Page 23 of Lord of the Darkness

Chapter Nine

Benedict found himself strangely disconsolate when he was informed of Ariana’s megrim. He had, over the last few weeks, come to look forward to her company, even though they were still unsure with each other in so many ways. The fact that they could spend time in each other’s presence without immediate argument gave him much to hope for – and much to thank James for.

He set about his day as usual, dealing with estate matters, but, in the afternoon, he chose to sit in the small parlour which he rarely used – just for a change from the rather dark atmosphere of his study, with its remaining echoes of his father. He should, he supposed, redecorate the study, and make it far more to his personal tastes – but he had never quite found the time.

He opened the door of the small parlour, and stopped on the threshold, startled. The room had changed. He studied it, considering exactly what had been done. The drapes were a far lighter shade of red, for a start.

And the walls… it appeared that the walls, above the dark wainscoting, had been painted a cheerful pale gold, the old mud coloured wallpaper having first been removed. Against that gold, the two landscape paintings no longer looked dark and gloomy, for the gold enhanced the gold tones of the light in the paintings, under the cloudy skies depicted in a style reminiscent of the Flemish masters.

The heavy old carpet on the floor also appeared to have been cleaned, for its colours stood out brighter than he ever remembered them being. The chairs and couch had not changed, but their pale timber legs and arms looked far better in the room now, more in tune with the rest of it.

He rang the bell, and when a footman appeared, he waved a hand to indicate the room.

“Did my wife order this done?”

“Yes, Your Grace. Is… is all well with it?”

The man looked nervous, as if concerned that Benedict would disapprove. Benedict smiled, in what he hoped was a reassuring manner.

“Very well, thank you. I am most pleased with the effect, although I was not aware that she had taken this action.”

The footman almost sagged with relief, and Benedict wondered if Mrs Haversham had been less than happy at the changes. If she had been, then she was going to be further distressed, for now that he had seen the impact of a few changes on this room, he felt the urge to launch into major redecoration efforts, to finally do as he had kept telling himself he wanted to, and to lift some of the darkness from Darkmire Abbey, no matter how many generations before him had preserved it.

“Will there be anything else, Your Grace?”

“Just some tea and biscuits – I will take them here, I think.”

The man bowed and left, and Benedict allowed himself to settle into one of the chairs, regarding the room again. This evening, if Ariana came down to dinner, he must compliment her on this room, and encourage her to make more changes, where she saw fit.

***

Ariana felt most strange, only rising from bed as the last of the sunset left a dull red glow in the sky outside her window – but at least her head no longer hurt. As Peggy helped her dress for dinner, she wondered if Benedict would be displeased with her – after all, one of his earliest ‘rules’ had been that she not spend the whole day abed.

She pushed that worry aside – for many weeks now, he had not seemed to care if she no longer abided by those rules, and she had been far happier as a result – and, strangely, all the more likely to actually follow the rules, because they were no longer a demanded requirement.

When she reached the dining room, she found Benedict about to be seated. He turned at the sound of her footsteps, and came to her, taking her hands.

“Are you recovered, my dear?”

“Quite, thank you, Benedict.”

“That is good to hear – do come, be seated, and let us be about dinner.”

He led her to the table, and little was said as the food was served, but, once they had both sated their hunger, and retired to their private parlour, hesitantly, she chose to begin the conversation.

“How went your day, Benedict? I confess, I have become used to being aware of almost all that you do, and it feels odd to me that a day has passed while I slept.”

He looked at her, and there was something in that expression, something which she did not at all understand. Then he shifted in his seat, and cleared his throat.

“I… aah… I spent some time on estate matters as usual, then thought to change my routine. I went to sit in the small parlour…” Ariana tensed – was he unhappy with what she had done? But he went on after a moment, “…and I was startled, and then very pleased, by the change I found there. I am informed that you chose those changes. They are well done – I look forward to seeing what changes you may wish to make in the rest of the house. Darkmire Abbey has too long clung to the… styles… of the past. It is overdue for a new appearance.”

It was an opportunity too good to be missed – a chance to ask the questions which she had resolved to ask of him.

She took a deep breath.

“Thank you, Benedict. I did not wish to make too large a change, and yet the room as it was seemed still in the mode of some generations past. I realised, when I chose to change it, that I know almost nothing of the history of Darkmire Abbey, or of your family – beyond, of course, the rumours which swirl about the district. Before I consider making any other changes, may I ask that you tell me something of that history? I would not wish to inadvertently change something I shouldn’t.”

Her heart pounded, and a plethora of expressions chased each other across his face, confusing her – for they seemed a mix of sadness, anger, happiness and more, all at once. It was as if he did not truly see her before him, but rather regarded something internally.