Opium and Absinthe by Kang Lydia
Author:Kang, Lydia [Kang, Lydia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical, Mystery, Fantasy, Vampires, thriller, Paranormal, Young Adult
ISBN: 9781542017800
Amazon: B07Y1Y82HX
Goodreads: 48671529
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Published: 2020-07-01T07:00:00+00:00
Her familyâs anger remained warm and simmering when she awoke for luncheon. But Tillie had dosed herself just before heading down. With the opiate in her, everything felt proper and correct again.
It had been a while since sheâd felt severe pain in her collarbone, but perhaps Dr. Erikkson was right, and she did need the quieting normalcy of the morphine. Not so much for an irksome womb but for a mind that desired far more activityânay, demanded it. And now, when she was forbidden from her opinions, the deprivation caused intolerable suffering.
Her mother and grandmother hardly spoke to her over the delicate salad and beef aspic. But Tillie, content and quiet, must have passed some test, because in the midafternoon as she was drowsing on a chaise in the salon, her mother came and touched her elbow.
âTillie,â she began.
âMmm.â
âIs the food all right?â
âMmm.â It was tolerable, but she was craving paprika hendl, the chicken dish that Jonathan Harker ate in Dracula. It sounded delicious.
âAre you feeling well?â
She opened one sticky eyelid. âDelightful, actually. Dr. Erikksonâs treatments are quite soothing.â
âWell. I donât wish for you to use them too much. Temperance . . .â
âIâm not drinking whiskey. Itâs medicine. You sent me to the doctor, and he said it was necessary.â
Her mother sighed. âWell, you do seem so much better.â She furtively glanced toward the other end of the salon, where Grandmama was pretending to read but snoozed with her bottom lip sagging low. âIn fact, I have an invitation. Bradley Martin is having a small soiree.â
Tillie opened her other eyelid and raised an eyebrow. âSmall? Bradleyâs last soiree was seven hundred people and twenty-eight courses at the Waldorf. We all dressed as kings and queens. He doesnât do small very well.â
âNo, it wonât be quite so big. Probably seventy or eighty guests. I asked, as I knew something grander would be too much for you. And after our mourning period, itâs not appropriate to revel in such gay festivities. I have a new dress laid out for you, in a dark-purple silk. Quite suitable. Dorothy promised she would be at your side all night.â
âNo cotillion?â Tillie asked.
âNo, no dancing.â
âVery well,â Tillie said with satisfaction. âSo long as James isnât there. I couldnât bear to see him.â
âJames Cutter? Why?â Her grandmother had woken up and was listening intently.
Wasnât it obvious? âHe hit Lucy,â Tillie said, incredulous. âHeâs a suspect in her death! I canât ever see him again.â
Her grandmother stood from her chair and ambled over. âVictoria, leave us. Bring the servants with you.â
Tillieâs mother hesitated, her focus traveling from mother to child, but it lasted only a moment. She left the salon, followed by the two servants. Tillie was alone with her grandmother.
âGrandmama, I canât,â Tillie implored. âNot after he treated Lucy that way.â
âListen to me, Mathilda.â She sat down next to Tillie on the chaise. Tillie tried not to flinch, remembering how her grandmother had nearly struck her. But she only petted Tillieâs head gently. She even tried to smile a little.
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