Arrival of the Traveler (Waldgrave Book 1) (38 page)

But there was something that Warren Astley had said that night; something that she hadn’t thought about until Master Astley had brought it back to her earlier.

"You understand, don’t you? Why I have to do this?"
 He had said those words to her. And as she thought about it, she realized she didn’t have the slightest idea why. Why he 
had
 to do it; he had said it like he expected her to know. She had assumed, like everyone else, that it had been about the portal…but now she wasn’t entirely sure. Perhaps Howard was right; maybe it was senseless. Maybe Lena was paranoid, but a chill ran down her spine thinking that Warren Astley really did have a 
reason
, and he was still out there.

Lena continued to stare at the pile of papers for a few minutes longer; the reality of the situation was starting to sink in. She had come a long way from hotels and carry-on, and she still had a long way to go. She eventually found her way back to her bedroom, where Mrs. Ralston had already laid out her victory attire for her. She changed, did her makeup, and put on the only jewelry she owned: Griffin’s bracelet, and Ava’s necklace. Stepping back from the mirror to look herself over, she had the sudden realization that she wasn’t a child anymore. Somewhere in the past few months, she had grown into her life, and things were finally starting to fit.

End of Waldgrave Part 1.

*****

Deception of the Magician

Waldgrave Part 2

Available Now!

*****

CHAPTER 1

“I’m telling you I’m done.” Hesper groaned. “I don’t care what Serena says, the little parasite is sapping my energy and I want her out. You know, I’ve been taking care of this baby twenty-four seven for the last eight months straight—the second I pop, the next nine months are Eric’s.”

Lena and Hesper laughed. They hadn’t seen each other in months, but they had been on the phone almost every day. Hesper’s last visit had been in January, and she hadn’t been allowed on planes since. It was now May, and Hesper was ready to welcome her daughter to the world. Really, really ready.

“Now, have you actually confirmed with the doctor that it’s a girl?” Lena asked. “With one of those scan dealies?”

“No, I told you—it’s a girl. I just know it’s a girl. It’s a Silenti thing…you’ll understand when…” Hesper paused, and both of them knew what she had been about to say. But due to her family’s unique status in the Silenti world, Lena had sworn time and again that she would never have children. “Well, just trust me.”

“Yep. That’s right.” Lena smiled. “I’m going to have to take your word on it. So when are you coming to see me?”

And that was the other thing that had changed…given the results of her last trip to Australia, and the new Council restrictions on her leaving Waldgrave, Howard hadn’t been able to clear any further travel plans for her. Even to be there for the birth of her best friend’s daughter.

“Well, you know—as soon as a pilot can look at me without freaking out.” Hesper laughed. “June eighteenth, if I can’t get my hands on some castor oil and make it happen sooner. Or a few days after the eighteenth, I guess.”

She wasn’t serious about the castor oil. She was sick of being pregnant, but Lena was sure she wouldn’t take the chance that it would harm her baby. She had put a lot of time and energy into that baby, as she so often whined. But Lena had called Eric and warned him just to be sure; a pregnant woman was a hormonal woman, and Lena knew better than to trust the judgment of a hormonal woman.

“How’s Eric holding up in all of this?” Lena asked.

“Oh, you know him. Internet college, and all that. Like I said, he’d damn well finish before mid-June because that’s when he goes on diaper duty. He’s already got a job proposal for some IT place.”

“Well, that’s good.” Lena grinned at the way that Hesper’s words had slowly morphed since her move to Australia; it wasn’t a dramatic change, but she was starting to lose her California accent in favor of one with a hint more Outback twang.

“Yeah, it is. He’s worked hard for it, and I’m proud. Bloated and fat, but proud.” Hesper said with more than a hint of dissatisfaction.

Lena was happy to hear a knock on her door. She loved Hesper, but didn’t want to have to hear about how bloated she was again.

“I’ve got to go.”

They hung up and Lena answered her door. It was Cheryl, balancing a basket of clean clothes on her hip and a heavy catalog under her arm. “Rosaleen wants you to pick some clothes out of here.” She pushed the catalog at Lena. “She said no more tee-shirts and no more teen clothes, and you need to pick out some suits from the ladies’ professional section. No short skirts.”

Mrs. Ralston had been cracking down on the style that Hesper had brought into Lena’s life since meeting her. There weren’t any female Council members for her to base Lena’s look on, so she had made the decision that Lena was going to dress extremely formal and professional in any situation that involved other Council members. While it was true that Lena had a need to be viewed as serious and qualified, getting a hold of new clothes was becoming an issue. There weren’t any designer shops in the nearby town, and since Griffin had moved in, there wasn’t anybody to take her out anyway; Howard couldn’t leave, and neither could Mrs. Ralston because the number of Darays at the house was now too big for either one of them to effectively watch alone by Council standards. Plus, there was the fact that no one on the Council trusted Lena anymore—not even to run into town to look at new clothes. She was left to guess at sizes and order out of a catalog; they wound up sending back almost three-quarters of what they ordered in the first place.

Cheryl walked over to the closet and started unloading clean clothes. Lena threw the catalog onto the bed and went to help. Cheryl gave her a look reminiscent of Mrs. Ralston. “She wants your selections by dinner, so you’d better get moving.”

“I know.” Lena walked into the closet and started pulling out some of her older outfits, fondly eyeing a pair with rhinestone swirl patterns on the back pockets. Some of them weren’t even that old, but Mrs. Ralston wouldn’t let her wear them anymore, so they had to go. She carried a pile of blouses, sweatpants, tee-shirts, sneakers, and jeans out and threw them on the bed. It was really a shame to see some of it go, but then, there would always be new clothes. “You can take whatever you want, as always. Marie too.”

Cheryl hung up the last shirt and walked out to the bed, where she dug through the pile. “You know Marie won’t. The old bat upstairs doesn’t like us to wear your stuff.”

“It’s not my stuff. It’s your stuff after I give it to you.” She picked up a tee-shirt—she was sure she’d only worn it once—and held it up to Cheryl. “It’s a little long in the sleeves, but I bet Mrs. Ralston could alter it. Are you in a size nine shoe yet?”

Lena picked up the three pairs of shoes she was getting rid of; one of them was a strappy pair of black sandals. Lena had made a direct plea on their behalf to Mrs. Ralston that black was professional, but the older woman insisted that skin seen through straps, and especially black ones, was scandalous.

“I’m an eight and a half, but close enough. Marie’s a seven, I think. Tiny little feet.” Cheryl sighed and picked up a shirt with a butterfly motif on it. The shirt was a pale pink that made Cheryl’s mousy brown hair and delicate features seem deceptively childish. She was still a child, but part of the nature of being a Silenti was growing up quickly. Cheryl was already taking studies at a high school level, and some days, Lena was sure she was the most emotionally mature person in the house. “She’d love this, too. I don’t know why she’s so scared of them. Did you know she won’t even go upstairs anymore? She won’t do any of their laundry or cleaning? It’s a pain. I’d call her a brat, but she’s so sensitive.”

It was true; Marie was sensitive. Lena couldn’t blame her, because she hated being around her grandfather just as much. If anyone had a problem it was Cheryl for being so fearless. She had even told off Griffin once for staining a new shirt, letting it sit, and then getting angry when Mrs. Ralston couldn’t get it out. Griffin had almost gotten her kicked out for that stunt, but Howard had refused to do it, and in a rare twist of events Master Daray had chosen to abstain from backing Griffin up; Lena had to wonder if he found Griffin’s sudden ambition of leadership within the household a challenge to his own authority. Cheryl collected the clothes that she wanted, and the ones she thought might fit Marie, and left.

Lena!

What?

Ryan Ashmore’s on my cell phone for you—I’m in the office!

Lena’s term at Waldgrave was becoming too drawn out again. She needed to get on a plane or in a car, but as things were, there was no hint of a promise that she would ever be allowed to leave again. Her whole life was stuck in a cyclical rut, and there would never be anything to look forward to besides birthdays, Council, and the rare occasion that Cheryl badgered Griffin for making a mess. And, apparently, unexpected phone calls.

Lena rushed from her room to the office down the hall, where Howard was sitting diligently at his desk, typing on the computer with one hand while holding the cell phone at arm’s length with the other. Lena grabbed it and sat down in a chair.

“Hello?” She said, trying to keep her voice level after her jog down the long second floor hallway.

“Lena, nice to hear from you again.” Ryan Ashmore’s voice came back at her, as pleasant and confident as ever. Ryan was a confirmed Council heir, and a natural at the political games the Silenti liked to play. When he spoke, Lena could imagine the easy smile that would grace his eyes. “We’re settling all the planning for the rafting trip on the Colorado next month, and I was wondering if you’re still interested in going?”

Lena flinched. She wanted to go more than she’d ever wanted to do anything in her life, but composed herself to sound professional. “Ryan, it’s nice to hear from you, too. Life’s been a little hectic around here lately…”

“Oh?” He asked; he sounded so concerned. Lena had to wonder where he had learned to fake such wonderful social skills, because she was sure his interest in her was merely political. They had only managed less than a handful of meaningful conversations in the time that they had known each other.

“Oh, yeah…Paperwork.” Lena responded, hoping she sounded half as genuine as Ryan did. “Howard’s got me doing a lot of paperwork, and there’s been some hassle with the arrangements for Mrs. Corbett.” Mrs. Corbett had given birth to a son last March, greatly complicating the future of representation for the Corbett household. Griffin was in the process of trying to arrange for his last remaining blood family to live at Waldgrave until other arrangements could be made. “And I’d love to go, I really would.” Howard stopped typing and his eyes wandered over to Lena. “But I’ll need to work out my schedule first. What date were you planning on leaving?”

“The reservation’s been made for July thirteenth.”

“Reservation?”

“For the first camp site.” Ryan responded.

“Oh, right. Well,” Lena looked over at Howard, who was still watching her, “I’ll look things over and get back to you later today, alright?”

“That sounds great.” Ryan smiled. “Have a good afternoon, then.”

“Yeah, you too…”

Lena hung up the phone and Howard crossed his arms. Trying not to blink, Lena shaded the phone call as best she could. “I’ve been invited on a political outing with some other heirs, and I believe it would benefit my future on the Council to go.”

Howard sighed; his arms remained crossed. “And where is this outing being held?”

“Colorado.” Lena said quickly.

Howard didn’t move anything but his lips. “Where in Colorado?”

“Well…” Lena tried to think, but there was no other way to say it. “Progressively downstream on the Colorado River.”

Howard went back to typing. “Don’t get your hopes up. You’ll need an escort. I have to stay here with your mother, grandfather, and Griffin. And to my knowledge, Rosaleen doesn’t do rivers.”

Lena tried to keep the desperation out of her voice. “There will be lots of other people there—people who will be on the Council someday. It’s not like I’ll be alone. Isn’t that enough?”

“They may have status as adults in our community, Lena, but we still recognize them as a bunch of naïve teenagers. They’re young and stupid—and I’m not sure how I feel about you going off with a bunch of young, stupid boys, anyway.” Howard looked away from his computer screen just long enough to see the depressed look on Lena’s face. He shifted uncomfortably. “Get me a list of names and I’ll see what I can do.”

Lena jotted down Ryan Ashmore’s number from Howard’s cell phone and headed back to her room. Convinced that she had to make it work or she would die of seclusion, she programmed the phone number into her cell phone and called it. A moment later, she had acquired the guest list—and she wasn’t sure if it was longer or shorter than she would have liked it to be. There were only seven people going besides her, and of the names she knew, at least three were from Old Faith families. She made another jog back to the office, where Howard looked over the list with an uncertain expression.

“Lena, I don’t know…” He said, scratching behind his ear.

Lena pouted. “Please, Howard…Please. I 
really
 want to go. I need to get out. And I’m pretty sure I’ll really need to get out after two more Corbetts have moved in here. Please, please, please let me do this!”

Howard continued to stare at the list and heaved a sigh. “Let me think about it, and even then I’m not too sure how the Council will react to this request. We’ll see.”

At dinner that night, with everyone gathered around the table (excepting Cheryl, Marie, Pete, and Mrs. Ralston, whose presence at the table had annoyed Master Daray to such an extent that they now ate in the kitchen instead), Howard was unusually quiet. This was typically a sign that the answer was going to be ‘no,’ as he liked sharing good news. Instead, the conversation turned to Griffin’s family.

His three-month-old brother was in good health and his mother wasn’t doing nearly as well since the loss of her husband, who she still refused to believe would have killed himself. Hesper was going to pop any day now, which would land her arrival to visit with Lena around the time that Mrs. Corbett was planning to move in. Ava was the only one who didn’t see a problem with this inconvenient fact, as she was too overjoyed to have babies in the house again—ones whose diapers she would not be obliged to change.