Golden Roses Read Free

to meet you, really, but…I was so anxious to see my father.”
    “So, this is little Amber. All grown up.” Maretta’s lips curled into the hint of a sneer. Tossing her hair, she added tartly, “Well, I am sure you enjoyed the ride from Suevlo, my brother.”
    Amber reminded herself that these were foreigners. Later, she would make every effort to understand them.
    She pleaded to Valdis, “Take me to my father. Please. I don’t want to wait until morning.”
    Maretta said coldly, “It might be wise if you waited until tomorrow, Amber, and rested tonight from your long journey.”
    “No! I want to see him tonight .” She shook her head, looking up at Valdis and recoiling from his stony expression. Did he not understand her desperate need? “I know he won’t mind being awakened.”
    Valdis and Maretta looked at each other, and Maretta murmured, “Perhaps you should tell her.”
    “Tell me what?” Amber turned to Valdis and clenched her hands tightly together to keep from clutching him. “Please. There is something you aren’t telling me. Is he sick? Then take me to him, please.”
    Valdis continued to look down at her with those cold, narrowed eyes until, suddenly, Amber saw a door opening to her left. She turned to see a soft glow of candles and people seated around the room. A man stepped out and closed the door behind him, his eyes flicking curiously over Amber as he asked Valdis, “Is this the daughter?”
    “ Sí . I have just brought her from the train,” Valdis responded with a punctuating sigh. He made introductions. Amber did not quite get the man’s long, Spanish name.
    “Take her to the señora,” the man suggested gently, his kind eyes on Amber. “She said earlier she would prefer to tell the young lady herself.”
    Valdis took Amber’s arm and led her to the wide, curving staircase. “Come, Amber. I am sure my mother is expecting you.”
    Amber hastened to keep up with him, her anxiety becoming unbearable. Why was everyone acting so strangely? Behind her, she heard Maretta saying, “ Sí , she will be awake. The whole house is awake, and most of the valley is in the parlor.”
    “What is she talking about?” Amber demanded sharply. “What is going on here? Why won’t anyone tell me anything? And where is my father? Why wasn’t he here waiting for me?”
    Valdis gave her an amused look. “You will soon have all your answers, señorita. My, but you are beautiful, especially when your blue eyes shine.”
    Amber had had enough. “Will you tell me what is going on?” she cried, jerking her arm from his grasp. “And stop holding on to me. I can walk by myself.”
    For an instant, she was sorry. If she had seen arrogance in his eyes before, it was nothing compared to the look of rage he gave her then.
    “I endeavor to treat you like a lady, my little sister,” he said tightly, “but perhaps you are one of those women who prefers rough treatment? Soon, we shall find out.” There was a tight smile, and then he turned away.
    Valdis continued up the stairs. At the landing, he led her down a wide hallway lined with ornate silver lanterns. Statues lined the walls. The floor was covered by a rich beige rug into which were woven designs of birds in every color imaginable. It was truly a beautiful house.
    Valdis moved quickly down the hall, eyes straight ahead, chin slightly tilted, his face set. When they stopped at a door at the end of the hall, he knocked softly. Without waiting, he turned the thick black handle and pushed open the door, gesturing impatiently for Amber to follow him.
    She found herself standing in a dimly lit entrance foyer and realized that her father and stepmother’s quarters took up the whole width of the massive house at that end. A lace curtain hanging in thick folds obscured whatever lay on the other side of the foyer.
    Valdis swept the curtain aside and Amber followed him into the room, stunned by the lavish furnishings. The furniture was of a dark, heavy wood,