Page 59 of Euphoria
I nodded, feeling glad for her company.
“Can you promise me something?” she asked, and I nodded once more. “Be careful with Rocky. Remember the things you’ve just told me. You can go anywhere, Jane, but please, be wary of his temper. He’s still a slave to his whims and has a spiteful streak, no matter how calm he seems to be now.”
I didn’t have it in me to reply. As I allowed her to leave, her words hung heavily in the air around me. Burying into my blankets, my body ached from Edward’s lovemaking, and my heart throbbed with the revelations the night had wrought.
Soon, I fell into a fitful sleep, my dreams plagued with demons of my own.
Come morning, I felt quite a bit better.
The sun was bright outside my window, and I sat up with a start, realizing Alice had turned my alarm off. Her intentions came from a good place, but my chaotic mind was soothed by work, not relaxation.
When I managed to drag my heavy limbs downstairs, it was almost lunchtime. Alice didn’t say a word as I slid into my chair, and I was thankful. I didn’t want to hear any more about the wicked potential of my secret lover.
As I knew I would, I worked to forget the night before, focusing my mind on the timetable of events for the upcoming artist retreat. Guests were beginning to confirm, speakers and workshop teachers were submitting their requests for space and materials, and there was plenty to do.
I was so lost in my own desperation for escape, I didn’t hear the front door open in the main gallery.
Finally, I turned at the sound of footsteps and started as I beheld a man standing in the doorway to the office. My heart thrummed at the sudden appearance, and I took stock of him. He was looking for a room, I suppose.
“Hello, Miss,” he said, inclining his head, a shock of dark hair falling into his eyes.
Rising to my feet, I scolded myself internally for allowing my mind to wander.
“Pardon me,” I said hastily. “I didn’t hear you come in.”
“That’s quite all right,” he replied, smiling at my frazzled state.
His speech and presentation were polite and refined, not at all like the swathes of guests who had departed the week before. His accent was peculiar, not quite European but not quite English, and I couldn’t place it to any locale I could think of. He looked to be of a similar age to Edward, around thirty to thirty-five, and his complexion was sallow and drawn as though he shied away from sunlight. In saying all of that, he was handsome enough, but nothing could compare him to the master of Thornfield.
“I’m here to see Edward Rochester,” the man declared. “Is he here?”
“Mr. Rochester is out today on business,” I replied. “I’m not sure when he will return.”
His gaze held nothing. It was if a vacant man stared back at me, and I wasn’t sure if my words had registered with him until he spoke.
“I will wait until he returns if you don’t mind.”
“Not at all,” I replied. “Are you hungry? Dinner is not far off, and I can have the chef prepare you a meal if you like.”
He smiled, some of the tiredness shedding from his person. “That would be brilliant,” he said. “I’ve come a long way, and I’m near starving.”
“This way, sir,” I said, gesturing for him to follow me through to the dining room.
“I’m Richard Mason,” he said. “Everyone calls me Mason. I’m not fond of all that sir and Mr. business. I’m just a man.”
“Well then, Mason,” I said, opening the doors and ushering him to sit where he liked. “I’m Jane, one of the hotel managers. If there is anything I can assist you with while you are here, please let me know.”
He smiled widely and nodded. “I’ll be sure to.”
“Take a seat anywhere you like,” I went on, holding out my hand toward the empty dining room. “There are menus on the tables with a vast selection.”
“Wonderful,” Mason exclaimed, choosing a table in the center of the room. “You’ll be sure to let Edward know I’m here when he returns? I have urgent business with him, though I’m sure he won’t see it that way. We’re old friends, he and I.”
“Of course.” I frowned slightly at his words but didn’t question them. It wasn’t my place.
Leaving Mason be, I let the kitchen know we had a guest to attend to, then ventured back to reception to finish my tasks for the day before I too sought out dinner.
“Who was that?” Alice asked as soon as I entered.
