Imported Love

Chapter Six

“Good night my Love.”

“Good morning Miss Erica,” Lily chimed. I groaned and rolled over, shielding my eyes from the light that poured from the open curtains. Dust swirled in the shining rays, floating down to land on the windowsill.

“What time is it?” I asked.

“It’s seven in the morning,” she informed me. I sat up and stretched. If there was one thing I loved about America that was the beds. I’d never slept better in my life.

“Why are you waking me up? Where is Franny?” I questioned. Lily removed a plain pale blue dress from the wardrobe. She spread it out on the bed and smoothed the wrinkles out. She withdrew a pair of light colored stockings and black leather boots. She set them on the bed and turned to me.

“Mr. Fisher died last night. Abel had to go to take care of the estate.”

“That’s too bad,” I whispered. I stood up and followed Lily into the bathroom. She prepared a bath and offered to stay and help. “It’s alright Lily, I think I can handle this.” Lily nodded and left the room.

I rubbed my hands together and trailed my fingers through the warm water. The heat rolled off the water, steaming up the window. The steam reminded me of the communal bath houses back in my village. Young couples would often write notes to each other in the fog of the window, even if they never walked by that day. Remembering the heart my father always drew my mother, I smiled as I drew a heart in the fog. The weather outside looked warm and cheerful. I cracked the window open and was hit by a gust of chilly wind. I shivered in my nightgown. I pressed my hand to my forehead, frowning as I noticed I was slightly feverish. I shook it off, deciding to write it off as stress.

I took off my nightgown and kicked it across the floor. I stepped into the bath and let the cold seep from my legs. I convulsed at the warm feeling, goose bumps springing up across my skin.

“Is that heart for me Love?” Ethan called from outside.  I rolled my eyes and peeked out the window, careful to hide my bare torso.

“I’m sorry Ethan, it’s not.”

“You met one of my brothers didn’t you,” Ethan laughed.

“Be quiet, someone will hear you.” I hushed him.

“No one will hear me. Franny went with my father, and Adler doesn’t care what I say. So the only one who will hear me is you. And I don’t think you care what I say.

“On the contrary I do,” I replied.

“Is that so? Why don’t I come up there and you can tell me all about the things you care about.” Ethan suggested. I could just imagine the way his blue green eyes were glistening.

I rolled my eyes and slipped down into the bath water.