The Grey Dawn Read online

  “Wait,” came a deep masculine voice, “you received my picture bird?”

  Ellalee clenched the sketch in her pocket and whirled back around. She was truly frightened now.

  The man lowered his hood. He was a stranger. She felt sure she had never seen him before, but there was something vaguely familiar about him as well. He was a handsome, tall, well-built man with expressive brown eyes. He was perhaps middle-aged, maybe a bit less. His eyes didn’t carry the lines of older age, but his hair had started to grey at the temple. He had a strong jaw and a long aristocratic nose. She still couldn’t skirt the feeling that she had seen his likeness somewhere before.

  “I don’t mean to frighten you, only to help, if I might,” the man continued.

  “I don’t understand,” Ellalee stammered taking another step backwards despite the man’s reassurance.

  “I know you have been brought here against your will and that your brother has been hurt by the hand of that evil earl,” the man said. His eyes crinkling around the edges with what Ellalee assumed was compassion.

  “How do you know these things?” Ellalee asked cautiously.

  “I have friends in the manor,” the man waved the question aside and continued. “The earl is quite mad. In fact, he is more beast than man. He has hurt many innocents in addition to your brother. Sooner or later, he will turn on you and your sister as well.”

  Ellalee winced at the man’s description, and the man’s face became more sympathetic in return.

  “I hear that your sister is quite fair. She’s beneath him which is a blessing. Sadly, years ago he did, in fact, try to take a wife. Bravely determined to do her duty to her father, Lady Julia honored the betrothal arranged in their childhood, though she could barely tolerate looking at Valen’s wicked scars. On that fateful day, she dressed in her wedding gown but couldn’t bear to go down to the chapel. She hovered on the parapet just off the rooms she had been given, and just before the ceremony, Lady Julia threw herself from the rampart rather than let him touch her. I can’t say I quite blame her, but I did pity her as I do all who come to this place.”

  Ellalee was horrified and was sure her face showed it. However, it seemed that the stranger mistook her horror for sympathy with the bride.

  “I could have helped her, but she didn’t accept my offer. I can, however, help you.”

  “And how will you do that?” Ellalee grew cautious. Something seemed very wrong. The stranger opened his mouth to speak, but in that moment before the stranger could answer, Ellalee heard hoof beats coming up the path in the distance. She turned and she could just make out the earl’s great destrier galloping down the path towards her. Her mouth dropped, and she stood momentarily in stunned disbelief. What were the chances?

  When she turned around, the stranger had disappeared back into the mist or rock from whence he came. She slowly turned, looking in all directions, but his disappearance was complete. The man must be hiding behind one of the boulders. It seemed the wise choice to make herself scarce as well, but when she looked back towards the approaching earl, she realized she had waited too long scouting for the disappearing stranger. She could hardly disappear now, standing here as he thundered closer on that great black horse of his. Her shoulders sunk, and she turned and walked back towards the manor knowing that soon enough, the earl would catch up with her. She couldn’t imagine how she would explain herself.

  Chapter Thirteen: The Promise

  The earl rode up next to Ellalee on his great black destrier as she proceeded down the path back towards the manor. She noted that the earl was hooded once again with the cowl pulled down so that all she could see was his furious scowl.

  “What are you doing here? Have you not one wit of sense anywhere in your being?” the earl roared.

  She frowned up at him. She was getting to know his scowl and his sharp words altogether too well.

  The earl looked around. “Who was that man you were speaking with?”

  “I don’t know,” Ellalee said without looking up again.

  “Oh my goodness, the lies! Listen here. You better come up with the truth or at least some believable story by the time we get back to the manor, or I will chain you in the dungeon in the foulest contraption that I can find for as long as it takes until you finally do,” the earl ground out each word.

  Ellalee glanced back once to see if she could see the man before they began their descent back towards the main track. Beyond the mist and the moor, she could see nothing.

  “Do no not even think about running, I will track you wherever you hide and hang from a gibbet anyone who helps you.”

  Ellalee frowned as she thought back to that poor man hanging in the gibbet and replied, “I’ve no reason to run.” The earl merely snarled in response.

  All the way back, she tried to think of some plausible story to wrap in why she was in the north field and who she could have met there but came up with nothing more believable than the simple truth. She supposed she’d try out the old adage, the truth shall set you free.

  As the earl and Ellalee came back through the gate, Ellalee on foot and the earl on horseback, Irwin appeared. The earl dismounted, handed the reins to Irwin, and grabbed Ellalee under her arm, marching her faster to the front door than she could gather her steps. She’d pay later for the strenuous activity on her still-healing ankle, and the earl seemed to desire to make it double.

  Ellalee was incensed at the way Lord Valen was handling her. What, truly, had she done? The earl shoved through the front doors and dragged her into the reception hall and stopped, staring around.

  “It looks…,” he began.

  “Welcome home, sir. Can I get your midday meal ready in the dining hall?” Winslow gave the earl a curt bow as his eye shivered to Ellalee.

  “Winslow, who has done this?” He looked to the right into the main dining hall and to the left into the salon dragging Ellalee with him.

  “Why Miss Ellalee here has worked wonders on the main floor. I can’t remember when it has looked this well. The meal, sir?”

  “Not just yet. Miss Ellalee has a few things to account for. We will be in my study,” the earl said. “Oh, and Winslow, I am expecting a delivery tomorrow or the next day. Make sure that you bring it in right away.”

  “Very well, sir. Ring when you are through with your discussion, and I will have the mid-day meal served.” Winslow bowed out. His eyes once more connected with Ellalee in apparent exasperation.

  Valen yanked off his cloak after shoving Ellalee through the study door which then the earl slammed shut. He gave Ellalee a hard stare and shoved his hands through his brown curls making his hair stand askew. “What, in God’s great name, were you doing in that field?”

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t know I couldn’t go there. Isn’t this my home from now through the next hundred years after my death?” Ellalee attempted her usual flippant response which, even to her own ears, sounded hollow.

  “Banter with me. Try my temper.” The earl slammed his fists onto the desk making Ellalee jump. “That field is where we found the remains, and I use that word very loosely, of the last cook. Now tell me. What were you doing there? Did you go out there to meet a man?”

  “No, of course not.” When he started to growl again, she held out her hands in placation and rushed on, “You remember two nights ago when there was an awful keening that rent through the castle, like something howling or dying? Well, Elise came out of her room terrified. I offered to let her sleep in my room with Daniella and me.”

  “So you could protect her from the evil that haunts these halls? How magnanimous of you,” the earl sneered.

  Ellalee shook her head and continued, “In my room Elise found an envelope that had fallen beside my bed. I may have knocked it over when… well you see I dreamed, well, never mind.” She reached inside her pocket and handed the earl the envelope that contained the picture bird. “The envelope had my name on it, but I didn’t know what it was or what it meant so I asked around. Elise said
it was a red grouse, and Irwin said these birds could be found in the north field so I went up there. That man came and spoke to me. He never told me his name. He disappeared when he saw you riding up.” She added in under her breath, “Had I been as quick.”

  “And what did this man say?”

  Ellalee stammered. The truth? After the cruel words she’d already said to him? “I’d really rather not say.”

  “Did he propose? Did he promise you a home? Did he tell you how beautiful you are? What did the man say?”

  Ellalee blinked several times and shook her head. “No, of course not.”

  “You are the most exasperating, infuriating, thick-headed, stubborn….” the earl dragged his hand through his hair again. “I’m going to ask you for the last time. What did the man say?”

  Ellalee spluttered through a quick overview of the man’s comments, softening them, glossing over the most incendiary remarks, wincing through the worst parts which even moderated were heartbreaking. The earl’s eyes grew hard and cold, and his mouth firmed and set.

  “I’m so sorry.” Ellalee clasped her hands to her chest. Her eyes pleading with him to hear her heart. “Honestly…”

  “Get out,” the earl said turning his back. “Now.” When she didn’t immediately leave, he roared furiously slamming papers, quills, and bric-à-brac off of his desk, and with that, she fled.

  In the kitchen, Daniella was scurrying around with last minute preparations as footman scrambled to carry trays upstairs. Ellalee tried to catch her sister’s eye, but Daniella only pointed distractedly to a tray that was already laid out for her. Ellalee took the tray and trudged down the hallway. Her heart was heavy. There was so much on her mind that she was having trouble sorting it out. Christopher complained through the midday meal that she was distracted and not listening, and Gladlia looked upon her with concern as the old healer sipped her tea. The boy begged to know what was going on upstairs, and when she replied cooking and cleaning, he was less than impressed. Mercifully, Gladlia said it was time for Christopher to rest which brought about another spate of complaints on his part, but Ellalee took the proffered opportunity to escape. She picked up her cleaning supplies and headed to the solar to begin cleaning there and was dismayed to see Mistress Murray following.

  “I am to watch you. Apparently, you’ve taken into your mind to go off gallivanting instead of doing your duty,” Mistress Murry announced haughtily.

  Those were fine words coming out of Mistress Murray’s mouth considering that the moment Lord Valen left, she was nowhere to be found, and as housekeeper she had done a remarkably poor job. But in lieu of her current state of trouble, Ellalee opted to make no retort but focused instead on shaking out the heavy curtains. The maid in her home growing up had always said, start high, finish low. That way all the dust and dirt that falls can be swept up at the end.

  “What have you to say for yourself?” Mistress Murray said sitting comfortably on a red velvet tufted chair as though she was lady of the manor.

  Ellalee had nothing to share with this woman so she remained silent. To be fair, she didn’t feel she was necessary for this conversation anyway.

  “Nothing, I see. Where did you go?” Mistress Murry pretended to look at her fingernails, but peered intently at Ellalee under her lashes as she asked the question.

  “Mistress Murray, I find it hard to work and keep up conversation at the same time. Might we discuss this later or would you prefer that I stop so that I can give you my undivided attention?” Ellalee said sweetly over her should hoping to end Mistress Murray’s side of the discussion as well.

  Just then, Winslow appeared. “Ah, good to see you are working beside Miss Ellalee as Lord Valen instructed. Shall I hand you the brush Miss Murray or are you cleaning that chair with your rump?” Winslow finished his droll question by staring at both of them with his watery blue eyes.

  He was a specter that was for sure, but Ellalee had never appreciated Winslow more. Ellalee gave him a small curtsey and proceeded to Mistress Murray, handing her a brush which the old red-head swiped from her hands.

  “I will be checking in on you from time to time,” Winslow said letting the words hang in the silence. “Keep up the good work ladies. I know the manor will never look better.”

  Ellalee couldn’t help but smile a little as she worked. Mistress Murray was more of a hindrance than a help, but at least it stopped conversation leaving Ellalee to her thoughts as she worked.

  The evening meal couldn’t come soon enough. Somehow cleaning was usually rejuvenating. Ellalee’s thoughts were her own, while her hands kept moving, and not only did she feel at the end of the day as though her body was stretched and fit, but she could look upon the good works of her accomplishments in making a house a home. Ellalee had found joy in the work up until this afternoon. Having Mistress Murray there muttering under her breath the entire afternoon brought stress and little to no help. Ellalee began to wonder if this was the earl’s punishment to her for today’s escapade or his punishment to Mistress Murray for her lack of housekeeping, or by some evil genius, both.

  When she brought the meal down to Christopher, Gladlia said that she had to go stretch her bad hip. She was gone a very long time. Ellalee had time to mimic Mistress Murray’s cleaning, muttering under her breath and sweeping dirt under carpets when she thought no one was looking which made Christopher laugh so hard she had to ask him to stop so he didn’t jerk his healing leg. Then she regaled him with not one but three stories she made up on the spot of Sir Kent and his brave one-legged squire Christopher who now had a crutch where the end would come off and the crutch became a sword. Even when she had completed all three stories, Gladlia was still not back, and she was beginning to worry. She tucked Christopher in and blew out the candles closest to him to make it a little darker. She held his hand and they said evening prayers together. It seemed very late when Gladlia finally came back down, and Ellalee rushed out to find her own bed. Morning would come all too soon.

  Ellalee brought the dinner tray up the stairs to the kitchen where she found that the staff had gone up for the night, but she dutifully washed the tray and put back the dishes. However, when she turned to go, Ellalee was startled to see Lord Valen standing in the doorway watching her. She nearly leaped out of her skin.

  “I’m so sorry. I wasn’t expecting anyone to be here. May I get you some tea or warm milk or something to eat?” Her heart was hammering.

  Valen stared at her a long time, rubbed his lips with the back of his hand, and then frowned. “I want your promise that you will not go back to the north field. Not you. Not ever again. I don’t want you to say that you understand or utter nonsense that you can use later to quibble or prevaricate. I want your solemn word, you will not go back there.”

  Ellalee swallowed. “Do you believe me then?”

  “I talked to the Elise, the footmen, and Irwin. It seems it was as you said.”

  Ellalee ran a hand down her long braid. “Thank God. Truly, I don’t mean to be such a burden,” Ellalee said looking down at her feet.

  The earl actually snorted which brought her head back up sharply. “Oh, you will think of some other way to infuriate me, I’m sure. I want your promise.” Lord Valen stared at her intently and his voice lowered, “If I found you there, like,” his voice trailed off. He shook his head, and his voice firmed. “I repeat; I want your solemn oath that you shall not go back there.”

  “I will not go back there unless some life or death reason drives me.”

  “Miss Ellalee, why are you so stubborn!” The irascible earl shook his head incredulously. “I want your promise, and I want it now.”

  “I will not go back under any circumstances short of life or death. That is my promise, and I will not break it,” Ellalee replied becoming frustrated herself.

  “You are impossible,” Lord Valen growled, hit the door’s side jam with the palm of his hand, and strode out, but she heard him mutter as he walked away something about a thorn in his side.
/>   Ellalee slept well that night except once when she awoke sure that she had heard something in the wardrobe. It was a scritching, scratching sound, but as she became fully awake she didn’t hear it again. It must be rats, she thought and was bound to do something about it. She would not live in squalor, and she certainly would not live with rats.

  Chapter Fourteen: The New Potato Peeler

  The next morning Ellalee set out before breakfast to go to the barn to find Irwin. The thought of a rat infested home had haunted her dreams. She had nightmares of rats crawling behind the walls and popping out as she tried to escape. She found Irwin humming to himself as he mucked out the stables, and she gave him her request. Irwin promised to see to this chore as soon as he finished with his morning duties. Then Ellalee returned to the kitchen to make a tray to take down to Christopher and Gladlia.

  The swelling in Christopher’s leg had diminished quite a bit, and the skin around the break looked merely green and yellow. However, nothing showed the promise of his healing more than his antsy mood. Gladlia, on the other hand, looked positively worn through.

  “He’s been awake through the night,” she said. “I’m too old for boys this age.”

  “She is teasing, Ellalee,” Christopher assured her. “What did you bring for breakfast?”

  Ellalee gave Christopher some thick porridge with milk and poured Gladlia a cup of hot tea which she accepted most gratefully with two hands. Ellalee filled them in on her rat-in-the-wall theory and her solution. Gladlia appeared to choke on her tea, but her eyes had definitely picked up their merry look once more. Ellalee promised to fill in Christopher on anything that happened upstairs during his midday meal, but as it turned out, Christopher, himself, was the big news.

  Just before noon, the earl’s awaited delivery arrived from a local carpenter who had made a chair with wheels and a leg rest that could support Christopher’s splinted leg now that Gladlia had decided he no longer needed traction. The footmen went below and under Gladlia’s careful watch, transferred the boy into proper livery for his shirt and waistcoat and into his new chair where his leg was strapped to the leg rest to prohibit movement so that the bone could continue to heal. Then Charlie and Mark carefully lifted the chair up the steep steps. Ellalee was frantic as the men carried up Christopher’s chair fearing that one slip down the treacherous steps would mean disaster, but Christopher was brought to the kitchen without incident. Gladlia looked relieved and poured herself another cup of tea while she vicariously enjoyed the warm reception of her patient.