Unearthed

Chapter 2 - Steinway

Mrs. Hudson led me past a large living room and the parlor, where I had originally been seated, to the first set of stairs. "Just up the stairs, the first door to your left," she said before bustling towards the kitchen.

The piano chords of a ballad were faintly heard from the main floor, and became louder as I climbed the staircase. I felt the solemnity of the music wash over me and spread throughout my veins. At first the melody rang out in soft sad tones, but eventually the mood became more upbeat and soon the notes resonated against the walls - loud and bright.

I stood by the doorway watching, in silence. Her small frame crouched over the oak upright piano and her face was scrunched in concentration as her fingers flew up and down the shining ivory keys. A man, whom I assumed to be Mr. Pierce, stood with his back facing me. His arms were still at his sides, but his foot tapped along to the melody of the piece. Finally, with a flourish, the piece ended and the silence that followed was deafening. Remembering myself, I gently knocked on the door.

"I apologize for the intrusion," I said.

"No, not at all," he said with a bow, "James Pierce."

Just then, Emily flounced over, "Emily Bradfield," she said swishing her heavy peach-coloured skirts and dipping into a sweeping curtsy. Looking up at me with eyebrows raised she asked, "And you are?"

Despite her attitude, I was not fazed, "Catherine Wilson," I said with a polite curtsy.

She nodded as though in understanding, "You're the one mum and dad are paying to be my companion!"

"Governess," I said trying to hold back the edge in my voice, while Mr. Pierce unsuccessfully tried to smother a smile.

"I must warn you, Emily is quite a harsh judge of character."

I only gave him a tight-lipped smile in response. "I have intruded long enough and should let you return to your lesson."

Mr Pierce smiled, his gleaming green eyes amused, "Good Evening Ms. Wilson."

I nodded, "And to you."

. . . . .

With some spare time, I decided to roam the house. The house was large, complete with three stories and several rooms on each floor. Every room and corridor was lavishly decorated, with bulky furniture and intricately decorated oil lamps. After some time, I came across a room much different than the others on the second floor. The room wasn't as heavily furnished, and the dim lamps from the corridor only managed to illuminate a little past the doorway. I pushed open the door further, and slowly allowed my eyes to adjust to the darkness. A glint of light caught my eye, and I squinted to try and make out where it had come from. I froze, unable to move when I realized what it was. I ran my fingers along its rich oak surface and well-worn ivory keys, it looked the same as I had last seen it. It was a handcrafted Steinway grand piano. My mum had once played it in this very room, and managed to sneak me in just to watch her play.

"All you need in life is a heart and soul. You're my heart and this-" she would say stroking the Steinway, "- is my soul. What more could I ever need?"

I never thought I would see the piano again, and always thought I would have my mum by my side. Instead of weeping, I just laughed at the irony. Having lost my mother at the tender age of eight years old, the last twelve years had been spent alone with my father. My father has been a great parent to me and would try his best not to let me feel my mother's absence, but I missed her bitterly.

I was pulled from my thoughts when I heard rustling from a dark corner of the room. My heart pounded against my ribcage, and I sucked in a breath.

"And what, may I ask, are you doing here?" I heard from the shadows.

* * * * *

Author's Note:

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