Free Hidden Ability (Book 1) by Aldus Baker

immediately and says, “Lady Yen, I do apologize, but I was instructed to give this letter directly to you and could not have completed my duty to my Lady Shrift otherwise.”
    Darla recognized the man. “Steward Vimler? Guri sent you?” She had only seen him at her sister’s manor home. He looked so out of place in Yen Manor’s parlor.
    The man made a slight bow to acknowledge the personal recognition. “Yes, lady. She wished this letter to pass directly from her to you, but it is impractical for my lady to deliver it. It was entrusted to me to carry it directly to you. The letter has been in no other hand save your sister’s, lady.”
    What could possibly be so urgent? Turning to her own steward, Darla says, “Steward Hint, although you just met Steward Vimler I think the introduction was neither as formal nor as pleasant as you both deserve. Please, for my sake, forget any recent disagreement over the manner of this letter’s delivery and welcome my sister’s house master. See to any needs he may have while he awaits my reply to this letter.”
    Now turning to the messenger, Darla says, “Steward Vimler, please accept this opportunity to become better acquainted with Steward Hint, a trusted retainer and head of my household. I suspect that as you both serve your respective ladies in a similar capacity, you may have interesting observations of a strictly professional nature to share by way of making pleasant conversation.”
    And finally to both men, “I will return with a response once I have learned what my sister wishes to tell me.”
    Darla returns to her study and has just broken the seal on the letter when she hears a tapping at the door. Feeling a bit put upon she says, “Yes!”
    “Um, ah, it is just your meal, lady. I... I can bring it later if you like,” says a nervous girl’s voice from the other side of the closed study door.
    “No, please, Juna, bring it in,” replies Darla trying to take some of the irritation out of her words.
    Mistress Dahlia’s helper opens the door and picks up a covered tray from a table in the hallway. She carries the tray inside and then looks about the room for a place to set it.
    “A moment, just a moment,” says Darla as she clears away some papers from the little side table usually reserved for her meal trays. Perhaps mother is right. I really could use an assistant. Even Mistress Dahlia has one. I’ll have to give it some thought when there is time.
    Juna places the tray on the cleared tabletop and scurries from the room. One more source of Darla’s irritation and delay vanishes into the hall as the girl leaves.
    After a sip of watered wine and nibbling some bread and cheese, Darla settles down to read Guri’s letter. She has just flattened out the pages when yet another knock comes at the door. She takes a moment to set down the little pot of jam she was about to hurl at the closed door and breathes once, slowly and deeply, before saying in as calm a voice as she can command, “Yes?”
    The door opens and Lady Shara enters with a pleasant smile on her face. “I was wondering if now might be a good time to discuss Lord Brace’s proposal? I saw the cook’s girl returning to the kitchens and I thought you might have time for me while you eat your meal.”
    Grateful that she had not actually thrown the jam at the door, Darla is equally grateful that Lady Shara, someone she actually wants to see, has unexpectedly arrived. Standing, Darla walks over and ushers her mother into the room before closing the door. “I always have time for you, mother. I am reading a letter that just arrived from Guri. She had her man, Steward Vimler, deliver it directly to me. The truth is that I would have sent for you if I’d only had the time to wait. May I continue to read and pass the pages to you as I finish them? I am certain we will want to discuss whatever Guri feels is so important.”
    Lady Shara readily agrees and Darla goes back to reading the letter. At first her