Unfinished Business: Tales of the Dark Fantastic by Catherine Lundoff

Author:Catherine Lundoff [Lundoff, Catherine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-73258-335-1
Publisher: Queen of Swords Press

Miss Lucy’s Glass

Miss Lucy watches her face in the glass while I brush her hair. I pretend to read her thoughts, like I saw that magician do at Covent Garden once. Just as I have each night for six years now. I think that she thinks of Mr. Holmwood, the young man she says that she loves.

Or, perhaps, she is simply admiring her own beauty, as she has been graced with so much of it.

I wish that she thought of me, just once. The weight of my sinful dreams weighs my hand down on the brush until Miss Lucy cries out, “Shaw! You are hurting me!” Her beautiful lips pout slightly and I bow my head, as if expecting a blow, even though I know that she would never strike me. She has always been a good mistress. I am lucky; I have met other maids who were not treated half so well.

She laughs to see me chagrined and gives me her most charming smile. “It was but a little thing, Shaw. And already forgotten.” Her hand strays to her hair, her fingers playing with her silky locks until I long to forget myself and do the same.

I do not remember when I first knew that I loved my lady more than I knew was right. It came upon me slowly, those dreams and thoughts I should not have. But I could not bring them to the vicar, being too much of a coward for that, and I had none other that I could share them with so they remained locked inside my heart. If I wanted to remain Miss Lucy Westenra’s maid, they must remain my secret; this much I knew.

And I wanted that more than anything. I wanted to be at her side forever.

When she speaks, her words flow over my distraction like water on rocks. “Mr. Morris, Dr. Seward and Mr. Holmwood are all coming to call tomorrow. I am quite giddy! To have so many handsome gentlemen calling on me is quite an honor, you know, Shaw. I wonder if Mr. Holmwood will ask for my hand.” She glances up again, blue eyes wide, “Oh, you don’t suppose each one of them intends to propose? Everyone will think me a most shocking flirt!” Despite her words, her eyes sparkle with the gentle lie.

I might have laughed to think of their disappointment joining mine, all of us equals for the first time in our lives. Except that I knew that she would say “Yes” to one of them.

Tonight, in my sleepless bed, I would imagine what life could be like in the household of each one. But for now, I help her into her shift, letting my hands linger only as much as is necessary. When I am done, she lies back on her lacy pillow and smiles up at me. “Thank you, Shaw. Good night and sweet dreams.”

I smile back at her and blow out all the candles except one. I leave it sending flickering shadows over her beautiful face, already slipping into sweet dreams of her own.

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