Free Whispers Beyond the Veil by Jessica Estevao Page A

ushered me through a long hallway leading away from the dining room and library. From the end of it came banging and clattering. Honoria paused at the doorway and drew a deep breath before giving me a wink and crossing the threshold.
    â€œI hope you’ve got her with you, missy. It’s bad enough I’ve waited twenty years too long to see Delphinia’s child.” The words were sharp but the voice was musical.
    â€œShe’s here, Mrs. Doyle, all in one piece and ready for inspection.” I squared my shoulders as Honoria stepped aside. Across the room, held at bay by a long wooden worktable covered in pie pans and carving knives, stood a tiny woman with an enormous scowl on her face. I felt my throat constrict. If Mrs. Doyle didn’t like me being here would Honoria ask me to leave?
    Mrs. Doyle made her way around the table and drew closer. She tipped her head back to look up at me and scowled some more.
    â€œI’ll speak to the child alone, young lady.” Mrs. Doyle addressed herself to Honoria and then pointed at the door.
    â€œI shall leave you to get acquainted,” Honoria said. “Don’tkeep Mrs. Doyle up too late, Ruby. I trust you can find your way back to your room when you are finished here?”
    â€œI’m certain I can,” I said, hoping I was right.
    â€œThen I will wish you a good night. I’ll see you at the breakfast table.” Honoria gave a tight smile and left us alone, closing the door behind her.
    â€œI see there’s no hope you aren’t who you say you are.” Mrs. Doyle squinted at me as she grasped my chin with a calloused hand, turning my face this way and that. “You’re the spitting image of her, especially in that gown. No wonder you gave Honoria such a turn this afternoon, thinking Delphinia had come back to us.”
    â€œUpsetting her was not my intention in coming here.”
    â€œAnd just what was your purpose?” Mrs. Doyle turned the full power of her blue eyes on me. Cold tugged at my stomach and I regretted eating my dinner. Honoria had said Mrs. Doyle was devoted to the family. Perhaps that was the angle to take.
    â€œI’ve always wanted to be in touch with my mother’s side of the family. Now seemed a perfect time to do so.”
    â€œMore than likely you needed a warm bed and a free meal. You may look just like your mother but you were raised by your father. With an influence like that I’ll be more surprised than not if both you and the silver are here in the morning. Running off in the night with family treasures in tow is in your blood.”
    â€œI assure you, I’m here for as long as Honoria is willing to have me. I just want to get to know about my family.”
    â€œAll you need to know is that so far your father has been the worst thing to ever happen to the Beldens. I’m making it my mission to be certain you don’t pick up where he left off and destroy what little remains of the family.”
    â€œThen I expect there is nothing I can say to reassure you of my intentions.” I stepped out of her reach and felt the weakness in my trembling knees as I did so.
    â€œNo, there is not. You may be a sweet talker just like your father. I expect that you’ll slide into Honoria’s good graces just as easily as you’ve slipped into your mother’s dress. But you shan’t wriggle your way into mine.” She squinted at me even harder.
    â€œI’m sorry you feel that way.” I held my breath as I stood, hoping my quaking legs would support me and that Mrs. Doyle would not see the effect she had on my nerves. “I’ll take myself out of your way.”
    â€œSee that you do and remember, I’m watching you.” Mrs. Doyle gripped the edge of the table between her two hands.
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    N o one but Ben, silently manning the front desk, was about as I hurried through the lobby and along the stairs to