Page 21 of A Keeper of Time

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After a fitful night’s sleep, Edna awoke in a very uncharacteristic mood. She stomped from the bed, got cleaned and dressed before heading down the stairs in search of Evanore. Her scowling face was lost on the servant who awaited her in the dining room, which was dark and gloomy, despite the light from the chandelier above the table. The windows were gone once again, making Edna think about going back upstairs where at least there was some natural light provided to chase away her doldrums. As much as she wanted to, she couldn’t just hide in her room if she was going to figure out what to do.

“Ma’am,” he said, not moving from his place by the chair she would occupy.

Once Edna had seated herself she turned to him. “Where’s Evanore,” she barked out.

“Tea?” he asked, picking up the teapot from the table.

Edna rolled her eyes in her head and exhaled her frustration. She nodded her head and waited while he poured her a cup. The table was filled with breakfast foods, both sweet and savory. Her appetite had been missing for as long as she had been here. She stared at everything knowing she should eat, that it would be important to keep her strength up—but nothing looked appealing to her.

She let out an exasperated sigh before finally reaching for the oatmeal, Edna spooned some into her bowl, topping it with fresh fruit and cream. She stared at it for a long time before lifting a spoonful to her lips and forcing herself to eat it.

“Yer up!” Evanore’s voice came from the doorway behind her. “Did ye sleep well?”

“I’m sure ye ken I dinnae,” Edna grumbled.

“How would I ken that? I’m no’ spying on ye every minute,” Evanore protested. She sat down across from Edna, holding her teacup out for the servant to fill.

“What is his name?” Edna asked, nodding her head in the servant’s direction. She was quite sure it wasn’t Joseph even though that’s what Evanore called him.

Evanore gazed at her with one eyebrow raised. “Name? That hardly matters. Call him whatever ye like.”

“Ye call him Joseph. Is that his real name?” Edna asked.

Evanore gazed up at the ceiling. “He’s no’ been here verra long. I haven’t learned his name yet.”

Edna thought about that. It seemed this house and everything in it had been conjured for her benefit. Perhaps the servant had as well. “Is he a real person?” she wondered.

Evanore nearly choked on the tea she’d just sipped. “Real?”

“Aye. Is he a living breathing person?”

“That’s a ridiculous question. Of course he’s real. Ye can see him, aye?”

“Yer no’ really answering me question. I think yer hiding something from me.”

“I can assure ye he’s real. I doona ken his name because I borrowed him from the home of someone who has so many servants they will no” even notice he’s gone.”

“So ye’ve cast a spell on him.” And kidnapped him, she thought, without reacting.

“Only so he will no’ be distressed by his current circumstance.” Evanore looked down at her empty plate and then at the food set before them.

“Ask him his name then,” Edna ordered, not expecting that Evanore would comply.

“Verra well. Servant what is yer name? I command ye to tell me.” Evanore looked down her nose and across the table to Edna.

She hid her smile behind her teacup, but Edna was quite pleased that even without her magic she was still able to break through Evanore’s defenses and get her to do what she needed her to do.

“My employer calls me Barnes,” he replied.

“There. Now ye ken. Are ye satisfied?” She helped herself to some eggs and fruit.

“Thank ye, Barnes,” Edna said. She had to help him. but how could she when she couldn’t even help herself?

He dipped his head in a slight bow.

“Would it be possible to allow some natural light into this prison?” she asked.