The Oak and the Moon by Kay Camden

Author:Kay Camden [Camden, Kay]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kay Camden
Published: 2015-11-16T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 30

Summer, 1968

Four years had passed in that house before the day Pierce brought home his bride. Her white-blond hair and blue eyes were the envy of every American girl and a trophy to Pierce. Her accent was as southern as the staff’s. Pierce must’ve picked her like a wildflower from right outside the door. The day I met her she was alone in the foyer, surrounded by bags and boxes just unloaded from the cars outside. A headband colored with the hues of a sunset crossed her forehead and wrapped around her head, and flat-heeled sandals peeked from underneath her ruffled peasant skirt. She looked like she’d stepped right out of one of those war protests on the news on TV.

I interrupted her wide-eyed examination of the domed ceilings above her. Dollar signs should have shown in the eyes of a new bride in her rich husband’s home, but the only thing I saw was panic. I held out my hand. “Hello. My name is Sloane.”

She tensed a little before taking my hand. She held on, like I’d just promised to lead her somewhere. “I’m Rosemary. You’re…”

“Martin’s wife. And this is Fearghus.”

She took a glance at Fearghus. “Ya’ll might have to excuse me. If I don’t find a chair I just might faint.”

“Let’s go in the library.” I headed toward the doorway. Fearghus ran ahead, but Rosemary didn’t budge. She was looking at all the parcels at her feet.

“Do I need to…?”

“Someone will take it to your room for you. Where’s Pierce?”

She looked up the stairs. “He went up them long stairs soon as we got inside. I don’t know how long he’ll be but I’m sure I should wait for him.”

I knew in that instant this woman’s shy good manners covered a heart of gold too pure to recognize the devil she had married.

“Who knows what he’s up to? Let’s go sit down. He can find us.”

One of the doormen was coming down the stairs with Martin’s luggage. Martin hadn’t mentioned a trip, not that I should expect him to. Our marriage hadn’t changed anything but the terms we used to address each other to company.

Fran met us in the library with lemonade and sugar cookies, introduced herself to Rosemary, and told her to make herself comfortable while they prepared her room. I could see Rosemary’s arrival was not anticipated. I wondered if Rosemary’s existence was a surprise as well.

I sent Fearghus outside with his cookie and took a seat by the window to keep an eye on him.

“When he said ‘house in Richmond,’ I’m seein’ this cute little thing with a white picket fence and a clothesline out back. Either this is a dream or a nightmare. I cain’t figure which.” She picked up a glass of lemonade then set it back down. “Promise you’ll be my friend. I’m scared enough being married and movin’ so far away. To a house full of strangers…”

She had no idea how much we already had in common. “I think we’re already friends.

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