Madeline Usher's Tale

Chapter Eleven

 “[Roderick’s] countenance was, as usual, cadaverously wan—but, moreover, there was a species of mad hilarity in his eyes—an evidently restrained hysteria in his whole demeanor.”

                                                                        Chapter Eleven

 Matthew and I sneaked coy glances at one another throughout the following morning and afternoon. We had breakfast and lunch in silence, with the occasional foot knocking against the other in a playful manner. He would make suggestive remarks that I would giggle at, thankful that we were the only two in the room. Mrs. Franklin caught us laughing at one point after a particularly naughty joke, but we quickly composed ourselves.

            Roderick was absent the whole morning. Richard reported that Roderick still felt miserable and didn’t seem to be getting any better. I felt a slight twinge of guilt when I was glad that my brother was still ill. It meant that he’d be in bed the entire day most likely, hopefully asleep and oblivious to what we were planning.

Before Matthew departed to spend the rest of the day with Roderick, he pushed me up against a wall in a shadowy corner of the manor. He kissed me while we continued to laugh.

“Matthew, stop,” I said between one long kiss. “Someone will see.”

He ran his mouth along my jaw, while simultaneously slipping two fingers down the front of my bodice. “There’s no one up here.”

“No, you are impatient,” I teased.

He groaned when I pushed him back. “I suppose we can always do this tomorrow.”

I kissed him one last time. “We’ll see.”

Matthew finally turned to leave, smiling the whole time. I prayed that Roderick wouldn’t take one look at Matthew and instantly know what our plans were.

            I spent the day taking one last look around the home I had been trapped in. I suddenly found myself becoming sentimental. I didn’t know why. For years I had been anxious to leave. But now it felt…unnatural. I was leaving Roderick here to rot—leaving him to decay further within himself and this haunted house of memories. Roderick expected me to rot right along with him, not understanding that he couldn’t keep me here as a prisoner instead of as his sister.

            I found myself once more in front of all the Usher family portraits. I stared at the side by side portraits of Roderick and me, forever disconcerted by how similar we looked. I reached a hand out to Roderick’s portrait and traced a finger around his face. I had grown to hate that face so much. I jerked my hand away as if his portrait burned my touch. I finally turned from the portrait, and I was never going to face it again.

                                                                       *          *          *

There was only five hours until midnight. Five hours until I escaped this house—escaped Roderick.

            Only a few hours ago I had enacted on the part of the plan where I had to lie to Letty. She was blissfully unaware of what Matthew and I planned to do tonight.

            Walking over to my wardrobe, I looked inside, deciding what I should wear for later that night and what exactly I could bring. I glanced sadly over at my books. There was no way I could take any of them along with me.

            I can come back for them, I thought. Matthew said we could come back eventually.

            I found myself smiling at the fact that in a matter of days I was going to be living in a new home. I’d have to remind myself to tell Matthew that I’d like to live in a house where I can create my own library.