Conjurer by Cordelia Frances Biddle

Author:Cordelia Frances Biddle
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781480490642
Publisher: Open Road Media

Emily durand’s beringed hand clenches in a spasm as she replaces the letter she’s just read in its envelope. She tries to conceal the dreadful unease this message from Mrs. Rosegger has caused, but her fingers willfully betray her.

“No reply,” Emily announces to whichever servant handed her the missive. The face blurs before her, and she realizes she has no notion of whether the features are male or female, young or old. “That will be all!” she barks out. “I said there was no reply.”

“Yes, madam … But the messenger said he was to wait for a response.” The old/young, female/male presence remains as still as a stone in front of Emily. “His instructions were to wait.”

“Am I not mistress in my own house? And are not my instructions paramount here?”

“Yes, madam.” The servant doesn’t budge.

“You may leave me, then,” Emily orders.

The servant doesn’t speak but also doesn’t quit the room.

“There’s no response to the letter … I believe I made myself clear.”

“Yes, madam.”

Long seconds tick by. “Mrs. John Durand is not available,” Emily announces at length and, summoning every ounce of strength, rises from her chair. “Tell the wretched messenger that you had been instructed not to disturb me.”

“He will ask for the return of the envelope, madam.”

For a moment, Emily seems about to lash out and strike her servant. Instead, she wilts and sinks down into her chair again. “Bring me my pen and paper. And be quick about it!”

She dashes off a response to the unwelcome note, folds it, then rethinks her reply and quickly rips her letter in half. “The woman cannot be planning to blackmail me?” Emily mutters below her breath. “Because to what other secret can she refer if not to …?”

She jumps up, strides away from the table, and then immediately returns. I will have to see Rosegger’s wife face-to-face, Emily tells herself. There’s no escaping the fact. And no denying that the hideous woman must be treated as an equal—if only until she reveals what information she holds. But if I can delay … if I can postpone such an interview until I discover what sort of “secret” she may be suggesting … if I can make certain my own actions seem blameless …

Emily grabs up another sheet of paper, writing a polite but ambiguous message of thanks for Mrs. Rosegger’s concern for her well-being and suggesting that they meet at some unspecified time the following month. I fear I am much overburdened with engagements at the moment, Emily concludes, but I welcome the opportunity of calling upon you in future.

There! she thinks. That should provide me with ample opportunity for determining my own course of action. But as Emily seals the envelope, she realizes that her body is shaking uncontrollably. What can that horrid creature know? Her brain cries out. What other secret can there be but my clandestine liasion?

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