Page 27 of A Rose Among Snakes (Gardens of Ruin and Revival)

Chapter Twenty-Six

Mihrra

W e stopped for the night in a wooded glen. Only when I asked did Velian tell me we were south of Canderren in Kerf, where the Duke and Duchess, Nimor and Ozella, lived. I told Milner not to set up the tent for me, opting to sleep inside the carriage instead. He sighed with relief and I followed him to where they were starting a fire. This time the task was assigned to Denzen.

“That was quick,” Corman remarked as he brought over the iron stand and a pot. He placed them on the ground, his black hair swinging in front of his face.

“We don’t all need a woman’s touch to get a fire started.”

Corman straightened and shot me a wry look, while Denzen flashed him a cruel wink. I prickled, feeling insulted, but kept my head down. Velian sat against a tree and cleaned his nails with a knife, a fierce scowl on his face. My heart hurt for him, but I kept my distance. If he wanted comfort, he wouldn’t have sat so far away.

Seated around the fire, we ate a venison stew prepared by Corman as the sun sank below the horizon. Across from me, I kept catching Paolef watching me with his piercing eyes. Though he seemed merely curious, I still squirmed, uncomfortable with the scrutiny. I hadn’t realized the extent to which I had counted on Kezara’s vibrant personality as a shield until she was not around.

Paolef was quiet. He didn’t joke like Denzen or chatter like Corman; he observed, and I had a feeling that when he did speak, it was only when necessary. I was grateful when Milner sat beside me and made polite conversation.

Once it was dark, I retired to the carriage, but sleep evaded me. I was anxious, the memories of the attack still fresh, so I stared at the black ceiling. From outside, their voices filtered in.

“Cheer up, Boss. Maybe you’ll have less headaches now,” Denzen said.

Something crashed in the brush as Paolef’s deep voice admonished, “Shut up, Denzen.”

“I’m kidding. I’m sorry it happened that way. You had no idea about her and Leoran?”

Velian didn’t say anything, or if he did, it was too quiet for me to hear.

“So does that mean her maid has some free time then?” Multiple sounds of crashing brush made me assume they were throwing things at him. “Unless you have a claim on her, Boss?”

My cheeks flushed and my palms grew clammy. I did not appreciate being discussed like I was livestock at an auction, but I wanted to hear his answer.

Corman piped in before Velian had a chance, though. “Of course not. The Boss isn’t going to settle down anytime soon, especially not with the help. ”

I bit my lip as tears stung the back of my eyes. And that’s why everyone advises against eavesdropping. He was right. I was foolish to think Velian would ever look at me that way.

“Really? We are ‘the help’ as you said, Corman, and do you not think of him as your brother?” Paolef questioned.

“Well, of course-”

“So, you’re saying,” Denzen interrupted, “that he has to pay us to be his friends?”

More crashing and Velian finally said, “Shut up, Denzen.”

“Alright, alright, I’m done,” Denzen chuckled.

They continued talking, but I pulled the blanket over my head to muffle their voices.

I’m not sure when I fell asleep, but I woke to the sky turning a light, dusty blue and readied myself for an early start.

We arrived at the manor by mid-morning, where Velian headed directly for the stable. I exited the carriage and went to the rear compartment to grab my bag.

Franz was there, wearing his usual warm smile, helping Corman, Paolef, and Denzen unload the carriage. I watched as Paolef opened the secret compartment and pulled out a hidden case, settling it discreetly in the shadow of Kezara’s trunks. Something about the handle caught my eye and I leaned forward for a closer view .

In the center of the leather handle glinted a ruby, and on either side of it, open-mouthed snakes curled around it, ready to devour the gem. Time stopped. With a slight tremor, I lifted my hand to the ring sitting on a chain around my neck hidden beneath my dress. It was exactly what I had been waiting for, something connecting back to my father.

I would do whatever it took to stay at Blaise Manor. I knew in my bones it was a sign I was on the right track. My fingers itched to unlatch the case and see what was inside, but I didn’t want to press my luck.

“Nice to have you back, Mihrra,” Franz said, returning me to the moment.

“It’s nice to be back, Franz,” I replied, still dazed.

I went to pull my bag out, but Franz beat me to it saying, “Let me get that for you.” He picked it up and ushered me inside, going to the trouble of delivering it to my room while I waited in the entry as Mrs. Shulling approached.

“Welcome back, Mihrra.” She looked behind me and frowned. “Where is Ms. Blaise?”

I sighed and shook my head. Mrs. Shulling made a small noise as she covered her mouth, eyes misting, and I realized she was thinking the worst.

“No, no, she’s fine.” I think. I had decided on the carriage ride home that Mrs. Shulling should know the truth, so I stepped closer and dropped my voice to a whisper. “She eloped.”

Mrs. Shulling gasped. “Heavens, did she really? To whom? ”

I bit my lip. The full truth still felt like it was not my place to say, so I lied. “I’m not sure. She left a letter for Velian saying she was running off to get married and that she would be in touch soon.”

Mrs. Shulling shook her head in disbelief. “That girl… she’s always been wild, but this is a shock. How is Mr. Blaise? Is he upset?”

“He’s… adjusting.” It was a generous description.

She clasped her hands together and said, “I will have Shandy make him his favorite meal. I’ll tell her now before she starts on something different.” She walked away, her quick steps muffled by the plush rugs leading toward the kitchen.

As I walked to my room to settle back in, Velian called out to me from his study. The door was partially open and he motioned for me to come in.

“Close the door behind you.” His set jaw and tense shoulders made my stomach hollow out. I swallowed and closed the door, taking the seat across the desk from him as he indicated.

“Mihrra, we need to talk.” Those were never words anyone wanted to hear, but I kept my face blank as my heart dropped to my feet. He cleared his throat and continued, “With Kezara being gone, I’m having a hard time justifying keeping you on staff.”

I knew it. Desperation clawed at me, and in the moment I couldn’t take the time to untangle the root of it, but I was not above begging.

“Please, let me stay.” I paused to swallow the lump in my throat, and he opened his mouth, but I cut him off. “I can do anything that needs to be done around here. I’ll clean, I’ll help in the kitchen—I’ll muck out the stalls, even!”

His expression was hard, his emerald eyes boring into mine. “Why do you want to stay here?”

You, my heart sang, but I shoved the unbidden thought aside as quickly as it came. “My family needs the money, and I haven’t found out anything regarding my father, either.”

He scoffed, and heat surged through me. “Are you asking me to pay you to search for answers about your father?”

“No, I’m not, and I resent the accusation.” My tone was sharp and he raised his eyebrows, but I continued, “I just meant that I need more time here, and you did say you would do whatever you could to help me.” The image of the case handle popped into my mind, but I chose to keep quiet. There was a voice whispering to me that sounded an awful lot like the fortune teller; be careful who you trust, girl. Not everyone is as they seem.

He held my stare, taking steady, measured breaths, however his furrowed brow betrayed his inner turmoil. His hands were clasped on top of the desk between us, and my hands twitched toward him of their own volition. Trying to cover my intentions, I rested my palms atop the cool wood.

“Velian, please,” I whispered.

He closed his eyes and let his head hang back over the chair. “Fine.” He brought his head back up. “Let me talk to Mrs. Shulling and she will assign you new duties every day. ”

I beamed at him as joy burst inside of me, and I stood up, pushing the chair behind me and dropping into a curtsy. “Thank you, Velian.”

He rolled his eyes. “Mihrra, stop. I thought we were past this.”

I stood up straight, unable to wipe the smile from my face. “You’re right, I’m sorry. I’m very grateful for this opportunity. You won’t regret it.” I spun on my heel and restrained myself from skipping out of the room.

Just before I closed the door, I heard Velian mutter, “We’ll see.” But even that couldn’t dampen my elation. My dream was still alive.

After spending the afternoon unpacking Kezara’s trunks, I headed down to the kitchen with a spring in my step. An aromatic wave of hot air greeted me as the door swung open. Shandy sang a jaunty tune about a sailor reuniting with his lost love as she pulled a pan of lamb chops from the oven, suffusing the room with its mouthwatering scent. Narell placed a lid over an overflowing platter of glazed carrots and looked up as I walked in, her eyes narrowing.

“Mihrra!” Burress, the gardener, crowed from where he sat at the table with Milner. “Come join us.”

I was happy to sit and listen to them share their opinions on politics, disagreeing on whether King Leoro’s low taxes were generous or naive. They did not request or need my input, and I sat back with a smile on my face, marveling at how comfortable I felt among them. My mind wandered to Kezara, wondering if she was at a supper of her own, happier than ever with Leoran by her side. I pushed aside the nagging worry that she, in fact, was not with the prince, and chose to imagine they were having a romantic meal alone.

Our food was set on the table, and once all the staff took their seats, everyone helped themselves.

“What a treat. We don’t get lamb very often. Must be a special night,” Burress said.

Shandy chuckled, her rosy chest bouncing. “It’s not that special, but it is Mr. Blaise’s favorite. Besides, I’m sure Mihrra had much fancier meals at the castle.”

“Yes, tell us what it was like, Mihrra!” Mrs. Shulling chirped.

I squirmed in my seat as all their eyes turned to me, except Narell’s. She was picking at her food and pushing it around her plate.

“Well, we didn’t have any grand meals. It was fine, but your food is better, Shandy.” The cook blushed, and Narell sighed. “We had the meals delivered to our room.”

“Even the servants?” Franz looked stunned.

“Well, I’m not sure. Kezara had me stay in the room with her.”

Everyone oohed and ahhed.

“Naturally,” Narell muttered, shoving a carrot in her mouth. Mrs. Shulling threw her a sharp glance, but Narell was still staring at her plate .

“Did you get to attend the ball?” The question was asked by another of the kitchen girls, Mausette. She was plump with mousy hair and rosy cheeks, but large, blue eyes that gave her a childlike quality.

“I did.”

Mausette’s eyes widened. “Did you dance, too?”

I flashed back to being swept around the gilded room in Velian’s arms, but when I saw the rage simmering in Narell’s dark eyes, I shook my head. I wanted to keep the memory to myself, undiluted by a watered-down recitation. Besides, it seemed any opportunity for a relationship to progress beyond employee and employer had stayed on the dance floor. I had officially joined the ranks of women pining after him, never to have their feelings reciprocated.

“I sat back and watched everyone else,” I said. “I was happy to have the chance to even be there.”

Mausette pursed her lips and nodded emphatically as if she would have felt the same way.

They continued peppering me with questions about the castle and the trip there, murmuring in shock when I shared the details of the attack in Canderren. Mrs. Shulling was especially stricken by the tale, shaking her head and fanning herself, but I assured her all was fine.

Once we finished eating, I reached for the now empty carrot dish, intending on placing it in the sink, but Narell snatched it from me saying ,

“I can do it.” She still wouldn’t look at me, but I relinquished it without a word and turned to find Mrs. Shulling watching with her hands on her hips, scowling. I walked over and stood next to her.

Mrs. Shulling leaned toward me and whispered, “Don’t fret about it, dear. She’s just envious of you. She dreams of a grander life.” She patted me on the shoulder. “Now go enjoy your evening and get some rest. You have a busy day ahead of you tomorrow.”

“You spoke with Velian already?”

“I did. We’ll get it all sorted out in the morning after breakfast. Have a good night, Mihrra.”

“Yes, Mrs. Shulling. Goodnight.”

I departed from the kitchen, leaving behind the sound of sloshing water and scrubbing dishes, deciding to go outside for some fresh air. I walked through the sitting room door, initially planning to head to the garden or back down to the beach, but I chose to explore the front of the manor further.

I followed the path around the brick building covered in green wisteria vines, the flowers long since withered. Winding my way through the planters and down the driveway, I brushed my fingers along the trailing willow tree branches and hoped the soughing of the wind would soothe the lingering tendrils of anxiety.

But I couldn’t stop thinking of Kezara—what was she doing at that very moment? Where was she? And why had she excluded me from the note? That fact still stung, and despite feeling at home with the staff at Blaise Manor, loneliness was creeping in. I was closest with Kezara, and Narell’s frosty behavior did not alleviate my worries.

I’d reached the end of the drive, and while I didn’t mind the thought of the winding decline to town, I had no desire to climb back up, so I turned around. With the sun setting behind the house I finally got my first good look at the stained glass window. The red part was a rose, and the green surrounding it was not vines as I had previously thought, but two snakes.

I froze, blinking fast and hard. It was the same image as my father’s ring and the handle of the case. How could I have missed that before? Why did my father have a ring with what I assumed was the Blaise Family crest? My head was swimming, and thoughts raced around so fast I barely had time to acknowledge them.

However, one thing I was certain of: Velian knew far more than he was letting on.