Now and Forevermore Read Free Page A

unease, and retrieved the book upon the floor. He sensed the old woman’s eyes upon him, and he turned to her with an inquiring gaze. Her eyes reminded him of the green hills of the moor, and her face reflected ancient wisdom.
     
    In truth, she seemed to be a part of the library, but the bright layered skirt hung in a most disreputable manner over bare feet, as though someone had taken a sharp object and sliced the edges. The dark top resembled a gentleman’s vest over a white ruffled shirt, tied with lightweight twine and a circular earring hung from one ear. The entire arrangement would send him to bedlam if he had to look at it each day. Malcolm grunted. Sedgwick must be a horrible taskmaster to allow his servants to wear rags for clothing.
     
    “Do you need anything? I can help you to get what you search for.”
     
    Malcolm stiffened at the woman’s words. Her inappropriate question and informal manner would incur in a lashing if she didn’t take care. His words clipped their response “You should retire to your master and serve his guests immediately. Go now before I give word of your behavior.”
     
    Her feet made no sound as she moved closer, and Malcolm shrank back in surprise. Her eyes shone like the light of the moon and prompted him to ask in curiosity “Who are you?”
     
    With a flinch at the words that crossed his lips, he muttered “Forgive me. I do not understand what has come over me this night. I do not feel quite like myself.”
     
    She nodded as though she understood his dilemma. “I know what’s wrong with you, and I have decided that you are worthy of my gift.”
     
    “Your gift?” Malcolm’s brows drew together in puzzlement “What gift would that be?”
     
    When a smile blossomed upon her face, he grew impatient and demanded “Come now. Do not jest with me.”
     
    She ambled over to the wall and motioned he should follow. With a slight rustle she pulled one of the books, and he smiled as the wall slithered across to reveal a hidden passageway. Now the strange situation became clear. Sedgwick had devised of a new way to entertain his guests, and perhaps it would be interesting to see how far the amusement would go. With careful strides he entered the passageway behind the old woman, his nostrils assailed by the smell of dampness that imbued the air. The chill permeated his clothing, and even the walls were frigid to the touch.
     
     A quick search of the surroundings revealed nothing but four walls, and a mirror covered in slight layer of dust at the far end of the room. Malcolm turned away in disappointment, frustrated when his search proved fruitless. Another one of Sedgwick’s tricks indeed. When he prepared to reenter the library, the woman spoke again behind him “If you would but look, you will find what you are searching for.”
     
    He was tired of the game and an angry tone filled his voice “What am I searching for? Who are you old woman? I thought this was Sedgwick’s doing, but perhaps it is not so. Speak up. I will tolerate no more of this nonsense.”
     
    Even in the shadows he could see the beauty of her smile, and it seemed as though her years melted away to reveal a maiden in its place. He watched her point towards the mirror “I will leave you now kind sir, but I beg you just look at yourself for but a moment and all will be well.”
     
    With that she departed and left him alone in the shadows. Malcolm shook himself and wondered if he had fallen asleep at the ball, as the events of the evening seemed more like a dream than anything else. When the voice of the night called to him again, he groaned in distress. No. Leave me be.
     
    The result of the maidens cry pummeled his senses, and he felt short of air as sweat peppered his brow. Aware that the edges of his vision decreased in dramatic fashion, he struggled to turn away but his feet remained rooted to the floor. His fear of the unknown returned full force and he pleaded with the voice to desist.