05

« Lucile. » That stern voice halted any further disapproval from the older woman as Eloise said, « I am the Lady of the manor. The child stays. It is not up for discussion. » She gathered her flowing skirts of her sapphire gown and descended down the hall with Lucile at her hem.

« I know it is not my place, mon cher but you and I both know that his tolerance has its limits. He will not permit that child-« 

Eloise whirled, causing Lucile to stiffen with bewilderment at Eloise’s apparent dismay. « That child will die if she spends another night on the street. » Eloise quickly gathered her composure, straightening her spine as her eyes softened, « Forgive me, Lucile but you cannot expect me to sit by and allow an innocent child to die at the hands of winter. »

Lucile reached out and grasped Eloise’s shoulder and squeezed gently. « Your grief is understandable, but you cannot continue to burden yourself with their loss, twas out of your hands. »

Eloise lifted her chin, quickly concealing the distress in her eyes as an exact resolve settled across her graceful features. « The child stays. »

Ginelle stared at the empty silver tray sitting before her and pressed a small hand to her full stomach. She felt herself on the verge of tears but knew it was ridiculous to cry over a meal. Eloise Ashford was a beautiful, gracious woman. Should she really consider her proposition ? As she thought this, she stared around at the lovely, white room and wondered what it would be like to wake every morning with a heated hearth at your feet and feathers beneath your head and servants assisting your every need without having to endure the bitterness of winter and the impending dangers that the eerie streets of London presented. Could she possibly be free of Pierino Basilotta, at least for the time being ?

The door suddenly opened, jarring Ginelle to awareness and she immediately tensed as she met those deep, azure eyes but they were always soft and full of warmth. Eloise smiled as she approached ; her posture impeccable as she carried a bundle in her arms.

« This shall be sufficient enough until we can get you attire that is more fitting. » Ginelle hesitated before gingerly accepting the nightshirt from Eloise’s extended hand. She held the garment to her chest and gently traced the delicate ruffles.

« I shall send Ingrid up shortly to assist you. » She turned to leave.

« I cannot repay ye-« 

Eloise turned and held up her hand and shook her head, relinquishing any more words from Ginelle as she said, « You need not repay me. » She smiled. A light touched her blue eyes as she continued, « On the morrow we will visit a seamstress in town and select from many beautiful collections of color and fabric for your gowns to be made. You would like that wouldn’t you ? » she reached out and touched the rim of Ginelle’s nose.

Despite her objections, Ginelle’s mouth curved into a smile at Eloise’s tender display of motherly affection.

Her happiness was short as Eloise departed and left Ginelle standing in the center of the room, clutching the delicate piece of cotton to her chest. She suddenly felt that pressing loneliness and ached for Eloise’s presence. She struggled to breathe ; finding it difficult to bring air into her lungs. Her eyes moved warily around the room, studying the dark corners as the sun slowly began to slide from the sky, pulling the blue canopy in its fall and slowly creeping up behind was an ominous black shroud.

She felt as if the walls were enclosing her in and the spacious room began to grow smaller and smaller.

She turned to study the window, wondering how difficult it would be to climb from it when an abrupt knock sounded at the door.

Ginelle pivoted, uncertain as of what to do as she stared helplessly at the door. The latch lifted and the door parted as a young girl stuck her head inside and sneered sharply at her.

« Milady claimed you were a bit bashful. » The girl chimed as she pushed open the door and stepped in, crossing the room to close the thick drapes covering the window she had been pondering only a moment ago.

The slender girl turned to study her more intensely with curious, green eyes and a pale face full of freckles. Thick, red curls framed her oval face and she reached up to tuck a lone strand behind her ear. « I am Ingrid. » She said pointedly, her eyes suddenly accusing as they settled on the garment in her hands. « Do you need my assistance ? »

Ginelle sensed that the red-haired maid was not pleased that she was here, assisting her. Those green eyes lingered on the nightshirt, indicating the garment belonged to her and she was not exceptionally thrilled about it. Ginelle shook her head, quite wary of the maid and her cold demeanor.

Ingrid snorted, « Vera’ well. » The maid took a few moments to check the fire before leaving, subjugating her once again to the dreaded enclosure of the room. Darkness overpowered her, trapping her in a terrifying cloud of paranoia. Her body began to tremble as her fingers tightened around the cotton in her hands. She looked helplessly towards the fire, instantly seeking its warmth in hopes that it would chase away the cold that had seeped into her bones along with a sense of foreboding.

She sank to the floor before the hearth and began to rock back and forth, clutching the silver locket dangling from around her neck as she whispered a melody her father use to sing to her whenever she was scared.

Why father ? Why did you abandon me ? She thought to herself. Tears glided from beneath her lashes and she quickly brushed them away for Pierino had always said tears were a form of weakness. She should be happy shouldn’t she ? She was warm and her stomach was full, so why this sudden deep sorrow ?

With that last thought in mind, she settled onto the carpet below the mantel and curled into a ball as the heat from the fire caressed her face with warmth, coaxing the remedy of sleep to come.

Eloise greeted the morning with a new outlook on life and a small ball of hope unfurling within her chest. At first glance she had thought Ginelle a mere child but at fourteen summers she was practically on the brink of womanhood ; with no guidance, she thought solemnly.

She would never be the child’s mother for in fact she was but a few years older than the girl herself, but she could be her mentor, teach her the things a mother should teach a daughter, she thought as she made her way down the hall towards the chamber where the girl slept. Immediately she stiffened at the abrupt chill of the room and she shivered as her eyes widened to find the bed unstirred.

Instinctively, her heart dropped. Had Ginelle run away ? She stood frozen, gripping the latch as she searched the remnants of the room until she felt a wave of relief seize her as she spotted the curled, sleeping body on the floor near the hearth.

Her relief was quickly overcome with extreme displeasure at the evident chill in the room. Why had Ingrid not returned to rekindle the fire ?

Eloise crossed the room and knelt next to Ginelle, gently rousing the child until those eyes of soft brown fluttered open and peered up at her, widening for a brief moment until recognition settled. She quickly sat up, turning her face away in slight embarrassment as she smoothed the wrinkles from the nightshirt she had been clutching through the night.

« Why did you not sleep in the bed ? » Eloise questioned gently, « You could have caught a chill sleeping on the floor. » Eloise helped Ginelle to her feet and immediately moved to the door where she and a maid exchanged hushed words unclear to Ginelle.

Eloise turned and smiled yet Ginelle sensed she was displeased, « I am sorry. » She said, « I did not mean to upset ye, tis just that I-«  she fell silent as the older maid Lucile came marching in the room, tugging a reluctant Ingrid in tow.