The Might of Evil Dreams (A Novel of the Elemental Chronicles)

Eight - Darkness Beckoning

Emmeline

As Tom predicted, the invitation to Lord Radford's and Lady Violet's wedding arrived soon after. For me, that meant a new dress. I was wearing some of Tom's mother's things, but it didn't seem right, sleeping in her room and wearing her clothes as though I owned them. Tom never said anything about it, but I wished he would. I wished he would talk to me and tell me things instead of tiptoeing around me all the time. I still felt a guest of his, not his wife. Possibly the most frustrating part of this was that I couldn't find the words to tell him. They were locked inside me somewhere, so deep they would never get out again.

A few more weeks passed without a change. Tom went out to the garden, now expanding into the fields beyond. He'd said once his grandfather raised cows on this land, before the textile factory became a lucrative family business. Just the other day, he'd said he might have to do it again. I couldn't see him grazing cows. Sheep, possibly, or goats. But not cows.

The monotony was broken one morning right as we were finishing breakfast. There was a knock at the door, and Tom rose to answer it. Two men's voices came from outside. One was Lord Radford, the one Tom kept calling Ray. The second one was unfamiliar.

"Emmeline!" Tom called, making me jump. Hurriedly I stood from my chair and rushed to join them. Tom turned as soon as he heard me coming, extending one hand towards me. His mouth turned up, into a smile. "There you are, my love."

My love. That was the first time I'd heard him say that, and it made my entire body tingle with an unfamiliar warmth. Something made my want to hear it again, with no one else around, in the privacy of our bedroom. "What is it?"

"I wanted to introduce you properly to Joshua Kingsley, a cousin of Ray's. Joshua, this is my wife Emmeline, the Lady Dorchester."

The man next to Lord Radford took off his tricorn hat, revealing a mess of dark-blond curls. He gave me a shallow bow, kissing the back of my hand. "Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lady Dorchester, ma'm."

"And the same to you. Mr Kingsley," I said. I gave him a curtsey, the way Mrs Shute had taught me just days ago. "What's the occasion?"

"Business, ma'm. Raymond asked me to come, soon as I could get away."

"I see." I didn't scowl until I turned to Tom. "Never mentioned him. A guest."

"Yes, but they're my guests, my dear." He cupped my cheeks and kissed my forehead. "You will not have to entertain him, I promise you."

Tom ushered them into the drawing room, and the doors closed behind them. I heard footsteps, and soon Mrs Shute was joining me.

"What do you suppose...they're talking about in there?" I moved my eyes from the door to her.

"God only knows, love." I felt her take my hand and squeeze it. "Men, you know. Like their private business."

"Yes. It seems...they do." I said with a sigh. Tom had told me nothing about his life before we met, and the most I knew about his mother was that she must have had very fine taste. Even if these dresses were seasons out of date, they were very well-made regardless. "Is it...Elemental business?"

"Don't you fret any more about it, milady." Mrs Shute began to guide me back into the dining room. "I'm sure His Lordship will tell us about it when he's through with it."

I let her steer me away, even though I couldn't help but cast curious glances over my shoulder. Tom could keep his secrets for now, but they would have to come out soon. I already could sense what the price would be, however. And that would be releasing mine.

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'We must go to Southampton,' said Tom at dinner that evening. The meat was stringy and dry, and the vegetables seemed a bit overcooked. But his words pushed aside any more thoughts – or complaints – about the food.