Dark Masquerade by Jennifer Blake

Author:Jennifer Blake [Jennifer Blake]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Literature & Fiction, Romance, Gothic, Historical, Historical Romance
ISBN: 9780727840394
Amazon: B00I7EUI0S
Goodreads: 617117
Publisher: Steel Magnolia Press
Published: 1974-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

6

“Don’t!” Elizabeth cried out, pressing her hands against his chest.

She was released immediately, but the damage was done. Alma and the man beside her raised pale, shocked faces toward the gallery, and then the overseer swung into his saddle and sent his horse galloping down the drive.

“My apologies,” Darcourt said with stiff courtesy.

“You—you startled me,” Elizabeth said, forcing a laugh. “But I expect you were more surprised than I.”

“Yes.” Relief that she was not offended was evident in his voice. “I needn’t tell you that I expected someone else. Please forgive me?”

“Yes, do not think of it. Good night,” she said, and sent him a smile across the darkness. She turned away and went back into the house.

The days, rainy and chilly, passed without any satisfaction from Alma. There had been no opportunity for Elizabeth to confront her with what she had seen, and Alma, knowing perhaps that it was to her advantage to avoid a confrontation, did nothing. Sometimes, however, Elizabeth caught Alma looking at her with such active dislike that she was filled with both satisfaction and a distinct uneasiness.

With the wet weather they were all confined to the house. There was little privacy, even in their bedrooms. Out of sheer boredom, each knew exactly where the others were at all times. No one was safe from interruption or eavesdropping. As a result, Callie and Elizabeth had stopped talking to each other except as mistress and maid. What had to be said was conveyed by a look or a nod.

Because the house was still in deep mourning they were spared the morning visits of friends and neighbors. Though they would have to come at some time, Elizabeth was thankful to be spared the ordeal just now. However, as the days of rain wore on she often thought that it might not be an entirely bad thing to have a visitor to take their minds off themselves.

Theresa’s burns began to heal, but she was still confined to her room with what Grand’mere described as a crise de nerfs, nervous prostration. If Elizabeth suspected it was something more than that, she was unlikely to find out precisely what, for she was barred from the room as being unnecessarily upsetting to the injured girl. She had to depend for her news on the vague bulletins issued by Denise, Theresa’s principal attendant.

For a time she had thought that she might be called to account in answer to the accusations that Theresa had made. Theresa had not yet told anyone that she had seen Elizabeth going through the desk. At last it began to be borne in on Elizabeth that what everyone wanted most was to forget what had happened. They wanted her to forget as well. The scratches on her arms faded, the window in the library was reglazed, and a painting replaced the broken mirror over the mantel. With the removal of these reminders the incident began to lose its clear taste of fear in her mind.

Through usage the house became familiar.

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