When evening set in, she would watch the summer sky gradually fade from shades of cerulean and gold to the darkest indigo, while inhaling the scents of the night; an earthy, woody scent which was refreshingly cool following the humidity of the day.
Autumn blazed in, brighter than usual. The days still shone vividly, though the air grew crisper. Scarlett watched as the trees changed their foliage from green to flaming fire colours, but it didn’t last long. Winter came next, hard and cold. Scarlett would stir in the dark mornings feeling like she was the only person in the world, as she lit fires and prepared breakfasts for the household with numb hands and chattering teeth. She took extra care to ensure that Winifred was kept warm, feeding her piping hot bowls of porridge and thick, hearty soups.
Poisonwood seemed to be paused while lodged in the depths of winter. A blanket of snow left everything hidden away and muffled. The whole city sparkled; its buildings, cars and streets coated with frost, like sugary confectionary.
Though winter seemed everlasting, the festive Solstice holiday brought some temporary warmth and joy. For a short time, the city glowed with lights and decorations. Trees sat in every window and wreaths hung on every door. Poisonwood embraced the celebratory spirit with a hearty fervour. Scarlett and the other maids served up spicy mulled wines and roasted chestnuts on the chilly evenings and the whole family sang carols together in front of the fire.
One day in early December, Rebecca came ran to Scarlett’s room, clutching a golden invitation in her hand.
“Letty, it’s the Masquerade Ball!” She squealed. “You’ve got an invite too! You should see the mansions. They look glorious at this time of year.”
“What do you mean I’m invited?” Scarlett struggled to say, dropping her book down on her bed.
“Only the after dinner bit, like last time. We get to buy dresses!”
“That’s wonderful…” She trailed off, stroking the fabric of her mustard coloured blanket. “But I’m not so sure I’d actually want to go. I feel like I stick out at those things…”
“You don’t stick out, I promise. It’s all in your head. You’re just like everyone else.”
She considered not going, but knew that Rebecca wouldn’t let her stay at home and the thought of sitting all alone in her bedroom on the night was unbearable. The build up to the ball left Scarlett with a nervous sickness in her stomach. She spent cold days shopping with Rebecca to find the perfect dress and went about her daily tasks with a distracted mind.
On the night of the ball, Scarlett couldn’t help but be swept up in the excitement of it all. It was three days until the holiday and uptown glistened. With matching masks, Rebecca wore a beautiful dress of golden taffeta, while Scarlett wore a silky claret coloured dress that she had found in a downtown clothing store.
“You both look spectacular, ladies,” Vincent had said, his eyes still on his newspaper.
“Lovely, girls. Very lovely,” Celia had said, her hand on her heart.
“Thank you,” Scarlett responded bashfully. “I’ll be with Winnie until the car returns.”
She watched from an icy window as the Clearharts cautiously made their way down the front steps of the house and into the car that would take them to the ball, then dashed up to her room to make sure that all was okay with her appearance. She redid her make-up, then ran back down the stairs to sit with Winnie until the arrival of the car. Wrapping herself up in a coat and scarf, she took slow steps down to the pavement, taking care to avoid icy patches. When the car arrived, she clambered in, now feeling deeply on edge.
Steadying her breathing, Scarlett gazed out of the window, as the festive Poisonwood night rolled by. When she arrived, she nervously applied her mask, stepped out of the car and marvelled at the glittering manor. It was adorned with lights, wreaths and all manner of festive decorations. All around her, guests pulled up in cars and flocked passed, dressed to the nines in their finery.
Poisonwood Manor was filled to bursting. The atmosphere was laden with joy and camaraderie and at this stage of the evening anyone was welcome as far as the merry hosts were concerned. Once inside, Scarlett pushed her way passed a peculiar assortment of masked strangers and towering ornamented trees, struggling to find Rebecca. Both rooms were heaving, so much so that the staff were setting up a third room for the guests to flow into. After much searching and staring into the concealed faces of people she didn’t know, Scarlett finally found Rebecca with a group of friends, all dressed up in gowns of various jewel colours.
“Oh good, you’re here! Dinner was amazing. The tables seemed to bend in the middle, there was so much food.” Beccy clutched onto Scarlett’s hand. She swayed a little and her eye make-up was smeared.
Scarlett listened while Rebecca proceeded to describe dinner in great detail, though her mind was elsewhere as she casually scanned the room. Most of the men looked the same, all in identical suits and black masks. When the other girls ran off to dance, Scarlett grabbed a glass of sparkling wine and wandered around the room, feeling as apart from the uptown society set as she always did.
Half an hour later, Rebecca sauntered over, a beaming smile upon her face. “I just danced with the most beautiful boy. You wouldn’t believe it.” She sighed dreamily.
“Good for you, Beccy,” Scarlett said with a smile, sipping on her drink.
“I know. He walked up to me and held up his hand and asked me to dance. It was just wonderful. I think he lives around here. He was so well spoken. And I saw how excited my mother was when she spotted us dancing. You know how badly she wants to get me married off! Oh and Izzy says that she found the boy from the club downtown. Do you remember? The one she was obsessed with on the night we left you behind.”
“The Shadow? Really?”
“Yes. She’s adamant it’s him. Though I don’t see how she could know, because she barely got a good look at him all those months ago. It was so dark and everyone’s wearing masks tonight, but she swears…” Rebecca trailed off with an indifferent shrug.
Awkwardly clearing her throat, Scarlett asked, “So what is she doing? Is she going to speak to him?”
“No. She’s just hovering around pathetically. She’s far too scared to try talking to him. Come on, let’s find her.”
Reluctantly, Scarlett trailed behind Rebecca, struggling to keep up as she expertly snaked her way through the crowd.
“Are you okay, Izzy?” Rebecca asked her friend when they located the distressed girl.
“No. I want to dance with him,” Izzy replied grouchily as she stared across the party.
“Well, go and ask him then.”
“I can’t. I think he’s important. People keep talking to him and patting him on the back. I wish they’d go away.”
“Which one is he?” Scarlett said.
“He’s the one surrounded by about fifty billion people over there.”
“They all look identical, Izzy. How do you know it’s the same person? That was ages ago.”
“I just do. And it doesn’t matter anyway, whoever he is, he’s over there and not dancing with me like he should be.”
The boy whom Izzy was pointing to was surrounded by great crowd of people, mostly young males. There was no doubt that they were all Shadows.
“Izzy, you can’t just stand here watching him all night. Try and enjoy yourself,” Rebecca said gently.
Unwilling to listen to any more of Izzy’s egotistical wailings about the boy, Scarlett tactfully lost herself in the throng and found her way into the less crowded third room. A dancefloor in the centre was half filled with couples and Scarlett instantly felt more comfortable here. As she watched the dancers moving leisurely around the room, Scarlett fell into a dreamy sort of reverie caused by the slow, sultry nature of the music and the glitz of the room and its guests. She closed her eyes and took it all in with a sigh, moving her head to the enchanting notes of the piano and the soaring of the string instruments.
“My favourite song…fancy a dance?”
Pul
led out of her trance, Scarlett whirled around in surprise to look at the pale, masked figure stood in front of her. He smiled a sly, crooked smile. Unable to speak, Scarlett managed the smallest of nods and allowed him to gently grip her hand with his own and pull her to the dancefloor. Her heart began to pound so loudly that she was sure everyone in the room could hear and was watching her.
William set one hand on her waist, and steeling herself so that she didn’t tremble, Scarlett did the same to him. He clasped her hand and moved slowly, ever poised and graceful. At first, Scarlett kept her head down as she attempted to process what was going on. She felt everything. The cool, rough touch of his hand on hers. The gentle grip of his other hand on her waist. His eyes watching her curiously.
‘Stop staring at the ground Scarlett and pull yourself together,’ she scolded herself.
Looking up at last, she found the confidence to speak. “Hello,” she said quietly, a small smile on her face.
“Hello,” he replied, his voice calm and enigmatic.
“You caught me off guard,” she explained.
“I’m sorry. Perhaps I shouldn’t have crept up behind you.” He grinned. A real smile! So unexpected, it actually left her even more speechless.
“It’s okay,” Scarlett blushed a little. “I was just…thinking of things…” She bit her lip and looked around herself, taking nothing in. The conversation was stilted and awkward. Whether she was imagining it or not, Scarlett felt the eyes of everyone in the room on her. Did they know she was dancing with William Poisonwood? She presumed that he would be recognised. While her heart continued to thud, she concentrated on her breathing. Every time William shifted his grip, she shivered internally, the hairs on her arms rising at his electric touch. Unable to think of anything else to say, she nervously asked, "Is this allowed?”
“Rarely. But at this time of year we’re allowed two dances per girl. Lucky us,” he leaned in and whispered.
“Oh. Well, that’s good for you. I suppose…”
“I’m sorry about last time,” he murmured. “In the garden, I mean.”
“It’s fine. I didn’t want you to get in trouble, did I?”
“It’s all nonsense anyway,” William responded shortly.
Swallowing with difficulty, Scarlett asked, “Nonsense?”
He shook his head. “Never mind.” He sighed, cleared his throat and shifted his grip on her waist. “I like your dress, it’s very…red and uh…beautiful.” William smirked a little as Scarlett raised her eyebrows at him.
“Thank you,” she replied, unable to stop herself from smiling back. She lost herself for the rest of the song, but when the music ended, Scarlett realised again where she was, who she was with and, most of all, who she was. She was just a maid. What was she doing here dancing with William Poisonwood of all people? It was too unexpected, too strange, too much and so just as the next song was beginning, she pulled away. “I have to go,” Scarlett said, vaguely apologetic, before turning and swiftly exiting the room to find Rebecca, who was still trying to console Izzy.
“Beccy, I’m leaving now,” she whispered urgently.
“What? Why? You just got here! Hey, we saw you dancing with William Poisonwood. How did you manage that?” Rebecca whispered excitedly.
“I…I’m not sure. I don’t feel too good, so I’m going home. I’ll speak to you tomorrow.”
Scarlett gave Rebecca a quick hug and fought her way back through the crowd again, as bellowing laughter and concealed faces swirled all around. Pulling off her mask, she collected her coat from the cloakroom and throwing it on, hurried passed the rowdy revellers who hung about the entrance hall. Bracing herself for the cold snap of the December night, Scarlett left the house and paused for a moment on the front step.
“You’re running away from me?”
Turning her head sharply, Scarlett saw that William was standing to one side of the door, also without his mask. He leaned casually on a pillar with his hands in his pockets and watched her with dark eyes.
“No,” she lied, taking a step closer. “I just…these things take me over a little…” She didn’t feel like explaining it any further.
William shook his head. “It’s okay. I understand. It is how it is. Third time lucky for a real goodbye?”
Scarlett watched him for a moment. With his guard down, she saw a thousand lights and a thousand thoughts, in just one expression. It had the power to absolutely shatter her should she allow it to. Of course, she couldn’t and wouldn’t let that happen.
“Goodbye William," she said eventually.
“Goodbye Scarlett.” He tipped his head towards her, his eyes never leaving hers.
She walked away slowly, turning back to take him in for one final time. William continued to watch from beneath a furrowed brow, his hands still shoved in his pockets. Something had changed in him. She turned and climbed into the car, leaning her head against the cold window, unaware of the fact that she was shivering. Once she was home, she scrambled into her bed and curled up beneath the blankets.
Shadows were off limits - everybody knew that.
Chapter Ten
On the day of the Solstice, gifts were exchanged, crackers pulled, jokes laughed at and a fine dinner served up by the household staff. The other maids were then sent home to their own families and the Clearharts, Winifred and Scarlett sat down to enjoy the feast. Scarlett wrapped Winifred in her new scarf and together they shared port and chocolate liqueurs, which left the old lady tired, but giggly.
“Did you have a good day, Winnie?” Scarlett asked once she had settled her in bed.
“Yes, I did. I’ve done very well indeed. I’ve got biscuits and a mug and a cardigan from Celia and Vincent. And Beccy gave me handkerchiefs with my name on. I’m pleased with that, because I needed some new ones, didn’t I?”
“Yes, you did.”
“And then there’s the scarf and chocolates and port from you.”
“Yes, you did okay, didn’t you?” Scarlett said with a smile.
“Oh, not at all bad for an old woman,” Winifred chuckled to herself from beneath a multitude of blankets.
“Not bad at all. Now, get yourself off to sleep okay? I’ve left some water on your table here.”
Once the Solstice had passed, a misty gloom settled on the city. The freezing air made it difficult to breathe. It pinched at the lungs and left one’s insides burning. Scarlett would make her way up the slippery streets, walking slowly with numb feet in boots, unable to feel her gloved hands, nose red and running. She could see her breath every time she breathed out, and exchanged nods of acknowledgment with each shivering, huddled person she passed. The entire population of Poisonwood was wrapped up, fighting to go about their daily errands, before safely ensconcing themselves back indoors, as the flailing sun was defeated by long, dark nights.
Scarlett was relieved when one morning she left the house to find that the incessant ice had been washed away by a pre-springtime downpour. The pure snowy stillness was replaced by unremitting waves of rain - grey rain, light rain, heavy rain and whenever it stopped, dark menacing clouds that hovered overhead threatening to spill again at any time. Poisonwood was beginning to warm up again, albeit at a snail's pace. As she paced the soaking streets, shrinking against the torrent beneath her green umbrella, Scarlett imagined what the Outside was like in spring. Everything would be starting to grow. Nature would begin again following the long winter death. It was yet to be sullied by the weight and heat of a heavy summer or the spoils of autumn.
Thinking of William, Scarlett wondered if he had seen the winter through okay. Their encounters seemed so long ago now, so much so that she began to question whether they had occurred at all. Colours seemed lighter and details had slipped away to a place she could no longer reach, like sand in a timer. Nevertheless, the feelings of curiosity and wonder that he had induced within her remained at the centre of her mind. Like a deep red wine through the most crystalline water, he had somehow changed her thoughts and opini
ons on her whole life, however inadvertently. As far as Scarlett was concerned though, it was all in the past now - a memory stolen from the life of another person.
She returned home from the market one day to find that Rebecca had bought tickets for the family to see a new show that was to open the next week. The performance was filled with songs, dancing and the general theatrics and garish costumes that were to be expected from the downtown theatre troupes. Afterwards, the family headed back uptown. Once home, Scarlett and Rebecca tumbled out of the car, while Vincent and Celia stepped out gracefully after them. The house seemed big, cold and empty and just for peace of mind, Scarlett quietly checked in on Winifred. The old lady was safely tucked up in her small bed, a slight smile on her face. Scarlett noticed that the curtains were still open, allowing an orangey glare to cast itself around the room. A twinge of annoyance ran through her and she made a mental note to remind Betty, the other maid, to close the curtains when it got dark out. She crept across the room and gently drew the thick fabric shut.
“Letty?” A quiet, cracked voice called from behind her.
Scarlett turned. “Yes it’s only me. Go back to sleep.”
“Okay,” Winifred whispered.
She looked so small and fragile, well into her winter years now. Creeping over to the bed, Scarlett stroked the old woman’s head, her white hair flyaway and sparse. Winifred, her eyes still closed, nodded a slow and heavy nod. Scarlett kissed her small hand, her pale pink skin wrinkled and paper thin. A few tears escaped, which she quickly wiped away. “Good night, Winnie.”
She gently tiptoed out and closed the door softly, then said a placid goodnight to Celia and Vincent, who were sat in the drawing room discussing the show. Scarlett took each step slowly and purposefully, as she ambled up the stairs towards the fifth floor. The higher she went, the darker and colder it seemed to be. Reaching her room, Scarlett felt isolated from the rest of the house, feeling the many empty storeys between herself and the other inhabitants.
The Shadow: The Poisonwood Shadows Book One Page 7
