Free Sons of the Wolf by Barbara Michaels Page B

had made toward the door: the cook at the table, hands poised over a pot of potatoes, Mary leaning toward her with her head twisted grotesquely over her shoulder to stare at me, Elspeth crouched and white-faced as if she were about to run for her life.
    They gaped at me as if I were a bat-winged Fury. I felt like one; the rages Grandmother used to send me into were only pale reflections of the demoniac fury I felt then.
    When I finally was able to speak, the voice was like that of a stranger.
    "The plant on Miss Ada's dressing table. What is it?"
    Two younger women sagged simultaneously, like dolls when a child's hand releases them. The cook was made of sterner stuff, but I saw on her disciplined face the same expression that weakened the faces of the maids. The emotion that moved them was relief. It was not my sudden appearance which had petrified them, but the fear that I was someone else.
    "St.-John's-wort, miss," said Mary in a gasp. "It's for-for guarding-"
    "In Italy they use garlic," I said, a dim memory stirring. The woman stared blankly, without comprehension. "What do you mean by telling such vicious tales? This is England in the nineteenth century, not a ruined castle in the Balkans! I can understand these foolish girls, but you, Mrs. Bennett-you ought to know better. Aren't you ashamed? Your superstitious stupidity is bad enough, but such cruelty toward a man who has been so sadly treated by Providence-"
    "Ah, Providence ..." Mrs. Bennett wet her lips and let the suggestive words linger. "Miss, I'm sorry you heard. You know I tried-"
    "Yes, I know. I shall emphasize that when I tell Mr. Wolfson."
    The sound that came from Mary's parted lips sent me back a step. It was not loud-that seemed, somehow, to make it worse.
    "Nay, nay, thee'll not speak, miss! Please, thee'll not do that-"
    She darted forward; before I could stop her, she had dropped heavily to her knees and was pawing at my hand.
    "Ah, miss, please, not-"
    At first I was too shocked to speak. When I got my wits back, I tried to hush the ugly, pitiful babbling. Nothing moved her, no reassurance would touch her, except the words she wished to hear.
    "All right. All right, I promise I won't tell him. Now be still."
    She stopped at once, mopping at the tears that had reddened and streaked her face.
    "Heaven's blessing on thee, miss."
    "Were you really so afraid?" I demanded, incredulity overcoming my anger. "Does losing your position here mean so much to you?''
    "Th' position?"
    I realized then the unbridgeable gulf that separated me from these women. I knew what she thought, but I could not comprehend that she really believed it.
    "What did you think he would do to you?" I demanded.
    "Some harm," said Mrs. Bennett suddenly. "Some harm. Now, miss, you know I don't hold wi' superstition. And I'd ne'er ha' said a word to you maself. But since you've heard-it canna be denied, harm does come to them that thwart him or-"
    "Then why are you here?" I turned on her, relieved to face a more sensible opponent. "If you fear him so, why do you live in his house?"
    Her mouth tightened into a stubborn line.
    "When he says 'Coom,' 't is safer to obey. And th' pay is high. I'm not afeard, miss; I'm a good Christian, I am, and evil shall not prevail against-"
    "Be still!"
    She shrank back from me.
    "Thee swore thee wouldna tell!"
    "I won't tell. But if I hear any more of such talk-if Miss Ada hears a single word-"
    "Na, miss, she won't. We wouldna ha' spoken to you, only-"
    I turned to go; the sight of Mrs. Bennett's stupid, self-righteous face was more infuriating than the mindless panic of the maids. I was at the door when a sudden thought struck me.
    "But this-this fantastic notion is all over the district, I suppose. Even as far as Middleham. That was why Dodds gave me the plant-"
    "Everyone knows," said Mary sullenly.
    "And he has heard," I went on, pursuing my own unpleasant train of thought. "Mr. Wolfson knows what they think."
    "He doesna' like to have to take notice