The Shipmaster's Daughter (18 page)

To her dismay, Luciana found nothing changed during her sleep, restless as it was. She woke with a headache—a raw headache that grated at the back of her skull—and Reed and the near-kiss still in the forefront of her mind. That made her want to puke all the more. Slipping out of bed, she dressed slowly. The longer she took, the better chance she had at missing Reed before he left for town.

She donned the pink dress and glanced at herself in the mirror. Her nose wrinkled at the sight. Pink did not suit her, but she was obliged to wear it. Jack had picked the color. It was a dark pink, thank goodness, but it still made her cringe.

With a weary sigh, she left her room and headed straight for the dinning hall. Her foot still ached and she walked with a slight limp, favoring her good side. She wondered why it was Reed still insisted she eat with the family. She once tried to make him see sense: employees did not eat with their employers. He had simply told her she was not an employee and would continue to dine with him. Him. Not them.
Him.
Didn’t the imply that he—

Overthinking again. She pushed the thoughts away.

“It’s about time you woke up, Miss Renaldi. I was worried you might be sick.”

Luciana lifted her eyes from the floor as she entered the dining room. Esther stood at the buffet, barely able to see over the edge, holding a spoon filled with fresh fruit. She smiled at Luciana. Her hair was messy from sleep and she wore yesterday’s clothes. If given the opportunity, she would never wash, never change. She would remain as she was, running through the house, playing and hiding to her heart’s content.

“No, I’m well,” Luciana said. She picked up a plate off the end of the buffet.

Reed was nowhere to be seen. Luciana tried to ignore the fact. She should count it as a blessing. It would save them both from an awkward meal. Still, as she ate slowly, every time a noise came from the hall, her heart jumped at the chance that it might be him.

“Father’s gone into town early today.” Esther stared at her, her eyes glinting.

Luciana looked up from her empty plate. “Has he?” She willed her voice to remain steady.

Esther’s grin widened. “Mhm. Not for very long, though. He’ll be back soon.”

Luciana pushed away from the table. Her stomach felt tight. Esther could see right through her. The thought made her want to wretch. Just how transparent was she? How much longer could she put off accepting what she felt before everyone around her knew it and she still pretended to be in the dark?

“I think I’ll head to conservatory,” she said, brushing her warm palm across her hot forehead. “Would you like to join me?”

Esther shook her head. Her curls bobbed back and forth. “No, but thank you. I know I said I would help you yesterday, but Brigette found an old doll I want to play with.”

Inwardly, Luciana breathed a sigh of relief. Outwardly, she only nodded. “If you change your mind, I’d still love to have your help.”

The conservatory was humid, like always, but Luciana welcomed the warmth. It was better than the frigid air in the rest of the house. Even though it was spring outside, it was still winter indoors.

She rolled her sleeves and got to work finishing the windows. By the time she realized she would need a ladder to finish the top windows, it was time for the afternoon meal. She had worked like a fiend, refusing to let her worries and wishes get in the way of finishing her task. Her arms and back ached and the heel of her foot throbbed from standing on it for too long. A film of sweat rested on the back of her neck. Sticky strands of hair were plastered to her cheeks and throat. When she glanced at her reflection in the window, she almost laughed. She looked a fright. Dirt and dust clung to her cheeks, and when she tried to wipe them away, they only smeared.

She sighed. Bathing had been invented for a reason.

She wadded up her rag, tossed it on the windowsill, and left. The cool, brisk air of the hallway rejuvenated Luciana’s tired and sore body. As she walked toward the dining room, she rubbed her aching shoulders. Esther was just coming down the stairs when she entered the rotunda.

“Oh goodness, Miss Renaldi, you need a bath.” Her nose wrinkled.

“How kind of you, Esther.”

Esther shrugged. “At least you still smell good. You always smell good.” She whizzed into the dining room, doll in one hand, licorice stick in the other.

Luciana paused for a moment and pulled her hair into a loose braid. Cool air swept across the back of her neck. She shivered. Yes, she was in need of a long, hot bath.

Pounding footsteps turned her head toward the staircase. Reed, sleeves rolled up past his elbows, hair pulled into a low bun, rushed down the stairs. He didn’t even notice her. She felt her heart skip a beat.

“
Signore
Hargrave—” He stopped. Looked at her. Looked away. “—I didn’t think you’d be back from town so early.”

“It is lunchtime,” he said, voice gruff. “And Jack should return anytime. I’d like to be here when he is.”

Luciana looked down. The sight of large stain—whether it was water or dirt, she couldn’t say—on her dress made her blush. She should have changed before going to eat. She would have had she known Reed was home.

As if on cue, the door opened and Jack walked inside. His perpetual smile was contagious and Luciana couldn’t frown for long. Soon, as he took the few steps into the rotunda, she was smiling as well.

“Reed, Miss Renaldi, what is this? A welcoming party?”

Reed stuck out his hand, which Jack shook. “I nearly died without you.”

Jack’s eyebrows shot up. “That’s almost a love confession. Watch yourself. I fall in love fast.” He looked over at Luciana and winked. Her smile widened. Reed pulled his hand away and rolled his eyes on a huff.

“The firm, Jack. I nearly died without you there to help me handle it all.”

“I’m sure you managed just fine.”

“You are insufferable.” Reed turned slightly as if to cast a look her way over his shoulder. Then he stopped. His eyes never met hers before he turned around again, his back rim-rod straight.

Luciana stepped forward nonetheless. “Welcome home,
Signore
Lipold.”

He grinned and shook her hand in both of his. “Glad to see you’re still here because I brought you a present.”

She found herself glancing at Reed in surprise. He stared onward, his face stoic. She forced her eyes to Jack. “A present?”

“For all of us, really.” He backed down the steps and into the foyer. “Wait a few seconds.”

“Did I hear there’s a present for me?” Esther dashed out of the dining room and to Luciana’s side. Drops of vanilla pudding clung to the edge of her mouth. Luciana motioned to it and Esther swiped the back of her sleeve across her mouth.

The waiting was agony. No one said anything. Esther was too excited, Luciana too nervous, and Reed too distant. The air between them was charged with unspoken words and feelings. Luciana began to feel her palms sweat. She wiped them on the skirt of her dress and tapped her foot.

At last, Jack came back inside. But he wasn’t holding a box, nor leading a dog like Esther surely hoped. He brought with him a woman, no younger than Luciana.

She was gorgeous. Blonde hair the color of sun beams was piled atop her head in a luxurious bun. Her eyes were a crystal clear blue and they shined with grace and dignity. Luciana reached up to touch her dirt-smudged cheek.

“Everyone, this is Miss Aliana Martin. Miss Martin, this is Esther, Reed’s daughter.”

Aliana smiled, nodding in a silent greeting, and Esther curtseyed. She wobbled slightly, but then righted herself, her lower lip caught between her teeth.

“This is, of course, Mr. Reed Hargrave, our generous host.”

Her smile extended, showing perfectly white, straight teeth. “Yes, we’ve met before.”

Jack pulled a confused face. “Oh, have you? Reed?”

The man in question shifted on his feet before answering. “A long time ago.” He nodded to Aliana. “Nice to see you again.”

“And this,” Jack said, turning to Luciana, “is Miss Luciana Renaldi. She’s from Italy.”

“Oh, Italy!” Aliana laughed, clasping her hands together. “I’ve been to Rome before. It was very…enlightening. Though, frankly, I enjoy our art much more than yours. Too many unclothed persons, if you ask me.”

Luciana raised an eyebrow, unsure of what to make of a woman who was so quick to judge another country’s art. “Well,
Perdere
Martin, I might say that your art features too much cattle and farmland.” Beside her, Reed lifted his hand to hide his smirk and brief snicker.

Luciana held her breath, wishing she had better control of her tongue. Would Aliana would balk, turn her nose away, and never speak to her again?

She titled her head to the side and grinned. “I like you,” she said. “I hope we can be friends.”

Luciana let go a sigh of relief. “I—I hope the same.”

“Wonderful! All is going according to my genius plan. Miss Renaldi, why don’t you show Miss Martin to her room? It’s the one beside yours. You can become the best of friends on the way. Reed and I have work to attend to and then we can eat a late lunch.”

“Follow me,
Perdere
Martin,” Luciana said, moving toward the staircase.

“Gladly.” Aliana looped her hand through Luciana’s and gave her arm a squeeze. “I’m so happy to be here.”

“How exactly do you know
Signore
Lipold?”

“He and I met last year. In Cairo, actually. He sent me a letter a week ago asking if I’d like to come to Yellow Brook. Of course, I couldn’t say no. I mean, look at this place.” She laughed. “It’s both dingy and marvelous.”

The pair came to Aliana’s door. Luciana untangled her arm. “This is your room,” she said To her surprise, when she pushed the door open, a room that had once been coated with dust and filth now appeared to be spotless.

Aliana brushed past her. “This will do just fine. And you’re next door?”

“Si.”

“Good! We can stay up late and talk.” She came forward and took Luciana’s hands. “I’m very glad I’m here. I don’t have many friends in Manchester. Jack said nothing about a woman my age being here, so this is a pleasant surprise.”

“It’ll be nice to talk to someone my age for once,” Luciana confessed.

Aliana dropped her hands. “Well, now that we’re friends, can I ask you something?” Luciana nodded. “What is that on your face? I didn’t want to be rude and ask in front of everyone, but it’s been bothering me.”

Biting her lip, Luciana touched her cheek. She felt her chest contract painfully in embarrassment. “It’s dirt. I work in the conservatory and it becomes messy often. I’m repairing it right now and I didn’t know we’d have company. I would have washed had I known.”

Aliana’s eyes twinkled. “For a minute I thought it was blood.” She shrugged. “No matter, though.”

Luciana backed away from the door. “I’ll let you get settled and find myself a bath.”

“I’m so looking forward to getting to know you, Luciana. You don’t mind if I call you that, do you? Your name is just divine.”

Luciana hesitated. Then her mouth stretched into a bright smile. “As long as I can call you Aliana.”

“Deal.”

After soaking in a warm bath, Luciana put on a clean dress and combed her hair. Aliana seemed nice. Luciana hadn’t known just how much she missed female company of her own age until talking with her. She would be good for the whole house, no doubt.

Her thoughts wandered to Reed. What did he think of her? And how did he know her?

He probably thought her beautiful and elegant and cultured and everything Luciana wasn’t. She sighed. Self-pity wouldn’t get her anywhere. Aliana was her friend and Reed was her friend. Or something of the sort. If he liked her and if she liked him, Luciana would do nothing to stop it. After all, she wasn’t going to stay at Yellow Brook. She still wanted to find herself a good and proper job.

She left her room and went down the stairs. It felt good to be clean again. Her skin still tingled with embarrassment at appearing in such a state before the whole house, but what would a little dirt hurt them?

Jack stood, waiting, in the rotunda when she entered. “Miss Renaldi, how lovely you look.”