Wife of Shadows

Chapter 1 - Up the Mountain

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A letter sealed by wax is not always an object that should be taken with caution.

It's not an out of place occurrence, often delivered by a messenger from friends, family, etcetera. However, when a sealed envelope was delivered at the beginning of summer into the hands of Lord Black there was curious chatter among the servants. After all, it was delivered by an unfamiliar messenger and they wouldn't give the letter to anyone besides one of the heads of the house.

Eidel was no stranger to participating in on the gossip surrounding the Black estate being a servant herself. There were only so many things you could do between serving the Lord and his family and tending to the estate. Eidel was assigned to tend to the Lord's children as they grew older. A back up to their caretaker and teacher Bernilda who was originally Lord Blacks caretaker when he was a child. So it was safe to say the woman while sharp as a tac was also assumed to be old as dirt.

It had been after Eidel had served tea and sweets to the family she had been pulled aside by Lord and Lady Black with Bernilda. It was in this meeting that the little letter that had arrived over a month ago was brought up, Eidel had almost forgotten about it. The letter was an invitation for their last daughter Miss Elise to come and take music lessons. The well-known composer, Montgomery Jentry, had returned to his home in the mountains at Greenshire Castle. He was known to be a great musician outside being a great composer, a once in a lifetime kind of opportunity even for people in Lord Blacks standing.

This opportunity arose through Lady Blacks' connection within the castle with her childhood friend and Lord of the Greenshire Castle.

While Elise was more than enthusiastic about taking more devoted music lessons there was a glaring issue. This was quickly made apparent to Eidel who had been assigned as her caretaker for this trip. Especially as the carriage now entered upon their sixth day of travel and had seen snow for not even a full day. Elise didn't handle the cold that well.

"It's not as bad as your making it out to be Elise," Eidel hummed an amused grin teasing at the corner of her mouth, her eyes focused on her lap. Her hands were busy with a project made of simply colored wool, her eyes only glanced away from the project occasionally.

Elise was quite a few years younger than Eidel, still in her youth and eager for her future. While Eidel was still in her prime she had pretty much settled comfortably into her role at the estate. While she still had dreams of a relationship and had taken a few lovers in her past but they never lasted. The two had a bit of a sister dynamic with Eidel being the stable spinster one and Elise, well.

Elise was bundled under at least three blanket and a handful of scarves and coats on the opposite seat to Eidel in the carriage. She was giving a less than passive glare at her.

"It's not as bad as your making it to be" she sang in a whiny voice, a less than obvious hint at her displeasure.

"Elise" Eidel scolded, narrowing her eyes gently at the mass of blankets, even if she was uncomfortable she should know better than to be unpleasant.

"Sorry" the bundled mumbled. "Its absolutely freezing" she whined, the pile shifted a little, getting a more comfortable position. "Are you sure we don't" she started.

"No, we don't have any more blankets, scarves, or coats, you have plenty Miss Elise, you will have to wait till this evening when we arrive at the castle. Please be patient, if you have any more layers I'll have to dig you out of there once we arrive" she said growing a little impatient herself, while she was used to Elise, the long trip was draining.