Frost Arch (14 page)

I ran into Jack on my way to the kitchens. I was quite glad to see him, and he agreed to accompany me to the stables. I wanted to tell him about my encounter with Noah Forsythe but something was stopping me. I wanted to think about it a little more before I went off on a rant, and jumped to the wrong conclusions.

I sat on a stool in the middle of the stables, Hawthorne sitting loyally beside me. While I was there, Camryn permitted him to roam free, though I knew he wouldn’t get up to any mischief if I weren’t there. I said goodnight to Hawthorne and gave him a spare rug that were usually used for the Pegasi. I hoped he would be warm enough.

When Jack and I left the stables the sun had set. We walked slowly back to the manor, all the while I was deliberating whether or not I should tell Jack about my brief conversation with Noah.

“Jack,” I began slowly, “How long will Noah Forsythe be staying?”

Jack’s mouth twitched, “Usually for a few weeks at a time.”

“Oh.”

Jack glanced at me. He knew there was more I wanted to say.

I sighed, “Is he much like the rest of his family?”

Jack rolled his eyes, “Yes, so don’t even get your hopes up.”

“My what? Hey.” I frowned, “No hopes are getting high here, thank you very much.”

Jack scoffed, “Yeah whatever, Redding.”

I folded my arms and pursed my lips.

Jack shook his head, “The whole family is the same. If anything, I’d say Noah is the worst of the lot. Stuck-up, arrogant, pompous gits. We’re nothing more than a crutch for them to lean on. Then they ignore us as if we aren’t there.”

“Yeah, except they pay us to pretend we’re not there.” I smirked.

“True.” Jack smiled, “Why do you ask anyway?”

“Oh. He seemed nice is all.”

Jack stopped dead in his tracks. It took me a second to realise he had fallen behind. I turned to look at him curiously.

“He didn’t speak to you, did he?” Jack demanded.

“I-what?”

“When you went to his room, did he speak to you?” Jack repeated; his voice angry.

I thought it best to lie, “No. No, of course not.” My face flushed. I was an awful liar, “Well, I mean, he told me to put the food on the table, and said thank you.” I skipped over the entire middle part.

“Is that all?”

“Uh-huh.” Was all I could manage.

Jack stuffed his hands in the pockets of his coat and huffed, “Good.” He muttered and continued walking with me.

This gave me much to consider. Why would Jack be so alarmed at the thought of Noah Forsythe talking to me? It wasn’t as though I had struck up the conversation with him. He had asked me direct questions which I simply could not ignore. Jack had also said that Noah was the worst out of all the Forsythe’s. I found it very hard to believe. He was handsome, and kindly it seemed. I had to stop myself before my thoughts run amok again.

“Do me a favour.” Jack said as we reached the back entrance. He looked serious. An expression so rarely seen on his comical face.

“Okay.” I agreed.

“Don’t find yourself alone in a room with Noah Forsythe.”

I woke early as usual the next morning. My sleep had been restless because I had grown so used to Hawthorne’s presence. My bed felt empty and depressing. I couldn’t wait til I got a break today so I could visit him in the stables. Yawning and stretching I began to dress into my uniform. Today seemed especially cold, for a thick layer of mist was pressing against my singular little window. I crossed the room and tried to wipe the glass free of residue. I peered out but I couldn’t see anything further than fifty meters. I huffed; the manor would be especially cold today so I had better get cracking on those fires.

I was about to move from the window when something caught my eye. The mist had shifted somewhat, and I could make out a lone figure standing at least seventy meters from the manor. This figure was deathly thin and dressed completely in black. It stood as still as a statue, staring at the manor. Staring at me. I couldn’t be sure from this distance, but I would bet my monthly wages that Seth Swaggart was standing in the manor grounds, watching. Or perhaps waiting for something. Someone. Perhaps I was being paranoid. This guy was obviously an absolute nutter. Besides, no one could hurt me here. Could they?

I gave myself a little shake and forced the bad thoughts from my mind. I decided that I was probably imagining things, and it wasn’t even Seth Swaggart. I wasn’t vain enough to think he was stalking me.

However, at lunch time while I was on a brief break, Jack and I made our way to the stables. I had forgotten all about the strange figure I had seen in the mist. Halfway there, Jack slowed his walk to a dawdle, looking into the nearby trees that surrounded the back of the grounds. The mist was thick there and visibility was awful.

“It can’t be.” He muttered.

“What?” I asked looking around, wondering what he had seen.

“I-It’s nothing.” He shrugged, “I thought I saw someone.”

I bit my lip. Forget about it, I told myself, you’re being paranoid.

We entered the stables and to my surprise Hawthorne wasn’t in his stall, but following Camryn around briskly. He had several of the Pegasi rugs draped over his back so the sides were dragging along the ground. Every now and then Camryn would pause next to a Pegasus, take one of the rugs from Hawthorne and place it on the steed. It looked as though he were helping her with the chores. I grinned as I watched him follow Camryn around to three more Pegasi, carrying the rugs for her, while she fitted them.

“Well, well.” I said folding my arms, “Glad to see he’s pulling his weight.”

Camryn noticed our entrance, “Hello.” She said with a small smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes, “Yes, he’s been very helpful. You trained him well.”

I pursed my lips, “I haven’t trained him at all.”

Camryn raised an eyebrow at me, and then looked down at Hawthorne. Now that all the rugs had been removed from his back, I saw how much he had changed since yesterday. I gaped. This kind of growth could not be possible so soon. He was now the size of a rather large dog. I would equal his height to a Golden Retriever. Just two and a half weeks ago he had been a bundle of fur that I could have held in my cupped hands.

“He’s so big.” I said amazed as I approached Hawthorne, who trotted up to me happily and stood beside me faithfully. I scratched behind his ears, and for the first time I didn’t have to bend down to reach. I noticed that his wings were the tiniest bit bigger, but not nearly big enough to lift him from the ground. It looked as though he would never fly.

“I’d say he won’t grow anymore.” Jack said sitting on a stool and watching Camryn feeding the Pegasi, “He’s already larger than your average fox. I reckon his growth spurt is over.”

I nodded, glad. If he got any bigger we wouldn’t have such an easy time hiding him.

“You know,” Camryn began slowly, “I think we’d be allowed to keep him if we asked Charles.”

I went to object but Jack shushed me and let Camryn continue.

“Well think about it. He isn’t a pest, he’s well behaved, smart, and helps out.” Camryn shrugged, “All we’d have to do is prove that to Charles.”

I frowned. It would be nice to let Hawthorne roam freely without worrying.

“And what if he just makes us get rid of him? The staff aren’t allowed to have pets. I’ll get fired.” I reminded them.

Jack and Camryn thought for a moment, and I took their silence as a chance to prove my case.

“Or worse, they could really hurt him, sell him, or-or.” I trailed off, not wanting to think about it.

“I suppose she’s right.” Jack mused, “I don’t think Charles would fire Cam or I. We’re too valuable to the manor. We shouldn’t put Ava at risk.” He added to Camryn.

I knew all too well how unimportant I was to the workings of the manor. Jack and Camryn had been there before me, and their skills were essential.

“Good. So no telling Charles.” I folded my arms, eyeing them both as if daring them to challenge my authority.

“Okay, okay.” Camryn put up her hands in defeat, “It was just a thought.”

I huffed and sat on a stool next to Jack. To no surprise Hawthorne followed me. He was far too heavy for me to pick up now.

“So,” Camryn began with an air of indifference, “Jack tells me you were asking about Noah.”

I looked at Jack furiously while Camryn’s back was turned and he flinched away from me apologetically.

“Oh. I was just wondering about him.” I tried to sound casual.

“He is very good looking.” Camryn said in an agreeing tone, still not facing me.

“What? I never said-”

“Just avoid him if possible.” She interrupted.

I sulked, “I know, Jack already told me that. I don’t see what the big deal-”

“Just take our advice.” She cut across me again. I wasn’t quite sure but she sounded annoyed.

Did they know something I didn’t? Apparently so.

The next week that passed I didn’t run in to Noah Forsythe at all. I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not. Part of me said that I was being silly. I was staff for god sake. Not rich, or pretty or talented. And Noah was, well, to be quite frank, rich, and gorgeous. He travelled the world and had a dazzling smile. I was rather sure that all the women he encountered would fall all over themselves. But still, I was allowed to look, wasn’t I? There was no harm in admiring from afar.

On the eighth night of Noah’s return I was doing my rounds of the manor, ensuring a well balanced and temperate climate. I was always extremely tired by this point and yawning every other minute. I was on the third floor now and about to cross the landing to the music room which was often empty. It was force of habit for me to glance down the hall which led to Noah’s bedroom. As usual the door was shut. No reason for that to change today. I was shocked when a moment later Charles came bustling from the room, bowing hastily and hurrying down the corridor to me.

“Miss Redding.” He panted coming to a halt in front of me.

“Yes, Charles, are you okay?” He looked very flushed.

“Yes, yes, I’m fine.” He waved it aside, “I need you to hurry on down to the kitchens and get a bottle of wine for Master Noah.”

“But I-”

“Please, you would be much faster than me. Old age you see, and I-” He waffled on for a bit, but I wasn’t listening. Noah wanted wine. I would take it to him. My stomach churned excitedly.

“-already had a bit to drink already though so I don’t see why he needs more. He keeps parading me up and down the stairs, demanding more wine, like I haven’t got better things to do. Haven’t had a chance to get away until I saw you. So off you pop. Why are you still here? Go, go.” Charles waved me away.

“Oh, yes. Of course.” And I hurried back down the stairs.

The wine wasn’t kept in the kitchen, but there was a door that led off to the cellars where isle upon isle of ancient wines was stacked. Charles hadn’t told me what to get exactly, so I picked up the first bottle of dusty red wine I could see. It was missing several bottles next to it so I assumed Charles had taken the other ones for Noah.

I rushed from the room and up the stairs, a little worn out from all the hurrying.

All too soon I was standing outside Noah’s door, my heart thumping wildly. Holding my breath I knocked timidly on the door.

“Yes, yes, come in!” a harsh voice called.

I jumped slightly but entered cautiously peering through the door rather unsure. I stepped into the candle lit room and gave a small bow, but Noah was not looking. He was sitting on the bed, his back to me, facing the open window and staring out of it as though deep in thought. I saw several empty bottles piled on his work desk.

“C’mon man, what are you waiting for?” Noah said angrily, turning around to cast me an angry stare.

His face was livid and severe. It took him several moments before he realised that I was not Charles. He dropped his irritated expression and it fell into a look of surprise. He jumped up from the bed as though he had been electrocuted. I had to admit that his glare was quite intimidating, and changed his whole appearance. I had felt a shiver of fear as his eyes had pierced my own.

“Avalon Redding.” He frowned as he said the name, “I thought you were Charles.”

“I-I’m sorry sir.” I gulped noisily. I hope he didn’t notice the way my voice shook. He had remembered my name.

“No, no.” He seemed to stagger around the bed as he made his way to the middle of the room, “Sincerest apologies, miss. I didn’t mean to be so harsh. If I had but known-”

“It’s all right, sir.” I flushed and held up the wine.

Noah looked at the wine in my hands then at his work desk littered with empty bottles.

“Perhaps I would not have been so offensive if I were not affected by the large amount of wine I have already consumed.” He gave a sigh before turning to the desk and resting his hands upon the back of his chair.

I stood there awkwardly, shifting my weight nervously from foot to foot. All was silent for a moment before-