PHYSIENTS WILL ALWAYS OFFER BEST STORIES AND LIVE STREAMING ALL TIME
ALLURE OF THE NIGHT
Chapter 31
When Vincent heard no more shuffling of clothes, he turned only to hear Eve shriek, “Don’t turn yet!”
“For Heaven’s sake, woman, stop shouting. And you are already wearing your clothes,” said Vincent before turning around. “Not like I am interested in it.”
Eve stuffed her previously used clothes into her little bag along with the wet towel and the little container. She sent him a small glare while her cheeks were set aflame in embarrassment,𝑓re𝘦𝔀𝗲𝘣𝘯𝘰νℯ𝒍.c𝗼ｍ
“You should go first,” said Eve, her voice shaky as she was shivering due to the wind that blew across where they stood. But then she asked, “How much of Lady Annalise’s words holds to be of value and true?”
“Lesser than a grain of salt. My butler mentioned catching you and my step mother in the inner parts of the mansion. Little red riding hood lost her way in the mansion?” Vincent’s hazel eyes stared at her in curiosity as if he was already on her. “Did she invite you for tea?” He asked her sarcastically.
“She threatened that she would hurt my aunt and my servant man if I didn’t quit my job as governess to Miss Allie,” replied Eve with a deep frown.
Vincent found Eve’s words amusing, and he laughed, “You don’t have to worry about her. She’s harmless, and won’t do anything until I am involved.”
But Eve wasn’t convinced by his words.
“So is this a daily thing,” questioned Vincent with a straight face, his eyes taking in her appearance. Eve tried not to get angry.
Sensibly, it was true that neither of them knew this was going to happen. Remembering he was a vampire, she turned even more cautious than before. “Please, if you can go, Master Vincent,” she requested.
Vincent didn’t bother to spare another word. At the same moment, they both heard faint voices starting to get louder and louder.
Her employer turned to look at her, clicking his tongue as if pitying her, “You screamed so loud that it not only nearly turned me deaf but it also brought the people from your town to look for a witch. Have a goodnight, Miss Barlow,” he chimed.
This was not good for her because it would raise suspicion in the people’s minds if they saw her with—wet hair at this hour of night where she had screamed. Sometimes a spark of doubt was enough to bring doom to a person.
“Wait!” Eve rushed to his side, stopping him. “Don’t leave me here.”
“Such a little girl thing to say. Don’t worry, the townsmen will be here in a minute and you can have their company. I better leave before you slander me with the title of pervert,” stated Vincent, and he started to walk in the other direction.
Eve looked back and forth.
“They are going to think I am crying wolf or am the witch,” Eve muttered under her breath. She quickly ran from there, walking in the same direction as Vincent because the other side of the forest was brightening up because of the torches of fire that the men were waving in their hands.
Eve tried to make sure to see that the few townsmen couldn’t see her, and she walked farther away from their line of sight. The people scouting sent her back to the past where she was running, her feet bare, while men shouted as they looked for her.
“You shouldn’t have come out here if you are scared of being caught or don’t like the darkness,” commented Vincent, looking at her over his shoulder.
“I am not scared of anything,” came the brave words from Eve, and Vincent’s lips twisted.
“Is that why your heart is beating that loud?” His words were smooth like honey, yet there was something very wicked about it.
Eve took a deep breath, trying to get her breathing back to normal, including her heartbeat.
They walked in silence while Eve’s eyes roamed. She was used to walking back and forth on a specific path, and this wasn’t the one. She noticed Vincent’s proud and wide shoulders. His clothes looked more relaxed than what she was used to, as his shirt was loose.
In curiosity, Eve asked him, “Don’t you have thicker and deeper forests near Skellington? What are you doing here?”
“I thought the governess would have a bathing room. What were you doing here, taking a dip in the river?” Vincent questioned her back, and Eve bit her lip.
When they reached the edge of the forest, Vincent didn’t bother to wish her goodnight, and he disappeared without a word. Eve quietly tiptoed through the streets and reached her home.
“How was your swim, Miss Eve?” Asked Eugene, who was cleaning the already clean utensils in the kitchen.
“It was okay,” replied Eve, and she quickly rushed up the stairs.
Lady Aubrey, who was sitting on the couch, turned to look in the direction of the stairs, and so did Eugene, where they heard the light thud of Eve’s door being shut.
“Looks like Miss Eve wasn’t able to clear her mind,” commented Eugene, his eyebrows slightly raised in wonderment.
“Seems so,” Lady Aubrey murmured and pursed her lips when she heard Eve sneeze in her room. Eugene’s eyes turned wide in instant worry.
When morning arrived, the people of Meadow were busy in their daily gossip and chatter. Eugene, who had gone to pick up the newsletter, heard one of the women say,
“The witch has returned, and this time she has started to kill the cows!”
“Is she using it for sacrifice?” asked another woman, who paid keen attention to the one who had spoken. “I thought she was gone for good. How did she return?”
“Because she’s a witch and they say unless you don’t pull their heart out and burn them, they continue to live,” replied the woman, shaking her head and clicking her tongue.
“We should protect our children and family. Why aren’t the authorities not taking any action?” questioned the second woman in worry and fear.
What witch? Eugene had a confused expression. It had been a while since he had spread the rumour about a witch, and he walked away from there,
•••••••••••••••••••••••••
ALLURE OF THE NIGHT
Chapter 32
“Achoo—Choo!”
Eve sniffled, using her handkerchief on her nose. She stood in front of the kitchen stove, watching the water boiling in the vessel.
“You didn’t get the water out of your hair after getting out of the river,” Lady Aubrey entered the kitchen, lightly scolding Eve. “Do you have a headache?” She asked in concern.
“It is bearable,” replied Eve, and she widened her eyes before it turned small. “I will feel better after drinking the tea.”
“Here, let me do it,” Lady Aubrey offered, taking Eve’s place in front of the stove while Eve packed her lunch box. “I wonder what’s taking Eugene this long today, he should have been back by now.”
Lady Aubrey poured the hot water into three cups. She then added the little flowers along with squeezed lemon into it. Though most of the houses, which included the middle-class family, frowned upon the very idea of offering the same food or drinks to their servants, such a thing didn’t exist under the roof of Dawson’s residence.
Not to mention, where Eve was clumsy, Eugene was someone who fell sick quite easily, and Lady Aubrey made sure to take care of the small family.
When Eve blew her nose, Lady Aubrey said, “Wait until Eugene returns. He can drop you to Skellington today. I would have told you to stay back, but we don’t know how the Moriarty’s might respond with your absence when it is still your first month.”
Eve waved her hand, “I will be just fine, Aunt Aubrey. It’s probably the weather mixed up with the wet hair. You will see by the time of evening, I will be feeling much better.”
She picked up one of the teacups and sipped the warm tea, which felt nothing less to Heaven. She said,
“I worry that if I don’t turn up for work today, I will be replaced in a blink of an eye.”
Lady Aubrey didn’t force Eve to stay back, and she only nodded. “Let me go and get you two more handkerchiefs if you need it for later,” saying this, the old woman stepped out of the kitchen.
Two minutes later, Eugene returned with his hands carrying the newsletter, milk and other vegetables that they didn’t grow in their backyard.
“Lady Aubrey! Oh, Miss Eve! I have news from the town market!” Stated Eugene, walking towards the dining table and placing all the things he had been carrying.
“What news?” Asked Eve. “From the newspaper?”
Eugene shook his head and informed, “I heard there is a witch in the town. Last night, the witch killed the cattle from one of the houses.”
“Are you sure that is true? People like to make up a lot of things from their imagination, Eugene,” replied Eve.
Lady Aubrey came out of her room, holding two handkerchiefs in her hand and said, “Eve is right. The witches have gone extinct thanks to the existence of the vampires and the werewolves.”
Eugene said, “It is the talk of the town. The cattle was found dead this morning. All ten of them on the ground. I went to take a quick look at the farm like the others. The poor family,” he shook his head.
“If the witch is truly here, the authority will be the first one to come to catch the person. But no harm in being careful,” stated Lady Aubrey while her lips set themselves in a thin line.
After nearly forty minutes, the carriage reached Skellington town and stopped at the side of Moriarty’s mansion. Though polished, the carriage was old, a vehicle that had been made and bought when late Mr. Rikard Dawson was still alive. Eugene hopped from the driver’s seat and quickly opened the carriage door for Eve to get down.
“Thank you, Eugene,” Eve stepped down from the carriage and stared at the mansion she was supposed to enter.
“Everything alright, miss?” Asked Eugene as Eve made no effort to move from where she stood.
How could she, when she was dreading to meet Vincent today. The possible cold might have left her alone, but she hadn’t stayed up most of the night with the thought of what had occurred in the forest. The embarrassment made her want to get back inside the carriage.
Turning to Eugene, Eve smiled and nodded, “Wish me luck, Eugene. I will need all of it.”
“Good luck, Miss Eve. There is nothing you cannot achieve,” Eugene offered his encouraging words.
But before either of them could make a move, another carriage appeared to come and stand in front of the mansion’s entrance gates.
The guards of the mansion pulled the gates for the carriage to enter. But instead of driving the carriage inside, the coachman stepped down and opened the door of the carriage.
Out stepped Vincent Moriarty.
“What are the odds,” Eve muttered under her breath, and Eugene turned to look at her, with a questioning look on his face as he didn’t catch what she said.
“Miss Barlow, what a wonderful surprise. I was sure you were not going to show up at the mansion today,” remarked Vincent, making his way where Eve and Eugene stood while he pulled the black gloves from his hand.
Eve tried to keep a smile on her lips, but she wasn’t completely successful. She asked him in an overly polite tone, “Why wouldn’t I, Master Vincent. As a governess, I know my responsibilities.”
And though Eve tried to keep her calm, she avoided meeting Vincent’s eyes.
“Achoo!” Eve sneezed into her handkerchief.
Vincent tilted his head, “Did you fall ill, Miss Barlow? The last I saw you, you appeared to be in perfect,” he paused for a second before continuing, “Health. And who might this be?” He turned to look at Eugene.
Eugene offered Vincent a humble bow, “My name is Eugene Weaver, Mr. Moriarty.”
“Mm,” hummed Vincent, and he nodded before smiling. “I know you. Actually, I heard about you. You were the one who was snooping around looking for more information about my family, weren’t you?”
Eugene cleared his throat, not expecting their introduction to take a turn like this. Even Eve slightly froze, as she hadn’t expected Vincent to know about it. Eugene had always been careful in his findings, which was why it made her wonder how Vincent knew.
“I-uh,” Eugene stuttered under Vincent’s piercing gaze and the smile.
“You do not have to be shy about it. You can ask me directly. After all, Miss Barlow is now our dear governess,” stated Vincent before looking at Eve, “Isn’t that right?”
Eve nodded and then looked at Eugene and said, “You can go home. I will see you at home in the evening.”
Eugene shared a secretive look of wariness. He didn’t dawdle there and quickly bowed his head. He jumped on the driver’s seat and hauled from the place.
When Vincent turned his gaze at the moving carriage that went farther and farther away, Eve took the opportunity and started to walk through the gates. But this didn’t stop Vincent from following her. He snapped his fingers and waved at the coachman to take the carriage in as he was in the mood to walk.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
ALLURE OF THE NIGHT
Chapter 33
The awkwardness Eve felt, she doubted anyone could fathom how she felt right now. Every step she took forward was stiff, and it was because she knew he was walking behind her. The timing couldn’t get any worse, she thought in her mind.
“You walk worse than the grandmother I once knew,” came the remark from behind, and Eve gritted her teeth. When she quickened the pace of her steps, he said, “I think it would be better if you run.”
Eve turned around to speak to him and said, “Mr. Moriarty, I think I would like to add another point in my job details.”
“All the details have already been filled and signed. The next form for it opens next year,” replied Vincent, and he didn’t wait for her. Instead, he continued to walk towards the entrance of the mansion. “You know I forgot about yesterday’s incident, but someone seems to have difficulty in letting it go and had to remind me about it.”
Eve wondered if there was a way she would be able to win an argument with this man. Not because she didn’t have all the facts, but Vincent didn’t play to the rules and followed his own rules.
“I don’t know what you are even talking about,” Eve decided to play his game, and one corner of Vincent’s lips pulled up.
Eve continued to walk, where Vincent was two steps ahead of her. He turned to look at her and asked, “Oh? Do you rather prefer that I remind you what I am talking about? About the round and soft—”
“Don’t,” came the curt word from Eve while walking in the hallways.
“What round?” Lady Marceline’s question came as she walked in the hallways to meet them near the entrance.
Eve offered a bow to Marceline, and a smile spread on the young woman’s lips. Marceline looked between Eve and her brother.
“I was talking about the round shaped moon and the softness of its light,” said Vincent, and the curious look in Marceline’s eyes faded, quickly losing interest in the subject. “Whom are you waiting for, dear sister?”
“You, of course,” replied Marceline with a bright smile.
“You don’t have to do that. There’s Alfie to wait on me, unless you have decided to be my butler for the day.”
“I am waiting for the seamstress, she was supposed to be here by now,” Marceline raised her nose high.
Vincent walked away without bothering to exchange another word, and Eve internally breathed a sigh of relief.
“I hope my brother isn’t giving you a hard time, Miss Barlow. I know how frustrating he sometimes can be,” said Marceline, shifting her gaze from Vincent’s back to Eve. “Are you alright? You appear pale today.”
Eve nodded, “It’s just the weat—Achoo!” She brought her handkerchief to her nose and gently pressed it.
Marceline frowned and said, “It seems like you caught a cold. I understand it isn’t severe, but maybe it would be better to not teach Allie today so that she doesn’t catch what you have. You know how young children are often weak as they are still growing.”
Though vampires had higher immunity than humans, the illness didn’t spare the creatures of the night.
Eve wasn’t too sick that the little girl would catch it, but Marceline was intent on her words. A soft sigh escaped from Eve’s lips, and she asked the young woman,
“Will it be alright if you can pass a note to her from me.”
Even though she and Allie had spent less than a week together, Eve knew that the little girl would like to read something rather than sit quietly.
Marceline nodded, “Of course. Shall we go to the drawing room? You can write the note there, and also have tea that might help you feel better.”
Eve shook her head, “That is very kind of you, but—”
“Just a cup of tea. It will give you enough time to catch your breath, before you head back home. Come,” insisted Marceline.
And just like that, Eve ended up in Marceline’s company in the drawing-room, with a cup of tea in her hand. She wouldn’t have been wary if Allie hadn’t revealed to her about the previous governess’s plight.
Eve couldn’t help but question who had killed the last governess. She now sat with a good distance between them so that she wouldn’t drop anything near the lady.
She stared at the surface of the teacup when she heard Marceline speak, “Is the tea not to your liking, Miss Barlow?”
Eve’s thoughts broke, and she replied, “It is perfect, thank you, Lady Marceline.”
Was it her? Asked Eve. Was she the one who killed the governess? Lady Marceline didn’t appear to be someone who could cause harm to someone.
“Our tea is famous throughout Skellington, and has been proven to soothe the body from fatigue, I hope you feel better soon,” said Marceline. “It must have been hard for you to travel here by the local carriage, isn’t it?” the young woman’s fingers delicately held the teacup as she took a sip from it.
“Actually, I came here in my own carriage today,” replied Eve, and a look of surprise appeared on Marceline’s face.
“Your carriage?” Asked the young woman, and Eve nodded. “How wonderful,” replied Marceline, with a thoughtful expression on her face.
While Eve continued to drink the tea in silence, Marceline’s eyes watched the human from her head to foot. Shoes that were worn out and were an eyesore to her sight. The only reason she was even entertaining this low life was partly that she was bored, and partly she wanted to know what was so special about this lowly person that had got Vincent to choose her as a governess.
A maid entered the room, bowing her head, and she informed Marceline, “Milady, the seamstress has arrived.”
“Tell her I will be there in a few minutes as I am busy right now,” responded Marceline, as she had found something more interesting than the seamstress.
“Also, Miss…” the maid started and stopped when Marceline turned and glared, something that Eve couldn’t see because of the way they were seated. The maid said in a meek voice, “Lady Stella has arrived at the mansion.”
Marceline was about to make the woman wait, but then the gears in her head moved, and she said, “Bring her here. I am sure she would like a cup of tea too.”
“Yes, milady,” the maid bowed her head and left the room.
Eve didn’t want to be in the way of Lady Marceline and her guest. She quickly gulped down her tea, ready to dash out of this place. But Marceline, who caught this, continued the conversation with her,
“Miss Barlow, next month we are going to have a ball in the mansion. Allie and I would love for you to attend it. We host a couple of such balls every year, I am sure you would feel fortunate to be able to attend it. Most of the people do,” added Marceline.
A ball that would hold a room full of vampires so that she could turn into a possible snack and then the main course meal for them?
“I don’t think Lady Annalise would like it if I attend it,” Eve found a good reason to stay away from them.
“You do not have to worry about mother. I am the one inviting you as my guest,” Marceline assured her with a smile.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
ALLURE OF THE NIGHT
Chapter 34
“Miss Stella Desford,” announced the maid before stepping away from the door.
A young woman with chestnut hair stepped into the drawing-room. She wore a deep maroon, high collared and full-sleeved silk dress. There were golden buttons at the front of her dress.
“Good morning, Stella, I am so pleased to have you join me for breakfast,” Marceline greeted the young woman, who was two years younger than the women present in the room.
Eve watched Marceline stand up and walk towards the woman to greet her with an airy kiss on each side of her face.
“How could I refuse the invitation by you?” The woman softly laughed, her voice sounding sweet and her manners refined. “I hope I am not late.”
“Never too late. The seamstress is here, just as I promised. But she can wait until we finish our breakfast,” Marceline offered a warm smile.
The young woman’s eyes then shifted to look at Eve, whom she had never met or seen before. Stella asked, “Who is this?”
Marceline’s eyebrows rose as if she had forgotten about Eve’s presence and introduced them, “Stella, this is Genevieve Barlow, Allie’s new governess. Miss Barlow, this is Stella Desford. One of my dearest friends.”
Eve stood up from her seat and offered a polite bow, “Greetings, milady.”
Stella didn’t return the greetings, instead stared at Eve as if she had never seen a person before. She finally replied, “Greetings.”
The young lady then turned to Marceline and asked in a not so quiet voice, “Since when have you started to have tea with the governess?”
Marceline replied, “Miss Barlow is not feeling well, and I thought it would be right to have her drink some tea before she heads back to Meadow as it is far from here.”
“You don’t say,” Stella looked appalled by the mention of the town’s name. “I don’t think I have ever met anyone this close from there. I am so sorry,” she placed her hand on Marceline’s arm to comfort her.
“Don’t be! Miss Barlow is an excellent governess,” Marceline replied with a smile.
And though Eve was right there, the two young ladies didn’t stop discussing. In a whisper that still reached Eve’s ears, Stella commented, “No matter how excellent, how could you let her enter the mansion? If you need recommendations, I will be more than happy to assist you with it.”
Eve didn’t see any reason to stay back in the room, and she decided to step out so that Ms. Desford could discuss about her to the heart’s content.
Marceline internally smiled at Stella’s words but said, “Let us have breakfast. I am famished.”
“Please don’t tell me this is the breakfast,” replied Stella.
It took Eve a second more to realise what Stella was speaking about. Marceline laughed, “Of course not. Breakfast is being served in the dining room. We don’t drink from our governesses.”
“That is true,” murmured the woman, “You don’t drink from them but kill them,” she laughed in humour.
“Don’t be silly,” responded Marceline, before turning to look at Eve. For a moment, Eve believed that Marceline was about to ask her to join them, but instead, the young miss of the mansion said, “I hope you feel better now, Miss Barlow.”
Eve offered a slight bow and watched the two women step out of the room. Alone in the room, she let out a sigh of relief. Lady Stella’s words didn’t bother her.
As she hadn’t sneezed in the last couple of minutes, she decided to look at how Allie was doing. In Eve’s eyes, the job of a governess wasn’t just to teach etiquette or words from the books but also to make sure the child was doing well.
She walked through the corridors, but before she could reach the piano room, she heard Lady Annalise’s voice coming from one of the rooms.
Eve’s eyebrows knit together, and she was going to walk past the room when she heard,
“You cannot do one thing right, can you? Haven’t I told you not to come outside?” She scolded.
Through the door that was left slightly ajar, Eve saw Lady Annalise standing in front of her daughter, Allie.
The little girl’s head was bowed, her hands clutching the sides of her dress. Lady Annalise looked furious, glaring at her daughter, who didn’t dare to lift her head.
“I am sorry, mother,” came the meek voice of the girl.
“Are you? If you had listened to my words, this wouldn’t have happened in the first place. You bring such disappointment to me. Yet, here we are again. Was it you who asked Vincent to hire a governess?” Lady Annalise questioned angrily, and Allie quickly shook her head. “You better hope it is true.”
Allie looked like she was about to cry, but she was trying to hold it in.
“Vincent is busy spoiling the family name, and you are doing the same, Allie,” Lady Annalise gritted her teeth, a look of pure disappointment spread on her face. “If people were to know what happened, they would only look down at you. Do you understand why I ask you to stay in?” the woman raised her voice, and the girl shivered.
Eve, who stood outside, continued to hear Lady Annalise scold her daughter. Somewhere, she had turned worried that the woman would hit the girl, but thankfully she didn’t.
Allie nodded to what Lady Annalise said.
“Forgive me mother,” Allie sounded regretful, and it made Eve want to hug the girl.
When Eve heard light footsteps in the corridor, she decided to leave this place and head to the piano room.
“You are a Moriarty, and you should know how to deal with people. Especially ones who are beneath us,” the woman harrumphed. “Where is the governess?”
Allie shook her head to let her mother know that she didn’t know.
“At least the governess is smart,” remarked Lady Annalise, glad to know that the human hadn’t showed up at the mansion today. This only meant that the lowly human finally decided to accept her offer and wouldn’t be showing up here anymore. “I will find you a better governess, someone who will suit not only our standards of the Moriartys but also teach you to stay away from people we don’t mix with.”
At her mother’s words, the little girl stood quietly without raising her head.
In the piano room, Eve stepped near the studying table where books had been placed for reading. A book was opened, and the quill had been left to dry, which hadn’t been placed back in the ink bottle.
She walked up to the rack of books that covered an entire side of the wall. She pulled one book out of the lot, flipping through the pages, when she heard the room door open.
When Eve turned around, she noticed Allie enter the room.
Allie’s eyes slightly lit up on seeing Eve standing in the room. Because of Eve’s absence and her mother’s words, she believed that the human had quit being her governess.
“Did you not receive my note, Miss Allie? I asked your sister to pass it earlier as I was feeling a little under the weather,” Eve explained to the little girl, who shook her head. “I am feeling much better now. How are you doing?” She asked, only to receive a stare from the little one.
Little children who belonged to the wealthy families often were not allowed to express their emotions openly. They were taught to grow up quickly. Eve noticed how Allie controlled her emotions, where the pain of rejection and sorrow didn’t surface on her face.
Eve looked at Allie with a bright smile and asked, “How about we do something different today, Miss Allie? After all, you don’t learn everything from the books.”
The little girl blinked, not knowing what Eve meant.
“Let us go out,” Eve proposed, and the little girl quickly shook her head. “I mean step in the back garden and not into the town. I am sure that we will have less viewers there. Could you show me the way, Miss Allie?”
Allie gave it a little thought before nodding.𝐟𝓇ℯ𝐞𝚠𝚎𝒃𝑛𝒐ѵe𝚕.co𝚖
While Eve and Allie headed towards the back garden, back inside the mansion, Lady Annalise walked in the corridors in an excellent mood. With the thought that she wouldn’t have to deal with the matter of the lowly status governess.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
ALLURE OF THE NIGHT
Chapter 35
Lady Annalise’s shoes clicked on the clean, marbled floor as she continued to walk in the corridor. On her way, she met the butler, and she raised her hand for him to come to her immediately.
“I want you to pull out one of the finest bottles from the cellar,” Lady Annalise ordered.
“For yourself, milady?” inquired Alfie, and this received a glare from the woman.
“Do you think I will be drinking wine this early in the morning?” She raised her eyebrows.
“Um, Master Vincent— I mean yes, milady. I will pull out the wine,” the butler bowed his head while biting his tongue so that he wouldn’t ask any questions.
“I want you to pack it, and send it to Lady Margaret. Add a note that she looked beautiful in the gown that she wore to Mr. Wade’s party,” Lady Annalise informed on what to do. “Also add a bouquet. Only the smallest. The woman seems to hate flowers that are slightly bigger than two inch in one’s finger.”
The last Lady Annalise had heard, the woman to whom the bottle of wine would be sent, she knew a few decent and trustworthy governess from the high family. The sooner she would have the governess here, the lesser reason there would be to bring back any other lowly governess for her daughter.
“I shall do it right away, milady,” Alfie bowed his head, turning in the cellar’s direction and leaving the place while Lady Annalise continued to walk.
Lady Annalise met Marceline and Lady Stella when walking past the dining room.
“Good morning, Lady Annalise,” Lady Stella greeted the woman with a bow. “You look more beautiful than the last time I saw you,” she praised the woman with a sickeningly sweet smile.
“Good morning, dear. I think you look lovely in the beautiful dress, as expected from your seamstress,” responded Lady Annalise and then asked, “I haven’t seen your mother in a long time. I hope Mrs. Desford is doing well in her health. Give my regards to your mother.”
“I will,” the young woman nodded.
Lady Annalise nodded her head as if she was in an agreeable mood right now. She said, “I hope you have received the invitation for the ball next month.”
“I have. And believe me, I am very much looking forward to it,” as Lady Stella replied, her eyes held a doubt, which she didn’t bring to her lips.
“You look particularly elated today, mother,” noted Marceline, and she wondered what had gotten her mother in such a good mood.
Lady Annalise could only smile, which held a smugness in it, “Something that I have been working on finally succeeded. I doubt there’s anything I cannot fix.”
“That sounds wonderful,” replied Lady Stella, while Marceline wondered what her mother meant. The young woman then remarked, “Though I am sorry.”
“Sorry?” Lady Annalise appeared perplexed. “About what?”
Lady Stella’s gaze shifted to look at Marceline, and she then looked back at Lady Annalise. A small pitiful smile appeared on the young woman’s face, and she said,
“I mean the governess that you hired from that lowly town that we don’t associate ourselves with,” she shivered as she thought about the town. “I didn’t know the Moriarty’s were cutting down costs.”
Lady Annalise looked slightly irritated, but she said, “That was something out of our hands. But not to worry, the governess has quit.”
“She has?” Marceline was surprised, and Lady Stella looked impressed.
“That’s right. All it took was a couple of words yesterday and she was scared enough to not step into this mansion again,” Lady Annalise looked proud, and her lips twisted in pure delight.
But her happiness was short-lived when Marceline said, “I think you have wrong information, mother. Miss Barlow is in the mansion.”
“That’s not possible,” Lady Annalise narrowed her eyes, her mood dampening by what she heard. “I went to the piano room and she wasn’t there. Which was why Allie decided to step out and intrude when I was talking to Mr. and Mrs. Sherwin.”
Marceline shook her head, “Believe me, mother. She was here, because I spoke to her. If you doubt me, ask Stella.”
Lady Stella nodded, internally wanting to laugh at how the Moriarty’s had hired a governess of such poor status. She could barely contain the news, and once she returned to her mansion, her mother would surely love to hear it. She nodded,
“I don’t think I could have someone like that in the same room as me. I can barely imagine how all of you must be dealing with it. And those dirty shoes,” Lady Stella sighed.
Lady Annalise demanded, “Where is she?”
“She must probably be there in the piano room?” Replied Marceline and Lady Annalise turned on her heel and headed in the direction of the piano room.
Lady Stella turned to Marceline and said, “Didn’t you tell your seamstress is here?”
“Yes. Let us go see her. I need to get the dress prepared before the time of the ball,” replied Marceline, looking in the direction where Lady Annalise had disappeared.
“You know, Marcie. You are too kind to invite such a lowly being for a cup of tea,” Lady Stella put her hands around Marceline’s arm. “If it were me in your place, I would have ordered the servants to throw a woman like that from my mansion. After all, we don’t need anyone to be infected by God knows what.”
Marceline politely smiled at her friend’s words, “That would be rude of me, Stella. Especially when she is sick. We are supposed to help people when they are in need. I don’t think I could ever do something like that. It doesn’t settle well with me.”
“Like I said, you are too nice. You are lucky that you have Lady Annalise, who knows to put such people in their places,” stated the young woman as they continued to walk in the corridor. “Stay as far away as you can from such a kind. You are too innocent when it comes to such things.”
“There should be some exceptions. I don’t think every person from Meadow is like that,” Marceline spoke in favour of the governess.
“You are forgetting, the people who belong to places similar to Meadow are ones who are beneath our feet. Trying to be a governess? How laughable,” Lady Stella softly laughed. “That can only mean that she has motives, else you know, we all like to settle with someone high in position.”
“Thank you for looking out for me,” Marceline’s words were kind, and Lady Stella smiled.
“You are my friend, of course, I will look out for you. Don’t worry, I am here to help,” said the young woman. The kind smile on Marceline’s lips continued to stay, which appeared calm and relaxed.
Back in the back garden of the Moriarty mansion, Eve sat next to Allie in front of the flowers. Eve had successfully caught a butterfly, which had Allie’s entire attention focused on it.
Alfie, who had come to pluck some of the small flowers, caught sight of the governess and the young miss, who appeared in a brighter mood than in the morning.
“You seem to be very good with the butterflies, miss,” the butler spoke to Eve, coming behind them and looking at the butterfly settled on Eve’s palm.
“I think we just turned to be lucky, Alfie. Maybe the butterfly came to greet Miss Allie,” and upon Eve’s words, the little girl’s face brightened as if believing it to be true.
The butler nodded, “That must indeed be true. Looks like they enjoy the company of our young miss.” He added, “It is good to see you out here, Miss.”
Eve asked the butler, “Are you here to tend to the plants? The garden in here is beautiful.”
“You will find the rarest of the rare flowers and plants in here. I am here to collect small flowers, that has to be smaller than the two digits of a finger,” answered Alfie, and he craned his neck, looking at the flowers there.
“That’s oddly specific,” replied Eve, and the butler laughed. Eve then turned to look at Allie and said, “Let us see if Mr. Butterfly wants to sit on your hand, shall we? My mother and I used to spend hours in the meadow, and I would chase butterflies,” she shared it with the little girl.
Gently catching the butterfly’s wings, she placed it on the little girl’s palm, who looked enraptured. Eve stood up and said,
“Do you mind if I help, Alfie?”
“I would not trouble you with such task, Miss,” replied the butler, but Eve was more than happy to help.
Eve walked to the nearby bushes and plucked three rose buds that still had time to bloom. She picked another kind before returning to where Allie was busy with the butterfly.
“I have six flowers. How many more are you looking for?” Asked Eve, and she looked down at the flowers.
“I have four of them. Thank you, Miss Barlow, that should be enough,” said the butler, who was plucking one last flower which was surrounded by thorns.
“Ms. Barlow!” roared a voice at the mansion’s back door, which belonged to Lady Annalise.
Alfie lost his footing and nearly fell on the bush next to him. Allie’s body jerked in fear, and the butterfly flew from her hand.
On the other hand, Eve’s finger pressed into the thorn of the steamed rose, and a drop of blood fell on the ground. And maybe Eve would have been fine, if she didn’t see little Allie’s hand move in its direction.
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