The Lady of Fairhaven Read Free Page B

and drew her slender fingers to his lips. “We will work out the details of our stay with my niece, the chatelaine, in good time.”
    “ But, Ollie.” she whined. She fluttered her eyelids in an appealing display meant to entice her lover to condescension.
    “ We will work out the details later, my dear,” he soothed.
    Katherine’s eyes narrowed dangerously as she looked to Gillian. Any emotions Katherine held seemed exposed for the world to see.
    Gillian stiffened and stood firmly ready. For the first time in her life she had adversaries. She would need to learn to deal with them head on.
    In his defense, Gillian had to admit Oliver had exercised some restraint in the midst of strong pressure from his lover. Having much practice in schooling her face to hide all emotion boiling around inside, Gillian looked the two in the eye and once again offered them the opportunity to cleanse and rest.
    “ Cecily, please show Sir Oliver and his guest to my parent’s room, and provide a warm bath and some food,” Gillian said.
    “ But My Lady,” Cecily argued.
    “ It is my request, Cecily,” was all Gillian said before she turned and walked as calmly as she could force her legs to obey.
    Her role as chatelaine required that preparations for guests must be made, and after directing servants to see to her uncles needs, she busied herself with the tasks of preparing a feast. Every household chore was performed from memory without the requirement of special thought. And it was a good thing too, her mind was too numb to contemplate her future. She had her work cut out for her.
    Gillian knew she must prove her ability to run the estate to her uncle. Every detail for the next few weeks would have to be completed to perfection but without seeming like an added burden. Gillian could easily have her authority undermined if the servants became angered by her new demands, while Katherine entices them with false promises of a better life. Her grasp on chatelaine was tenuous at best, and only if she were very clever would she be able to hold on to it.
    It was clear from the onset that Sir Oliver had not placed any loyalties to family. God help her, she was alone.

Chapter Two
     
     
     
    “Dog, for a big brave beast, you seem in need of care during storms,” Gillian said. Her hands stroked the big head that had burrowed deep into her lap. Standing as high as her waist, the brown dog with black muzzle had to lean forward to rest his chin on her legs. He had a particularly striking chiseled square face, but his size was the most imposing feature. And Gillian insisted that when he was with her she could see a smile on his large black wiggly lips.
    With her chair pulled close to the comforting fire, the chatelaine sat resting her head wearily against its high back. Absently, her hand stroked Dog’s shoulders and back. Her mind relived the events of the past few months.
    While she rested, she could hear the frequent crashes of thunder outside. A storm of enormous proportions was passing through the area. Candlelight paled as the flashes of lightening bolts striking the earth lit the sky. With every strike, Dog whimpered slightly and hid his head under Gillian’s hand. Too many bolts to count made the dog’s flinching continuous.
    Anne sat near the glow of the fire laboring over a particularly intricate piece of handwork. The light was better close to the fire and warmer too.
    As the night wore on, the lightening flashes were followed ever more closely to the thunderous crackling. Now, the sounds broke almost instantly with each flash. Gillian felt sure some stones in the walls of the manor were being hit. It wasn’t safe to venture outside to find out which ones were damaged.
    Gillian worried about the village. Certainly a few strikes inside its borders were inevitable. And with the intensity of this storm, she feared the whole village might be lost. A quiver worked its way up her spine.
    The sound of footfalls broke Gillian’s