Farryn

Chapter 4- Part 2

Farryn found her way back to the manor and collapsed in her bed after checking on Luli. Iris woke her in the morning, and the new day came with new work and new rumours. She heard whispers that Susie really had skipped town with Edward's brother, a Bookstore clerk. 

"I heard he tried to steal a horse and go after them, but he rode right into a ditch," Paldis giggled.

Farryn didn't see Claud at all. The Trison's were returning that evening, and everyone who wasn't black-out drunk was getting everything ready. They arrived midday, and Lady Trison insisted on spending time with the children, so Farryn spent half the day watching her fuss over them, and then dump them on her once they started crying.

Lady Cordelia and her father arrived late in the evening, and Farryn headed to the kitchen to help with the huge meal that had to be prepared for them. By the time the day was over, she was exhausted. It was almost midnight when Iris finally sent her off to bed, but the second she lay down she knew she wouldn't be getting any sleep.

I don't have time for sleep. I have to do something. Yesterday's endeavours had been fruitless. Maybe I should go back to the library. There had to be something.

Farryn got up and headed to the kitchens, but she couldn't find Claud. Is he avoiding me? She headed up to the library and broke in again. The moon wasn't as bright as before, so it took her a moment to find the cupboard. She had to push the curtain all the way open to get enough light, and, with her face practically in the drawer, she realised she'd accidentally opened L instead of M. She was just about to close the drawer when she noticed the name. Right there, near the top. Liviana.

Saints, I'm so stupid. How hadn't she thought to check for Liviana? Because of what Ada had said? It was probably the Liviana she was looking for, evident from how thick the folder was. She picked it up, and rose to hurry out of the library when she heard the door creak open.

Her heart jumped into her throat, and in one swift move she slammed the drawer shut and pulled the curtains closed. They waved for a moment, letting in a sliver of light, and Farryn heard someone speak.

"What was that?"

She dropped to the floor and tried to calm herself. Just stay quiet and hide. It wasn't hard. She could do it. But Farryn could already feel panic seizing every muscle in her body. In seconds the world was spinning, and she couldn't breathe. Move! She cursed to herself, but she couldn't, so she squished herself in the space between the cupboard and the wall. That led to another onslaught of panic, but she bit it back and stayed put.

Whoever was in the library was getting closer. There was more than one person, and they seemed to be talking.

"It's so sad." The voice was feminine, soft. There was the sound of movement, and a book being pulled out of the shelf. 

"Would you have loved him?"

"Of course, Ma'am. Your son was... intelligent. It would have been an honour."

"You did not say you would have loved him." Lady Trison? It sounded like her. The panic was subsiding, and Farryn felt her muscles unclench, fingers tingling.

"I do not know." the other voice responded. It had to be Lady Cordelia. But why were they awake and about at this time?

There was silence, and then Farryn heard the sound of another book being taken out of a shelf. Then another. Then another.

"Just so you remember, dear," The dear dripped with venom. "My son's legacy is still very much alive. He was a wonderful son to me. I loved him so. I would do anything for him. You would have loved him very very much. Like everyone else." Lady Trison paused. "I would hate for... anyone to hate him."

The silence that followed was heavy. Farryn's heart was still racing, and she feared it was so loud that they could hear it.

But they didn't, and Lady Cordelia laughed. "Who could hate your son?" She sounds afraid. Her voice sounded shaky. Wrong.

"Who indeed. Perhaps they've heard some unsavoury rumours. But my son was nothing but honourable." There was a pause. "Come now. I'll let you get some rest. Will you be returning home tomorrow?"

Their voices faded as they wandered away, and Farryn waited until she heard the door click shut before exhaling.

What was all that about?

She waited a moment before standing, and hurried to the door.

I need to get out of here. She grabbed the doorknob and turned, but it wouldn't budge. Did they lock it?

Thankfully, the door could be unlocked from the inside. But if she unlocked it, it would be unlocked in the morning. That would be suspicious.

She paced. The library is big, with multiple ways to escape. It wasn't like her tiny room. She decided to light a candle and try to find the books that Lady Trison or Cordelia had been pulling out of the shelves. It was fairly easy to find them. They all jutted out a bit, not properly placed back.

Farryn scanned the title of the first. The man and the pear tree. She blinked as a memory resurfaced. Her mother had hated this story. It was about a man who accosted a pear tree every day, begging it for fruit. The tree refused, proclaiming it would give its fruit to no one. And then one day the man came with an axe and cut down the tree to have all of its fruit.

Her father had bought them the book, on one of his trips. He always came bearing gifts and new dresses and ribbons. Her mother had screamed at him. Farryn still didn't really understand why.

The next book was titled Simple Things. She opened the book and read part of its synopsis. A Classical Tragedy, Remastered. Left desolate and alone, young Selsos, abandoned by his mother and tortured by his opponents, fights to enjoy the Simple Things before his execution.

The last book was further down, and confused Farryn. It had no fancy author's name, no fancy cover; just the title. Baby Names for the Expecting Mother.