Darkness

Margaret

Poor Stephen. If he leaves his mouth hanging open much longer he is going to catch flies, I think to myself, forcing my face not to smirk. He is staring at Ayola like he cannot imagine how such a baby can know so much. Perhaps I should have kept him more updated about her development. He is so busy, working around the plantation, and also spending time taking care of Ellis Cliffs, that he can’t be expected to keep track of all of the slaves. I shall have to take better care in keeping him informed.

I find Ayola very entertaining, but I must say I am grateful when she looks to the side, then simply stays quiet for the rest of our carriage ride. She has challenged my husband enough for one day. As we come closer to town I can see her growing more excited. I am sure that she is eager to see Gregor.

I hope he has recovered enough that she can spend a little time with him. When I last saw him, he was wrapped in a blanket and being helped into the back of a wagon. I can hardly believe what happened to him.

Moses is nervous, I know, returning to face Gregor. I’m sure he needn’t be. Gregor certainly cannot blame Moses for what occurred, and if I understand correctly, Gregor is the one who insisted that the punishment fall to him.

Still, I worry about it most of the way to town, and suddenly as I am gazing out the window I feel Ayola’s little hand clasping mine. I look down, to see what she needs, but all she is doing is giving me a gentle smile, as if to reassure me. It’s almost as though she realizes that I have been a bit fretful about the situation with Gregor, and is trying to silently tell me that everything will be fine.

I don’t think that my mouth drops open quite as much as Stephen’s had done, but clearly we have both been surprised by this child today.

Such a sweet and clever little thing she is.

We pull up to Gregor and Rosy’s house shortly after, and they are standing in front of their door waiting to greet us. They must have heard the carriage arriving. And I am so pleased to see that Gregor doesn’t appear to be convalescing any longer. He seems perfectly hale, and smiles as we approach.

In moments, of course, Ayola has jumped up into his arms, and she stays with him as our group enters the house. Moses and Dalila move into the kitchen, presumably to greet the other servants here. Stephen and I join the Slavsons in the parlor.

“Is Vernon sleeping?” I ask as we sit down.

“He should be up from his nap soon,” Rosy says, smiling at my thickening waist. “I know you want to get the chance to hold him.”

“Is it that obvious?” I ask, and Stephen chuckles and reaches out for my hand.

“Not at all, darling,” he says, trying to keep a straight face, but then we are all laughing.

Gregor’s

I keep him informed regarding all of the interactions between the persons in the house. He has been wishing to have more information than normal lately, trying to gauge people’s reactions to him, and determine whether the unusual attention paid to him is starting to subside. He is so eager to revert to the way that things used to be. I am pessimistic that it will be possible, but of course I provide him with anything he likes.

“Ben is lingering in the garden,” I inform him, “taking more time than he needs to complete his tasks, in an effort not to inflict his presence on Stephen. He continues to worry that Stephen does not like him, and that he wishes that Samuel did not have him as a lover.”

“Does Stephen still feel that way?” he silently inquires.

“He is becoming more acclimated to the situation. While he would prefer Samuel to pursue a more traditional romance, he does not actually dislike Ben any longer. He has seen him often enough to see his quiet and gentle nature, and to appreciate that Ben is at least not offensive in his manner.”

“How is Moses doing?”

“He is worried that you might blame him for what occurred. He certainly blames himself, and has often anguished over the idea that if he had not resisted when he was first apprehended by the slave patrol, he would have received the minimum punishment of fifteen stripes and it might have been over before you even arrived. He feels responsible for the situation descending into the chaos that ensued.” I pause, considering whether to tell him more.

But he knows that I am holding something back. He always knows. “What else?” he thinks to me.

“Moses has been having frequent nightmares, revisiting the scene of the whipping repeatedly. It was horrifying to him, and he cannot make his mind stop displaying the images to him over and over.”

Sometimes I feel like if I could actually sigh, it would be very satisfying, for surely that is what I would like to do. I blame myself for so much of what happened, even more than does Moses. If only I had found some way to keep the last bit of the shield in place, had been able to protect Gregor’s privacy from at least the Guardians.

“Maybe I can try to touch him,” Gregor muses, “that might help him feel a little better?”

“Perhaps,” I agree.

He is able to sigh. “I wish I could touch you,” he says, movingly, trying to serve me as much as I do him. He knows how upset I have been over my failures. I show him the shoulders of my wolf image shrugging.

Then I go on, “Dalila and Sarah are enjoying each other’s company. They would like to know each other better, and to have the chance to spend time together more frequently.”

He considers this. “They are quite similar, aren’t they? They are both quiet, and gentle, and loving.”

I change the topic because I have new information. “Nadine has prepared a light meal for the guests,” I tell him, just before Jake is sent into the parlor to announce that luncheon will be served in the dining room. Gregor grins at him.

As the party is moving into the next room for the meal, I mention, “Stephen is hoping to find a way to excuse himself soon to go visit with his brother. He wishes to discuss Marcus and the mineral water treatment.”

He pictures rolling his eyes, and thinks to me, “And to gossip about me, no doubt.”

“They wouldn’t have the chance if you were present,” I suggest.

“True,” he thinks, “and if I’m there poor Samuel won’t have to struggle so much to hide what he knows about me. And I’m sure the ladies have gossip of their own to engage in. Will Samuel be available?”

“He will be finished with his patient appointments for the day in about an hour.”

“Stephen,” Gregor says aloud to his friend, releasing Ayola to go join her mother in the kitchen, “were you thinking of going to see your brother?”

Pleased at the introduction of the topic, Stephen says, “Why, yes, I do need to talk to him.”

“About the mineral water?” Gregor asks.

“Indeed.”

“I’m very interested in that,” Gregor says. “Would you mind if I tagged along? I’m sure our wives can spare us.” He looks over at Rosalind, who obligingly laughs.

“We can spare you very well,” she says, and she and Margaret give each other knowing glances. There is nothing they would like so much as the chance to speak without their husbands in the room listening in.

“This is working out well to suit everybody,” I tell him.

Samuel Duncan

When I see the last patient out, I am very surprised to find my brother and Gregor sitting in the waiting area.

“Well, hello!” I greet them. “What are you doing here?”

Stephen grins and gestures to Gregor. “I brought your patient to you for a follow-up appointment.”

Gregor chuckles. “That’s not what you told me.”

I tell my brother, “It’s not needed anyway, he has recovered sufficiently that I have discharged him from care.”

Stephen looks a bit surprised. I suppose he would have liked the chance to examine Gregor himself, just to make sure that he is truly recovered. I’m sure Gregor wants to avoid the suspicion that would be caused by Stephen seeing his back with no marks of any kind, not even faint scarring. I am committed to protecting his secrets, or at least what I understand of them. “What?” I say to my brother, with a tone of mock indignation, “Don’t you believe I took care of him properly?”

Gregor laughs. He turns to me with a wildly exaggerated bow. “Thank you, Doctor Duncan,” he says with his unusual eastern European accent, “for your excellent and effective care, thanks to which I am restored to full health.” Next he bows to my brother, and adds, “Doctor Duncan, I thank you for your concern, but I assure you I need no further treatment.” We are left laughing helplessly.

When we have caught our breath, Gregor says, “If we are finished with the sibling rivalry, we can move on to the true reason we are here.”

“Which is?” I ask.

“Mineral water report,” Stephen says.

Oh, good!

“Come back into my office, let’s sit down,” I invite them. “I want to hear everything.”