Page 78 of Beyond the Grave
"Why Fitzroy gave this to you. He knew you wouldn't understand the meaning behind it."
"Show me," Cook said, looming over my shoulder.
Seth opened the lid and the silver chatelaine winked in the light from the lamps. My breath caught. I'd forgotten how pretty it was, and how finely worked. Perhaps I'd been too hasty in asking Seth to give it back to Lincoln. Hasty and cowardly. I ought to do it myself.
"He gave it to me because it's a practical gift for a housemaid," I told Seth.
Cook looked at me. "If he wanted practical he would of given you one made of tin, and plain. This ain't no practical gift."
"No indeed." Seth pointed to the figure of the woman looking out to sea from the balcony. "Do you see the dolphin?"
"Yes," I said, peering closer. "What of it?"
"And the vine? Also, she's holding a dove."
"I didn't know it was a dove. So?"
"So, this woman is Aphrodite, a Greek goddess."
"I see. Well, it's a pretty piece, if not a practical one. I suppose Fitzroy thought I might like it. But it's much too expensive for me to accept."
And yet parting with it suddenly seemed unnecessary. I wouldn't want to offend him by returning it. I held my hand out and Seth handed the box to me with a frown.
"What do you know about Aphrodite?" he asked.
"Nothing except what you just told me. That she is depicted in artwork with dolphins and doves. You're very clever to have worked that out. I thought she was just a fine figure."
"You really don't know anything about classical symbolism, do you?"
I snorted. "Stringer and the others weren't very well versed in Greek mythology. Most of them couldn't even read."
"Put it on," Seth said before I could ask him what Aphrodite and her animals meant in Greek myth.
"Not sure that be wise," Cook said. "It be too good for kitchen work."
I hesitated only a moment then removed the chatelaine from its velvet bed. I pinned it to the waist of my skirt and let it hang loose against the dark gray fabric, where it looked even shinier.
Seth took the box from me. "When you get a chance, you ought to learn about the Greek gods and goddesses. They're very interesting."
"Not now," Cook cut in. "That dough won't mix itself."
Seth smirked. "I'll return the box to your room, if you like."
I thanked him and decided to investigate Lincoln's library for books on classical myths later.
Unfortunately, I had no opportunity for reading that night, as the men insisted I play cards with them. Lincoln didn't join us.
Early the following morning, we had two surprise visitors—Marguerite and her brother, Mr. Edgecombe. They refused to get out of the carriage, and it wasn't until I noticed the blanket over Edgecombe's lap that I remembered why. A man like him would find it an indignity to be carried where others could see.
"May Miss Holloway and I join you?" Lincoln asked instead.
Marguerite's gloved hand tightened on the window frame. Her mouth turned down. She did not look at me.
"Very well," Mr. Edgecombe said. Unlike his sister, he didn't know me as a maid, only as Lincoln's assistant. "Come sit by me, Miss Holloway. Unless my crippled state disgusts you."
"No, sir, it does not." I climbed into the spacious cabin. "But your manner sometimes does."
Marguerite gasped. "I beg your pardon! How dare you speak to my brother that way?"
