The Blood Heiress

Settling In

Adella

With small swell of pride, I entered the dining room unaided and early for breakfast. The morning had been a rough one for me. Thank goodness for my new phone alarm, who knows how long I would’ve slept it off without it. I was up at seven o’clock and ready for breakfast by eight with a half an hour to spare before officially needing to be down.

The strangeness I had experienced at the bar last night had left me exhausted even with a full night's uninterrupted sleep. I dragged myself out of bed and into the morning with great effort. Without the nausea, headache and other sypmtoms I had been warned could accompany too much to drink. I was fairly certain my exhaustion was not due to a hangover. Maybe it really had been a delayed stress response and I hadn't really gotten a ton of sleep the night before.

No one was currently in the room so I took my sweet time examining every part of it for a camera. I wasn't certain how the staff knew when to come in so promptly as needed without being asked. A camera would explain it. But I had not, as of yet, seen any. Also, I figured if there was a camera hidden here, who knows where else they might be? Even more important that I find any that might be installed.

Ben came in and caught me about the time I was searching through the credenza behind my spot at the table. Nothing but silverware and linens. He cleared his throat as I was putting the items back where they came from.

“Is the table setting lacking?” His eyebrow was c****d, and his lips pursed.

“I wouldn’t really know. I was looking for a camera."

“Come again,” he inclined his head to one side and looked rather confused.

“I said I was looking for the camera you guys have hidden in here so you can watch me and know when I eat and when I am finished.” Ben’s face morphed from confusion to one of mirth. I took my seat, at the head of the table.

“I see,” Ben surprisingly took a seat. Looks like he wants to join me today. Ben let out a few chuckles. “I apologize Addie for not explaining sooner. This is what the staff is trained to do. They wait in the staff hall that connects this room to the kitchen and one of them listens intently to the rhythm of the meal. When the conversation picks up, it dies down, the utensils clanging off the dishes when they stop. It is all part of their training. If they ever lag, then a snap of the fingers can let them know action is required.”

I felt embarrassed at my obvious foolishness. Perhaps jumping to worst case scenarios wasn’t the most appropriate course of action. The last thing I wanted to do was look foolish in front of anyone at the estate. I was the mistress now and somehow, I needed to learn quickly.

“How did last night go? You seemed like you had fun with Miss Verity,” I thought it odd he was watching my face so closely waiting for my answer, but so many things about my new life and its new personalities were odd. I filed his reaction away for later and started to eat.

“I did have fun. Though I had a strange experience or perhaps a reaction, while I was there.” I met his glaze, and I saw concern in the way his brows came together.

“What sort of reaction?”

“Everything was off towards the end. It was why I called you so early.” I busied myself with the food on my plate and continued “We were in the middle of catching up, when I felt the air shift in the bar and sent my skin crawling, and my mind became overwhelmed with all the noise. I could hear everyone all at once. All their conversations just smashed all together in a jumble in my head until I couldn’t think, I couldn’t stand, all I wanted to do was get out of there to somewhere quiet.” Ben let out a little, almost imperceptible gasp and my eyes shot up to his. His normally guarded composure returned instantly.

“Had you had anything to drink?” He looked more interested in the events than I had expected.

“Yes, mostly water. But I did have a drink from the bar too. That’s strange Verity had thought it had to do with my drink too. I did drink it all. She had said it wasn’t a very good drink, but I didn’t mind it. Cass…”

“Cass?” Ben’s face darkened with a decidedly sour expression.

“The bartender?” I wasn’t sure what he wanted so I gave him the basics. I figured I could get more specific as needed. The bare minimum seemed to satisfy him as he put whatever pieces he needed together from that information and looked a little less sour. “Cass said he hadn’t even put alcohol in it. I really don’t think it was the drink though. So now I think maybe it was a delayed stress response to the man who broke in."

“What was this drink you ordered?” Ben asked completely glossing over the last part.

“I never asked. I didn’t order it. That’s why Verity thought Cass did something to it because he made it for me on the house.”

“Ah,” Ben stood up from the table and went to leave.

“Wait, I need to talk to you. Why are you leaving?”

He looked a little perturbed when he turned and came back to the table, with himself or me, I couldn’t tell. “I am sorry Adella, it has been a very long time since anyone but the staff and myself have been here. I have forgotten what having a mistress of the house requires.”

I pushed my plate off to the side, finished with the idea of breakfast. Whatever I had managed to eat would have to do. The servers came then and started clearing the table. Pushing a plate to the side is a signal! There was a small kernel of excitement at now understanding this one small part of my new home and life.

“Ben please have a seat.” I decided to push the mistress of the house angle and see where it got me.

“As you wish.”

“When I first came here you said you promised to answer my questions. You haven’t answered how my parents died yet and I have a great deal more questions than I did before,” I waited for his reaction.

He met my gaze without hesitation. “I am aware of my promise, and I intend to keep it. The timing is not right quite yet. You will be the first to know if it changes.”

“If? Don’t you mean when?”

“If that is what you would like, then yes, when it changes.” Ben was deliberately dancing around giving me the answers. But at least he acknowledged his promise. This was progress, however small. “Is that all?”

“No, I have some suggestions for the app, who do I give them to?”

“I can take them to the creator, and he can implement them.”

“I also would like to go and purchase some clothing.”

“When would you like to visit the shops?”

“It’s that easy?”

Ben smiled at my eagerness. “This is your estate and your life; this exists for you. If you would like to acquire anything, do anything, or need anything, it is my job to facilitate that.”

“That will take some time to get used to.”

“Take all the time you need, Addie. It will be here, still waiting. Was there anything else?”

“Oh, the job. I would like to work at the gallery.”

“Excellent, I will get the paperwork in, and let you know when you may start,” Ben stood up and turned to walk out of the room.

“Wait, Ben,” It was my turn to stand up and out of my seat. “I would like to tour the grounds and I still have to meet Mr. King.” Another sour look from him at my last request.

“The grounds are open to you, as again they are yours. Take Maria with you if you like to show you around. As for Mr. King Maria can introduce you.”

“Alright thank you.”

“I will see you at dinner,” with that he left.

***

“Maria, what does Ben do all day when he isn’t meeting with me?” The mid-morning sun warming me felt liberating. The birdsong was balm to my frazzled loose ends and the carefully planned gardens with their colors and varying textures were visually appealing.

“Oh, same thing I do. Managing the staff in our care, heading off problems, solving them and if we can’t find someone who can. He just has the added layer of watching out for you and navigating the new trust’s rules. I think they have thrown him outside his comfort zone. But don’t you worry about him he is made for this.”

So far, we had toured the side garden which had led us to the larger, grander back gardens as the two were joined. I didn’t envy whoever was responsible for the grounds, but I sure didn’t mind getting to enjoy them.

“That is a lot to do for one person. You two must never get a break.”

“True, it has been an adjustment with you coming here, but before you know it, we will be back to a sing-song normal.” She patted my arm in reassurance.

“Is Mr. King around? I still need to meet him.”

“Oh my, I think not today, he is on leave. I may be able to introduce you tomorrow.”

We continued to explore the grounds. Rather, I was exploring, and Maria accompanied me explaining points of interest and important tidbits. I finally had had my fill of the being on tour and decided the bench in front of us looked as good a place as any to have a break.

“You don’t have to babysit me Maria if you have other things to do, I don’t want you to cater to me and have to add more to your plate.”

“I do need to get a few things squared away before dinner. Are you sure?” Maria’s brows gave away her conflicted feelings.

“I will be fine here in the gardens. I would like to enjoy them on my own now and just take a break.”

“I will send out a basket for lunch,” Maria took her leave. It was after I had been zoning out for a bit on the bench, I decided to take out my phone and take a few pictures of the beauty in front of me. I noticed that I had missed a call from Verity when I unlocked my phone. Taking pictures took a quick backseat to connecting with my friend.

I listened to the phone call ring a bit but not more than two beats when Verity answered, and her voice sounded a bit tired.

“Hey, how are you?” concern edged in a bit.

“Strangely, except for this weird exhaustion I can’t shake, I feel just fine.”

“Lucky you, I have the full suite of hangover symptoms. I am such a light weight.” she paused for a moment and grew serious. “I was thinking about what you said last night, about the weird magician dude and I might know someone who could help you.”

“So, you did believe me!”

“Well, duh! I told you I did, would and always will. Also, it was too weird to be a lie. Especially from you. You aren’t exactly a convincing liar.”

I snorted a little at that admission. “Who is it Ver?”

“You will never believe who it is.”

“Probably not, I know almost nobody in your circle.”

“It’s the barte…It is Cass. Cass might know something. I remember that he was talking about some weird stuff a few visits ago with some customers. It was all hushed tones and secret conversations, but they forgot that people sitting right next to them can still hear them. I didn’t hear everything but enough to make me a little curious. Then Cass joined in and gave them some suggestions or something I don’t remember; I was there to hang with friends. I may have had too much to drink by that point. But still.”

“I don’t know Ver. After last night the last thing I want to do is bug Cass again. I don’t know if I can show up there for a while.”

“Whatever you want. I just wanted to pass that on. Trust me I am done with that place too. Goodness, I all but called the cops on him.” She laughed a little self-conscious noise out.

“Thank you for that Ver. I really appreciate how you looked out for me. I couldn’t have asked for a better friend.”

“So, I passed the test huh?” Her voice grew lighthearted. “Does this mean I can come see your house now?”

“I knew it! That is why you really called.”

“I won’t deny that I am dying from curiosity. But I had many reasons to call you today.”

“When are you free?”

“You mean it? I can come over?” her enthusiasm was pouring out in full force.

“What are we twelve? If you’d like to join me in my new crazy life I will not stand in your way. Though remember I did warn you!”

“Give me two hours to finish my homework for classes tomorrow and I will be on my way. Could you text me the address?”

“Of course.”

“K, see you soon!”

“Bye Ver”

The picnic basket had been brought out while I had been chatting. Curious about my very first basket, I rushed to open it up and survey the packed goodies. Inside contained what I assumed to very standard picnic fare: cheese, French bread, meats, condiments and some seltzer water. I packed it back up and followed the path in a direction I hadn’t been in yet. At the first lawn opening I sat down on the provided blanket. The rest of the late morning passed quietly and pleasantly into afternoon. The sun grew more intense and eventually chased me back inside to get ready for Verity’s impending arrival.