Sounds of Fire

19

Anatolia paced the width of the hall, murmuring to no one in particular. She was worried about what was happening behind the door just to her right, where Lady Grace and Ilene had entered more than fifteen minutes ago. She thought that Ilene was blackmailing Lady Grace, or threatening her. It made Anatolia's skin prickle.

Derek walked through the hall and up to his sister at a leisurely pace. "As much as I amuse them," he said with a sigh, "They do want to talk to Lady Grace." He had gone back to the party to entertain and let guests believe that Lady Grace was simply talking to some other guest. It had worked. "Is she almost done?"

Anatolia shrugged and stopped pacing. "I have no idea. I can't hear anything." She tried to straighten and fix her tie but gave up almost immediately. She'd have Lady Grace do it. The rest of her clothes were buttoned and done up nicely, though she did have a few wrinkles, not that anyone would notice.

Derek leaned on the wall, his foot flat against it and his arms crossed. "What do you think they're talking about?"

"Nothing bad, I hope."

Derek and Anatolia had to wait. Anatolia slunk down to the floor and sat crosslegged, her back against the wall. Derek remained standing but couldn't stop looking at his sister, his worry for her evident. They didn't talk for the whole waiting period.

Eventually, both Lady Grace and Ilene emerged from the room. Their faces said nothing about what they talked about.

"Well," Lady Grace breathed, her eyebrows high. Her arms extended then fell to her sides. She placed a hand on the back of Ilene's wheelchair. "Say hello to the newest resident of our home."

Anatolia scrambled up from the floor and shared a look with her brother. He shrugged. "Seriously?" Anatolia asked. "Don't you have to talk to Sir Gordon about that?"

Lady Grace pursed her lips. "I'm certain I can get him to let Ilene go." She saw the look in Anatolia's eyes. Worry. "Look, this is the deal. We take her with us and she doesn't tell what she saw, and... there's another thing, too."

Anatolia waited for what that other thing was.

"She'll tell us all the gossip she's heard over the years if we keep her on in the household."

Anatolia let out a breath of relief. She was expecting something horrible, but the deal actually wasn't so bad. Ilene was a lovely old woman and would be a great addition to the house. Perhaps she could distract Nan. Now that would be worth getting caught.

"So," Lady Grace said when she felt the quiet was going to make her snap. "What do you think?"

Derek shrugged. Anatolia did the same. "It doesn't bother me, I suppose," she said. "As long as she keeps her end of the deal."

Everyone set their eyes on Ilene. She bobbed her head. "A promise is a promise."

Anatolia blew a long raspberry, not satisfied with that answer, but stopped when Lady Grace shot her a look. She mumbled a 'fine' and crossed her arms over her chest. She waited patiently as Lady Grace had a last talk with Ilene, promising to come back after the party was over and she had a talk with Sir Gordon. When Lady Grace was finished, she put Ilene to rest then made her way to Anatolia's side, giving Derek her other side, and off they went, back into the throng of upper class and snooty socialites. Anatolia found it tiring and her mind was on the Ilene situation, but she kept her demeanor happy by Lady Grace's insistence so that the other guests would take to her. It seemed to be working, as no one minded her presence, or Derek's, and actually talked to her as if she were one of them. Of course, Anatolia could smell alcohol on their breaths.