Free Reads!! Wednesday Briefs – Innocence & Carnality Part 19

Welcome to the next part in my Wednesday Briefs flash fiction serial, Innocence & Carnality! Each chapter has to be between 500 and 1,000 words and this week I chose the prompt, use “Easier said than done.”

Nathan and Vivian have a chat.

Click here to start from the beginning

Part 19

“As long as you’ve been hidden away, I bet it’s been more than just a good afternoon.” With a conspiratorial wink, Vivian sang her words at me like we were longtime friends, as if I would forget her rancorous scene from my arrival.

Playing along, I enacted a false smile that would make my mother proud. “It has been a good day or two.”

Vivian’s teasing could be considered innocent enough by most, but I was raised amongst the vapid sniping of wealthy aristocrats who spent their time practicing the subtle art of character assassination. Anything Vivian could learn would be used against me in her petty intrigues. She was intelligent, but nowhere near as skilled as the bored women in my former circle. It didn’t, however, make her harmless.

“Do you need any help with your bags?”

I opened the side pocket to confirm where my tools were hidden. “That’s very kind of you, but I only have the one for now.”

“Only the one?”

“The rest are en route.”

I hoped.

“I’d ask if you and Rother were getting on, but after the last few days, I’d say so.” Vivian began to giggle, hiding her mouth behind her hand.

“We’re doing well, I think. Thank you for asking.”

Not being properly dressed in front of employees unnerved me, putting me at a disadvantage. I hadn’t intended to spend any amount of time in the hallway. Like everything else in Francine, it was an unfamiliar occurrence. This conversation was highly suspect as well. I wished I could simply walk away and ignore her, but politeness was so ingrained in me, I was forced to play out this theatre. Vivian had yet to apologize for her earlier outburst, showing me her friendly discourse would be short lived.

“You’re really sweet. I hope Rother keeps you long enough for your luggage to arrive. Most of the virgins he’s turned out over the years didn’t have that luxury.”

And there it was. The first rake of her claws. It held less artistry than I expected. I shouldn’t have been surprised Rother’s marital requirements were known, but my inexperience still left me with doubts. Rother and I hardly knew one another.

Vivian’s candied tone took on a more malicious pallor. “He likes them when they’re fresh, but tends to bore of them once they learn some skills. He’s a excellent teacher.”

“And you would know this because…”

“How do you think I came to work in Delaga House?”

I tried to hide my discomfort, but the heat in my face had to be visible. There was no doubt of Rother’s past; his carnal knowledge could hardly be written off as dogma. But the image of my husband, bedding down this… maid disquieted me. My displeasure of using foul language was being tested. Even amongst the Victorian nobles, whispers of indiscretions with the staff could be heard, but it would never be uttered out loud.

“Why are you telling me this?”

“I don’t want you to get hurt.”

I scoffed. “Ah… altruism at it’s finest. Saint Vivian.”

“I’ve just seen a lot of people come and go from his bedroom…”

Raising a brow, I eyed Vivian top to bottom, unable to control the callous sneer. “Everyone’s allowed a sad mistake or two in their lives.”

She wasn’t the only one who knew how to wield a sharp tongue.

Vivian’s false manners dissolved for a moment and reassembled into something more malevolent. Jealousy radiated off her with such force, it held a taste on the air. I knew better than to let her gather her wits and speak first.

“Whatever reason Rother had for slumming around with the help in the past is over.”

A hand on her hip, she smiled with hostility. “You think so?”

“He didn’t waste his time marrying you, did he?”

Her smug grin flattened. “You’ll be out of here before long.”

“Easier said than done. And not by you.”

“It’s just a matter of time.”

I’d had enough of this. Years of taunts and verbal abuses by the males in my family left me defensive in a way I never liked. Perhaps Vivian thought I would be a victim for her amusement, or her resentment could drive me out the door. She was more wrong than she could imagine.

Even though we were nearly the same height, I straightened my shirt and looked down on Vivian with haughty scorn. Inhaling through my nose, I glowered with all the condescension I could muster.

“I’ve yet to see proof of it, but Rother tells me you’re an excellent employee. Whatever that means. However, given his response to your charms when I arrived, I imagine there’s a limit to how much nonsense he’s willing to stomach from you. I’d hate to see someone turned out on the street for not knowing how to stay focused on their job.” Stepping into her personal space, I lowered my voice into a growl. “Perhaps if you learn to speak less and stay to task, we won’t have to experience it. Get back to work.”

Furious, Vivian stood dumbstruck as I turned, grabbing my bag. Whatever she expected of Rother’s neophyte husband, this challenge wasn’t it. Back home, I’d witnessed the dressing down of unruly staff on a number of occasions and recreated the scene better than I’d hoped.

“Don’t make me call Samantha.” Even within my brief introduction, I knew Samantha was not a woman to trifle with.

It was nice to see the head of house position held as much weight in Francine as in Victoria. The sound of Vivian’s footsteps faded as she stormed off. Even so, I didn’t feel the triumph as I walked away with confident steps, dragging my case behind me. I felt sickened. Because I allowed Vivian to bring out the worst in me, to draw on behaviors I’d learned and abhorred. In one brief exchange I channeled the man I’d learned to hate.

Lord Arthur Valencus. My father.

Check back next Wednesday for the next installation… Be sure to take a read at the other briefers free reads this week here: Wednesday Briefs