Of Night and Dark Obscurity

“They shouldn’t be allowed to do many things,” he smiled. “It’s nothing.”

He closed the door behind her and she walked through the half-furnished home.

“It looks like you still haven’t all together moved in,” she said.

“I haven’t. Some of the furniture is being made and some o

f it has been ordered and I’m waiting for it all to arrive. It does seem a little barren, but once it’s all arrived…” he let the words fall.

“Once it’s all here, it will be such a lovely home.”

She followed him into the dining room and then wandered to the sun room. “I do like this room. It would be so pretty with some wicker furniture and a garden outside.”

“I’ve been thinking the same thing,” he smiled.

She looked about nervously and then sighed. “I’m not sure coming here was a good idea.”

“You’re not sure coming here was a good idea? I’m confused. Did you need to speak to me about something? Is there something on your mind?”

She nodded. “Yes. I was invited to take tea this afternoon. I’ve actually just left. The invitation was from your mother.”

“My mother?”

“I thought perhaps the invitation was at your request and that you wanted me to meet her. But I soon learned that was not the case and that you didn’t know or request the invitation. I should have guessed. You would have told me and we would have gone together.” She reasoned.

He looked over her face and they sat down on the window seat. “Was she cruel to you?”

“Cruel? No. She wasn’t cruel. But you’ll forgive me for saying that she seems to be very slanted in her praise towards you and seems almost entirely focused on your brother.”

Val smiled. “There’s no need to be selective in your words. My mother has always favored Rowland.”

“It’s very apparent. I must say a little odd. Even though it was only Irene and I growing up, my father was very generous to both of us and my grandmother the same. I never felt a sense of favoritism.”

“I accepted it early on. When I went to university the other sons, the second sons,” he smiled, “we had all experienced it in some form or another. So much rests on the eldest son. It can be daunting.”

“Your brother Rowland was there at the end right before I left,” she told him.

Val seemed to stiffen. “Rowland was there?”

“He spoke to me.”

“What did he say?”

“He mentioned a sort of rivalry between you and Charles Lyttleton. Is that true?”

“We’ve never got on,” he said vaguely.

Caroline took a deep breath. “Who is Aida Harris?”

Val met her eyes and then looked away. “Rowland. What a bastard.”

“Tell me. Who is she?”

“She was my fiancée.”

“Your fiancée?” She repeated.

“Yes.”