Chapter 9

9

A Visit From Delilah

T he carriage rocked to and fro, jostling Dakota from one side to the other. She glanced at Delilah sitting across from her. Her sister’s face was relaxed and unmoved, almost as if Delilah couldn’t feel the turbulence of the ride.

"Does this nae bother you?" Dakota asked, digging her fingers into the seat to hold herself steady. Delilah let out a shrill laugh, stealing Dakota’s body’s warmth . Dakota had never heard her sister laugh in such a manner before. There was something vile and sinister about the high pitch shriek.

"What’s there to worry about?" Delilah answered as she fiddled with her nails. Dakota’s eyes widened as a flash of lightning crashed against the dark skies beyond the window of the carriage.

"Where is it we are goin’?"

"Daenae ye ken dearest sister?" Delilah asked in a sing-song tone. Panic shot through Dakota as she flew forward just as the carriage abruptly stopped . Darting to the window, Dakota glanced out into the darkness. Her heart fluttered as she noticed no horses were drawing the carriage.

"What is happenin’?" Dakota asked as she turned back to find the carriage empty. Delilah was gone, vanished from sight and mind. Fear tangled around Dakota’s heart as if it were a weed trying to strangle the life and happiness from her.

The carriage door flew open as a wild, turbulent gust of wind came whipping through like a hurricane. A scream escaped from Dakota as two dark tentacles reached inside the carriage. Kicking and screaming, Dakota tried to fend them off. Mustering every ounce of strength and courage she could, she kicked and flayed about, trying not to be pulled from the safety of the carriage.

Dark fingers curled around her ankles, and with a mighty tug, Dakota’s fingers slipped from the ledge of the chair. A wail filled her ears, but she couldn’t tell if the shrill came from her or somewhere else.

"Let me go. Get off me," she demanded and thrashed about as the unseen force pinned her to the carriage. Through the shadows, a face emerged and her blood ran cold. The eyes were gray, with no life coming from them. She clawed at the face only to have her fingers carve through its smoke.

"Unhand her fiend." William’s voice boomed throughout the darkness. Dakota’s heart fluttered as she noticed a shimmer of silver light cutting through the shadow. The dark figure released her and she dropped into William’s outstretched arms.

He held her close, engulfing his body around hers to shield her from the terror. She clawed at his white shirt as his sword dropped to the wet soil. In one fluid motion, he hoisted her up and cradled her to him.

"Shh," he whispered. "Tis fine now. Yer safe."

"I was so scared," she whimpered into his shoulder.

"I ken, but there’s nothin’ to fear now lassie, nae when I have ye in my arms."

Dakota drew her eyes to William’s face and the world fell away from them. Her lips ached to touch his. To be able to feel his mouth on her neck, his hot breath teasing her ear. Her heart raced with anticipation as she craned her neck. Keeping her eyes locked on his, she drew closer to him. For a brief moment, she tasted his lower lip.

"Dakota, I," William moaned in her ear. She pulled away and dropped from his arms.

Dakota shot out of bed with her heart racing and arms aching to hold him. Her cheeks were hot and she gulped the air as if it would be her last. An unfamiliar room opened up before her as her body shivered with the thought of how close she had been to William.

Despair and doubt rattled through her limbs, causing her hands to tremble. She curled her arms around her body, wishing the vivid images flickering through her mind were real.

"T’was a dream," she whispered to the open room. Her eyes scanned the room, taking in all the unfamiliar things surrounding her. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she was aware of leaving her father’s house. Yet, she didn’t expect to wake alone.

The soft hues of morning beamed through the window as she ran her hands over the sheets to clear the sweat. A smile played on her lips as she noticed how soft and delicate the fabric was. It wasn’t as harsh as the sheets at her father’s house.

She glanced a the pillows to find so many surrounding her. They were plump and clean, unlike the flat and dull ones she’d been sleeping in. Everything about the room was astonishing. From the large bay window to the intricate dresser in the corner of the room, it felt as if she were dreaming. Dakota knew Laird Rottrich was wealthy ; it just never dawned on her how much so until that moment.

A giggle escaped from her as she admired the finer details of the room. The canopy over the bed had blue lace draped down that reminded her of the way rain would look on a window pane. The fireplace had carvings of a stallion on both sides of the hearth as if to contain the flames within. For some reason, she couldn’t help but think of the old bedtime stories her mother would tell her of the Kelpie.

"I must be dreamin’," she said, throwing the sheets off her and climbing out of bed . The floor was icy under her feet, but she moved quickly to the fireplace to touch the horse.

"This is all too surreal."

A rap on the door startled her and she jumped as it opened. A thin woman with hair like fire and a face full of freckles entered. Dakota stood straighter as the girl entered with a tray of bread, cheese, some fruit, and a cup of broth.

"Mornin’ m’Lady," the girl said in such a sweet tone that it put Dakota at ease at once. "Care for a bit of food? I’m sure ye must be hungry after yer journey. My apologizes the kitchen wasnae open when ye got in. Then again, ye were out cold by the time ye arrived. None the less, I’ve brought ye somethin’ to hold ye off till lunch. Which by the way will be at noon, sharp. Mustnae forget that time. The laird is very precise on his timin’ around here," the girl rambled on. To Dakota, it sounded like the servant didn’t need air . She just kept going without ceasing .

"Heaven’s me, ye must be lookin’ for yer clothes. The Laird had them placed in another room. Why he would prefer ye in the other win’ is beyond me. But who am I to say what will please the laird? Come now," she said, waving Dakota to the chair next to the fireplace. "I can throw another log on if it pleases ye."

"I’m terribly sorry," Dakota said as she made her way to the chair and sat down. "But who are ye?"

"Oh, forgive me. My name is Ava. I’m the scullery maid around here."

"Why did the Laird put me in here if it wasnae to be my room?"

"It was the closest room to the entrance and the Laird, I suppose didnae want to have to carry ye to the other win’. Nae that he couldnae, mind ye. But ye did get in later than expected."

"I see," Dakota said, glancing around the place once more. Everything was just so lovely she wished she could stay. But she knew that if this room was for guests, the other rooms in the house would surely be just as fine and extravagant.

Dakota nibbled on the food as she watched Ava tidy up the room. A sadness grew in the back of her mind as the bed was made and the pillows plumped back up.

"Ye’ll be pleased to ken the whole house is eager to meet ye. We heard the Laird was brin’ back a wife, but never thought ye’d be so lovely."

"Thank ye," Dakota said.

"Aye, well, I wouldnae say it if it werenae so. Now, what shall we put ye into wear? I ken yer things are in the west win’. Suppose it wouldnae be too bad to dress ye in the clothes ye came in wit’."

"I’m afraid those were ruined," Dakota said.

"Too right," Ava said, putting her hands on her hips and tilting her head as if in deep thought. "I’ve got it. Ye stay here and I’ll be right back."

"Nae like I can leave wearin’ just my shift," Dakota said. Ava smiled and shrugged.

"Suppose that wouldnae be proper for the Lady of the house. Ye stay put now." Ava was out of the room in a flash. Dakota glanced at the food on the tray and picked up the cup. She had servants in her father’s house too, but they were there to serve him, not her. And it hit her like a stone being thrown into a calm water. This was her house now; she was the Lady.

The thought of running such a place filled her with dread. Delilah was the one who had been raised for a big house, not her. She didn’t know the first thing about delegating chores to a staff, picking out dinner, and decorating rooms for guests and such. She ran her fingers through her hair and tried to steady herself.

Ava was back in the room in a flash and brought with her Dakota green dress. Seeing something so familiar in a place she didn’t recognize at all was strange. Pulling in a deep breath, Dakota realized that she would need to keep her chin up and try to find her footing in this new place.

"There ye go, and daenae ye look lovely. I must say, the green really brings out the color of yer eyes."

"Dae ye think the Laird will like it?" Dakota asked as she ran her hands down her dress to smoothen the wrinkles.

"Couldnae say, the Laird’s a bit finicky about such things. Then again, chances are he may nae be around to see it," Ava said, much to Dakota’s dismay.

"Is the Laird nae here?"

"Nay, he’s in his study and chances are that’s where he’ll stay for the majority of the day. But never ye mind that. After all, yer married to the man. Less ye see of him the better I suppose."

"I suppose," Dakota said as she couldn’t help but feel a bit put off that her new husband wouldn’t be spending time with her.

"Come on now, best greet the house before they scatter for their mornin’ duties," Ava said with a huge smile. Dakota nodded, rolled her shoulders back, and followed Ava out of the room.

Ava glanced over her shoulder as she pointed out the various rooms along the way. Dakota’s eyes widened. She’d never been in a place so large before and knew this would be nothing like her father’s house.

"And here we are," Ava said. "Now, pay no mind to Mr. Samson, he’s a grump whether it rains or shines. And there’s Mrs. Portsworth who’ll scowl at ye, but I think her face is permanently fixed that way."

Dakota nodded as she glanced around. Her heart fluttered as she noticed the doors open wide to the study. She inched closer to the open door and at William, wondering if he’d seen her by chance.

"Best nae to disturb the Laird," Ava said. "Especially if he’s in a meetin’ wit’ the residents."

"What’s he doin’ in there?" Dakota asked as she kept her sight trained on William as he moved around the room. A deep chattering of voices caught Dakota’s ear but she knew none belonged to William.

"Sortin’ clan matters," Ava said, scooping her arm into Dakota’s. "Best we leave them be."

Ava gave Dakota a light nudge to the sitting room. Feeling a bit defeated, Dakota moved away from the study and followed Ava to the sitting room. Several members of the household stood in line, backs rigid as Dakota entered.

"Mind ye, these are just a handful of the servant’s the Laird has workin’ here," Ava said as if to answer Dakota’s unspoken question. "They’re the ones ye’ll most likely come in contact wit’. If ye need somethin’ done, ye’ll go to them."

"Aye, that’s enough," an elderly woman said as she stepped forward. Dakota noticed the woman’s long gray dress, deep sunken eyes, and pulled-back wiry gray hair.

"Lady Rottrich," Ava said as she cleared her through. "This is Mrs. Portsworth."

"Good day to ye," Dakota said with a small curtsy.

"What on earth are ye doin’?" Mrs. Portsworth gasped. "The Lady never bows to those below her station. Hasnae ye maither taught ye anythin’ about customs?"

"My maither passed several years ago," Dakota said as she wished her mother had been around to teach her the ways of the world.

"Well, I’m sorry for yer loss, but please daenae be doin’ that again."

"Least the Laird didnae see her," Ava said to Mrs. Portsworth.

"Aye, well, best make introductions and get to work," Mrs. Portsworth said. "Now, there’s the gardener, Mr. Henry Clocksbee. If there’s a certain flower or herb ye want, he’s the man ye ask."

Dakota glanced at the slender man with a full beard. He smiled at her revealing his lack of teeth. Mrs. Portsworth clapped her hands, and off he went to busy himself with his chores.

"And this is Hanna Jones," Mrs. Portsworth said. "She’s the scullery maid. Ye’ll likely see her in the kitchen or runnin’ errands here and there."

Hanna dipped her head low and quickly rushed from the room before Mrs. Portsworth raised her hands to clap. Down the line they went, giving Dakota but a few moments to meet them before there was no one left in the room other than Mrs. Portsworth, Ava, and Dakota.

"I’m sure Ava has told ye the rules of the house," Mrs. Portsworth said as she glared at Ava.

"I told her a few of them," Ava confessed.

"There are rules?" Dakota asked, feeling overwhelmed with everything.

"The Laird is a peculiar man, likes things a certain way. Breakfast is served at dawn, lunch noon on the dot and dinner at five. The trinkets around the house are not to be touched or moved without direct permission from the Laird. Everyone has a job to dae, and loiterin’ about is out of the question," Mrs. Portsworth said in a snappy tone. Dakota felt more like a servant than the Lady of the house.

"And what precisely is my job?" Dakota asked.

"To bare children of course," Mrs. Portsworth said with a snicker and rolled her eyes. "We have things to dae about the house. I suggest ye get yerself acquainted wit’ the layout. And if ye have any questions, ye’ll find me in the kitchen. Under no circumstance are ye to bother the Laird. Understood?"

Dakota swallowed hard and shook her head as Mrs. Portsworth clapped her hands. Ava flashed Dakota an apologetic glance and quickly scurried to follow Mrs. Portsworth out of the room. Dakota dropped her shoulders and looked around at all the fine paintings and portraits lining the walls. Their eyes glared down at her as if peering through to her soul.

"This is nay home," Dakota mumbled to herself. "It is a crypt."