Page 32 of Once Upon a Midnight Dreary
There were walls built around him.Thick, stone walls.She understood.She had them, too.The only sound was the soft crackle of the fire.The relief pounding through her that she was here and not still on the floor of the greenhouse was palpable.
“I’m glad you found me,” she murmured.
He slipped his hand away and stood.“You’re welcome.I’ll bring tea and something to eat.You must be starving.”
When he left, she pulled her legs up, wrapping her arms around them.Resting her chin on her knees, she stared into the flickering firelight.
He’d found her.He’d said her name.She knew who he was.
And now, everything had changed.
Chapter 13
Themorningbroughtbrightsunshine, as though the previous day’s storm had washed away all the torment and shadows.When Victoria rose and dressed that morning, she inspected her head.She had shallow scrapes and nothing more.She was lucky to have gotten out of the greenhouse without serious injury, especially after the tree branch fell.
Her thoughts turned to the night before when she was curled on the settee with the blanket around her while she ate and had tea.Gabriel remained at a distance, his aloof demeanor resuming.When the storm was all but gone, she returned to her room and went to bed.
Yet she couldn’t shake the knowledge that he was the figure who had lurked at the edges of her childhood.
Her mother saying with a tremble in her voice,I don’t like this house, Abner.
Her father’s reply,I thought you loved the gardens, dearest.
Her retort,I do but, Abner…something sinister lurks in the shadows.
And neither of them realizing Gabriel was there all long.The man in the shadows.
He had not aged a day in her twenty-year absence.How was that possible?
She headed to the dining room for breakfast.Gabriel was already there arranging a place setting for her.She wanted to tell him she knew who he was, but the words froze in her throat.
“Good morning, Miss Ravenwood.How do you feel?”
He was back to calling her Miss Ravenwood, which sent a stabbing pain to her heart.As though the progress they’d made the night before was wiped away.
“I’m better, thank you.”
He disappeared to the kitchen while she had her tea and scones and remained there, much to her disappointment.
After breakfast, he announced he was going to see about cleaning up the storm damage in the greenhouse.She headed to the study where her father often worked.She closed the door, sealing her inside the silence of the room.She’d spent time here writing her letters to her aunt and the Tribune, but she hadn’treallylooked at the room.
She moved to the window and drew back the thick curtains allowing the morning light to splash inside.Dust motes danced in the sunlight and spilled across the top of the desk.She sat at the desk where she’d left a stack of parchment, an inkwell, and pen where she’d written her letters.
There were drawers on either side.She pulled open the top one where she’d found blank parchment the day before.There was nothing of note so she moved on to the second one.This drawer held old papers—correspondence to her father, letters to her mother, invitations to balls.These were on the desk at one point.She assumed Gabriel stacked them and put them away.Curious, she slid out a letter from the stack.It was addressed to the Honorable Abner Ravenwood.
Dear Sir,
It has come to our attention that your recent inquiries into the restoration of the Parliamentary Committee on Occult Affairs have stirred old fears among those who prefer such things remain forgotten.We urge caution in your continued investigations, especially regarding the Lenore Blackmore incident.
Some doors, once opened, cannot be closed.
Should you require protection for you and your family, you know where to reach us.However, we formally advise you to cease your efforts immediately.
In service to the realm,
Simon de Bauch, Chancellor
Office of Unnatural Matters, Crown Hollow
