Page 86 of Lady of Darkness
Rose huffs and walks away, shaking her head as she continues dusting the furniture.
She no longer lives here, only coming in three days a week to clean and help me with the redecorating. Teddy only comes once a week to help prep some food for the week. They both live permanently with their families now. I even tripled their salaries so that they can buy nice places of their own if they so wish.
It feels nice to throw the old traditions away and start my own. After all, this is my domain now. My house, my rules. My eyes flick to the window that used to overlook the rose garden, but I recently replaced it with a state-of-the-art jungle gym for Archie. Considering my mother always hated roses, it feels like a good way to honor her.
This house works for me now, but who knows about the future? Plus, some of the things I’m putting aside are irreplaceable. Old tapestries from the 1400s, gorgeous Victorian furniture, some of the art… it doesn’t really fit my style, but I feel obligated to keep it. The sense of responsibility of honoring my ancestors as the last Blackwell descendant–aside from Archie–is heavy. It weighs on me a lot. But I’m here. I’m a Lady of Darkness, and I’m carving a space for myself in this life.
I’m making it work for me, and that’s all I can really do.
I round the dining room, having opted to keep everything the same in here. One day, I might do a complete overhaul, but for now, I like the idea of keeping some things familiar for Archie.
After making myself some coffee, I head into my office and check my email. We don’t receive emails very often, and things are encrypted or in code–something Theo is teaching me how to decipher. He’s also teaching me most of what he knows about computers, security, and servers. I’m finding that I have a natural proficiency for hacking, as well as espionage–two things I’ve utilized more often than I expected to.
It’s been a busy autumn, that’s for sure.
George Crawford has backed off some, and he respects Cecelia’s need for independence. We are still monitoring the Crawford family for any wrongdoings, but so far, they’ve stayed in their lane. It’s a lot of monitoring. Most of the other, smaller crime orders and syndicates–even the various mafias and mobs around the world–orbit around us. I know more about the cartel and the Irish mafia–the latter being so close to England by proximity–than I ever anticipated. The guys were right. I’ve seen people blanch when they find out I’m a Lady of Darkness. Our reputation precedes us, and our reputation has a stronghold over the entire world.
It has been wild to witness firsthand.
Theo sends me an email–another required reading list. It’s full of nonfiction and classic books. A lot of them are pertinent to the job, but I don’t appreciate the gusto with which he tries to interfere in my reading material. I roll my eyes as I filter it into the inbox folder marked ‘In Case I’m Lobotomized’.
He doesn’t think it’s very funny.
My phone chimes and I smirk as I pick it up.
Theo: You can keep adding my emails to your cheeky little folder, but that doesn’t mean I’ll ever stop trying to continue your literary education.
Me: My *literary education* is just fine, thank you.
Theo: I don’t understand how someone gets through life without reading Ulysses. It’s such a phenomenal piece of writing.
Me: You’re right. I feel bereft without it.
Theo: Mmm. Now you’re just being a brat on purpose.
Me: Maybe I am.
Giggling, I set my phone down and pull my cardigan tightly around myself. The weather has fully transitioned, and Sterling made it his mission to take me shopping in London a few weeks ago. I now have a closet full of designer clothes that make me feel like a badass for the colder weather. As I sip my coffee, I stare out at the forest beyond the window of my father’s office. It’s serene here, peaceful. I smile as I finish my coffee quickly, walking back into the kitchen as Rose flits around, taking something out of the oven.
“Smells good,” I say, inhaling deeply.
“Thanks,” she replies cheerfully as she wipes her hands on her jeans. I banished the uniforms for everyone once I took over completely, and it makes me happy to see Rose in her own clothes. She’s sort of stepped into the role of my surrogate mother. She spends her two free days a week watching Archie. It’s like we have a little commune going on here. Between me and the guys, Rose, Teddy, and Cecelia… it all sort of does feel like one big, extended family. Especially since I host dinner for everyone every Sunday. “I’m making brownies for the boys.”
My lips twitch. “Oh?”
She nods. “I figured you could bring them over to Lord Cross’s house later.”
I narrow my eyes. “How’d you know about that?”
Alaric was keeping a secret from me–that much I could ascertain. He’d texted me earlier saying he was going to pick me up around four. I’d checked our joint work calendar, but there was nothing, and he was acting really cagey when I asked him what we were doing. Normally, they add everything to the calendar, so I’m always aware of what the day holds. But not today.
“He asked me to make sure you were ready to be picked up just before four. I figured he could enjoy some home-baked brownies for whatever he has planned.”
I flatten my lips.The irony…
“Okay. I can bring them when he picks me up. Thanks, Rose.”
She pops some foil over the pan and pats it. “Give it thirty minutes to cool.” Her eyes wander up and down my romper and cardigan. “Is that what you’re wearing? What if he pops the question?”
