Hidden Ability (Book 1) Read Free

the hearth. Lady Shara sits in a chair across the room looking into the cold hearth and listening to her daughter’s words.
    Shara turns toward Darla and says, “When was the last time you asked your father for help with the accounts?”
    “I discussed them with him just last month.”
    “Don’t you, I mean didn’t you meet with him monthly and show him the current account standings? Is that all it was, your monthly review with him?”
    “Well, yes, but he sometimes asked questions,” says Darla.
    “Questions you could not answer? Questions that he had to personally resolve?”
    “No, I always knew the answers. And, I followed up on any issues. Although, we didn’t have many.”
    Lady Shara stands and moves toward her daughter before speaking again. She looks carefully at Darla’s face and asks in a soft voice that conveys a need to understand, “Tell me again why you can’t do this?”
    “That was just the accounts,” says Darla, dismissing the bookkeeping with a wave of her hand. “I’ve been doing those for years. This is so much more. I would have to meet with the overseers. Judge disputes brought forward by the Tenant’s Council. Negotiate and approve trading agreements.”
    “Oh. Yes, the overseers,” says Shara in agreement. “Brighton can be such a problem, especially with the livestock difficulties on the northern holdings.”
    “Brighton is the overseer for production on the southern holdings and he’s a pleasure to work with. Norn, who is the northern overseer, can be difficult, but his daughter and I hit it off last year. She has been such a help dealing with him.”
    “Then the difficulty must be with the Tenant’s Council?” asks Lady Shara with a hint of concern to her words and the edge of a smile on her lips.
    “They do raise some perplexing issues. It’s amazing what problems people create for themselves. But, we only meet once a month and I actually enjoy it in a way. It helps me feel more in touch with the people working and living on our lands.” As she completes her thoughts, Darla notices the smile that has blossomed on her mother’s lips. “Wait a moment, you’re toying with me.”
    “Not really, darling,” replies Shara with a tender tone. “I only gave you an opportunity to think more clearly about your objections. You can be so much like your father when you feel overwhelmed.” And now Lady Shara’s smile freshens even as a mist comes to her eyes. Even that look you are giving me echoes your father.
    “You... You used to do this to father too,” says Darla as the memory puts a smile on her face and a laugh in her words. “Father told me once that he saw a lot of you in me. He said you always knew how to cool his hot words and warm his cold heart.” Darla sees her mother has started to cry and she feels her own tears begin even as they both laugh and embrace each other.
    Shara speaks softly while holding her daughter close. “Anyone can give you reasons why you cannot do something. It is up to you to find the reasons why you can and the help of those who can tell you how.” Slowly the two women pull away from each other until they are holding hands. “I will not say this in front of anyone else. It is for you alone to hear. You are the strongest of my children. Your father and I discussed this many times. Although he was the first to say it, we both wanted you to be named lady. And...”, Shara falters for a moment and then regains control of her tears, “I cannot do this alone. Without you, House Yen will fall. Not soon, but as fast as the crows can tear us apart. With Hallis gone, they are already plotting ways to take advantage. This house is meant to pass into your hands. It should never have been so soon.” Again, Lady Shara pauses. She looks directly into Darla’s eyes and continues, “I am here to help you. I will always support you and work with you. There must never be any public divide between us. Come to me and we can debate and decide