Page 24 of The Darkland

“…that you could use these. They have…”

“…been left behind by lady visitors and he thought…”

“…they would suit you quite nicely.”

Mara rubbed her eyes, unsure if she was capable of dealing with Lady Valdine and Lady Wanda this early in the morning. But the women had brought clothing, beautiful clothing, and Mara found herself willing to tolerate their strange presence. Rising from the bed, she fingered a yellow silk lying on the edge of the mattress.

“It’s magnificent,” she said, noting the plunging neckline. After a moment, she looked at the twins. “Sir Kirk sent you with these?”

They nodded in unison and Lady Valdine moved forward; it was the first time Mara had seen one of the twins move independently.

“Now that you are related to Baron Bowland, he suggested…”

“…that these fine surcoats would enhance your wardrobe…”

“…until we could make you some new garments. Do they…”

“…please you?”

“Yes, of course,” Mara nodded as Lady Valdine held up the yellow surcoat, holding up to Mara’s shoulders and noting the length.

“It needs to be…”

“…shortened a few inches. She’s such a tiny…”

“…thing. So…”

“…beautiful. So…”

“…delicate.”

Lady Wanda was standing several feet from Lady Valdine and still, they spoke in one sentence. But their expressions and gestures were kind and in spite of the oddity, Mara realized she was willing to tolerate them. They were practically the only compassionate faces she had encountered since arriving at Anchorsholme and she could hardly resist their care.

As Lady Valdine fussed over Mara, Lady Wanda went to stand beside Micheline as she examined a lovely purple brocade. Micheline insisted on trying it on and immediately removed her nightshift as Mara moved from the yellow silk to a clear red satin. Never in their lives had they had the opportunity to wear such lovely garments and their excitement was palpable. Moreover, there were armloads of surcoats and as Mara perused the pile next to the door, she turned to Lady Valdine curiously.

“You mentioned that these dresses were left by lady visitors,” she said. “Why did they leave them behind?”

Lady Valdine’s normally blank expression seemed to grow even more wide-eyed. “They… they simply…”

“…did,” Lady Wanda had heard the question. “Sometimes we are host to such…”

“…wealthy guests that they never miss…”

“…a trunk or two left behind.”

Mara did not think their weak explanation made much sense, but she remained silent on the matter. And the fact that her question seemed to have greatly disturbed the twins also deterred further inquisition. Catching sight of Micheline as the woman gasped with delight at the feel of the purple surcoat embracing her thin body, she decided that it did not matter where the surcoats came from. It had been a long time since she had seen her sister so happy.

“Then I must thank Sir Kirk for his thoughtfulness,” she said, her attention returning to the clear red satin surcoat lying across the bed. “And I believe I shall wear the red surcoat to accomplish this.”

“And you shall, my lady. After…”

“…we mend the length.”

Mara left the pile by the door, collecting the red dress from the mussed pile of blankets. Turning to the twins, she held it up before her.

“The length is fine for the moment,” she tossed the garment back to the bed and began removing her shift. “For now, you will help my sister. She is to be the future baroness, after all. ’Tis more important that she is presentable. I can wait.”

The three of them turned to watch Micheline dance past them, twirling her new purple surcoat. Mara smiled as her sister waltzed with an imaginary lover to a tune none of them could hear. A delightful dance in the arms of a man who thought her beautiful as opposed to plain, fascinating as opposed to average.