Blizzard Page 7

  “I have no home to offer, just my name, thus there is nothing I could provide to any lady of a noble family.” His face had returned to the placid expression from the shocked of mere seconds before.

  “That’s all I need, truly!” Pearl was begging without consideration of her words, and Eliza could see how clearly infatuated the girl was with Zachariah. It was not something to be called love because Pearl did not know Zachariah in any true depth, but her heart had been held captive by him with or without his pursuit. In her desperation, she gently grabbed the lapels of the coat he wore, and he firmly, but gently, removed her grip.

  “I do not know you, Pearl, nor you me.”

  Eliza recognized the waning patience.

  “This is not how a lady of a noble house should act. Think of your family,” he persisted.

  Pearl gasped, covering her mouth with both of her delicate hands. “I…is it because there is someone else?”

  At this, Eliza felt herself moving forward. Pearl was falling into her dramatic expression which would only implode the situation.

  “I love no one.” Those words stopped Eliza from fully revealing herself; her heart ached in sync with his words, causing her to step back and clutch where she felt the pain. “I can love no other, especially not until I can offer what is rightfully mine.”

  Eliza could hear Pearl trying to stifle her pitiful cries and then Eliza heard a loud smack. Peeking around the corner, she found Pearl had slapped Zachariah. She had already turned and was running down the corridor, heading to leave. A few minutes passed before Eliza could steadily breathe; she had shut her eyes trying to forget the painful words and scene that had just played out before her when she felt a presence standing next to her.

  “She has quite a strong hand for a brat with no physical training.” Zachariah’s brown hair hung loosely around his face, no longer tied neatly back as always. His blue eyes seemed hard as Eliza finally turned her eyes to his. “You should have interfered rather than hiding here like a scared rabbit.”

  Eliza chewed her bottom lip in her nervous state. “It would only have proven to make the situation worse. Pearl is—as you have seen—quite dramatic. Had she known I was present, well…” Eliza could only shrug.

  “We will skip training tomorrow. You look pale.” Zachariah had pulled his hair back and was retying the black ribbon in place. “Reegan should return in another two or three days. Enjoy the peace and quiet while you can.”

  “I see.” Eliza relished the idea of freedom, even though brief, and watched Zachariah walk away, leaving her to silent contemplation of how best to enjoy the brief interlude.

  Under the cover of night, Eliza took what she knew would be one of her last opportunities to swim in the lake. Too much chill had entered the air, and soon it would be too cold to swim. Yet she had no plans of missing this final opportunity. The moon was full, no clouds were in the sky, and she had no eyes or shadows following her. She had prepared a pack earlier in the evening with a change of clothes, her two warmest cloaks—one to dry with and the other to ride with—the last apple available, a piece of bread, and a canteen of milk. While she planned to ride Harriet bareback, she had stowed a bag away with a lantern, candle, and flint.

  The moon was just reaching its peak within the dark blanket of sky and complementing stars when Eliza made her way to the stables. After she guided Harriet to her known safe point, she mounted and made the journey for the last time until spring. The colors of the landscape were inverted from their usual golden and burning red hues to those silvered and deepest blues and grays. Chilling wind rushed in to meet her head-on, stinging her face while opening her lungs, catching in the hood of her fur-lined cloak. She thanked Pearl one more time in her mind for the leather riding gloves, as she gripped the reins and spurred Harriet on, providing a quick stroke along her neck as she leaned closed and whispered praise for the smooth journey. The lake came into view, causing the most genuine smile to spread across Eliza’s face, an excitement warming her body for what was to come.

  A log from a fallen tree waited in its usual place as she tied Harriet’s reins to an exposed, barren branch and immediately set to completely stripping off her clothes. The air was biting, but Eliza knew the water would be warm. It always was, and while that knowledge might have kept her returning to its waters even through colder weather, she had once before experienced the mistake of swimming during true winter. It had caused her prior illness, and the subsequent chastising that Mrs. Deboan had incurred from Reegan.

  Making haste into the warm waters, Eliza marveled at the ripples with her entrance, the moon quivering in the wake. She had gotten nearly to the center of the lake when a sudden pain struck, but not from anywhere she had always imagined and secretly feared, such as her legs or feet—her imagination running wild with all kinds of creatures she knew could not exist in these waters—but from her lower abdomen. The pain struck her as if being hit by Zachariah during practice, but it burned from deep within and spread into her joints, ligaments, and mid-stomach. For a moment, Eliza curled into the pain, taking water into her mouth and swallowing a large amount before trying to right herself. She thrashed and found the surface of the water, but the pain struck again, this time to linger and pulse, and Eliza knew she would drown. She would die in this beautiful lake that she had snuck away to in her final act of rebellion for the year, her final savoring of freedom before winter buried her within the confines of the castle and Reegan’s grasp. Memories flooded from the gates that held them as more water entered her mouth, nose, and lungs. Her mother, father, back home along the sea and its shimmering cliffs, hiding the treasures within of a rainbow of precious gems.

  Then, she was being pulled along and in confusion thought she was being dragged down by the weight of the water she had taken in, only to find she was being forced above the water’s edge. Coughing and sputtering as whatever was saving her dragged her to the shore, she had already begun returning what water her body would relinquish before she found herself on the shore. Her body lay upon another, warmth emanating from the figure below that she wanted to siphon before turning to her side and coughing up the rest of the lake.

  Yet whatever had stricken her was not done. The pain struck again, this time spreading throughout her body, to the tips of her toes and fingers, all the way through her long, straggling hair that had come loose in the process of drowning. Every fiber of her muscles throbbed with the pain, each vein coursed it to her heart and mind, and through the searing pain she could hear a man’s voice as he drug her upright. “…where…blood…”

  Eliza groaned as she recognized Zachariah’s voice; apparently the pain was able to dull everything but granted her embarrassed recognition. As he pulled her upright, her voice remained a muffled strain as her synapses fired off the pain and immobilized her fine motor skills, leaving her head to loll back and reveal the moon in its full glory.

  It was uncharacteristically bright, blinding her before his shadow came over her face. She could feel the pain beginning its rising wave, but a warmth emanated from his nearby limbs. What little vision her eyesight allowed showed her that he had laid her down upon the ground, adjusting her to wrap her in the basic cloak first and then topping it off with her fur-lined cloak before hefting her into his arms.

  The world spun as she heard a single neigh call out from Harriet, a dark vision dancing further away before they were ensconced in the nearby woods and mounted atop Zachariah’s riled stallion. Eliza was taken under the pain, her eyes shut, but a gold, glittering light shone behind her lids. She followed the sparks that danced around before an encompassing darkness pulled her deeper; more brilliant colors came to life in this new place. Ebony prisms sparked across her vision and she could hear the waves of her home crashing.

  All the while, Zachariah spurred his steed on, frantic to return her to the castle. She had been bleeding heavily when he had pulled her from the waters, though he had found no wounds, and her words had caused him to suddenly fear for her. “Do
n’t…tell Reegan.” She had managed those words and the last. “He’ll take all…of mine.” Then she had fainted. Her light, lithe frame was a dead weight, but she still seemed to weigh nothing in his arms. He rode his horse hard, cutting down the half hour ride to fifteen minutes, and hurrying inside, he found Pearl had been waiting in Eliza’s room. Though the girl had been fast asleep, his hurried entrance woke her in a shocking manner, causing her to call out in a fitful reaction.

  For a second, Zachariah regarded Pearl in her flushed-faced expression, almost uncertain of how to proceed before he barked orders to her, “Pearl, help me. She’s bleeding though I know not where from, and she’s burning up.” Pearl blinked, once, twice before registering what he had just said. “Get Mrs. Deboan and fetch the doctor.” Pearl ripped back the layers of the bed covers.

  “Lay her down. Give me a moment with her, Zachariah.”

  This was a side of Pearl he was not accustomed to, her voice commanding and sure, no room for debate, yet he faltered before her impatient expression. “But the doctor.” Zachariah could feel the cold sweat covering his body; he had never fully trusted Pearl, though Eliza had done so with a disturbing ease.

  “Now, just do as I say. Trust me on this.” She was tapping her foot, her arms crossed tightly against her chest as she cast a fierce expression upon him.

  After only a few additional seconds of hesitation, he laid Eliza down and stepped away, not yet leaving the room.

  Pearl had ignored his presence almost entirely until she went to pull back the layered cloaks, turning with an infuriated reproach. “Leave now, Zachariah! Wait just outside if you must, but leave this room!” She was almost shouting, and for fear she would wake all within the castle walls, Zachariah almost jumped to her command.

  The door seemed to slam itself, leaving Pearl to assess Eliza, the result being just as she had imagined. She almost heaved a sigh of relief before realizing Eliza had been completely nude beneath the layers of cloaks and that the blood could be more than what she had first assumed. Grabbing cloths from the connecting bathroom, she made way to caring for Eliza, a sudden insecurity spurned deep inside her heart.

  Pearl spoke through gritted teeth. “Come morning, Eliza, we will have words, my dear friend.”

  EARLY MORNING LIGHT, a subdued yellow-gold, crested through the windows, bringing Eliza back to the waking world. Her dreams, her visions, had been tumultuous at best, causing her to toss and turn throughout the night. She had heard many voices, old and new alike, that caused her to feel a multitude of emotions: fear, hope, love, dread, hate, uncertainty, and self-loathing. Turning her eyes towards the window, wanting to burn many of the images she had seen from her eyes, she found Pearl’s sleeping face right beside her own. Circles had formed under Pearl’s eyes.

  Carefully, Eliza pulled herself upright, trying not to wake her friend, but Pearl was sleeping lightly and stirred. Rubbing her eyes, she focused on Eliza’s harried expression.

  “Good morning.” Pearl’s voice was hoarse and carried evidence of irritation.

  “Good morning. Were you with me all night?” Eliza shifted only to gasp, knowing the change that had occurred.

  “Yes, Zachariah carried you in.” Pearl sat up and pulled herself to the edge of the bed, straightening her back and rolling her shoulders she cleared her throat. “You…did, didn’t you?”

  “So it seems. I didn’t know it would be terribly painful,” Eliza mumbled, feeling a pressure swelling inside her head.

  Pearl whipped around, gasping at Eliza’s statement. “You knew he didn’t want me because you wanted him, is that what all this was? Did you wish to see me so…so embarrassed?

  Eliza turned back to face Pearl directly, shocked at how the words were thrown from her in such a vehement manner. “Wait…what? I meant…I meant my…” Eliza tried to find the words but could only motion to where the blood was slowly pooling. “What else could you think I meant?”

  Pearl’s face lit red under the confusion. “Don’t play games with me, Eliza! Are you not married to Reegan?” she pressed.

  “Well, yes, but what does that—”

  “Then you know very well what I am asking you, as a married woman!”

  Eliza viewed Pearl at that moment as being unreasonable, gauging what she must think Eliza knew as a “married” woman. “I may be married to Reegan, Pearl, but I share no bed with that man and…” It struck, fully. It should not have been so delayed, but the realization of what Pearl was trying to claim flabbergasted Eliza. “No. NEVER!” Her words were harsher than she meant, causing Pearl to shrink back in fear. “How dare you assume I would take such actions with any man, let alone him! Pearl,” Eliza was almost pleading, “I would never, especially knowing your feelings for Zachariah.” While Eliza’s tone had diminished and she was calming, she still felt an unusual sting of betrayal and desire to argue, almost willing to fight, against the defamatory accusation.

  “Well,” Pearl dared to press the matter. “Then why were you brought back only in cloaks, completely bare beneath?”

  Eliza stared the other girl down, her temper suddenly becoming incredibly limited. “I had gone swimming in the lake. I thought I was alone, but apparently I was wrong.” That statement did not help, Eliza recognized, as she watched Pearl process the situation.

  “Zachariah was spying on you? Do you do this often? He must know! Oh! That…that WRETCHED man!” While Eliza was struggling, but still managing, to control the volume of her voice, Pearl was failing miserably. A knock came at the door.

  “WHO IS IT?” Anger had replaced any possible reasoning for Pearl, and she nearly screamed at the door.

  Hesitantly, the wrong voice for the moment responded, “Zachariah?”

  His nervous response made Eliza laugh, so very unlike the cold, confident man he usually appeared to be. She knew instantly she should not have, as Pearl turned a menacing gaze her way, but Eliza could not help her amused reaction.

  “Just a moment,” Eliza answered quickly. Trying to diffuse the impending explosion, she turned, whispering to Pearl, “I do not doubt his intentions were pure, Pearl. He was tasked as my bodyguard. This is my fault, not Zachariah’s. I shouldn’t have gone out. He only did as Re…Lord Reegan had instructed him.”

  Pearl simmered a moment over the words, turning away without any further resistance. Eliza stood, taking notice of the rags that had been strategically placed. Pearl stood as well and went about getting Eliza the proper garments and a gown and set to helping her dress. While she did assist, she did not seem fully accepting or forgiving but was more complacent with the situation.

  “You will need to change out the cloths every few hours. I am assuming this is your first?”

  Eliza slowly nodded.

  “Then every two hours to be safe.” Pearl was speaking in hushed tones, as though the walls had ears. More on point, Zachariah’s ears. She continued her education of Eliza, taking some pleasure in seeing her face pale during moments of the lecture. “Oh, don’t fret, Eliza. It is highly unlikely you will experience it for two weeks, but if you do, eat steak. Now, I think I had best be headed back home. I heard talk last night that Lord Reegan will be returning today.” She made the statement flippantly, not noticing the gray undertones that engulfed Eliza’s complexion.

  As Pearl stepped through the door adjusting her riding gloves and cloak, she nearly walked face-first into Zachariah. No words exchanged, she simply pushed past Zachariah and disappeared, leaving him to watch Eliza in a contemplative state.

  “Zachariah, we need to speak.” Eliza had felt her cheeks brightly lit as memories from the night before blazed a trail up her neck and into her eyes.

  “We certainly do.” There it was, that firm, confident voice she had known for the past year and a half. “Whatever you were thinking, and have thought, do not anymore.”

  “I…what?” Eliza blinked a few times, as though trying to clear the confusion through her eyes.

  “Going to the lake. Were you trying to ki
ll yourself?”

  Eliza gawked at Zachariah briefly before slamming her mouth shut and searching for the words frantically. He had no clue, she recognized. “No, of course not. I have more pride and fear of God than to take such a measure!”

  Zachariah nodded slowly, still standing in the doorway.

  “Please, come inside and shut the door behind you.” She was trying her best to impress upon Zachariah the dignity of a true lady, but he only moved slowly inside, without closing the door. She felt impatience snap within her and walked so quickly she could have just as easily sprinted to the door before shutting it hard.

  “This is not wise, to be alone in here together, especially after all the ruckus your dear Pearl made this morning,” His face and tone were flat, unimpressed, irked.

  “We can worry ourselves later with the possible gossip. Right now we have far more pressing matters to discuss,” Eliza continued on her determined path to keep him silent. “I wasn’t trying to kill myself.” She was whispering in harsh tones, her own irritation growing by the second as she felt a rippling pain building once more. “I…” Her face, she knew, must be equal to a red lantern from overseas. Struggling, humiliated, she wanted to take her sword and force him into the corner similar to their training matches. Eliza took a deep, steadying breath, clenching her eyes shut and opening with a prayer for strength and dignity. “Last night was the start of my…womanhood.” Her mouth formed a thin, hard line as she gave Zachariah ample time to process her declaration.

  “You, oh, I, uh.” After the stagnation of responses, it was Zachariah’s turn to match the color of the setting sun.

  “Yes, and no more on the subject, if you please.” Eliza looked down to where her toes peeked from beneath the hem of her dress, stark white in contrast to the grayed, cold stone she stood fixed to. “Do not tell Reegan.” She held her breath and felt the silence weigh into the room, counted to ten, and looked to see the process of his considering the impact and alternatives. Eliza finally released her captive breath, coming forth in a loud rush that seemed to shake Zachariah.