Daughters of the Sea

by HR Mason

  Brynja paused and looked at Thomas’s face, seeming to measure her words to see how much she should reveal.

  “In my brief time in your country, I’ve come to understand that people don’t appreciate my sort of gifts. So between you and me, Thomas, yes, I’m everything you believe. But outside of these walls, I’m just an ordinary woman with a keen sense of herbs and flowers,” Brynja explained.

  “I understand. Your secret is safe with me.”

  Thomas took her hand in his and lifted it to his lips.

  “But that’s where you’re wrong, Thomas. A secret such as this is never safe.”

  Twenty-Two

  As Runa lay in bed, the early morning light filtered through the heavy drapes of the bedroom. Rolling from her side to her back, she winced in pain as she bent her knees. She could feel the bruises from her fall the night before.

  She hadn’t told Chase what happened with his mother, and she didn’t intend to. They’d both been completely exhausted from the wedding and had fallen asleep right away. Hiding it had been easier than she’d anticipated.

  Glancing beside her, the shape of Chase’s head was still imprinted in the fluffy pillow. Other than that, his side of the bed looked barely slept in. She’d known he had to leave early for work, but the reality of waking up alone in a strange room the morning after her wedding hit Runa a bit harder than she’d expected. She bit back tears.

  They had talked about it, of course. Chase had work obligations, in place far longer than he’d even known Runa. He couldn’t get out of the appointments, scheduled months in advance. Chase was a busy man, and his work was demanding and time-consuming.

  Besides, Runa didn’t want to leave her shop. The idea of closing her boutique to go on a honeymoon seemed irresponsible. It hadn’t been open long enough to warrant a closure, and she couldn’t risk losing customers who had just begun to frequent her establishment.

  Chase and Runa agreed their work must take precedence. They had responsibilities and commitments to keep. They had discussed it at length, deciding to put their honeymoon on hold indefinitely. The important thing, they’d both agreed, was that they get married and begin their lives together right away. The honeymoon could come later. She’d been perfectly fine with that decision, yet the reality of waking up alone in Everwine Manor felt empty and depressing.

  “Snap out of it, Runa. You’re Mrs. Everwine. That’s what you wanted,” she chided herself. “And now you need to get ready for work.”

  Rolling out of the giant canopy bed, she stretched her body, trying to ease some of the residual tension from the day before. She walked across the room and opened the drapes, letting the morning sun creep into the dark room. Glancing outside, she saw large waves undulating on the surface of the ocean. She couldn’t believe the view from her window. Of course, there didn’t seem to be a poor view from anywhere inside Everwine Manor.

  Turning from the window, Runa was surprised to see a silver tray on the table across the room. She lifted the lid on the large platter, and steam rolled off the eggs and bacon. She touched the carafe and realized the coffee was still hot.

  It must have been brought in while she was sleeping. The thought of someone in her room while she slept sent a shiver down her spine. Even though it was more than likely placed there by a servant, whose job it was to do so, it still made her uncomfortable. It felt like an invasion of privacy.

  A light knock on the door caused her to jump.

  “Mrs. Everwine?”

  Runa recognized Maisie’s voice, but before she could even manage an answer, the door swung open and the jittery maid entered the room. Startled, Runa pulled her silk robe around her body and tried to smooth her tousled hair.

  “Can I help you, Maisie?”

  “I’m here to see to your morning schedule.”

  “My morning schedule?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Maisie crossed the room and lifted the lid on the silver platter. She frowned when she saw it hadn’t been eaten. “You don’t like your breakfast?”

  “I… I do. I mean, I’m sure it’s delicious. I haven’t tried it yet,” Runa fumbled.

  Maisie gave her a quick once-over and wrinkled her nose in apparent confusion. “You look like you just got out of bed, ma’am.”

  “I did.”

  “Oh. Mr. Everwine left the house hours ago.”

  “Yes. Chase has to be at work much earlier than I do. I slept in a bit. I suppose I was tired from all the festivities.”

  Runa didn’t know why she felt compelled to explain herself, but she did.

  “Very well, ma’am. Shall I help you dress now?”

  Maisie spoke the words as if they were the most normal ones in the world. Runa, however, was shocked.

  “Help me dress?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Uh, well, I think I can manage that on my own,” she replied, a bit shocked.

  “Are you dismissing me, Mrs. Everwine?”

  The irritation in Maisie’s voice was obvious. She made no attempt to disguise her distaste.

  “I’m not exactly dismissing you, Maisie. It’s just that I’ve been dressing myself for most of my life, and I don’t intend to stop now. I really don’t require your assistance in that area.”

  “Very well,” Maisie huffed. “Please let me know what you do require. Until then, I will leave you to your own dressing.”

  Straightening her spine, Maisie gave Runa a scathing look before scurrying from the room without another word.

  Runa, reeling from the awkward encounter, tried to gather her wits. Apparently there was far more involved in being Mrs. Everwine than she’d imagined. Unfortunately, she didn’t know how to do any of it, and she’d therefore begun her first morning as Chase’s wife by offending the maid.

  Feeling guilty and embarrassed, Runa went to the door and opened it, glancing down the long hallway in search of Maisie. She intended to apologize, but the woman was nowhere to be seen. In fact, the entire hall was deserted.

  Closing the door behind her, Runa sighed. There didn’t seem to be another soul in the east wing, where she and Chase had set up their living quarters. He assured her it was the best way to guarantee their privacy, as Easton and Camille occupied rooms in the west wing. As with most things, she’d deferred to his advice, seeing as she had no idea about the operations of an estate like Everwine Manor.

  Feeling completely and utterly alone, Runa did her best not to let the tears fall, knowing if they began, they might never stop. Glancing at the clock across the room, she saw it was nearly nine, which meant she had better get ready for work or risk being late.

  Flipping on the light in the closet, she stepped inside. The space was larger than her entire house. There was even a large settee in the middle, presumably in case dressing grew exhausting and sitting became necessary.

  She scanned the racks of clothing. The servants had moved all of her belongings from her house to Everwine Manor the previous day, and seeing her clothes hanging in the same space as Chase’s was jarring. Everything was new and different, and being alone to process it all suddenly felt like a terrible idea.

  Running her fingertips across Chase’s shirts, Runa pulled one close and inhaled, smiling when she realized it smelled like him. Curious, she examined his clothing, familiarizing herself with his side of the closet. She counted his shoes, lined up like soldiers at attention, marveling at the fact that he had fifty pairs. Pulling open one of the drawers, she saw a plethora of neckties, one after another, in every color of the rainbow. She thought her wardrobe was extensive, but it paled in comparison to her husband’s.

  Walking to her side of the closet, she pulled a black dress from the hanger and draped it across the settee. Opening the top drawer, she searched for the perfect necklace to accentuate the deep neckline. The servants had certainly done an amazing job organizing all of her belongings, but it would take her a while to figure out where everything was.

  The necklace wasn’t in the top drawe
r, so she opened the next one. Smiling when she saw it, Runa grabbed it and placed it next to her dress. She was about to close the drawer when something in the back corner caught her eye. Stooping down to get a better look, she saw what appeared to be a photograph sticking out from behind the drawer.

  Grabbing the corner that was visible, she gave the photo a tug, careful not to rip it. Curious, she glanced at the picture, blinking twice, certain her eyes were playing tricks on her. Shocked, she sank slowly onto the settee, suddenly very glad it was there.

  With trembling hands, she held up the photo, forcing herself to take another look. The photograph was taken on the deck of a ship, the bright sun glittering off the waves in the distance. Chase was smiling, carefree, happier than Runa had ever seen him.

  His arm was draped casually across the slender shoulders of the woman who stood next to him. He wasn’t looking at the camera but at his companion, and his expression spoke a thousand words. He gazed at the woman with such love, longing, and admiration that seeing it caused Runa physical pain. The woman, however, wasn’t looking at him but directly at the camera.

  She searched the woman’s face in an effort to understand, trying to catch the breath that had been stolen away. The face in the photo was nearly identical to Runa’s—her eyes the same color of blue, her face the same structure, her body the same shape. The only difference was their hair. Where Runa’s was long and lush, the woman in the photo sported a short pixie cut. Besides that small difference, the woman could be Runa.

  Confused and suddenly afraid, she debated what she should do. Her need to know clashed with her desire to pretend she’d never seen it. In the end, she slid the photo in her sock drawer, far beneath the pile, choosing to forget it existed. Then she dressed for work.

  Twenty-Three

  Departure Cove, Oregon, 1900

  “Are you happy, Mrs. Calais?”

  Thomas kissed Brynja’s hand and inhaled her scent, lavender and lemongrass. The two sat on the enormous porch of Angelica House, sipping their afternoon tea and watching the waves crash in the distance. They’d been married for three months, and every moment had been pure bliss. Thomas had told her more than once that he had a hard time remembering his existence before making her his wife, and she felt the same way. Their souls were knitted together.

  “Of course I’m happy. I couldn’t ask for more,” Brynja answered with a smile. “And yet….”

  She turned her face toward her husband’s and graced him with an enigmatic smile, the one that said she knew far more than he would ever understand.

  “And yet what, my love?”

  “I couldn’t ask for more, and yet it seems we shall have it.”

  “Why is it that your every word is a puzzle?” Thomas chuckled. “It’s almost as if you take pleasure in my constant confusion.”

  “Me?”

  “Yes, you.”

  Brynja feigned shock but quickly dissolved in a fit of laughter. She loved keeping her dear husband guessing. He was such a good sport about it, after all.

  She smiled and stood from her chair. Standing in front of Thomas, she took his hand and gently placed it on her stomach. As their eyes met, she tilted her head.

  “You’re—”

  “I am. We’re going to have a baby, Thomas,” Brynja answered.

  “You’re sure?” he whispered.

  “Very sure.” She placed her hand on top of his, still resting on her abdomen.

  A faint blue light emanated from her fingertips, gone as quickly as it had come.

  “You’ve made me the happiest man alive. You know that, right?” Thomas whispered.

  “Our daughter will always know our love.”

  “It’s a girl? How can you know so soon?”

  “I’ve always known I would have a daughter,” Brynja replied confidently. “Her name will be Ingrid, and magic will be in her blood.”

  Tears filled Thomas’s eyes as he stood, wrapping his arms around his wife and pulling her body close to his. They had brought each other such happiness that they dared not hope for more, and yet they were to have it. Their family would be complete.

  “Tell me we’ll always be this happy, Brynn,” Thomas said quietly as he smoothed his wife’s hair.

  Brynja sighed and pulled away, gazing intently at her husband before speaking. A dark look passed over her beautiful face, and the tiniest bit of nagging worry crept into Thomas’s eyes.

  “I cannot promise you that, my love. We must soak up all the happiness we can while it’s in front of us.”

  “Have you seen something?”

  Looking away from Thomas’s desperate eyes, Brynja cushioned the truth.

  “All I can see when I look at you is love, Thomas. Let’s not worry about tomorrow. Today is here, and nothing else matters.”

  Twenty-Four

  “I understand, Chase. I’ll see you when you get home.”

  “I love you, darling. And I’m sorry,” Chase apologized once again.

  “I love you too.”

  Runa hung up her phone and dropped it on the table. She fought the tears that threatened to spill, fully aware they were from frustration, not sadness. It was the fourth night in a row that Chase would be coming home late. They had been married only a month, and in that time, she could count on one hand the evenings they’d eaten dinner together.

  She kept telling herself everything was fine. She’d known what she was getting into when she married Chase. He was a busy man, and running the Everwine empire was tireless work. He deserved a supportive wife, not a needy one. She was trying to be that, but the transition to living at Everwine Manor had been more difficult than she’d imagined. The jarring change was compounded by the fact that she’d been navigating it alone.

  Camille never failed to communicate her displeasure at Runa’s presence, so it had become Runa’s motivation to avoid her whenever possible. Most nights she had Maisie bring the dinner tray to her room, where she ate alone. Boredom and loneliness were better companions than her vengeful mother-in-law.

  Asta checked in on her a few times a week, but Runa was careful not to reveal too much. She’d grown adept at concealing her feelings, although she knew her mother was far more astute than she let on. The only solace Runa found in her new home was the rose garden maze, where she’d grown accustomed to taking a nightly stroll. It was the one thing she loved about living in the mansion.

  Slipping quietly from her room, she descended the back stairway, primarily used by the servants, and exited through the kitchen. Once outside, she breathed a sigh of relief. It was twilight, the soft glowing sky whispering its goodbye to the sun. In the half light, it was easier to forget her worries and focus on the beauty around her, abundant at Everwine Manor. The waves crashed below the cliff, and Runa made her way to the rose garden maze.

  Most nights she simply sat there, processing her thoughts, but that night she decided to amble through the walls of colorful flowers. As she walked, she wondered how many other Everwine women had traversed the path before her. Had they been happy? Had Everwine Manor welcomed them with open arms? She hoped the women before her had been loved well.

  As she rounded a corner deep inside the maze, she jumped, startled to find Easton Everwine sitting on a wrought iron bench in front of her. The shock was all Runa’s, as he didn’t seem at all surprised to see her. In fact, the disconcerting smile spreading across his handsome face made her believe he was waiting for her.

  “Hello, my dear. It’s a lovely night for a walk,” Easton declared with a wink.

  Caught off guard, Runa didn’t know how to respond. She stepped to the side, wincing as a thorn pricked her shoulder. Ignoring the pain, she offered her father-in-law a shaky smile.

  “I-I’m sorry to disturb you. I thought I was alone.”

  “Almost. It’s just you and me.”

  “Well, I was about to head inside, so I’ll see you later.”

  Nervous, Runa turned to leave.

  Before she knew what was happenin
g, Easton sprang from the bench, wedging his body between her and the exit. Feeling like a cornered animal, her breath came quickly and her heart beat rapidly.

  “You just got here, my dear. There’s no need for you to leave so quickly,” he purred, the corners of his mouth curling into a devilish grin.

  Telling herself not to panic, Runa took a shaky breath, trying to exhale the fear.

  “I have to get up early for work tomorrow, so if you’ll excuse me….”

  She tried to move past Easton, but he sidestepped her, blocking her once again. She raised her eyes toward his face, momentarily distracted by the resemblance between Easton and Chase. If she ever wondered what her husband would look like in his late forties, she need look no further than his father.

  “It’s early, my dear. You don’t need to rush off.”

  With Easton in front of her and the hedge of roses behind, Runa had no means of escape. He took two steps toward her, and she took two steps back. Her ragged breath seemed inordinately loud in the quiet of the labyrinth.

  Just when she believed the situation couldn’t get worse, Easton brought his hand to her face, lightly caressing her cheek with his fingertips. She shivered reflexively, and his grin bloomed. She tried to avoid his stare but couldn’t look away.

  Suddenly, his face changed. His eyes glazed over and he leered hungrily at her body. He leaned toward her, his lips moving swiftly toward their target—her mouth. Horrified, Runa moved her head slightly, and they grazed her cheek instead. He was undeterred.

  “Playing hard to get, I see. You were always that way, Asta. You know how to drive a man wild.” Easton chuckled and tried to grab her shoulders.

  The fact that he called her by her mother’s name stopped Runa dead in her tracks. Confusion warred with fear, causing her to find her voice.

  “Easton, I’m Runa. Chase’s wife.”