Just as she was about to turn away from the mirror, a fleck of something caught her notice. She shifted a handful of blonde tresses and leaned in closer. Poking through the strands, she picked out several dark aggregates marring her ashen mane. How odd. Dismissing it, she quickly twisted her hair around itself and secured the knot atop her crown.
Eden abandoned the vanity table. The same too-loose dress from her earlier jaunt tangled about her legs as she moved. The room gave her a creepy awareness of sorts. She’d found it spotless upon her return…bed made, vanity organized, fresh flowers hung in the window ledge, chamber pot emptied. Yet, she hadn’t seen Nell or any other maid or manservant since the previous evening, and evening had nearly rolled around again. Apparently, Dominic’s dislike of underlings lurking and spreading gossip extended to the entire house, not just his quarters.
How can he stand it? The isolation. The death-like silence. She felt trapped inside her own mind, with naught but empty space and echoes ringing in her ears. It clawed at her insides like hunger pains in her stomach. Her heart craved contact, companionship, and love. A softly spoken word to a friend. A hearty chuckle between siblings. A warm hug from a lover. Sound, movement…Something. Anything… to ensure her grief hadn’t crushed her spirit and cut her off from the world…and any hope of happiness.
On the edge of screaming just to hear a live voice and fearful of another vexing vision assailing her, Eden quit the room in haste and went searching for Kathleen. Armed with a knap sack brimming with sketching materials, she found the pretty redhead dosing before the fire in the second floor study with a half-eaten plate of sweets tilting off her lap. Eden removed the plate and set it aside, smiling at the cozy picture Kathleen made. Hmph. The good doctor probably did not know it yet, but he would be welcoming a little stranger before the end of the year. Sleepiness, increased appetite, and she never saw Kathleen ahead of ten in the morning. Having attended her cousin Millie, Eden recognized the signs.
“Kathleen?” She nudged softly.
“Hmm…”
“Forgive me for waking you, but I was wondering if you would care to take a walk with me?”
Kathleen stirred, rubbing sleepy eyes. “Wat of dinner?”
Eden bit back a grin. “I thought we could have a late supper. Otherwise, I’ll loose the light.”
“Oh.” The redhead un-tucked her feet, ambled upwards, and straighten her skirts. “Aye, I suppose a wee stroll might do us both some good. Let’s be off then.”
Impulsively, Eden nipped forward to hug her as she’d done so many times to her aunts whenever they caved to her requests. “Thank you, so much. The country is so lovely and I’ve been cooped up much too long.”
“Poor lass.” Kathleen gave her a pat on the shoulder. “Come along and let’s put some roses on those cheeks. And ya really must insist Dominic hire a true lady’s maid. Forgive me for saying so, but such lovely hair is shamed by dat wash-woman’s knot.”
Eden wondered that Kathleen thought her in any position to ‘insist’ Dominic do anything much less procure her an exclusive maid. Perhaps she’d broach the matter with the doctor…if he returned. It would be nice to look the part of a marriage-minded maiden again.
* * *
On a well-marked path centuried on either side by mammoth trees, Kathleen and Eden approached the ivy-hung gazebo beckoning in the distance. The skies shone a happy blue, while the wind kissed their skin with welcoming breath.
“Would you mind terribly posing for me when we reach the gazebo?” Eden shot her companion a shy smile.
“An honor, t’would be.”
They continued in a comfortable silence, punctuated by lyrical birdsong and trilling dragonflies flitting through the trees. At the gazebo, Eden positioned Kathleen in a seated repose, with the dense green forest in the backdrop so that the waning sunlight set her flaming red hair ablaze with highlights. She arranged herself and her chalks and charcoals on the opposite bench. Parchment poised on one raised knee, eyes narrowed on her subject, Eden stroked across the page with form-defining lines and contours. It felt good to be sketching again.
When Kathleen reached to massage her neck, and then snatched her hand away, Eden knew a moment of guilt. “There is no need to sit as still as a statue. Just so long as you hold the general position.”
“Oh bless ya, I thought me back would snap soon.”
“Kathleen.” One hand darted to and fro on the paper, making a line here, a shadow there while the other held the parchment steady. Eden’s artist’s eye flitted from her subject to the burgeoning portrait as she spoke. “Tell me something about Dominic.”
“If I can, wee one.”
“Why does he always wear the spectacles? Have you ever seen him without them?”
“Oh dear me, no.” Kathleen chuckled as if the thought were ludicrous. “Ethan tells me his eyes are light sensitive. I donno believe him at first, but I canna think of another reason ta hide them…so perhaps ‘tis true.”
“Has your husband seen them?”
“Certainly.”
“They are close, then.”
“Aye. So much so dat I think Dominic resented me a wee bit when Ethan and I were wed. In time, he realized he had naught ta fear of me betraying him or taking Ethan away. He’s quite considerate nowadays.”
Eden nodded, while adding a longer shadow to the background foliage. “So he isn’t always this cloistered. He’s circling the wagons because of me.”
“Donno take it ta heart.” The conversation eased into a reluctant seriousness. “Dominic is ‘no given ta trusting anything unfamiliar ta him, particularly people. His early life was… difficult…and it has shaped tha man dat he is.”
“How so?” Anxious for more answers but mindful that she probably wouldn’t get them if she appeared too eager, Eden forced herself to maintain blithe movements and mannerisms.
“I…” Kathleen hesitated. “I canna say exactly. ‘Tis no’ me story ta tell. Be patient, lass. All things reveal themselves in time.”
Disappointed and intrigued alike, Eden let her shoulders sag. “What about the other brothers? Nell says they are quite numerous.”
“Aye, a brood of six, there is. My Ethan is tha oldest. You’ll likely meet Cael and Stephan before long.”
“Are they all…like Dominic? I mean, your husband seems well-adjusted.”
Kathleen laughed on a sigh. “My Ethan, bless him, was ‘no tha man he is today when we first met. He was ‘no tha same as Dominic, but just as much a victim is many ways. Dom, he bore tha brunt, but none escaped unscathed. Now then, enough of dis talk.”
* * *
Dominic stood with his back to his brother.
“Dom?” Cael repeated, softer tone, exuding genuine concern. “How is Gabriel coping?”
“Badly. He dreams constantly now. Gideon is beside himself.” Dominic silently cursed Cael’s uncanny ability to read people and the situations around him, particular himself. “How did you know?”
“Ah, you look tired. Been spending a lot of time in the astral realm lately, monitoring his lifeforce, I gather.”
Dom conceded with a nod. “Patients must find that all-knowing thing you do infuriating.”
“Actually many of them profess to find it comforting…not being forced to string together words to express their misery. In this case—”
“Is that how…you think of me?” Dom spoke, hesitant, whispering as if he were afraid or ashamed to voice the thought. A shaky hand hovered over his face and finally stripped his eyes of the specs. He turned. “Of us? Gideon, Gabriel and I. Are we as so many head-cases…a mass of problems to be…worked through and solved…or abandoned as hopeless and left to self-destruct.”
“No, Dominic. Never that.” Cael stared at his brother, humbled.
Dom forced himself to hold his brother’s gaze, seeing a virtual torment of emotion darken his familiar amber eyes. Eyes that he rarely saw unhindered by shaded glass.
“I think of you as reflections of myself, whom
I will never allow to self-destruct.” He admitted. “Dominic, I’ve never told you this, but I often wonder what sort of man I would have become if I’d had…an indifferent up-bringing. I see a lot of myself in you.”
Dom nodded his understanding and donned his spectacles once more. He ducked his head momentarily, gathered his strength, tucking the little boy back into that tiny crawlspace in his mind where he’d be safe from the scrutiny of a harsh outside world. “Ahem. Gabriel’s ability is more a curse than any of us have had to endure.”
“We don’t yet know the extent or context of Stephan’s ability.” Cael reminded. “Forgive me for asking, Dom, but why haven’t you gone to Italy? If not for Lucca than surely for Gabriel’s sake.”
“I…can’t.” Too many ghosts lurked there to haunt him. “Gideon will alert me if my presence there becomes…imperative.”
He nodded. “Gabriel aside, it is absolutely necessary that Stephan master his ability. English society is not so forgiving of those with mental illness.”
Dom exhaled when he didn’t push. For once, Cael seemed to accept that there were certain things he just wasn’t ready to voice.
“Paranormal asylums have begun to emerge, born of fear and ignorance, the likes of which are run by cruel opportunistic charlatans like Matthias Montgomery. That abomination of his—”
A sharp rap stilled the conversation. Both brothers’ attention swiveled to the door.
Dom arched a brow above the shaded lens. “A client?”
“No one this late. I was about to close up for the evening when you arrived.” Nevertheless, Cael started for the door. “Dom, if you would make yourself scarce.” Over his shoulder, he gestured for him to astral away.
“I’m not leaving.” Dominic threw a suspicious frown at the shadow lurking in the bottom of the doorframe.
“Dom.”
“I said no, Cael.” A warning note threaded his tone.
“I’m a doctor.” Cael insisted.
“Yes, I know,” He snapped, “For people touched in the head. Any one of whom could be dangerously unstable-”
“Dominic please. My clients are not dangerous, but they are highly sensitive. I have cultivated an air of reassurance and anonymity. You of all people should understand that. They will not speak with a witness present. Why else would I have my office so far removed from polite society?”
“Fine.” He conceded, with a chaser. “But I will know if something is off.”
His brother fingered the knob just as Dominic flickered into his astral self.
Chapter 10
Wind blown and oddly content, Eden strolled along side a woman she grew to like more and more with each passing day. Waning light and a nippy breeze quickened her steps. She did not wish Kathleen to catch a chill, especially in her delicate state. The surrounding trees leveled thick shadows upon the twosome. The end or rather beginning of the path, spilled into a grandiose clearing back of the main house with the dormitory-like servant’s quarters set off from the west side a hundred yards or so. Twilight loomed large, playing tricks on the eyes. But Eden could have sworn she glimpsed a figure dart to the right side of the house…where the first floor study opened out onto an enclosed veranda walled with fog-grey cobblestone.
“Kathleen—” Eden could scarcely make out the older woman’s frown.
“Aye, I saw.” She halted mid-ways the clearing.
“A servant?” Eden fell still beside her.
Kathleen was quick to despoil the theory. “They enter and exit through tha west wing, lass. From tha kitchens, leads directly ta tha boarding house there on tha left. Tha grounds-men have likely retired for tha night, and t’would be no need for any maid or footman ta be lurking thereabouts.”
“Who then?”
“I fear ‘tis some sticky-fingered bandit aiming ta snatch a few trinkets. So rarely Dominic is in town. Could ‘no resist.”
“Renfred.” Alarmed, Eden looked to the servant’s quarters, a hand tightening instinctively around the knapsack over her shoulder. “He will know what to do.”
“Aye.” Kathleen gave a sharp nod. “You fetch Renfred ta do tha talking…and I’ll fetch dat brawny groom ta put some steel behind tha words.”
Eden struck out for the west wing of the house, thinking to circle back to the front facade, enter and warn the butler. Kathleen followed, and pivoted off to the stables located above the boarding house on the west side.
* * *
This supposedly eccentric nephew, though reclusive, had not been particularly difficult to locate…his estate anyway Matthias thought. Information, on the other hand, was proving difficult to come by. His first approach, pay a loose-lipped local to spill any juicy tidbits, but he’d come up against a conspiracy of silence. The scant smear of servants who weren’t sequestered on the estate proper had clamped tighter than a deaf mute. And not a soul in the village and the surrounding area knew heads nor tails of the blind conte, who used a falcon as his eyes. No pictures. No portraits. Not even a descent description of the man. He’d had no choice but to sneak onto the grounds and ferret out a stray gardener or disgruntled maid to bribe.
Also…Fausto hadn’t mentioned anything about his nephew being blind. Why? Not that he suffered any attack of conscious about falsely committing a blind man…might make his job a touch less troublesome, actually. Blind or naught, the lucky bastard would get no sympathy from him. To his thinking, what good was a weakness if one couldn’t exploit it?
“Country gent must be flush wit the Queen’s own coffers.” Matthias cursed the fates beneath his breath as he shuffled along the palatial country estate.
The woman stumbled into him as he ambled out of the darkness just as she rounded the side of the house. Even in the meager light, Matthias realized his good fortune. Greedy eyes traveled down her person, taking stock of the prey. A live one. Comely enough and fragile to boot. Perfect.
“Pardon me, good woman.” A voice gravel deep and razor sharp greeted her. “You be the lady of the house?”
* * *
Face to face with the intruder, Eden tasted panic. Mouth dry, throat poised to scream, she eased away from his person. His outward politeness unnerved her.
She considered her options. If she ran and he decided to give chase, he’d over take her for sure. But if she gathered her wits about her, she could stall the intruder until Kathleen or Renfred came searching for her. Giving him a good once over for the first time, she noted that he hadn’t moved to pursue her, nor did he appeared to have a weapon. Of course, should the barrel-chested man attack, she’d be no match for his strength or thickness.
“Eh…sir. I—”
At that moment Kathleen’s buxom frame came bounding around the side of the house. She stopped short at the scene and then immediately took up a protective stance beside her. Eden sighed relief. “Sir, ‘tis a private estate and tha owner will ‘no be pleased at dis intrusion.”
“You be da lady of the house, then?”
“Aye, at tha moment.” She replied, indignant, her chin nudged upward. Doing her damnedest to trade on intimidation alone Eden realized. “Who are ya?”
“Matthias Montgomery, Ma’am. Formerly of Bow Street, and I runs the Asylum, St. Ciaran Isis. Been gettin’ reports of certain goings-on. Queer sort of ‘appenings, strange folks about the place, maybe wot need me services. I come to investigate.”
Eden bucked at the mention of madness, helpless to contain the tremor of terror his words induced. Was this why Dominic had departed so abruptly? To summon the handlers to come take her away.
“Is dat so?” Kathleen huffed, hands on amble hips. Her flame hair paled in comparison to the venom she spewed. “Is dis how ya investigate then? Lurking about tha bushes, scaring tha blazes out of tha women folk? A pox on ya, sir.”
“Loonies lurking about are a public nuisance, Mylady. Danger to themselves and those around ‘em.” He cast a leering smile over Kathleen’s heaving busoms, before shooting a derisive scoff at Eden’s softer assets. “They
must be dealt wit…one way or another.”
“Bah!” She dismissed him. “Get out of ‘ere before I summon a footman ta learn ya better manners.”
* * *
Eden! Her name was a scream in his mind. Something, someone most like, caused her distress. Her suffering pained him like a festering wound or a hungry beast gnawing at his flesh with an insatiable appetite. He hadn’t needed to track her. Gossamer violet tinsel still saturated him from being intermingled with her earlier.
Dominic hovered in the timeless black void, infinity’s abyss, populated by disembodied souls more numerous than grains of sand on the beach. Mystical, evocative, deceptively alluring, the astral realm was a drug for the mind. While the normal human senses dulled to the point of non-existence, thoughts and emotions were conversely intensified. As if the enhancement of one compensated for the loss of the other. Whatever sentiment a person happened to be experiencing, one’s essence experienced a hundredfold.
Dom struggled against a tiny fear exaggerated to nightmarish proportions. His urge to go to her, to protect her…shield her, bodily if necessary, nagged at him. But he would not leave Cael at the mercy of some unrealized threat. Torn, nearly in two, he willed himself calm and steady.
At such a dangerous level of emotional overload, Dominic knew he wouldn’t be able to restrain himself for long. He would be forced to either exit the astral and abandon Eden altogether or stay and track both hers and Cael’s essence at once. Parallel tracking was draining. He could only take on two people at once and for very short periods of time.
If it were possible to sweat on the astral, his essence would be slick. The first burst of motion alleviated the sensation; giving way to the impression of walking against gale force wind. The twofold effort he extended made astral traveling that much slower. Pausing, he concentrated on Cael’s essence alone to give his mind a break. All appeared well with him and the other one. He re-assumed his burden and tracked closer to her. In the eternity of emptiness that seemed to separate him from her, he sensed her anxiety lessen a degree. The apprehension gripping him eased off a little.
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