by Daye, Elissa
“Mule! Stay. Lay down!” The large mastiff followed her command immediately, but whimpered his displeasure. “Don’t worry little miss. This is Mule. He’s very sweet, really he is. He just missed me last night and was anxious to see me. Would you like to pet him?”
Malinda could see that Sophia was torn. She wanted to cling to her side just as much as she yearned to pet the large dog with the lopsided grin. When she saw the sad nod of her head, she knew that Sophia was not quite ready to make friends. She patted her gently on the head and stooped down to her level. “Would you show me to the nursery, Sophia?”
The little girl nodded solemnly to her, then tugged her arm to follow her. She never once let go of her hand and Malinda had the feeling that this child was desperate for love. She followed her slowly through the halls, knowing that it would be quite easy for her to get lost in all the twists and turns. There was no way she was going to find her way back to the master chambers without help, but hopefully she would find someone to assist her along the way.
Before they left for the nursery Malinda sent Mule downstairs to rest by the great hearth. She would let him outside to run later. After the dog trotted off they began their journey. When they reached the nursery Malinda was appalled. There were no toys, very few books, and no place to actively teach a child. There was a chair in the back corner facing the wall, and the small cushion on top of it was so worn it was easy to see that Sophia had spent a lot of time in it. When they entered the room the girl walked over to the corner and sat down to face the wall.
“Sophia, what are you doing, child?” Her heartstrings yanked so violently inside her that if she were holding something breakable she would have smashed it against the floor. The poor girl turned around and looked up at her with eyes that were close to shedding tears. She never answered her, just turned back around to face the corner.
Malinda walked over to the corner and put a gentle hand on Sophia’s head. When the girl flinched away from her touch, Malinda felt tears form in her eyes. No child should ever have to be this alone or frightened. It made her very concerned that Lord Timberlin would ignore such abuse, for what did that say about her husband? “Come here, Sophia. We’re going to find you a much better place to play.” Malinda held out her hand and waited for the girl to grab it. She waited patiently until the girl finally decided to trust her. “Will you help me find where the dining hall is?”
She was answered by blinking eyes that spoke much more than words ever could. Malinda tried her best to hide her angry mutterings about indecent upbringings as she crouched down to Sophia’s level. “Well, we’ll just have to go on a grand adventure together then, my sweet.”
Malinda and Sophia walked down the halls and, when they found stairs, they walked down those as well. Sophia’s blue eyes were opened in awe as she took in the world around her, although it was certainly hard to tell who was the most impressed with their surroundings. Malinda had not had a chance to look around the night before, but now that she did, she was amazed that anyone could live in such luxury. There were fine tapestries hanging on the walls, and each wall had the same fine satin wall papers, but in different elegant light colors that seemed to darken anytime the light hit them. Fingers of light swept across the wooden floors as the sun’s rays filtered through the stained glass windows. The colors danced on the floor like rainbows and Malinda and Sophia both were captivated by the beauty. Malinda could have stayed trapped in this moment in time forever, but while she stood there she heard a small tummy rumbling and knew Sophia must be starving. When they turned the corner, she saw a young lady carrying sheets, and Malinda said a silent thank you to the powers above.
“Excuse me?”
The woman turned swiftly and took a moment to take in who was addressing her. “Lady Timberlin?”
“Yes, and you are?”
“Gretchen, my lady. How may I assist you?” Her red curls were trying to escape the mop hat that scrunched around the top of her head.
“Gretchen, the little miss and I would like to eat. If you could lead us to the dining hall and instruct the cook to prepare some of her finest breakfast fare, it would be greatly appreciated.” Malinda hoped that her voice sounded like that of a lady. She had never really given orders to anyone before, for she had been taught to be self-reliant. She would have to get used to this life.
“Yes, of course. Please follow me. You were almost there, my lady.”
Gretchen was right. After another few turns they made it easily to the large dining hall. She pulled lightly on Sophia’s hand as the child had suddenly frozen in place. When Malinda turned around she saw what had made the child pause. Hanging above the fireplace was a large painting of a lady with a face that was incredibly familiar. She looked back at Sophia and saw her cringing next to her. The child had the same pouting lips, the same chestnut curls, and the most beautiful blue eyes that Malinda had ever seen, up until she saw the eyes looking at her from the fireplace. She could see that the painting brought great fear to the child. “Gretchen?”
“Yes, my lady?” The maid was turning to leave, but had turned back around to face Malinda.
“Please cover that picture. I will speak to Lord Timberlin about its removal when I next see him.”
The maid gasped, and her hand came reflexively to her mouth. “But my lady….”
“No buts, Gretchen. There is great fear in this child because of that painting. I’ll not have my daughter living in fear a moment longer.”
With her admonition two things occurred. A spark of a smile lit up Gretchen’s face in clear admiration, and Sophia’s ears had perked up when the word “daughter” came out of Malinda’s mouth. Malinda nodded her head at Gretchen, then smiled warmly at the child. She had not known that Lord Timberlin had a daughter; it was something Bradford Marcus had not shared with her. Perhaps he had not known, but it made no difference. Malinda had known what it was like to have been born into such melancholy. She had lived her entire life without a mother because of it. She would not let this little mite live one more day without knowing what a mother should be to her, even if Malinda had not the slightest idea of where to start. When Gretchen came back with a large white sheet and covered up the painting, Sophia’s hand squeezed hers ever so slightly. “All right Miss Sophia. Let us sit, so that we can eat.” Malinda saw the beginnings of a timid smile creep up the girl’s face.
When an older woman came into the room laden with trays of breakfast goodies Malinda saw a bright ray of sunshine fill the room. Sophia was smiling so brightly that even the older cook was caught off guard. Malinda heard a humbling sniff as the woman attempted to quell the tears that clouded her eyes. “Thank you very much. It’s Gertie, right?”
“Yes, my lady. Hargrove told me you arrived when I saw him this morning. I hope your breakfast tray was satisfactory. Forgive me, my lady. I usually let one of the maids bring out the food, but I must admit my curiosity got the best of me.” Gertie was short, with a short cap of gray curls that fell just below her ears. Her green eyes looked curiously at her.
“Of course, Gertie. I am pleased to meet you. This morning I had some of the finest food I’ve ever eaten. It was so good I had to bring the little mistress down to eat with me.” Malinda cupped a hand over her mouth and pretended to tell Gertie a secret. “Of course, it was just an excuse to get more food.” She winked mischievously at Sophia and stole a muffin from the plate with a sly smile. They were rewarded with a tiny giggle.
There was an audible intake of breath and Gertie walked closer to Malinda, bowing down for Malinda’s ears alone. “My lady, I do believe that is the first sound we’ve heard from poor Miss Sophia in years.”
Malinda nodded her head at the cook. “Miss Gertie, perhaps later you and I can sit down to discuss the ins and outs of Wickford Manor. I find I need to be more acquainted with the routines and with whatever information the lady of the house needs to know. As you can see, I come from humble beginnings and I will need some help adjusting to life here.” Malin
da gestured to her simple dress as she squirmed underneath Gertie’s gaze.
“Don’t we all, my lady. I will be happy to assist you in any manner necessary.”
“My thanks. Oh, and Gertie? Please make sure that Ms. Cordelia Everheart leaves this manor immediately. She informed me that she is no longer an employee here, so please make sure to send someone to keep an eye on her removal. That woman is simply appalling.”
The cook grinned at her and nodded furiously. “You have my promise, my lady.”
Malinda smiled at the cook and watched as she left the dining hall. Malinda turned to see Sophia was sitting quietly at the table with her hands folded in her lap, just staring at the food on the table before her. Malinda stood up and started piling different foods on Sophia’s plate, and watched her eyes grow big. What in the world did that woman feed this child before now? “Eat as much as you want, Sophia. There is plenty more where that came from. Besides, if you want to go outside and play you’ll need all the energy you can get.”
Chapter 7
Malinda and Sophia made their way outside shortly after Sophia had stuffed her belly. Malinda could tell that it had been a long time since Sophia had been outside. Her eyes had opened so wide that Malinda thought the tiny blue orbs would explode with her curiosity. It was nice to see the world through innocent eyes, and while Sophia’s eyes were troubled, there was still an innocence trapped within them.
The grounds of Wickford Manor seemed to stretch for miles and miles. Green grassy fields rolled like the waves of the ocean, with various wild flowers scattered here and there. Malinda saw a small apple orchard and started to race Sophia to where the trees branched out invitingly. The little girl’s hair whipped out behind her, her carefree laugh breeching the silence. Even though they had eaten recently, neither one of them could resist the sweet smelling apples that hung from the trees. Soon they were both wiping trails of apple juice from their chins, smiling at each other as they devoured the sweet tangy fruits.
As they walked back to the manor Sophia began to run circles around Malinda; the pure joy in the little girl’s spirit was heartbreaking. Whatever morbid energy followed her around had subsided for the moment. Malinda’s own life may have been a struggle at times, but her grandparents had made sure that she had all the love she could ever need. It was clear that this child had been neglected horribly and she wondered when she would get a chance to bring this up to her father. Malinda’s stomach clenched at the thought of meeting such a heartless man. How could he have left his child to be treated so horribly? When had Sophia’s mother passed? How long had she been in the hands of Ms. Everheart? She would have to demand a new nursemaid for her and find a way to barter for money to create a proper nursery, one filled with toys, books, and lots of laughter. This child deserved the moon in the sky for all the misery she had survived in her lifetime.
Sophia tripped over her own feet and came crashing down to the ground. Malinda rushed over to her and saw great fear in her eyes. “Are you all right, Sophia?” The four year old looked at her with eyes watered with fearful tears. She gestured to the dirt on her smock and agonized over the sobs that were making their way up her throat.
“It’s just a little dirt, dear heart. A little dirt never hurt anything.” Malinda brushed some of the dirt away from the little dress and helped Sophia to stand. “There, all right now?” The way that the somber child looked up at her when she realized she would not get in trouble for dirtying her little frock was almost too painful to bear. Malinda certainly had her work cut out for her if she were to help this child get over the pain and fear she had hidden deep inside her. Malinda would do whatever it took.
“Sophia, let’s go inside and wash up. I’m sure we’ll get the rest of the dirt right out.” When they entered the manor, Malinda found a maid to assist Sophia to her room and to help her get cleaned up, and reassured Sophia that she would still be there when she woke up from her nap. Malinda watched the little girl as her bottom lip trembled ever so slightly. Malinda bent down to open her arms and was delighted that Sophia ran into them so easily for a warm hug. She did not miss the look of amazement that came over the maid’s face when Sophia hugged her. It was clear that no one had seen the little miss trust anyone as easily as she did Malinda. To Malinda it seemed only natural that the little girl would feel comfortable around her. She was every much as afraid and alone as most motherless animals had been, the same animals she had loved dearly and cared for from the moment she saw them. This little girl had already carved a spot in her heart that was irreplaceable.
Before the maid left with Sophia, Malinda called out to her. “Excuse me?”
“Yes, my lady?” The tiny blonde haired maid turned right away to her.
“What is your name?”
“Desiree, my lady.”
Desiree curtsied low to her and Malinda tried to shirk off the discomfort with her newly found title, but knew that she would have to learn to accept it. “Desiree, what are your duties here?”
“I help change the beds, fold the linens, do general cleaning as needed.” Her eyes became worried, as if she feared she had done something wrong.
“Desiree, would you do me the honor of assisting with Sophia’s needs until we can find a proper nursemaid for her? I’m afraid it may take a while, for we’ll not have anyone like Ms. Everheart here again. I’ll expect to meet with you later, to discuss her daily schedule and find out just what it was that Ms. Everheart did for Miss Sophia.”
“Yes, my lady.” The bright smile that lit up Desiree’s face would have been answer enough. It was clear that the people at Wickford Manor cared deeply for the child, whether they had been encouraged to or not. It made Malinda feel a little more at peace, that perhaps she would one day relate easily to the people there. It would still take Malinda time to get used to her role at Wickford Manor, especially since she had still not met her husband. She almost dreaded their first encounter for she did not know how she would be able to talk to him respectfully, considering the lack of care or respect his daughter had been given.
After a long day Malinda had accomplished many things. She had learned that the cook, Gertie, had a weekly menu and that Malinda was expected to approve the meals. The three maids were expected to clean the whole manor, from top to bottom, on a regular basis. Their work was checked over by Sara Hargrove and, now that she had asked Desiree to assist with Sophia, this would make more work for the other two. Sara Hargrove was the main housekeeper who helped to make sure the manor was run correctly and had assured her that they would make do without Desiree until a new nursemaid could be found. Malinda made sure that Sara knew that just because there was a lady of the manor, that it did not mean she would lose her position in the household. Malinda would desperately need the help with keeping the large manor running, especially considering she had very few rooms and people to manage when she had lived at Tinley Faire. She only hoped that her greenness did not show through as she communicated with them. She had also learned that the horrid nursemaid had actually stored quite a few of Sophia’s things in the attic as a punishment for her supposed behavior. Malinda hoped to get a chance to go through the attic as soon as possible.
Sophia had joined her in the dining hall for dinner, and when they were through Malinda made a point to walk her back to her room. She helped the little girl into her bed, told her a few stories that she had always treasured as a child, and tucked her into bed. Malinda gave her a quick hug and kiss before leaving her for the night. The trust in the tiny eyes made her heart sing. Malinda hoped and prayed that she was up to the task of being a mother, for it would break her heart if she ever let Sophia down.
When she made it back to the master chambers she sat down at the dressing table and ran a brush through her long black hair, trying not to over think the day. In one day she had met with most of the staff and broken through heavy barriers with her new daughter. Now that the day was through, all that was left was the dread that filled her, and her fears over her firs
t meeting with her new husband, which she assumed could happen any day. She put the brush down on the table and looked around for her nightgown. Since most of her things had been transferred to the room adjoining the master bedroom, she searched in the closets there for her clothes. When she could not find the gown, she chose one of her linen shifts that she wore under her day gowns. It was not quite as heavy as the gown she usually wore to bed, as the years had eroded some of the cotton, but it would do. She did not understand why her dresses were missing, or why there were other dresses hanging in their place.
When she stepped into the other room, she looked in the mirror once again. The glow of the fire’s light made the shift quite see through, but there was nothing she could do about that. Until she was able to replace some of her clothing, she would have to make do with what was available to her. She would talk with the ladies about the clothing inside the closet the next day.
Malinda went to the large four-poster bed and peeled back the blue curtains. She let the large comforter envelope her, much as the night before, and soon her eyes were drifting shut. In moments, she was transported to another time and place as her dreams carried her away. He was there again, the man who made her tremble with anticipation before he touched her with his strong hands. She wrapped her arms around him and felt the splay of muscles moving across his back. His mouth came ever closer, to kiss a trail of fire down her neck. She felt his hands caressing her body as a tempest of desire swirled between them. She longed to feel him within her, to ride the flames he stoked so easily, but even her whimpering could not save her from the tantalizing rapture that echoed in the spaces between them.
In seconds, the image blurred, and a large dark wolf glared his golden eyes at his opponents in the heat of battle. She saw angry animals battering each other, like rams testing their mettle against the strong horns of their oppressors. Swiping claws, gnashing teeth, and blood lusted eyes twirled around her in a cyclone of rage. She shivered in her sleep, for these animals were not the kind of animals she had known before. These were predators and they were out for blood, blood that was the result of great carnage. She saw herself move toward the animals, unafraid of the snarling teeth. She knelt down before them, waited for them to approach, and was not disappointed. She heard a voice whisper in her mind: To save the man, you must tame the beast. When the voice no longer echoed around her, her dreams slowly dissipated. She was left with her fond memories of Tinley Faire to soothe her heart and soul as her body drifted into a much more peaceful slumber.