraya’s eyes and her soul was finally set free.
From the moment her mother died it was decided that Malinda would know her heritage so she would be very careful with her heart. In that way, if she did lose her heart to another, she would know the consequences. They raised her strong and proud, something Malinda was grateful for. She knew that to fall in love with a man could be a blessing or a curse, and that if she held onto who she was in any relationship she would never end up like her departed mother. Would she grow to care for her husband, this man who had sent for a bride he had never met for whatever purpose? Or would she have to keep her emotions locked up inside her for the rest of her life? Her teachings did not make her any less wary of the situation, but she was confident she could put herself above it all.
They had traveled in silence for the better part of two days and had finally stopped at an inn along the way. This morning Malinda had been able to take a warm bath before she left and it had wrapped a cocoon of warmth all the way around her. She had not had the dream last night, which Malinda had found quite odd since it had seemed to haunt her for the past year. She did not wish to torment herself by over thinking it, but a part of her had become attached to the dream, a fantasy of how it could be between a man and a woman. She wished that she knew more about her husband. She looked to the man gathering their things and wondered what Bradford Marcus could tell her.
When they were arranged inside the cart once again, Malinda found the courage to speak to the strange man next to her. “Where, exactly, are we going?”
“I wondered when you were going to ask that.” A mischievous smile lit up his face.
“I’m sorry. It’s been a rough few days. I’m not usually so rude. In fact, I should have asked you many things.”
“It’s understandable, my dear. You’ve suffered a great loss this past year. We are headed to Wickford Manor, the home of your new husband, Lord Grant Timberlin.”
“May I ask…I mean, I don’t want to sound ungrateful, but why didn’t Lord Timberlin come himself?” She supposed it was commonplace for grooms to use a proxy, but it just seemed so impersonal to her.
“He is attending to important matters. He has important ties in Madigan’s Army, which takes him away for a good period of time.”
“Why the hurry then?”
“You haven’t figured it out yet, have you? I expected more from you, Malinda.” Again his eyes sparkled with mystery.
“Excuse me?” She looked at Bradford Marcus, and this time, she really looked at him, using every ounce of her perception. She focused on his aura and saw a broad spectrum of colors swirling peacefully around him. Sparkling white orbs twinkled in small little flashes of light around him. He had the same glow she did. This man was somehow connected to Lena and, considering that very few men were, that made him quite extraordinary. “You are of Lena. How is that possible?”
“Anything is possible, my dear. You simply have to believe.”
“I believe in a great many things, Sir Marcus.”
“And what do you believe now?”
Malinda’s lips turned up at one corner as her thoughts swam around inside her head. When she heard the wind whisper through the trees she was not surprised at the message. He needs you. “I believe that life is just about to get interesting.”
“Of that you can be sure.” He slapped the reins softly on the horses in front of them and a small chuckle left his mouth.
“What’s so funny?”
“Nothing, really. It’s just been a while since someone has actually linked me back to Lena. It’s almost refreshing. Too bad our journey will be ending soon.”
Malinda smiled back at the old man and let out a long sigh. For the first time in days she felt relaxed, almost at peace with the world around her. She knew that wherever they were headed to, this Wickford Manor, that she would rise to the challenge before her. Her grandmother had trained her to be a fighter, to hold her head high no matter what she was up against.
Chapter 5
Malinda could see just an echo of Wickford Manor along the horizon, a dark shape that lost itself in the shadowed evening. The wind blew gently across her face, a light caress that attempted to still the hammering of her heart. The air could be seen moving through the rows of trees, and a stream of leaves waved a greeting to her. Would this really be home? She waited for the wind to speak to her, heard the echoes on the wind, and was not at all disappointed when the branches shed leaves like downy feathers that floated teasingly across the road in front of her. Malinda watched the pattern they made, but she was too far away from the ground to feel its message.
After gesturing for Sir Marcus to stop the cart, Malinda climbed down as soon as the horses stopped. She tiptoed closer to the swirling leaves and stood amidst them as silently as she could, taking in the gentle swirl of life that fluttered around her. The breeze touched her face sweetly at first, but the wind picked up and tossed her hair violently around her. The harsh sting of the strands lashed her face. Malinda put up her hand to still the riotous locks and closed her eyes. Now the message was clear. Wickford might look peaceful, it may appear like a normal manor with all the eccentricities it held, but the Adrianic magic inside her warned her that all was not as it seemed. A song could be heard on the wind with a gentle verse of prose that tainted the darkness around her. He needs you. Courage.
Malinda turned to Sir Marcus and raised her nose in the air. “I’m not afraid.” She grasped that the road in front of her was not the one she would have chosen to travel, for there was danger at the end of her journey. It may not find her immediately, but it still loomed over her. This she knew to the very core of her being, yet this danger was wrapped with an intrigue that piqued her curiosity. Malinda might be many things in this lifetime, but she had never been afraid of a challenge.
“It is good that you show no fear. Lord Timberlin is a hard man, Malinda. Life has whittled the ice around him, creating sharp jagged edges. If you play your cards right, you will melt away the walls and bring him back home to his people.”
“You paint quite a picture.” Malinda’s eyebrows mocked the man sitting in the cart. She wondered if he could taste the warning filling the air. So, in short, save the man, bring him back to his people. What about her, though? What was she supposed to get from this arrangement, a new life? A new life meant nothing, especially when you were content with the one you left behind.
Malinda climbed back up into the cart, knowing that it would not be seemly for her to walk down the lane to her new home. As she sat there, she reflected on her sheltered past where she had lived so simply in the small house that she had called home with her grandparents. She would always be fond of her humble beginnings, for they had made her who she was today, but the farther they went down the dirt drive, the easier it was to see that not one single part of Wickford Manor would ever be as small as her home at Tinley Faire. The closets were probably just as large. Tinley Faire’s small keep would likely have fit inside Wickford Manor at least twice. Even when the darkness around her made it hard for her to see the beauty of the large building, the gentle sway of the wind across her face alluded to the charm hidden within its bricks. She
held her head high, for she would meet her fate with courage despite the fear that crept into her heart.
The windows were dark. Clearly, the people at Wickford Manor were not used to receiving guests at this time of night, for it took several minutes for someone to answer the door. Finally, the door swung open and an older gentleman’s face appeared around it. “Good eve. May I help you?”
“Good sir, I’m Bradford Marcus. Your master sent me on a journey to bring back his bride.” Bradford gestured toward Malinda, who stood quietly next to him. “Please allow me to introduce Lady Malinda Timberlin.”
Malinda watched as the older gentleman’s eyebrows rose in surprise. A smile crept slowly across his face, as if he did not believe his good fortune. “My heavens, do come in! Sarah’s going to birth a cow when she finds out I was the first to meet the missus. Lord Timberlin is away at the moment, but I am sure he will return any day now.”
He bowed low as he opened the door and Malinda stifled a chuckle, for she could see the older man had dressed so hastily that he had not donned an actual shirt. His evening gown was shoved haphazardly into his pants. His grey hair had been tousled by his sleep, for he had not had a chance to comb it before he rushed to answer the door. “The pleasure is mine, Mr…?”
“Hargrove, my lady. Ethan Hargrove, at your service. Will you be needing anything this evening? I can have Gertie make you something to eat if you are hungry. She’s a night creature, that one.”
“Oh dear, Hargrove, that is not necessary. Please just show me to my room and have my belongings brought up. Sir Marcus here will need a place to rest as well.”
“That’s quite all right, my dear. Now that you’ve been safely delivered to Wickford Manor I’ll be on my way.” His smile lit up his face and the twinkle in his aura grew brighter, but Malinda was the only one who could see it.
Malinda reached out a hand to him and smiled politely back at him. She hugged him close and whispered for only him to hear. “I thank you for giving me a new path to travel, Sir Marcus. Rest assured, your assistance will never be forgotten.” She kissed him on the cheek and was amused to find a slight blush climbing up his face as he looked away.
Hargrove was looking away politely, but cleared his throat to get her attention. “If you could follow me, my lady. I will take you right up to your room. The master did tell us that you would be joining us eventually, but we had no idea you would be here so soon.”
“I do so hope I have not put you out, dear Hargrove. I will make sure to let Lord Timberlin know how hospitable you were. I can already tell he has a loyal servant in you.” Malinda followed behind him quietly, turning once to see Sir Marcus leave quietly.
She was so tired when she followed Hargrove up the stairs she did not take in much of the scenery around her. When he led her to a room at the end of the hallway she waited quietly outside. She almost jumped when he called her inside. “My lady?”
Lady. That was going to take time to get used to. She had never been seen as anything but a poor farm girl who lived with her grandparents. Perhaps some had seen her as the quiet seamstress who mended clothing, or even the girl who was always strangely surrounded by animals wherever she went, but never anything with a fancy title. She took a deep breath and walked through the room. Her breath caught in her chest as she looked around.
Even with just a fire burning in the fireplace and the light glow from the candle that Hargrove carried, it was plain to see the decadence of the room around her. Wall to wall cream colored satin wallpaper contrasted with deep turquoise curtains that hung at odd intervals in the room. The same curtains hung in the large windows across from where she stood. The ceiling had the most intricately carved woodworking that separated the ceiling from the walls, the dark woodwork making the elegant walls stand out even further. At the back of the room, a huge four-poster bed dominated the space. She had never imagined a bed could be so gigantic. Turquoise curtains blocked most of the bed from her view, but the translucent fabric hinted at the mound of pillows and downy comforter tucked secretly inside. Yes, this was quite a bed. Malinda turned around to face Hargrove. “Are you sure that I’m supposed to be here?”
“Of course, Lady Timberlin. Lord Timberlin would have it no other way. Will you be needing a woman’s maid to assist you?”
“Oh no, not at all, Hargrove. I can manage from here. If you want to have the things brought up in the morning, that would be great.”
“Yes, my lady.” He bowed at her and turned toward the door. “And my lady?”
“Yes, Hargrove?”
“Welcome to Wickford Manor.”
“Thank you, Hargrove.” Malinda watched the door sway closed behind him and did a quick twirl inside the room. She could not believe her fortune. She continued her perusal of the room. A dark blue sofa, matching armchair, and short table were arranged at one end of the room to provide a sitting area. The fireplace was in the middle of the room, and a large white bearskin rug sat in front of it, with two armchairs on either side. Small wooden tables were sitting next to them. Malinda stifled a yawn and decided she could look around more in the morning. She could see that a wall opened to the right, probably opening up into another small room, and while she was curious about this room, the exhaustion of her journey had finally caught up to her. She pulled her lavender dress up over her head and let it fall gently to the floor. She kept her chemise on; while it was so worn and thin it did little to keep the air from touching her skin, it at least covered her enough that her body was hidden from view. She walked over to the bed and opened up the curtain. She wondered what side of the bed she should choose, but as Lord Timberlin was not here, she decided that it really did not matter tonight. She pulled back the thick comforter and slid underneath it. The crisp cool sheets whispered against her body as she shivered slightly against the chilled fabric. It took only a few moments for her body to warm up, but once she did a cocoon of warmth rocked her silently to sleep.
Chapter 6
The aroma of sweet rolls made for a delicious awakening for Malinda. She opened her eyes and found a steaming cup of tea, along with the biggest breakfast fair she had ever seen. Sweet rolls, fresh fruit, eggs, biscuits, and a few slices of ham were laid out, welcoming her stomach to the first feast of the day. Malinda threw back the covers and shuffled quietly across the floor. She sat down and started to fill her stomach. It was not surprising to find that it was quite delectable. She took her time and savored each bite, basking in the different flavor combinations.
When she finished eating, she noticed that her belongings had been brought up while she had slept in. Malinda quickly walked over to the bags and extracted her brown day dress to wear. Before dressing, she washed as best she could from the basin of water sitting on the dressing stand, then put on her dress and her soft kid slippers. She was about to check out the room adjoining the master chamber when a knock sounded on the door.
“Enter.” A severe looking woman entered the room. Her hair was gathered back in a strict bun, so tight that it stretched the skin back on her head, making her eyes look a little stretched. There was no kindness in this woman, not one single bit. When Malinda read her aura, she could see the dark holes eating away at the dull yellow hues surrounding her, making it quite clear to her that this would be an unpleasant encounter.
“Good morning, Lady Timberlin. I hope you don’t mind the intrusion.”
“How may I help you, Miss…?”
“Cordelia Everheart, my lady. I would say I am at your service, but I regret to inform you that today shall be my last day at Wickford Manor.” The smug look on her face brought out the haughty lines of her face.
“And what, pray tell, are your duties here at Wickford Manor?” If Malinda would have to go about replacing Ms. Everheart, she would need to know what purpose she served within the manor.
“Sophia! Enter.”
Malinda did not like the loathing that entered the young woman’s voice, and when a small girl walked quietly into the room, she liked t
he tone even less. The dark haired girl entered so quietly that Malinda had to look twice to make sure her eyes had not deceived her. “And who is this beautiful girl?”
Cordelia snorted. “I’m sorry, my lady. This is Sophia, Lord Timberlin’s daughter. She’s a wretched little thing, don’t let her appearance fool you. Don’t turn your back on this one.”
Malinda sized up the matter right away. It was clear that Ms. Cordelia Everheart was a browbeating chit who had handled this poor mite of a girl with an overly stern hand, for she could see the way the girl flinched whenever the maid walked closer to her. “That will be all, Ms. Everheart. You may gather your things and leave at your convenience.”
“My lady.” She curtsied low to Malinda and then yanked on Sophia’s arm. “Back to the nursery with you.”
“Leave her. I will make sure she sees her way to the nursery after we have become further acquainted. I suggest you leave before Lord Timberlin hears how harshly you have treated his daughter in his absence.” Fire lit her eyes as she peered over at the woman standing before her. She saw uncertainty enter the woman’s eyes and a slight trembling of her bottom lip; however, there was very little time to address the matter, for when she opened the door a large beast lunged through it, almost toppling Ms. Everheart in the process. Sophia raced over to Malinda’s side and clung gently to her arm.
“Well, I never!” Ms. Everheart trounced from the room, her skirts swishing loudly with each step.