Mama awoke when the last rays of sunlight crept through the window slit. She arrived in her bedroom at dawn and slept throughout the day. Fresh as a dewed flower, she rose with the moon. Carefully, she dressed in a light morning gown and primped before the cheval glass. I watched her suspiciously from the adjoining door. My mother made a great effort with her appearance considering her position as the children's governess.
When Baron von Helfin arrived at midnight to escort her to the nursery, Mama smiled brightly. He offered his arm, and she placed her small palm on his elbow. Slowly, they descended the spiral staircase. Their light chatter echoed throughout the round turret. Mama giggled at a remark I could not hear and leaned her head closer to her companion's shoulder.
Returning to Mama's bed chamber, I caught a whiff of her lavender cologne. I picked up the atomizer from her vanity table and sniffed it. I studied her cosmetics and the costume jewelry she left scattered across the flat surface.
'Curious,' I thought to myself.
I re-entered my room and read the note Mama left on the table. It contained my daily lessons. I tucked it into my history book, ready for the morning. The assignments followed the same methods Prentiss Wills utilized at home. I could complete them with ease.
Slowly, I prepared for bed. My thoughts flew to Mama teaching the children in the dank underground nursery. Although I never saw her pupils, she spoke glowingly of them. It seemed, at times, that she grew more attached to them than to her daughter.
"Vlad puts great effort into learning his lessons," my mother explained one evening. "He longs to impress his father. He is adept at languages. His Latin is superb, and his English has improved greatly since my arrival."
Latin!—I sighed, recalling the hours I spent with Prentiss repeating verb conjugations. The curate prompted me to continue until my tongue tripped over the lists and my head throbbed uncontrollably.
"I'm never going to use this in my entire life!" I insisted, stamping my foot on the floor. "No one speaks Latin anymore."
I stumbled from the schoolroom, my skirts, and petticoats twisting around my ankles. I tripped on the carpet and righted myself. Propelling myself outside, I rushed for the gazebo and sank on the rounded bench.
"Norah," Prentiss whispered, sitting beside me and taking my hands.
"I'm sick of it, Prentiss," I exclaimed vehemently. "Sick of Latin. Sick of repeating the same verbs again and again. It's useless. I'll never learn."
No, I'll never learn, but Vlad would. Perfect Vlad—the Baron's son. I thought of his ashen face with its prim scarlet mouth forming Latin verbs. Mama's bright eyes shone when she spoke of his achievements.
"The Baron shows great pride in his children," my parent continued. "He says I have made huge strides with them during my short time as their governess. He is pleased with the results."
Indeed, the results satisfied her. Mama gloated over her success as a governess. I stared at the ceiling, jealousy raging beneath the surface of a placid expression. She rarely complimented my work. Diligently, I bent over my assignments. I completed them efficiently and left the stacked papers on her bureau. During the weeks since our arrival at the castle, they piled up. I did not know if she had corrected them. She remained wrapped up in the von Helfin children's accomplishments.
"The Baron suggested you join the youngster in their lessons," Mama stated one evening.
I stared at her, aghast. I preferred studying in my bed chamber. The dank cellar room frightened me. I would suffocate if forced to spend time beneath the earth's surface.
"I will remain above ground, Mama," I snapped, "if you don't mind."
"Have it your way, Norah," my mother sighed. She regarded me briefly, then continued, "Luiza is a fine girl; she's only a few years younger than you. I thought, perhaps, you two might become friends. She has a sweet voice. You could harmonize…"
"Thank you, Mama, but no," I responded swiftly.
"Vanda could use help with her grammar…"
"Mama!" I shouted, losing my patience. "I'm not interested in the von Helfin children. I'm not interested in that horrid nursery. Please, leave me out of your plans."
"You don't have to take that attitude, Norah," my mother chastised. She hastily plunked onto my bed and covered her face with her hands.
I stood above her, unmoved by her sudden outburst. I would have felt more sympathetic if she paid attention to me instead of extolling the children's virtues. Day after day, I remained in the turret chamber, studying. She rarely complimented my efforts. Instead, she spoke about Vlad, Luiza, and Vanda. I began to think they were more like her children than me.
"I don't enjoy teaching under these circumstances either, Norah," Mama finally stated. "I spoke to the Baron about opening the nursery on the fourth floor. It contains a marvelously huge window that allows plenty of sunlight. He refused.
"Furthermore, I recommended long rides in the countryside," she continued, nonplussed. "A day out in the warm sunshine would do wonders for the youngsters. I told him it would put roses on their cheeks. I swear he hissed at me."
Finally, I sat beside my mother and grasped her hands. Often, Squire Barstow allowed Prentiss and me the use of his stables. Blissfully, we cantered across the moors and frequently into the lake district. Amity repeatedly chased after us, and we reluctantly permitted her company. Much to my annoyance, she flirted openly with the curate and pushed her horse between us when we rode side-by-side.
I sighed, wishing for those days again. My English life seemed to fade in my memory. Day after day, I remained trapped in the unforgiving castle. I would give everything I owned for another afternoon meandering along the country lanes.
"The Baron permits short rides along those treacherous mountain passes," Mama exclaimed, "only after the moon sets." She clenched her fists and grimaced.
"How strange," I muttered.
"Indeed."
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The monotonous days caught up to me. For two long months, I remained confined in the castle turret. I saw Mama infrequently. Helga brought my meals promptly. Occasionally I spoke to her. However, if she lingered too long, Mrs. Balan appeared to scold her.
"I can't bear this any longer," I suddenly exclaimed. I stared at my lunch tray with disgust. "Goulash…again!" Disdainfully, I pushed the tray aside.
"I'm sorry, Miss," the maid responded demurely. "Grandmama…"
"I don't give one whit about Grandmama," I retorted angrily. "I'm tired of goulash, this turret, and von Helfin. Tired! Tired! Tired!"
Helga stared at me flabbergasted. Then, snatching up the tray, she fled. The door slammed behind her, and her footsteps echoed in the rotunda. I sank into my chair and covered my face with my hands. I sobbed.
"Miss," a soft voice whispered. "Miss."
I glanced up at the maid and wiped my eyes. I did not want her to see me cry.
"Come with me, Miss," Helga invited, stretching out her hand.
Bewildered, I stared at her outstretched palm for a moment. Helga continued to offer it, and I finally grasped it. I rose and followed her downstairs.
"Von Helfin castle was built during the eleventh century," my guide explained.
We stood in the grand hall with its swooping staircase and medieval weaponry gracing the walls. Although the furnishings lay in ruins, Helga did not appear to notice. Next, we entered the dining room. The vast table lay broken in half in the midst of the room. Along the walls, the ancient benches lay scattered. Cobwebs draped the elk antler chandelier.
Helga led me through a dank passage into the vast medieval kitchen. A huge cauldron bubbled over a roaring fire. Wiping sweat from her brow, Mrs. Balan stirred it. My companion pressed her forefinger against her lips and waved me onward. We tiptoed across the flagstone floor and exited into an overgrown courtyard.
Godoired Cazacu knelt before a weed-tangled flowerbed with a hand trough. Shushing me again, Helga crept behind him and raised her foot. Aghast, I pulled her away before she connected with his upraised derriere.
"What did you do that for?" the maid demanded, swooping on me.
"It was cruel!" I declared angrily.
Spinning on my heels, I rushed toward a set of French doors. I entered the parlor we occupied the night we arrived. Noticing the harpsichord in the corner, I approached it and ran my fingers over the keys. Tentatively, I sat and began to play. As the music swirled around me, von Helfin's castle faded into the background. I floated miles away.
"Miss," Helga finally interrupted me. "Tis late, Miss. Twill get dark soon."
I stared at the maid for a moment, blinking my eyes rapidly. A light mist entered the dark room, and I shivered. Rising, I closed the harpsichord and noticed the bat hanging in the corner. Its red beady eyes penetrated mine. I gasped. It appeared more malevolent than the one I encountered in the turret. Frightened, I raced from the parlor.
My rapid heart continued to beat when I entered my bedroom. Mama stepped in from her chamber and stared at me in astonishment. Then, her dower expression broke into a wide smile.
"Did I hear harpsichord music?" she asked, advancing toward me.
"Yes, I played it in the parlor," I answered. "It's tuned to perfection. I…" I paused, then suddenly exclaimed, "Oh, Mama, there was a bat. It watched me so intently. I…I thought for a moment… Its eyes…so eerie."
"Did it frighten you, my love?" Mama suddenly enfolded me in her arms. I nodded against her warm bosom and snuggled in close.
"Never mind," she continued to soothe. "I'll speak to Nicolai about it this evening."
"Nicolai?" I asked, glancing up at her. The name seemed unfamiliar.
"The Baron," my mother explained with a slight giggle. "He asked me to call him by his given name. He calls me Bella in his quaint Romanian accent."
I looked at her again quizzically. No one other than Papa called her Bella. How dare the Baron make such an assumption! Rage suddenly flared in my mind. That horrid man could never replace my beloved father. Yet, I felt he penetrated further into my mother's life than a mere employer.
"Nicolai is kindness personified," Mama continued despite my wall of silence. "You'll get to know him quite well, I expect. Just give him time."
My mind hardened against the Baron as fear gripped my heart. I studied Mama intently. Her skin appeared more shallow than usual. A faint peach glow rose on her cheeks, and the scarlet shade of her lips deepened. Finally, I noticed the two red punctures on her neck beneath her earlobe.
"Mama, you've hurt yourself," I gasped, my fingers lightly touching the marks.
"It's nothing, sweetheart," she sighed. She adjusted the lace at her collar hastily to hide the imperfection. "Just a minor scratch. I probably caught it with my fingernail."
I shrank away from her and began to protest. However, before I could speak, the chamber door swung open. The Baron leaned in the frame and ogled me contemporaneously. I gasped as his sullen eyes met mine. How familiar they seemed, but, naturally, they could not belong to the bat in the parlor.
"Did you hear Norah playing the harpsichord this afternoon, Nicolai dear?" Mama exclaimed, weaving her arm through the Baron's elbow. She pressed herself against his side.
"Ah, so, your daughter is as talented as she is beautiful," von Helfin declared, his lips twitching with amusement. "You may continue to play if you so desire. A little music in the daytime helps a man relax."
During my tour with Helga, we did not glimpse the Baron or his children. Mrs. Balan and Godoired kept busy with their duties. Otherwise, no signs of life appeared within the castle. I slanted my eyes toward our host, wondering what he did during the daytime.
"Shall we give the children the night off, Bella, my dear?" the Baron questioned as they drifted onto the landing. "We shall take a ride along the ridge in the moonlight."
"Certainly," Mama replied, "we shall." She giggled lightly.
A few moments later, the sound of the horse's hooves reverberated in the courtyard below. I pressed my eye against the window slit and watched Mama and the Baron canter across the ridge. The enormous black horses appeared fierce, and Mama struggled to control her mount. However, she kept pace with her companion, and soon, they vanished from sight. I watched them disappear, dumbfounded.
"Oh, Mama," I sighed in trepidation.
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