wood beyond, but as he did, he caught sight of himself in the mirror – a mirror that he kept only because he had no valet, and at times he had to ensure he was dressed appropriately. Usually, however, he kept the mirror covered in thick black cloth, but somehow it had come askew and was pooled on the floor.
For every time he caught sight of himself, he was horrified anew at just how terrifying he looked – at least from the left. How had Hannah brought herself to stand next to him to be married, when he couldn’t even look at himself in the mirror?
He grimaced and sank down at the bed, unable to stomach staring at himself any longer, and yet equally unable to look away.
Finally, he stood up and threw the black cloth over the mirror once more, deciding that he wouldn’t be going down for dinner.
He would allow the woman to eat without his terrible visage staring back at her.
It was the least he could do.
Hannah had stood in front of the house, unable to move. To enter, they had to cross over the moat upon a small bridge, passing through what she took to be a gatehouse. When her steps had faltered within the courtyard as she stared up at the house, her husband had continued on, leaving her beyond to discover the secrets for herself.
Marrying Edmund Marshville in the drawing room of his family’s London home had seemed an easy decision. But suddenly, as she stared at the entrance to the home, it all sank into her, and she began to involuntarily tremble as a chill ran down her spine.
Molly said nothing, but she brought her hand up to rest on Hannah’s back, and at that moment, Hannah had no care in the world that the girl was her servant. She turned around and clung to Molly’s hand, staring at her beseechingly.
“Thank you for coming with me, Molly,” she said, her eyes filling with tears at her gratefulness, and Molly nodded, though her own smile seemed rather forced.
“The house might be an interesting subject to paint?” she said hopefully, and Hannah smiled in thanks at her attempt at levity.
They stepped through a porch and screened passage, although the screens were missing, and the porches were decorated in elaborate carvings.
Her husband now completely disappeared, it seemed that no one was here to greet them but the house itself, which seemed to begrudgingly welcome her into its bowels.
She looked around the great hall in wonder, mesmerized by all it held within. The floor was flagged, embers in the central hearth providing little heat and a slight bit of light, which also entered through the gabled bay window that looked out over the courtyard. A doorway led to another room beyond, and Hannah could see a staircase leading up, though she had no idea whether she was supposed to follow it or not.
Molly was circling the room, trailing her fingers along the wall. She looked across what seemed to be a dining room table at Hannah, her eyes wide.
“This house must be centuries old,” she said with wonder, and Hannah nodded in agreement.
They both jumped when there was a crash from the room beyond, and Molly quickly hurried over to join Hannah. They stood there in the middle of the room, nearly squeezed together, as shuffling footsteps sounded beyond the entrance.
“Who is there?” a voice demanded before they saw anyone, and both Hannah and Molly jumped again. Hannah realized she had grasped Molly’s hand in hers and was squeezing it hard.
Hannah opened her mouth to announce herself, but then realized she had no idea just how to do so anymore. Finally, a figure appeared in the doorway. The woman’s shoulders were somewhat stooped, her hair gray, her glasses low on her nose.
“Who are you?” she said now, pushing her spectacles up as though to better see Hannah.
“L-Lady Hannah,” she finally managed. “I am…” she exchanged a look with Molly. “I am Lord Edmund’s wife.”
The woman stopped, not moving for what seemed to be a full minute.
“Well, I’ll be,” she murmured, then placed her hands together in front of her chest and looked up, her lips moving in an apparent prayer. “I wish I had known you were coming.”
Hannah nodded. She wished she had known as well.
For a house that seemed silent, it certainly held many noises.
Hannah wished she had more chance to explore it, but Mrs. Ackerman had been quite busy preparing a room for her. Hannah