The Masked Baron

by Anneka Walker

  Andalin moved to the desk and saw a large hand-drawn map spread across the top. It was absent of words and labels. There were mostly trees, a few clearings, and several faint straggly lines. The only dark line led across the bottom of the map, almost to the end, where it forked. The right fork ran off the bottom of the page, but the left scrawled upward to a box. Andalin’s breath caught. The dark line represented the road through the Black Forest. The box was Braitwood Hall. The map had to be of the Black Forest.

  Ellis had spent enough time in the Forest to have been able to draw a map of it! Why would anyone want to spend time in such a dark, foreboding place? And for what reason did Ellis need to make a study of it?

  A chill ran down Andalin’s spine. She stepped away from the desk and toward the bookshelf. She pulled a few interesting titles out and set them on the desk. Then she noticed a folded paper on the highest shelf. She stood on her tiptoes and snatched it down. She unfolded a pencil drawing of a tree with a large diamond-shaped hole on the base. Lost in thought at what it could mean, she became distracted by the window.

  She set the paper on the books to bring back to her room to study and then crossed to the window. She pulled back the curtain and stared at the beautiful spread of trees. Ellis clearly had the best view of the estate. What would it be like to see all this rich land and to know it was yours?

  “What are you doing in here?”

  Andalin whirled around to see Ellis standing in the threshold of the room, his eyes narrowed and his mouth drawn tight.

  Andalin’s heart raced as she searched for an excuse. “I was, ah, looking for you.”

  Ellis folded his arms, clearly unconvinced. His muscles made the fabric of his shirt taut, and she took an intimidated step back toward the window.

  “I wanted to tell you I finished the book you lent me. I had a few questions about it, actually.”

  Ellis continued to stare hard at her, and she squirmed beneath his gaze. He could see through her lies.

  Andalin hurried to explain herself. “I wanted to know if the story was true or not.”

  After an uncomfortable moment, Ellis’s hands slid down to his hips. “I have been gone for several days only to return to find my ward breaching my privacy. I find myself equally astonished you cannot even honestly admit what you are doing here. Snooping, no doubt.”

  Andalin bit her lower lip, ignoring his implications. “When I asked Hannah about the witch, she acted as if she knew her. As if . . . as if . . . the witch was connected to Braitwood Hall.”

  Ellis did not look pleased by her attempt to continue with her cover story. “You are not a child, Annie. A woman does not enter a man’s room, nor does she receive a child’s punishment for tantrums, lies, or gossip. I have now seen all of this behavior from you and wonder if you are ready to be taken out into Society.”

  Andalin’s mouth fell open. Tantrums? Surely he did not mean her reaction to being ripped away from her papa and entombed in an empty house. Lies? She hadn’t lied. She had merely avoided confrontation. And gossip? With whom would she gossip? The horses?

  “Explain your accusations!” Andalin demanded.

  “I, explain?” Ellis pursed his lips. “Please, ladies first. I would like to know why you feel so inclined to riffle through my things.” His hand motioned to his desk and the stack of books with the pencil drawing that lay open on top of them.

  Andalin stared guiltily at the items. She had never been in such an incriminating situation. Before, she had been a typical respected and well-behaved village girl—with the exception of the times she’d eavesdropped on conversations about the Dark Rider. Ellis was right. She had breached his privacy. He had every reason to be angry, but she could argue she had just as many reasons herself. This is what she had truly wanted after all—a way to strike back at him.

  Andalin pinched her lips together. “I will not explain. If you truly regard me as a lady, then you will let me retire to my room without further inquiry.”

  Ellis surprised her by turning around and shutting the door. He grabbed the desk chair, blocked the door with it, and firmly sat down. His black riding pants and shirt were covered in dirt, as if he had been rolling in it. Whatever had caused his rough appearance had not displaced his mask. It was ever present on his face—always a barrier between them.

  Andalin’s voice sounded shrill even to her. “What, might I ask, are you doing?”

  Ellis smiled a small, calm smile. “If my ward is going to act like a spoiled child, then she will be treated as such. If you want me to treat you as a lady, then you must first act like one.”

  Andalin folded her arms across her chest. “I would prefer if the rest of your house treated me as if I were not a lady.”

  Ellis sighed and rubbed his temples with one hand. “Your resentment toward me is starting to wear on my nerves. One minute you are charming, and the next you are explosive. Nevertheless, I cannot abide a breach of trust.

  “You were made aware that this wing is my private solace. I have given you a nice room, more comfortable than you have ever known, new dresses, riding lessons, a chance to marry a respectable nobleman who could give you and your future children a secure and happy home. All this and I find you still despise me. You cannot get past the ugly gossip circulated about me. Nor can you forgive me for sending your father away, when he himself agreed to the idea.”

  Andalin found herself humbled by his words. It seemed Ellis truly wanted to understand her. “I can see why you think I am a spoiled child. Though, I have been spoiled not by your fancy dresses or future prospects for me; I have been spoiled by the love and attention of my father. I miss it. I crave it. You are the only thing separating me from him.”

  “Your father told me he was hoping to secure you a husband and had been seeking reputable names before his venture here. Your distance from your father was inevitable.”

  Andalin cast her gaze to the floor. Papa had tried to broach the subject several times with her, but she had childishly chased away any chance of discussion. Ellis was right. She was disgusted with herself. A single humiliating tear slid town her cheek, but she angrily swiped it away. She could feel Ellis’s eyes on her, and she yearned to run and hide. Her tears were damming up and ready to burst.

  After a few moments of silence, Ellis cleared his throat. “I think it would be better if we saved the rest of this discussion for another time. I will not detain you here any longer. I only hope you will respect my privacy in the future.”

  Ellis moved his chair and opened the door. Andalin gratefully took the chance to escape. As she passed by him, he caught her elbow. Her heart thudded in her chest.

  “The story,” Ellis whispered, “is rooted in truth.”

  Andalin stared in surprise, then pulled away. She bolted back to her room, feelings of self-loathing pushing her there. How could he tell her something so personal and frightening when he clearly despised her?

  ***

  At dinner Andalin claimed a headache so she could remain alone. She cried and pouted for several hours until finally, she was ready to put her past life behind her. She went to her writing desk and took out a sheet of paper. She wrote a long letter to Papa confessing her heartache. When three sheets were filled, Andalin put her pen down and flexed and rubbed her tired hand. Her eyes were now dry, but Andalin still felt embarrassed and a bit sorry for herself.

  Blaming Ellis for her circumstances would not do. It had been all too easy to find fault with her life at Braitwood Hall simply because she could not be with Papa. Realizing this was what Papa wanted helped her let go of the malice in her heart.

  All along she’d seen signs of Ellis’s true character. His servants were loyal, and Lord Kerrigan loved him. She had not once seen Ellis angry with anyone besides her, and that was with good reason. Despite a myriad of stories about the Dark Rider, Ellis had not once shown proof of any violent tendencies. He was stran
ge, to be sure, but not wicked.

  From now on she would cast aside her childish ways and learn to enjoy her new life as she had not fully allowed herself to do before. The most immediate course of action was to find a place for Papa’s letters. She would not write them simply to keep burning the more personal ones. It was the only connection she had to him, even if it was one-sided. Andalin ran her hand along the shelves in her writing desk, searching for a place to conceal not just one letter but hopefully dozens. Almost by accident she pushed on a corner slat and caused a false drawer to pop out under the desk. Andalin gasped and pulled the drawer out farther. It was empty, except for a plain blue book.

  She wanted to leave it alone, but it was against her nature. She picked it up and fingered its dark spine before opening it, revealing the lined pages of a diary. It belonged to Eliana Cadogen. Andalin cast a glance behind her at her closed door. Dare she read it?

  Andalin shoved Papa’s letter into the secret drawer and shut it. Then she crawled into her bed with the diary. Would Ellis think it impertinent for her to read about his relative? She stared at the book for a moment and then set it down next to her and crossed her arms. Surely it could not be betraying Ellis’s confidence if the journal did not belong to him. And if it was at all special to the owner, it would have been collected by now.

  It wouldn’t do. It was too much of a coincidence for her to find it in the first place. She picked it up again; she was meant to read it.

  A few hours later Andalin finally hid the diary beneath her pillow, blew out her lamp, and sank down onto her pillow to sleep. Her mind would not succumb to rest. Too many thoughts about Eliana spun around in her head.

  Ellis had a sister.

  Andalin squeezed her eyes shut. She was only halfway through the diary, but her emotions had exhausted her. She would have to wait to discover hints of what had happened until the morrow. For now it was enough to disrupt her sleep to know Ellis had lost not only his parents and his face but a sister too. Shame burned inside Andalin for her judgmental ways.

  Eliana had described her family as nearly perfect, with the exception of her jealousy of her brother. As the eldest and a boy, it seemed their parents had favored Ellison. Eliana had been much like Andalin, blind to the good intentions and sacrifices of her parents.

  The day-to-day journaling of Eliana made her come alive in Andalin’s mind. Eliana had fears about taking her bows and experiencing her first social Season. Often those concerns were about her looks, though she felt inadequate in other areas as well. Eliana had dreams and passions too. She had a love for painting and drawing. Sketches of things she had seen or experienced that day decorated the margins and several full pages.

  Andalin knew eventually she would have to give the diary to Ellis. He deserved to have a part of his sister. Andalin also knew she would not be able to relinquish it until she read every page. She wanted so badly to know the secrets of Braitwood Hall, what had happened to Eliana and her parents, and why Ellis wore a mask. This was her chance to discover the answers.

  Andalin tossed and turned for another few minutes before she was able to fall asleep. The last thought on her mind was if she would ever see her own dear father again.

  ***

  The next morning at breakfast Andalin wasn’t sure if she was relieved or disappointed when she did not cross paths with Ellis. She wondered if she would have been able to look him in the eye. She felt repentant for her harsh judgments of him. After reading the diary, she also felt somehow as if she understood him better. She wanted her fresh start to begin with a civil morning greeting—a smile, a how do you do, and a promise for only pleasing conversation.

  Andalin’s morning ride passed quickly with her anticipation to finish the diary. She found a quiet, secluded part of the grounds where she wouldn’t be seen from the house. She eagerly brought out the diary from where she’d hidden it under her cloak and began to pore through the pages.

  Andalin read about Eliana’s first ball and how nervous she had been until she was finally asked to dance. She had even included a sketch of the dress and jewelry she had worn. Andalin laughed when she read about Eliana’s attempts to flirt with a young gentleman named James. His name slowly became Eliana’s favorite subject. Braitwood Hall had a great deal more life in those days, it seemed.

  Andalin was a quarter from the end when she came upon a different sort of entry. Eliana had been out picking strawberries by herself when a beautiful young woman had come out of nowhere. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Eliana wrote how strange it was that when the woman had left, she hadn’t taken the road. She’d disappeared right into the forest.

  A few entries later the woman returned while Eliana was painting the trees in the orchard. The young woman seemed even more beautiful to her than she had during their first encounter and introduced herself as Serenity. She confessed to living in the forest, where her loneliness had led her to Braitwood Hall. Eliana envied Serenity’s appearance, for such beauty would easily win her James’s love. Eliana noted several more encounters, but the specifics were not included. She had few close friends and was truly happier from having made this strange and secreted friendship. A few entries later Eliana invited Serenity to come to a lawn party. Serenity said she would consider it and then disappeared into the trees again.

  Andalin quickly flipped to the next page, only to learn that Serenity had not come to the party and how acutely it disappointed Eliana. After the lawn party Eliana concealed herself in the orchard. It was while sketching in her journal that Serenity finally came to Eliana. Eliana questioned her about not coming to the party, and Serenity replied that she rarely frequented social gatherings because she did not like the attention. Their mutual loneliness bonded them to each other. Eliana promised Serenity she would visit her in the forest.

  Andalin turned the page, and her breath caught. The next page was empty. She thumbed through the rest of the book, but it was all empty. What had happened? Had Eliana gone into the forest? Had she been devoured by wolves?

  Andalin closed the book and attempted to digest the facts. A strange woman had come from the forest, and a mere two weeks later Eliana was no longer writing in her journal. It was time to find Ellis. Andalin needed to know what had happened to Eliana.

  Chapter 9

  At the entrance to the manor house, Mr. Lewis informed Andalin dinner was ready. She hadn’t realized how much time had passed while she had been reading. She looked down at her hands and dress—a newly formed habit. Sighing, she realized she would have to wash before getting her questions answered.

  She hurried upstairs and found Hannah waiting impatiently to help her.

  “There ye are! Mr. Lewis has been all over the house and grounds searching for ye. Yer dinner will be cold before ye have yer first bite.”

  Andalin grimaced when Hannah insisted she not only wash but change clothes before returning downstairs. “I’m sorry. I was simply enjoying the last warm days of the season. I honestly didn’t notice the lateness of the hour.”

  Hannah seemed to be having an internal struggle of whether or not to stay angry. “Yer right about the weather. Won’t be too many more nice days left. Still, ye should be more considerate of the help. We aren’t young enough to be chasin’ around lookin’ for ye.”

  Andalin didn’t argue. “I apologize again. It was senseless of me.” When it seemed her appearance appeased Hannah, Andalin bolted out of her bedroom.

  She was nearly out of breath from her race down the stairs when she stumbled into the dining room. She sighed heavily when she saw the empty room. She didn’t know why she’d ever tried avoiding Ellis; he did enough avoiding for the both of them.

  Andalin didn’t enjoy her dinner. She was too annoyed at Ellis. Here she had made all these resolutions to be better, and he wasn’t letting her have the chance to prove herself. In addition, she felt a keen urgency to talk to him about Eliana’s journal.
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  After dinner Andalin took the journal and planted herself in the library. She wanted to see if Ellis was in his room, but after the last encounter, she dared not look there. She would simply have to sit and wait in the library and hope Ellis would find her instead.

  When two hours passed, Andalin finally gave up. She snatched the journal and marched out of the room, right smack into Ellis’s chest.

  “Ouch!” Andalin groaned.

  Ellis reached out to steady her. “Pardon me. Did I hurt you?”

  Warmth from his touch radiated through her shoulders. Reluctantly, she took a step back, out of his arms, hiding the diary behind her, and rubbed her nose. “Never mind. I was just coming to find you.”

  “You missed my company. I knew you’d come around.”

  Andalin glared before she realized what she was doing. She swallowed back her retort. She was supposed to be proving herself. “There is a very important matter I would like to discuss with you.”

  Ellis folded his arms across his chest and frowned. “Go ahead.”

  Andalin took a deep breath. “This might be taken better sitting down.”

  His frown deepened, but he obeyed and accompanied her back into the library, taking a seat in an armchair. When Andalin sat down, she carefully kept the diary hidden beneath the extra fabric of her skirt.

  “Thank you,” Andalin began, attempting to start on a gracious note. “First, I would like to apologize for breaching your privacy. I have acted abominably on numerous occasions during my stay here. I will do my best to improve my behavior, I assure you.”

  Ellis shifted in his seat like the topic made him uncomfortable. Andalin didn’t wait for him to accept her apology; instead she charged on. “In the desk in my room I stumbled upon something I think might be of value to you.”