Song of the Sea: A Little Mermaid Retelling (The Singer Tales Book 2) by Deborah Grace White

Author:Deborah Grace White [White, Deborah Grace]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781922636638
Publisher: Luminant Publications
Published: 2023-02-23T16:00:00+00:00

TWO AND A HALF YEARS LATER…

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Estelle dug her hands into the dirt, enjoying the feeling of the moisture on her skin as she turned the soil over. The hyacinths should do nicely here, she reflected happily. Much better to put the daylilies in the smaller garden on the ocean side of the castle. They would have a better chance of surviving the sea breezes. And the hyacinths would still satisfy the queen’s request for a cheerful patch of pink along her favorite walking path.

“That looks good, Estelle.”

Estelle looked up at the head gardener, smiling in gratitude for the praise. The older man paused, assessing her work with a critical eye. She was pleased to see his slow nod.

“With any luck, the blooms of the hyacinths will be offset with those daffodils just enough to keep a splash of color until this lot come out.” He gestured at the next garden bed along.

Estelle nodded, tapping her heart lightly in a gesture intended to indicate that had been her hope as well.

“You have a knack for flowers,” said the gardener. “Many of my workers are more comfortable with the trees and hedges. It was a good thought of the housekeeper’s to send you out here.” He flashed her a grin. “Plus you don’t chatter on like some servants do, disturbing the peace of our haven.”

Estelle chuckled soundlessly, taking no offense at the good-natured reference to her supposed muteness.

“I know many girls like yourself aim to become ladies’ maids and such,” the head gardener went on, “but I hope you’ll stay in my team. You’ve a job in the gardens as long as you want it, as far as I’m concerned.” He winked, starting back into motion. “And I’m not likely to retire any time soon.”

Estelle ducked her head, color flooding her cheeks at the unexpected assurance. The head gardener was often ready with an encouraging word, but she hadn’t realized he rated her services so highly. She agreed with him that the housekeeper had done a good day’s work when she’d suggested Estelle help out in the gardens. For the first six months of her time at the castle, she’d struggled away in the kitchens, exhausted and terrible at her role.

Rocking back on her heels, Estelle let her thoughts wander back to those early months. It seemed a lifetime ago. It was hard to believe it had been two years since she’d started in the gardens. Her life was so different now—she was so different now. And if her time in the kitchen felt distant, her years below water were nothing more than a dream. Strangely enough, the memories that felt most real were the times spent in her little coral garden, shaping the rows into the form of the sun, the light of which she’d never even felt.

She wiped a trickle of sweat from her brow with her arm, smiling to herself at the thought. She was very familiar with the heat of the sun now. It wasn’t as bad this time of year, but it could be quite oppressive in the summer months.

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