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Authors: Kelly Varesio

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BOOK: Insperatus
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She tried to brush it off. She was all right.
Just the thought that Saria didn’t seem to pick up on Rein’s fear lingered. Either Saria didn’t care or didn’t know. Rein had always hidden her fear from everyone, even from Saria. She kept so cool all the time. Couldn’t show her deep emotions. Was she too proud to show any weakness?
She cleared her throat and wiped her eyes. She was tired of being reserved. Tired of hiding the thought of her father. Saria would listen and comfort her if she would only tell her about it. They were best friends; they would have grown up together if only Saria’s parents had been allowed to take charge of her. She was like her sister.
With a smile to herself, she wiped her eyes a second time, forgetting about those things troubling her. She stood straight and walked to the table in the center of the foyer, taking out her copy of
Sense and Sensibility
. With the book in hand, she entered the bedroom hollow and lay on her side, propped on the pillow. She was just becoming settled when she felt a hard crinkling under her elbow.
She lifted herself up and looked down, lifting the pillow.
There was a letter.

 

Miss Rein Pierson,
I am disposed to inform you of something most important before you come to find out in your own time. You are reading this on a ship, and I understand that you left Teesdale not three days ago. This is most urgent for you, and my information is to be taken as completely reliable. It is about your father, Colonel Timothy Pierson.

 

Chapter 10

 

During military stationing in France, Col. Pierson was part of a standing army ordered to watch for any French infiltration into the English Channel. You were six years of age, and as he left, you were sent to live in Barnard Institution while the servants kept your house and an agent kept your

money. The year was 1828.

Being that Col. Pierson was part of a standing army, it was mandatory for him to take board in nearby houses. A native French woman invited him to stay with her. Since you were only five years old, I understand why he would not have told you about his dealings with the woman. Her name was Colette Badeau, and she was a very handsome woman, a sort of gypsy. She knew no English, but Pierson was enraptured by her. However, your father left Badeau when he found out she was pregnant by him, and he continued in his post elsewhere. He attempted to forget about Badeau and the child. He was sent back to Teesdale a few weeks later, but he left you in Barnard
for the rest of your childhood.

 

Rein set the letter down, her hands trembling wildly. This had to be some sort of hoax…but no one knew those things but her. She was faint with shock. She thought and squinted with disgust. A child? Her father was in Teesdale the entire time she was trapped in that terrible school? Her only blood relation, and he left her?

 

His decision not to take you out of school will not be discussed, but you must know that he was in Teesdale for fourteen years before he was drafted again to France. He was drafted a few months before you graduated Barnard, and to his shock, he found that Colette Badeau had died of fever, leaving behind their now fifteen-year-old daughter, Taverin. Despite France being a mortal enemy of England, the girl had learned English, and the colonel claimed charge of her. France made no attempt to restrain him from removing the French-raised girl from her homeland, but she still has no citizenship in England, where both she and the colonel were headed. However, when he had returned, you were gone—on this ship to America.
I am Mistress; someone you do not know, but will in due time. You will be something great, Rein Pierson. Do not take my words lightly. Trust whom you meet with the same nationality as your own. He is to be trusted.

 

Her heart was racing. She stood, trembling with the letter firmly in hand, and ran to the foyer and out the door. She struggled to keep her hand still to close the door, frustration and confusion overwhelming her.
Coincidence was not a possible explanation. Something was wrong, or the information she received was faulty. It had to be fake; no one could send a letter to a moving ship. Someone aboard had to have written it. But the mere notion that her father had left her in that awful institution…
Rein stumbled in panic into the atrium, glancing around for Saria. The hall was unusually empty, and the lounge where she had been before had two people she didn’t know sitting with their drinks glued into their hands. She turned completely around in an attempt to go back to her chamber. Saria still had to be at the meeting; it had been less than an hour since she’d left.
But as she stared down the V-Wing where her chamber was, she saw Saria standing there with Romanoff. They must have been headed to her chamber to find her, but she hadn’t noticed them in her haze of fright.
Saria’s eyes were focused on her for a moment, and she quickly paced over to the atrium with her arms out. “Dear God!” she gasped with sorrow, holding her shoulders. “What is wrong, Rein?”
She felt weak and closed her eyes before Saria neared. She lost all sense of balance and felt herself collapse, but she never hit the floor. Her shortness of breath subsided when she blinked open her eyes.
Traith Harker’s face hung over her, and his arms were situated one underneath her waist, and the other holding her head.
She’d fainted?

Rein! Rein! Oh dear, Rein!” She could hear Saria yelling, but her voice was muted by the man above her.

Miss Pierson?” His voice was clear and soft. She felt his fingers moving under her body, searching for an easier hold. “Can you hear me?”
She shook her head and tried to stand. A mortified feeling plagued her, but she said nothing. He wouldn’t let her rise.

Relax,” he said with attempted comfort. “Give yourself a mome—”

Rein! Oh, my darling friend! Can you hear me?” Saria’s face suddenly protruded under Harker’s, and he had to lean back to allow her to bend down. “What is the matter with you?”
Harker helped her stand, his hands still partially holding her, helping her over to the divan next to them. She saw Edgar appear behind Saria, looking shocked but meek as usual. Edgar quickly shook hands with Romanoff and told him who he was. She fought to overcome her lightheadedness and carry herself so he didn’t have to strain to hold her, but Harker made it seem as if she were light as a feather.
And then she realized that she had not been able to find him anywhere before. How had he gotten into the lobby in that small time, just enough to catch her? She stopped asking questions. It was useless.
Her vision was clear again. She held her head and took a seat at the sofa that Harker had led her to, taking a deep breath. But it wasn’t as deep as she wanted it to be because her bodice was so tight. She was humiliated, and in front of everyone she knew. She had never caused such a scene before!
Romanoff came up right next to Saria, momentarily looked at her, then bent down to pick up the papers she had dropped when she nearly fell. He glanced at them, but Saria snatched them out of his hands. Saria’s eyes were wide, and her mouth dropped as her eyes shot back and forth against the papers.

Oh, no, Rein,” she muttered, still reading. “Rein, this can’t be true. Where did you find this?”
Romanoff’s eyes grayed. “W-whose name is in there?” he asked almost inaudibly, and his eyes scanned the paper from behind Saria. “
Mistress
?”
Harker stood stiffly and watched Romanoff with icy eyes. “What?”
Saria blinked a few times blankly in thought, and Romanoff took the letter from her. He spoke the last words of the letter ardently. “
Trust whom you meet with the same nationality as your own. He is to be trusted.

He looked up at Rein and then at Harker. “Well, you are the only Englishman here, Traith.”

You must not believe this,” Saria choked, her words louder than Romanoff’s. “I would have seen your father sometime in those fourteen years. You live across the street; he was never—”

You never even
met
my father,” Rein quivered to say. “How do you suppose your parents could not remove me from that horror of a boarding school? My father was deliberately keeping me there. It would make sense…” She had to stop talking to hold back her emotion, and cradled her head in her hands. She wasn’t going to cry in front of them as well—she wasn’t.

Madame, I am inclined to say that what you read must be true,” Romanoff said. “I know this Mistress, and she does not lie.”

You know the person who wrote this letter?” Saria asked him emphatically. “Is she on this ship now? Why, she must be! How else could—”

She isn’t on this ship,” Harker replied sternly. Romanoff attempted to interrupt, but Harker continued. “It was more than likely a hoax, and I know by whom it was committed.”
Romanoff was furious. “Traith, what are you talk—”

Miss Pierson,” Harker said more gently to her, ignoring his friend. “Please.” His next word was hesitated upon. “
Breathe
.” He sighed. “I’ll find out who has done this to you. Don’t be upset. It isn’t true.”
When Rein looked up, the only thing that filled her line of vision was Traith Harker’s trademark brooding eyes, but they were shrouding something. He was lying; the tone of Romanoff’s voice made it obvious. But that gentleness she had noticed before was still glistening in his eyes. She was coming to admire it; it was the same tame gaze she had noticed him use on her before. But only on her.

Do you want me to take you to your chamber?” Saria asked, seated next to her and fanning her uselessly.
She shook her head and sat up. The embarrassment of portraying what she thought seemed like a prim, weak girl was crushing her. “I’m fine, now,” she said, forcing a smile. “I didn’t mean to make such commotion, you know I hate that. Mr. Harker is right; I can’t worry. I can’t get back to England for at least a month anyway.” She spoke with a shaky coolness, and she stood with as much dignity as she could muster.
Saria had stood and given her hand to her French confidant, ready to take leave. “I’m sure that was some sort of prank, Rein,” she said softly. “Don’t worry over it, you must enjoy yourself here! But I’ll give you a little while to think, all right? I know how you are; you like your space when you’re tense, so I’ll let you go ahead.” She smiled with pity. “I’ll be by in a bit, all right? Promise.”

Sure,” Rein said, clearing her throat and smiling. “Thank you.”
Romanoff smiled with concern and handed her the letter.

I need to talk with you, Traith,” he murmured before he went to take leave. “Tonight?”
Harker never answered as Romanoff walked away with Saria.
Saria left with that concerned, motherly attitude completely abandoned, and her arm resting with sudden frivolity in his. He was smiling at her, and the two disappeared behind a few wandering people and a door.
Then it was only Edgar and Harker left near her.

I’m their escort,” Edgar said, and shook hands with Harker.

Evening,” Harker said with a nod of greeting.

Are you sure all will be fine, miss?” Edgar asked her quietly.
Rein attempted a believable laugh at how dramatic she felt she had been. “Think nothing of me, Edgar.”
He nodded with that timid smile. “I’ll be in room 1102 if you need me,” he said. “Don’t hesitate to get me if need be, please, Miss Pierson.”
She smiled to him, and he turned and went on his way.
She directed her attention to Harker, who was standing awkwardly amidst the staring passengers. He cleared his throat and took a seat next to her so he blended.

So,” he began, looking around casually and trying to strike up some conversation. “Are you steady again?”

That letter was…disturbing,” she rasped. “I pray it is not true. It is about my father, and other things that have haunted me for years, things I never knew the answers to. I don’t understand who could know those things. I’m sorry for falling; I
never
—”

No, don’t apologize,” he said, sympathetic, finally looking at her face. “I’m not a practiced liar, so I should clarify what I’ve told you.”
With a knot forming deep within her, she searched his face for some kind of expression, but he was unreadable.

You think it is true, don’t you?” she pushed to say, her voice hoarse with sorrow. He had hesitated. “Mr. Romanoff had seemed so upset for me—”

Please, Miss Pierson,” he quieted her, covering his lips with his strong, pale hand. She noticed white, lifted scars on his hands, too—just like the ones on his face, but longer and larger.

Tell me the truth,” she whispered. “I trust you.”
He seemed near embarrassed at being seen in the atrium and speaking in public. She could tell he was uncomfortable sitting in the open, but that was part of his characteristic reticence, and she was assured that he was truly attempting to make
her
comfortable, even if he was not.
BOOK: Insperatus
13.54Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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