The faintest of voices hidden by a white light, hidden by the mind. It rocked back and forth like a boat on water.

"What are you doing here? I thought I told you I wanted to be alone."

"Mum sent me to get you. Come down and play."

"Leave me be, Lee or you'll live to regret it."

"Mum! Mum!"

"Settle down, will you, you spoilt little brat."

"I'm not spoilt."

"You are. Now leave me alone. Father and Mother leave me alone, why don't you do the same?"

"Come down and play with me, Will, please. Charlie and Michelle are already here."

"Charlie and Michelle are nothing but, hmm.... Be gone before I slay you, peasant. "

"No!"

Chapter 17

"Ugh!" A groan came from under the blanket. With the distant dreams and visions coming in, it was hard to come to terms with anything, deciphering the real from the fake. Darkness draped the house since the day Lily left. The Beckingham manor, as clean and bright as it may look, was not lively at all. The killing silence now made it easy for steps to be heard throughout and no one in the house spoke casually for a few days, it was always about the party or what clothes to lay out or what to cook. It felt like a corporation. Mrs. Beckingham and William never looked at Lily as the help and now that there was space between them, it was difficult to address her as such.

It was just three days before the Fall Foxtrot, Lily came in early that morning. She took off her big woolen scarf and hooked the key on the wall. She rubbed her hands, looking around. The winter must be in a hurry to come- She thought. Just then she spotted William looking unsettled and tired.

"When did you get in?" He was struggling to see her, making out the colour of her skin was the only way he knew it was Lily.

"A few minutes ago. " She walked to the stair. "It's a windy day, my hat almost flew away." She said, dusting the top. "You haven't slept much, have you? I'll brew some tea."

"Wait, where's my mother?" He remembered she wasn't in her room.

"I don't know. " She stopped to think. " I didn't expect you to be here. When saw her car only, I assumed you went to work early."

"She's out?" He said, climbing down each step. "She's not a woman that just leaves... and with my car."

Lily marched into the kitchen, saying. "She did mention something about inviting her sister to the party. Maybe she went out to see her."

"I don't like it." He scoffed, having a seat.

"She's a grown woman," Lily said softly, a smile barely showing. "She could be at the ranch for all you know."

"It's possible but this early? It highly unlikely she'd be there."

"Mrs. Beckingham said she loves riding horses." She sighed, pouring hot water into a cup. "She also said it's been forever since she's ridden one. So it's not highly or unlikely that she would be there."

"So that's why she kept them." He grinned. "I always thought it was because Sarah loved them. Father only bought them because my sister wanted them. She must have inherited that trait from mother after all."

"Can I ask you something?" She pulled a chair out to sit beside him.

"Of course."

"It's been a while and I haven't seen Mr. Beckingham. Your mother said~"

"Don't worry about what Mother said, Lily because it's a lie."

"Is he?"

"No, not quite but it does seem like it. He's just... busy."

Lily realized he didn't want to get into details and she felt stupid for even asking something so sensitive like that. She nodded and was about to get up but William held her hand. "Don't go." She gave a confusing smile, sitting down. "There's something I've been meaning to say." He started. "You're brilliant, Lily and sometimes I forget it."

"You're not obligated to remember." She said.

"Someday I might be."

"What are you trying to say?" She felt her hands grasped in his and her heart fluttered.

"I'm not sure~' He glared at her, giving a glowing smile. "~but what I am sure of is... that you're right where you need to be." With me He thought of adding but a creaking sound startled her, she could hear someone having a discussion by the front door.

William, flustered by the untimely event, streamed his hand down the side of his neck. He steadied himself, getting up. "Mother better have a good explanation for this." He growled, heading towards the front door.

He could hear the conversation as he followed Lily to the front.

"Oh, Elena leave your bags at the door Lily'll help you to your room."

"Lily?" She pestered. "Who is this Lily?"

"Here she comes now. "

"Morning, Mrs. Beckingham and ~" She paused, waiting for a name.

"It's Elena. Just Elena." The woman watched, annoyed as she slipped her gloves off.

"And Elena Ma'am."

"Would you be a dear and take her things to the guest room?" Jodi asked but ordered.

"Of course."

"Wait, where's William?" She asked, curious and a bit worried about her son.

"We were just in the kitchen together, he wasn't feeling well so I made some ginger tea." She explained.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

"Not feeling well?" Said his mother. "I should send for the doctor."

"I'm fine, mother." William said, walking in.

"Are you sure?" She rushed towards him, checking his face.

"Jodi." Elena Ma'am Said. "He has no shirt. Is this how maids make tea for their masters?"

"I'm sure there's a good explanation." Mrs. Beckingham mumbled, more focused on her son's well-being.

"I think we need to talk, Jodi. Privately." She said, feeling provoked by Lily's stare.

Lily didn't understand what the fuss was about, was she a child? Elena only wanted her to be seen and not heard, she felt belittled but she wasn't going to let accusations stop her from doing her job. "I'll take your things upstairs."

"No!" Elena screamed. "I don't want you near my things!"

William's eyes widened, and he pulled his mother's hands slowly from his face. He couldn't believe his aunt had just ordered Lily the way she did. He walked towards her, blocking Lily like her soul protector. "Aunt Elaine." He said.

"Yes." She stuck out her lips looking the other way with folded arms.

"I'll take your bags to your room. The trip surely has made you tired and famished. Lily will get you something to calm your nerves."

"I hope it's not ginger tea." She mocked.

William took the bag down the hall and Jodi did nothing but bite her tongue, watching as Lily quietly left the room.

"Well? Come." Her sister locked their arms together. "We have a lot of things to talk about." Jodi agreed, taking her into the study. They got a seat and first, they were quiet then, Elena looked around, trying to get a good fit into the big-armed chair. "The place looks well put, barren even."

"Lily cleaned it up. She's really good with her hands." Jodi sprung with happiness.

"I mean it looks empty, is that her doing too?" She said sniffling. "Anyway, where is your husband? Still in Africa?" She cackled.

"I try not to think about it. At this point, he's seen the place over a dozen times." She shrugged. "I don't know when he'll be back, I doubt he ever will."

"Well, let's get some scotch and drink on it, shall we?" For a moment it felt like Elena was the host, the way she poured the glass and talked, Jodi was convinced even in her own home.

"Sure." She twisted her lips.

"What shall we toast to?" She grinned, her tongue filling the big gap within her teeth.

"How about traveling husbands?"

"To traveling husbands." They laughed.

"I could tell you." Elena got a bit close to Jodi. "I've never regretted something in my life like marrying a rich man." She said.

"I wish I could agree with you." Jodi sat up, sipping.

"What's that mean? Hmm."

"You know what it was like, Elena. I'd rather be old and alone here than on a farm working for some fat cat any day."

"Aye, those were tight days."

"We got out, Elena. Thank God for that."

"Yeah, and it's not by sitting on our asses all day either." Elena sipped. "Speaking of which, you should know a hustler when you see one. Looks like your skills have faded, sister."

"Hustler?"

"That girl you have here."

"Lily? Oh no, she's a darling."

"She's really not to be trusted. Look at her. If she keeps it up, she'll be William's bride by the next full moon."

"I don't see what you see, honestly." Jodi sighed. "She's a good girl but with the way things are unbolting, I don't think that'll happen."

"That's good news now!" She smiled and then frowned, rubbing her sister's shoulder. "But why are you sad?"

"She's perfect for William, he sees that too but I'm afraid there's someone else."

"If there's someone else, give her a shot."

"A friend of Lily's."

"Good reddens, No..." She whispered. "One like her in this house is enough. She's already tainted your home, don't let one more be bound to it."

"Elena, I don't understand what you're saying. I don't." She got up. "If you have something to say then say it. I really don't appreciate the way you talk to her or how you talk about her. She's been nothing but helpful in every way and for the days you stay in this house, she's going to be here, whether you like it or not." She was going to walk away but Elena stood up.

"I'm sorry, Jodi." She said, running her hand down her fur coat. "William's right, I must be tired." She rubbed her forehead.

"I'm happy to hear that. Just give her a chance, you'll see how pure and special she is." She went back to hug her. " And It's really good to have you here."

William had his things together, he cuffed his shirt as he peddled down the steps only to greet his Aunt again.

"You're leaving?" She said, stopping at the stair.

"Yes, unfortunately, and fortunately, I have a client who's interested in buying something colonial and as you know, around here there's nothing of that sort. So I need a two-hour head start." He smiled, it was all he could do. It was custom to show respect and he wasn't quite ready to reveal a side of him she has yet to see.

"Have a safe journey, dear." She nodded. "I'm just going to head to the observatory and have a nap."

Elena Ma'am waited until William turned the corner to head back downstairs, she leaned her ear by the doorway, just enough to hear everything.

"Lily." He took a deep breath, saying slowly. "I am so sorry."

"It's fine... I am the help, after all, I should've just kept quiet."

"You didn't do anything wrong, trust me."

"The stew was too salted, the tea was too sweet. I didn't wash my hands because Elena Ma'am could still taste soap on the spoons." She said weakly. "It's my fault but I don't, I don't know what I'm doing wrong."

"Like I said before, Lily. It's not your fault. Look, give her some time and she'll get used to you. It's the most she could do.... Play nice. We still have a conservation that needs to be finished, as soon as possible."

Elena gulped, she held her breath a bit more as William walked out. She was relieved when he just walked out the front door without turning back. "That vagabond. They both are blinded. She's using my sister and my nephew, what a gypsy. Hmm, I swear. She's waiting for that ring, I know it. I should give her a piece of my mind... but no. I should expose her, yes. Yes. She'll never be able to step foot in the Beckingham manor when I do." Elena Ma'am sat on the step conspiring with herself. "A tramp, a tramp. That's what she is. She is right where she needs to be though. A slave is all they're good for being, My papa told me that himself. They don't have the brains or the willpower to escape the disciplining wrath of someone like me."

"Are you finished?" Lily watched her, blank and empty, hands behind her back. Elena ma'am didn't know how to answer. "Are you finished?" She said again. "Because if you are, there are things that I need to say."

"Go ahead." She blinked. "Save me the trouble."

"I don't know what era you're living in but I know it's not this one. And let me tell you something: You're ignorant, I can understand that, Elena Ma'am, but I won't let your words define me."

"You don't have to." Came a response.

"Mrs. Beckingham." Lily was left speechless, forced to retreat back into her shell.

"I've heard enough. You can save me the trouble by leaving, Lily. I'll get a hold of you the day after the party. Wouldn't want to spoil my mood."

"As you wish," Lily said. She got her things and then left.

Elena grinned for a while before letting out a loud hysterical laugh. Jodi rushed down to meet her. "I cannot believe you." She said. "That's what this is about? The color of her skin?"

"Jodi, don't." She got up, trying to support herself. "You know what she is, don't tell me you fell for that."

"I can tolerate a lot of things but not this. Your hatred might endanger you someday, Elaine. Don't live to regret it."

"If you're worried for my safety, sister, don't be. I'm dead anyway." She tapped the rails playfully and then went into the kitchen.

"I can see that," Jodi said under her breath.