An eerie yet familiar tune played on an antique record player as Irina brought in a cherry wood trunk from the carriage, setting it on the floor next to the stall where the Duke had set up shop. He sat against the wall, smoking a cigar as he watched her.
"Much appreciated," he said with a grin.
Irina took a much-needed breath. The trunk was a bit heavy.
"It was no problem," she mentioned.
Rubbing her lower back, she added, "Was there anything else you needed of me?"
The Duke nodded in agreement. "I'd like you to put the contents of that trunk on the table under the window over there."
He motioned towards the area, and Irina bent down, humming to the tune as she unmatched the trunk and took a look. Inside was an old manual typewriter. What did he need with this? Not questioning him, Irina picked it up with a grunt and sat it on the table.
Turning, she grinned as the Duke swayed his hand in front of him to the beat of the tune, as if he were orchestrating it. Catching her eye, he stopped and took a deep puff from the cigar.
"Are you familiar with this tune?"
Irina nodded in agreement. "I heard it when I was a kid. My brother and I loved it, but our mother never let us read the book it's based on. She said it was too sad."
Recalling the memory, she frowned. "I read it when I got a little older, though."
After her mother passed from cancer.
"Was it what you hoped it would be? The Village of Shadows."
Irina shook her head. "It was tragic."
"And yet you like the song?"
The Duke was interested to hear her answer.
"It's strange, I know, but it's all I have left of her," Irina said with a sad smile.
The day she and her brother put their mother in the ground ended her halcyon days. After that, her life went to shit. Her brother left a year later and never returned. Irina liked to think that their mother's death weighed heavy on his heart, and he could no longer take the sorrow.
Irina took a deep breath and wiped the tears from her eyes. She didn't need this right now.
"Sadness gives our lives meaning, Irina. No human is unfamiliar with it," the Duke stated. "Never keep in your tears."
He was right, but there was no room for sadness right now.
Irina cleared her throat and gave him her thanks. Taking her mask from the pocket of her wool cloak, she put it on.
"I have to go, but I'll return tomorrow to feed and water the horses," she announced.
The Duke nodded. "See you soon."
She turned to leave but heard him sputter out her name as he coughed on the smoke from his cigar.
"Before you go," he mentioned. "I have something for you."
Irina puckered a brow, grinning.
"More gifts? You're going to spoil me."
The Duke laughed. "I like to take care of my customers."
Taking out a case, he laid it on the table in front of himself and pushed it towards her. Irina sauntered over and opened the case, humming in disapproval.
"I'm not sure I can take this," she mentioned, staring at the firearm in concern. "I never shot a gun before in my life."
Or held one, for that matter.
