Voices Deep Inside (Book 1)

Chapter Six

Chapter Six

The Sewing Room

Days passed, and Talia went through the motions of her chores, losing interest in her disguises. She rarely left the kitchen and continued to help Agnes and Ida with any job they requested without a complaint.

Finally, at noon one day, Agnes insisted she take a lunch tray up to the second floor to give to Clarice, Mr. Omar Huntley's maid. Talia agreed and started the climb out of the kitchen area, up to the second floor, carrying his lunch tray.

When she arrived at the top of the grand staircase, she found Clarice, along with two other maids. Clarice was all-a fluttered. She had received word that the Garlands were coming to stay for a week.

Omar had forced Timothy to marry one of the Garland girls to get his foot in the door on taking over the estate. So far, the plan had not gone well because Timothy was not a dutiful husband, nor was he a smart estate manager. He was poor at work with no ambition and often avoided any labor.

Now the entire family was coming to visit for the weekend. Clarice told the staff to open the east wing and prepare the rooms for their guests.

When Talia arrived with the lunch tray, Clarice opened his large wooden door to his suite, and Talia walked right into the room. She came face to face with Omar Huntley.

He turned from the window to stare at the intrusion. Omar saw the resemblance to her mother immediately and was taken back by this tall-brazened redhead.

"Here is your lunch tray, Master Huntley," said Talia as she set it down on his desk.

He continued to stare at her, which she tried not to let it intimidate her.

"I've not seen you here before," said Omar.

"I work in the kitchen with Agnes and Ida," said Talia as she stayed strong in his presence.

"Clarice, see that she delivers my tray from now on," said Omar, as he turned away to read the latest correspondence that Clarice had handed him.

Clarice ushered Talia out of his room and closed the door.

"So many of the maids are afraid of Master Huntley," said Clarice. "I am usually the only one able to bring him his meals."

Clarice looked again at Talia and stared at her features. Her memory went back to a turbulent time in this household. Talia gave her such a feeling of familiarity.

"Ask Agnes if we can borrow you this week for the east wing in the afternoons. We are going to need extra help."

"I will ask for her permission. Also, I will plan on bringing his tray tomorrow at noon."

Then Talia went down the grand staircase, practicing her walk as a lady in no hurry to return to the kitchen.

The change in jobs seemed to boost Talia's spirits as she spent time upstairs in the large rooms with balcony doors. When Talia worked in the rooms, she opened the doors to allow fresh air into the rooms and to remove the stale odors of being shuttered.

The girls turned the mattresses and put clean bedding on each bed. They lay blankets and coverlets on the beds, along with large feather pillows.

The serving boys that were sent to Clarice for the afternoon stood on the balcony and shook the rugs, while Clarice filled the oil lamps.The boys cleaned each fireplace and built fires to check the drafts of the chimneys.

Then the servants carried up armloads of wood, scuttles of coal and kindling for each fireplace.

The servant girls swept the armoires and polished the woodwork. Finally, they swept the rooms and re-rolled the rugs into place. They took the bedding to the laundry house on the backside of the kitchen.

Talia thanked Clarice for allowing her to work upstairs this week. When Clarice heard the sentiments of gratitude, she knew. This was Geneva's daughter. She saw the striking resemblance and questioned in her mind whether Talia knew whom her mother was.

* * *

Each day, as Talia finished cleaning one room, she moved to the next room. She discovered one of the rooms had been used as a sewing room. There were scraps of material and ribbons everywhere and along with scissors, tape measures and stickpins.

Talia set to clean the room. She folded the large pieces of material and formed a neat pile. She gathered the scrap pieces into a large basket. The sewing tools went into another basket, and she gathered all the thread into an open box.

Talia opened the windows and swept the floor. She rolled up the large area rug and moved the chairs as she swept again. She washed down the woodwork and dusted the armoires.

When she pulled open the door to clean it, she found several dresses hanging in the wooden closet. She pulled out a harvest gold dress.

The satin dress had a v-shaped bodice with ties across the front. The neckline stretched from shoulder to shoulder with tight sleeves. There were pleats down the front of the skirt. Talia held the dress to her waist and twirled around, trying to image dancing in this dress.

"That dress would look lovely on you," said a low, deep voice.

Talia stopped in mid-spin and turned to the man, who broke the silence in the room. She saw a tall, broad shoulder man who looked as if he had faded in the past few years. His striking dark red hair had streaks of gray that gave him a distinguished look.

"Excuse me, sir. You startled me."

Then Talia rushed to hang the dress back in the armoire.

"I didn't mean to startle you; tis been so long since I've heard any noise from this room," said the older gentlemen.

Talia observed his shabby clothes; yet he carried himself as a gentleman. She felt she had found a kindred spirit. Both of them wearing servant's clothes, yet they knew they belonged in a different station in life.

"How did you get in here?" asked Talia.

Then Gerald Huntley showed Talia the bookcase and the secret compartment that led to his prison room.

He sat in a worn velvet chair with arm and leg shackles next to it. There was a bed and towers of books, but no paper or pencils. There was no lamp or pictures on the wall. Gerald had a large window that allowed light into his room.

Talia pulled up a footstool and listened as he told his story of incarnation.

"Why would your brother still keep you locked up after all these years?" asked Talia.

"He is full of hate, and revenge torments his soul. He is not well," said Gerald.

"Have you ever tried to escape?"

Gerald stood, pulled up his coarse linen shirt, and revealed scars on his back from whippings.

"I was told the next time that I tried to escape, they would throw me into the prison tower. So, I have given up trying the past few years and resigned to my fate. Omar has been generous to me to see to my comforts, but I cannot go outside."

Her heart broke for this man. His voice was so soothing, and it made her feel safe. His voice seemed to strike a chord inside her heart. She felt a strong connection of wanting to stay and take care of him.

Then Talia realized she had been gone too long and needed to return to the kitchen. She assured Gerald that she would return and that his secret was safe with her.

She slipped into the sewing room, closed the windows, and then closed the door behind her. Talia brushed off her apron and ran down the stairs to the kitchen for the evening shift.

That night, as Talia laid on her cot, questions swirled around in her head. She tried to set the questions aside for the morning.

She went to sleep, dreaming of making one of the bedrooms her own. Her thoughts filled with feather pillows, clean sheets, soft bedding and twirling in a harvest gold satin dress.