Eloise watched Martha brushing her long dark hair, perched on a stool in front of a mirror. A bone comb slid like a knife through butter. When it was silky enough, falling on her shoulders like a veil, Martha put away the comb and started braiding. Usually, Eloise fell asleep before her friend finished, exhausted by a long day and lulled with monotonous movements. But not today. Freya's words still echoed in her ears. The Knight was invited to come and rid their woods from a beast while neither of them knew they were in danger. Headmistress Blythe had to be the one to hire her in secret.
Martha's eyes were glassy, caught in thought, and every time Eloise opened her mouth to share recently acquired knowledge she didn't dare to even make a sound. Although no one told Eloise to keep the truth hidden for some reason she felt like it would break an unspoken rule. She wasn't supposed to know. Martha looked at her in the mirror and smiled. «What?»
«Nothing,» whispered Eloise, sending her a tight smile. She wasn't supposed to know but now when she knew how could she not warn her only friend here? Eloise turned with her face to the wall. A wolf howled from behind the window. A call song. Nothing is going to happen, she told herself, we were always safe in the school.
«Did you notice my comb? I just got it today,» said Martha suddenly, her voice was light like a feather. Full of hidden delight.
It was long since Eloise got anything on the post day. No presents, no letters. Her mother sent her a box of marzipan animals every birthday and a soulless note that was always the same. It said, «Happy Birthday, Eloise. Mother, Father, and Antoine.» Nothing else. She had nine of these cards, each for every year she spent in the Home. Sometimes she preferred to forget the post day existed at all.
«Was there a reason for a gift I didn't know about?» asked Eloise. Martha's parents rarely sent anything also except for the long convoluted letters, reminding their daughter how important restoring her family's name is.
«It wasn't from my parents. Miss Blackburn sent it to me. Delilah,» said Martha. Eloise heard a shuffle of paper and then a folded letter appeared in front of her face. «And a note. Read it.»
Eloise took it out of Martha's hand and cleared her throat. Her voice was overly formal for a tiny dim-lit room.
«My dear, Martha. Our engagement might seem unconventional for we never seen each other tete-a-tete but I'm learning more and more about you every day. Your gracious mother- yeah right!» Eloise couldn't resist a mocking laughter. As if Martha's mother was ever gracious. Martha sent her a strict look, and Eloise continued reading, «Your gracious mother invites me to dine at your house every evening and despite the multitudes of papers and meetings I have to handle daily I try to accept as often as possible. I feel blessed with their kindness for if they love me it will be easier for you to love me as well. At least I should hope so. A short while ago they showed me your childhood bedroom and now it is as if we spoke as if we are connected. There's a present in the velvet box that I believe you will like but if not, please, don't judge me harshly. Yours truly, Delilah Blackburn.»
Martha cradled the comb in her hands with an expression of a bewildered child.
«You're going to write her back,» said Eloise. It wasn't a question. She knew Martha will write back against better judgment. «She bought you a comb and you're going to fall for this.»
Martha furrowed her brows. «You said yourself she must be better than the rumors paint her.»
«I did,» admitted Eloise. The bitterness was pouring out of Eloise like uncorked wine spilling all over the starched tablecloth, spoiling it. «But a comb? It's the only the oldest trick in the book. Next, she'll send you a pair of earrings. She doesn't know you at all. You like poetry books and collecting insects, and I've never seen you wearing jewels before.»
She didn't understand why she couldn't let go, accept that it made Martha happy. Eloise couldn't stop herself.
«Maybe I didn't wear them because no one ever thought to buy anything like that for me?» Martha pursed her lips angrily. «I'm going to marry Delilah to appease my parents. It is settled. Letters and gifts weren't required and yet she decided to please me. There's nothing wrong with being charming.» She waited for a few moments, opening and closing her mouth as if uncertain about something she wanted to say. «And maybe,» she said quietly then, «maybe the reason why you prefer to be suspicious is that I get to move forward and you have to stay here.»
Suddenly she was fully awake. Martha climbed into her own bed, facing the wall with the covers over her head. Eloise stared at the bundle across her, hoping that if she will put enough intensity into it Martha will take her words back or at least turn around. It wasn't about Martha moving away. It wasn't. Eloise wasn't jealous. There was something else that bothered her, something small, something she couldn't pinpoint.
It must be the letter, thought Eloise and tried to remember what it said exactly word by word. Martha left it on the table, close enough to tempt Eloise but she couldn't pick it up while the girl was awake. On the surface, the letter seemed perfect but the more she thought about it the more it appeared perfectly calculated.
«I'm not suspicious because I want you to be unhappy. I just want to protect a friend, you,» said Eloise quietly. She didn't expect Martha to reply. The silence was deep and sticky - uncomfortable, only the wind blew into their window, making the glass rattle from the force of it.
Finally, Martha emerged out of the covers. She didn't turn to look at Eloise but even from her voice, she could tell that Martha did cry. «I can look after myself,» she said, a little stuffy. «And Delilah did think about me when she chose this comb. If you would've spent a second not thinking of a way to dismiss it you'd see it.»
She opened her palms showing the comb laying in the middle. A small butterfly, Eloise didn't notice the first time, was delicately carved in the top of the handle.
YOU ARE READING
Home of Beasts and Gentle Ladies
Romance"Missis Blythe's Home for Gentle Ladies is a perfect place to keep unwanted daughters out of your sight. Deep in the woods where their young minds won't be muddled by excessiveness and gossip, they will bloom into wifes worthy of nobles." Eloise is...
