Page 5 of The Marquis' Game of Seduction
Finally, Judith appeared in the kitchen. “I’m terribly sorry to be late,” she said, walking slowly toward the table and sitting across from Rose. She flashed a napkin across her lap and beamed at Rose, before continuing. “The Marquees had a series of questions and demands this morning, as is his custom, and it took a bit longer than expected. I do hope you can forgive the tardiness.”
“Of—of course,” Rose said. It was a rare thing for anyone to apologise to her. Normally, regardless of who was really to blame, Rose was the one to apologise in any given circumstance.
“I trust you slept well,” Judith said. She ripped into a piece of toast in a manner that seemed to say she didn’t wish to waste any time. Breakfast was to be eaten, and quickly, so that one could continue on with one’s duties.
“I did, thank you,” Rose said, although it wasn’t necessarily true. She’d tossed about, sweating in her sheets, lost in the chaos of her dreams. But Judith didn’t need to know that—nor did she need to have the belief that Rose was some wild dreamer, with the potential for mental collapse.
“Very good. Very good. Well. As you know, Duncan is ten years old, which means his reading and writing is coming along quite swimmingly. His mother passed along a list of books she was planning to have him read over the following year…”
Here, she pressed a piece of paper onto the top of the table and slipped it over. Rose read the list of science textbooks, historical texts, and stories about the West Indies; perhaps so he wouldn’t lose that part of himself.
“I have a few that I could add, as well,” Rose said. “If it doesn’t displease the Marquees.”
“I’m sure it won’t. You have a great deal of experience working with children. He knows that. Beyond this list, it will be essential to walk him through mathematics, spelling, grammar. That sort of thing.”
“Of course,” Rose affirmed.
“But beyond anything else, you are here because the Marquees has very little time, and the young boy needs guidance and a friend. The Marquee hopes that you know the grounds are yours to explore. The house is yours to explore. As long as Duncan is safe and happy and well-cared for, everyone will be pleased.”
“That’s marvelous—“
“Of course, this all comes with one exception. Everything comes with an exception, don’t you find? Anyway, perhaps you saw it yesterday on our brief tour. Near the forest, there’s a tall tower, a very old stone building. It’s on the verge of collapsing. You are absolutely prohibited from approaching the tower. Several years ago, a gardener was caring for roses around the perimeter. One of the old stones came out of the walls and landed on his shoulder, causing him a severe injury.”
“My goodness.” Rose was horrified, imagining this. “Why doesn’t he just tear it down?”
“I suppose because it’s a part of the cultural history of the estate. He honors his estate and his deceased family far more than anything,” Judith said. “It’s one of the reasons he allowed his sister back into his life, despite his dislike of her chosen husband and her decision to move to the West Indies…”
Rose arched her brow. This was indeed fresh information, although she hadn’t anything to do with it but marvel at it.
“Why did he dislike him?” she asked.
“Oh, I’ve probably said too much already,” Judith said. She dropped her lips over the side of her tea cup and sipped.
Rose noticed now that Judith’s entire plate was clean, that she’d finished her breakfast in a matter of moments.
“Regardless, I need your word that you will not approach the tower, either with or without Duncan,” she finished.
“Of course,” Rose said.
“Finish your breakfast,” Judith said, dropping her chin. “It’s a beautiful autumn day outside. The first real day of your new employment. I hope you enjoy it.”
Judith tapped away, back toward the hallway. Rose stared down at her eggs, at the yellow yolk that circled around the plate. She felt suddenly that she couldn’t eat. She stood and walked toward the large window, gazing out toward the forest. Sure enough, there was a tall stone tower, beaming up toward the blue sky. She shivered, thinking again of the falling rocks, the hurt gardener.
Anna shuffled into the kitchen, then. She chirped a friendly, “Hello! Good morning,” before informing Rose that Duncan had finished with his breakfast and was now prepared for his lesson.
Rose wished Anna well, adding that she hoped they would find more time to eat together at dinner some time. She then walked toward the foyer, where she found Duncan gazing up at the portrait of the most recently deceased Marquees. Duncan’s eyes were like enormous eggs, looking as though they might drop out of his head and roll about on the floor.
Duncan gave no sign that he had even noticed Rose was there until she stood directly beside him, matched the tilt of his head, and waited.
“That’s my grandfather,” Duncan told her.
“I know. I’m told he was a marvelous man,” Rose said, although she’d hardly heard much about him.
“I didn’t know him,” Duncan said. “He sent me several toys when we were in the West Indies. There seemed to be something wrong between him and Mother. She never spoke of him, and when she did, she did it with an air of…”
Rose waited, watching as the young boy pondered through his incredible list of vocabulary, hunting for the right word. Finally, he gave up and shrugged his shoulders, saying, “I’m not sure quite what to say. Only that I wish I had known him, wish I could feel what it meant to have a grandfather. It’s not as though I currently have friends—but the ones I did back in the West Indies were quite close with their grandfathers. It seemed that they had a level of wisdom that would never be allowed for me.”
Again, Rose was left without response. The amount of emotion behind this young boy’s words was staggering.
