Mercy by Rachel Rossano

Author:Rachel Rossano
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Medieval, romance, Novels of Rhynan, Rachel Rossano, artist, independent woman, adventure
Publisher: Rachel Rossano
Published: 2020-02-06T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter XV

Constance

Walking back through the door into the Naron household reminded me of returning to my father’s house with a child in my arms. I held nothing this time, but a similar invisible cloak of oppression fell over my shoulders. Unspoken expectations, past transgressions, and a malignant cloud of unresolved tension pressed in on me. Unsurprisingly, Alice appeared even more affected by it. Her shoulders slumped, her voice lowered, and she grew immediately more subdued. She was a phantom of the dynamic child we had enjoyed all afternoon.

“You are both required in the salon,” the housekeeper informed us as she took our shawls. Her sour expression grew even more puckered as she turned to confront Esmay.

I was prevented by Alice from hearing the impending lecture. She caught my arm and pulled me into the first room beyond the entryway, the dining room.

“Don’t tell Mother,” she implored me fervently even before the door had closed.

“Tell her what?” I tried to think of something Alice might have done in our company to incur such intense pleading.

“Don’t tell her your plans for the house. If she finds out you will be moving so close, she will forbid me from visiting.” Alice claimed my hands. “Please. I need to have hope of some future respite. My spirit is dying as I wait for them to arrange my marriage. She won’t even let me help in running the household. Mother keeps saying I need to remain unspoiled. At this rate, I am going to be completely unprepared to do anything other than play an instrument, sing badly, and look relatively attractive.”

I could understand where she was coming from. The thought of sitting around and doing nothing was a horrible prospect for me too. But I couldn’t promise to lie. “I will do my best not bring it to her attention, but there is only so much I can do if she addresses the topic directly.”

Alice’s distress was palpable. I caught her hands and pressed them together between mine. “What I can do is offer you a place to come for as long as you need once we are settled in our new home.” My heart ached. I hadn’t lied, but I was very aware she and I envisioned very different cohabitants coming with my statement. Would her coming to live with Owen and me still be acceptable if Wilard didn’t live with us as well? “No matter what, my home will be open to you,” I clarified.

“Oh, thank you!” Alice pulled her hands free to fling her arms around me and squeeze so hard I had to protest. “You have no idea what that means to me.” She kissed me quickly on the cheek before beaming up at me.

A sharp rapping on the hall side of the door stalled her from saying more.

“We need to set the table for the evening meal,” the sour-faced housekeeper informed us upon opening the door.

“But we don’t usually eat as a family for the evening meal,” Alice protested.

The housekeeper huffed.

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