The Queen 'neath the Hedge: The Umbra Series Book 1 by J. L. Dawn
Author:J. L. Dawn [Dawn, J. L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Interact Publishing Ltd
Published: 2023-07-20T23:00:00+00:00
26 â The Grey Brethren
Larkenfen
The artistâs whistling intruded into her contemplation. He was awake early, walking outside and the whistle, though unmelodic, was fat with satisfaction.
She heard Naomi say her name and discovered her sister in the schoolroom.
âLook at what Mr Tenebris has done,â said Naomi. âHe must have been working since before first light.â
The large canvas roughed out for all the Gracegirdle girls, which had numbered just three when Amorrieâs hunting gaze had driven her out of the room last night, now had a fourth completing the composition. Cassie gawped at her likeness, beyond astonishment.
âIt is not finished,â said Naomi. âHe says we must choose you an emblem to add to the picture, like my ruby darter, or Livviâs fen-hawk. Perhaps, also, something for you to hold.â
âHow is this possible? He has never seen me? He cannot see me.â
âYou came to him in a dream he says.â
âI did no such thing.â
âBut then he changed his thought and said it was Amorrieâs dream?â
âIt makes no sense. I have not learned that trick yet. Would that I could. If it were possible, I would visit you always in your dreams, Naomi.â
âYou do already, Cassie. Most every night.â
âLike this?â Cassie held up her pigtails and stared down at her fraying garments.
âI donât know, I never notice how your hair is done or what fashions you wear.â
âWhat then?â
âI memorise your smile and hold fast to your eyes and feel your clear thinking and sense your breath, andâ¦â Naomiâs voice had slipped into a well of emotion.
âWould you dream of me still, if I did not visit you here?â
âMost certainly.â Naomi grew concerned, âwhy?â
âIt is good to know. That is all.â
Naomi studied her sister closely.
âHe has made my clothes new again.â Cassie took up the pictured pose and tried out the smile. âIs it a good likeness, do you think?â
âIt is a miracle,â said Naomi. âThe painting is raw yet, but already it is manifestly you.â
âWhat will Mother and Papa make of it?â
âMother will cry for a day,â said a voice behind them, âand we will get nothing out of Papa for at least a week.â It was Lavinia. The tear had already fallen from her chin and was now soaking into her sleeve, but its track on her cheek bore testimony to it. âAnd then his first words will still choke him.â
A movement behind her and Nouhou entered the room with Tabitha. The former page-boy stared at the painting, first in bewilderment before slipping into understanding and finally, wonder.
âItâs Cassie, Nouhou,â Tabithaâs words fought for air in her throat before she took a sobbing breath. âOur dearest sister. Your Mr Tenebris has somehow captured her likeness.â
âMr Tenebris started his assault on Larkenfen in cowardly retreat, but with this he will conquer us all,â said Naomi.
âI have made a decision about Mr Tenebris,â said Lavinia.
âWhat?â
âWe cannot allow Pikestaff to have him.â
â
âAre they there?â Tabitha sat in the small flat-bottomed boat, tied to the jetty at the end of the boardwalk. She looked out across the lazing sun-stroked river to the far bank.
Download
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.
We Ride Upon Sticks by Quan Barry(33994)
The Secret History by Donna Tartt(18141)
Norse Mythology by Gaiman Neil(12812)
Crooked Kingdom: Book 2 (Six of Crows) by Bardugo Leigh(11956)
The Betrayed by Igor Ljubuncic(11626)
The Betrayed by Matthew Dickerson(11427)
Caraval Series, Book 1 by Stephanie Garber(9903)
Year One by Nora Roberts(9292)
Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson(9182)
Twilight Siege: A Dark Fantasy Novel (The Fae Games Book 2) by Jill Ramsower(9001)
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon(8592)
The City of Brass by S. A. Chakraborty(8505)
Red Rising by Pierce Brown(8244)
Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire(7661)
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng(6847)
Shalador's Lady by Anne Bishop(6634)
Storm and Silence by Robert Thier(6484)
This Is How You Lose Her by Junot Diaz(6428)
Shadows Of The Apt [01] - Empire in Black and Gold by Adrian Tchaikovsky(6408)
