Karen Michelle Nutt (4 page)

She turned when she heard her bedroom door opened. Maeve, the woman who had been so kind to her last night, came in with a tray of food and Arianna’s stomach grumbled.

"I thought you might want a bite ter eat before you ventures downstairs."

"Thank you, Maeve. I would.” The thought of going downstairs to face people she didn’t remember had her nerves on end.

Maeve put the tray down at the edge of the bed and turned to eye her closely. "You don’t sleep well?"

"No, I didn't. Everything seems so... I don’t know.”

“You need to sits yourself down and eat. A full stomach does wonders.”

While Arianna ate her breakfast of warm cereal and fresh rolls with fruit preserves, she watched Maeve hurry about the room, picking up the discarded clothes from last night and piling them at the door. Maeve was a pretty woman with smooth dark skin. She looked to be about her age, but acted so much older as if she’d lived a lifetime already.

Maeve took out garments, which Arianna assumed she would be wearing for the day. She stared at the clothing convinced they weren’t hers. What had happened to her jeans and t-shirts? She could see these items perfectly in her mind, yet she didn’t see them in her armoire.

"Maeve?"

She turned to look at her.

"Where are my t-shirts and jeans?"

“I don’t know these things. Whut be dis
t-shuts
and..."

"Jeans.” Arianna finished for her. She owned a pair of Calvin Klein’s. She did, didn’t she? Her head throbbed and she rubbed her temples, hoping to ease some of the pressure.

"Does your head bothers you much? I kin gives you somethin’.” Maeve moved around the bed and took her hands.

Arianna felt Maeve tremble as she turned her right hand over so she could see her palm. A flash of a memory tried to take hold, but slipped away before it took root.

Maeve took a deep breath and smiled. "You still with us."

Arianna looked at the dark skinned woman, wondering what the woman meant by her statement.

"Did you want de powder fer your head?”

“No, I’ll be all right.”

“Then let me gets you dressed."

"I can dress myself.” She hurried to tell Maeve. “I’m not an invalid.”

Maeve froze. Her eyes widening as her hand came to her chest. "Dress yourself? Lordy, I always help you gets dress. Well … I did, dat is."

"You did?”

"I wuz bought fer dat service, Miss Arianna.” Maeve went over to the bed and picked up the dress she’d laid out.

"Bought?"

"Yas’m, Miss Arianna.” Maeve brought the dress around to the other side of the bed.

"You’re a slave?"

Maeve nodded.

"That can’t be right. Slavery’s illegal.” She seemed so confident this was true, but after the strange look Maeve gave her, she wasn't so sure after all. "Isn’t it?” she questioned. "Hasn't slavery been abolished for over a century?”

"Miss Arianna, I don't know whut dat means. I jest know I be a slave as long as I kin remember and dat's a very long, long time.”

****

Arianna wandered around the house, taking in the surroundings and hoping something might trigger her memory.

The first room she entered had a large floral carpet, and striped wallpaper covering the walls. There were two blue overstuffed chairs stationed toward the back of the room and a plush covered round table in the center. Two framed pictures stood as witness to the display of cards scattered on top. She casually walked over to the table and lifted each frame to get a better look at the portraits they held. One was of Keldon. She hesitated, fingering the likeness of her husband. “I’ve seen this portrait.” She frowned then not sure if that was true. “Maybe I just recognize Keldon’s somber expression.” She sighed in frustration. She picked up the other frame. The woman looked like her. She stared checking out every feature. She recognized the similarities: Light blonde hair, blue eyes, but a misty doubt clouded her mind. The woman in the portrait was a stranger.

She put the portrait down when she heard voices coming from the room next door. She moved to investigate, but as she reached the door, she hesitated. “This is my home,” she reminded herself, but doubt made her feel like an intruder. “Don’t be ridiculous. This is my house.”

Before she lost her courage, she strode over into the hall and opened the twin doors simultaneously as she made her grand entrance.

The men’s conversation came to an abrupt halt, each turning to stare at her. Their expressions gave her the opinion she’d committed some horrible crime.

Arianna felt the heat rise in her face before spreading down to her toes. Keldon’s murderous glint didn’t help either. He stalked toward her and she immediately backed out of the room, slamming the doors in his face.

****

Keldon froze, stunned at his wife’s display before he became furious. He ripped opened the doors once more thinking he would have to chase her down, but she stood there with her hand over her mouth and her blue eyes as wide as saucers.

“Sorry,” she sputtered. “I didn’t mean to—”

He grabbed her arm leading her away so the others couldn’t hear them. "Have ye resorted to spyin’ now?" he hissed.

"What are you talking about?” She tried to yank free, unsuccessfully. “I’ve been looking around, trying to discover something familiar. This is
my home
, is it not?”

Keldon relaxed, loosening his grip. Perhaps he over exaggerated, but he didn’t trust her. "Go to the drawin’ room and wait for me. As soon as I'm finished with my business, we’ll tour the grounds together.” He turned to go back into the room, but Arianna halted him with her question.

"Where's the drawing room?"

He turned, his eyes narrowing at her innocent expression. Did she deceive him? He pointed down the hall. "It is the last room on the left."

Arianna nodded and headed toward the door he indicated.

****

Arianna knew he watched her with his cat-like eyes. He didn’t trust her and she knew it wasn’t her imagination. His every narrowed-eyed glance spoke the obvious.

Her hand on the doorknob, she looked back at him. She smiled sweetly and waved, knowing she’d irritate him with the gesture. She could almost hear his snort as he went back into the study.

She chuckled and opened the doors. She stepped into a world of elegance. "Wow!” Was the only way she could fully express herself. The gorgeous painted harpsichord displayed in front of the bay window caught her attention first. The beautiful scene of a man and a woman sitting among the flowers of red and gold adorned the piece. The sky displayed an unearthly blue and the grass came alive with different shades of yellowish greens.

Arianna couldn't resist; the instrument called to her. She sat down on the bench and ran her hand lightly over the exquisite piece, until her fingers rested on the keys. Do I know how to play? She asked herself. Somehow, she knew she must. She poised her hands and they took over. The sweet melody flowed freely, and the words popped into her mind as if bursting for release. Finally, she found something familiar. She sang from the heart, rejoicing over the new discovery.

****

As the melody reached the men down the hall, once again, their conversation halted.

"Who's singing?" Vincent Aubrey asked.

Keldon and Leighton exchanged glances.

"I dinnae realize Annabelle would be entertainin'.” Leighton raised a brow.

Keldon shrugged, for he hadn’t expected company either.

The three left the study, curious over whom the mysterious vocalist was. Keldon became more anxious with every step. He recognized the melody as one he played often on his bagpipes. He hadn’t heard the words to the song in a long time.

The men entered the room as Arianna finished the last stanza. She turned and looked at them. She grinned, laughter bubbling out of her. "I remembered something. Isn't it wonderful?"

Vincent looked to Keldon for an explanation. "What does she mean?"

"Annabelle had a little accident, yesterday. Her memory isnae as it should be." Keldon walked over to Arianna who was still grinning. The sweet melody she sang had unnerved him. How could she know that song? He himself had not heard the words since he was a small lad. His mother, God rest her soul, had taught it to him, a memory he treasured, and he knew he had never shared it with Annabelle. Furthermore, when did Annabelle learn how to play the harpsichord? And her enchanting voice… His wife croaked like a frog.

"Do I know anymore songs?" Arianna asked hopefully. “I must. I put my hands over the keys and…”

“Annabelle,” Keldon tried to interrupt.

“…I played like I was born to do this.”

“Annabelle.”

She turned toward the harpsichord, her fingers flying over the keys as another melody took shape.

“Annabelle!”

Her hands slipped, pounding out a horrible sound. “What?” She glanced at him, annoyance evident in her voice.

"My dear,” Keldon retorted in cold sarcasm. “Ye have never played before in yer life.”

CHAPTER FOUR

Ye have never played before in yer life.
Keldon’s claim bothered Arianna. Maybe she took lessons and never told him. Maybe he didn’t know her as well as he thought. “Stubborn, arrogant man,” she mumbled. She wanted to experiment with the harpsichord to find out if she could play anything else.

“Ye cannae play.” Keldon took her arm and led her out of the room.

“But …”

“Yer disturbin’ our guests.”

Arianna looked over her shoulder. Leighton frowned, but he never smiled as far as she knew, but the other man’s mouth curved. She returned the gesture, which obviously perturbed her husband by the way he harrumphed and yanked on her arm again.

“I shouldna be much longer. Do ye think ye can stay out of trouble until then?” He left her stranded in the hall.

She turned and opened a door to another room full of items she didn’t recognize and shut the door without bothering to explore.
Trouble indeed. All I wanted to do was play the piano… No, harpsichord
. She corrected herself and frowned. “Piano,” she said the word, testing it.

A grand piano made of solid spruce flashed in her mind, but the vision disappeared before she could grasp it. She shook her head. “Did I see a memory or am I losing my mind?” She had her hand on the doorknob to yet another room, but she heard voices down the hall and changed directions.

Company was exactly what she needed while she waited for her husband to find time to fit her into his busy schedule. She opened the door to find the room empty, but then she caught sight of a woman heading out a door, which led outside. She followed. The smell of spices and cooked meat tantalized her nostrils. “Ah, the kitchen is in a separate building from the house.” Somewhere in the back of her mind stood a memory of why she knew this, but she pushed the thought aside. No more thinking about what she remembered and what she didn’t remember. She wanted a friend.

She entered the kitchen with a smile. Two women prepared food, talking and laughing as they worked. The heavyset woman with dark almond skin and round cheeks had a deep rich voice. The other woman had skin the color of toffee. Her pretty face lit up when she smiled. “Oh Oni, he kicked again.” She turned to the side, revealing her full belly.

“This here baby is goin’ ter be strong.”

The pregnant woman noticed Arianna and gasped. She lowered her eyes, the smile slipping from her face.

Oni turned. “Oh.” Her gaze dropped to her feet also.

Arianna didn’t want to ruin the mood. She wanted to join them. She cleared her throat. "Do you need any help?” She hoped to break the awkward silence.

Both women looked startled by the suggestion as they exchanged nervous glances.

"We's jest fine, Miss Annabelle,” Oni said. “I wuz de one at fault. I wuz jest askin', Sophie how she wuz. We will stops talkin' and gets bizy."

If Arianna didn't know better, she’d think these women had committed a horrendous crime. What did she care if they talked to each other? She wanted to join in.

She decided to try again. "I should be the one apologizing. I didn’t mean to interrupt. You see I’m bored out of my mind. I need to do something, anything. Only, I don’t remember what it is I do around here."

Before the bewildered women could comment, Maeve walked in on them. Her mouth dropped opened before she could stop herself. Then she shook her head, clicking her tongue. "Whut’s you doin' here, Miss Arianna?” She immediately, started shooing her out of the room. "We kin take care of things in here. You go outside and gets some fresh air.”

“But I want to help.”