Reign of Shadows - Deborah Chester [78]
Albain made no contradiction, and Hecati smiled with renewed boldness.
“Perhaps,” she said with false generosity, “I have overreacted. While Elandra made a dreadful mistake in what she did, I see now that she was only trying to help her sister last night. Of course the poor misguided child should have asked me first before undertaking such a project. Much of the disaster could then have been averted. As it is, I’m afraid Elandra’s mistake will prove to be a very expensive one for your lordship to remedy.”
His frown deepened, and Elandra thought about the nine hundred ducats with a fresh pang of worry.
“I am sorry for the trouble I have caused, Father,” she said softly. “How can I make amends for something so costly?”
As she spoke, she saw a tiny smile of satisfaction flit across Hecati’s mouth. Elandra knew Hecati was pleased to be able to turn the blame onto her. If Albain came to think her a fool, or worse, someone who was too much trouble to keep around, what then would become of her? Her position in his household was tenuous. She had no rights of her own, and suddenly she had never been more aware of that. Her breath stilled in her lungs.
Albain cleared his throat. “It seems to me that the least part of the blame is yours, daughter.”
Elandra looked up in surprise.
Hecati frowned.
He continued: “Bixia knew this garment was sacred and not to be touched. What was she doing prancing about in it? Even to show it off to you, Elandra, she had no business doing that.”
Hecati tried to speak up, but he scowled at her.
“If it did not fit, and I do not see how it could, why didn’t she inform you at once? Why demand that Elandra sit up all night in an effort to mend it? An insurmountable task, for all this child’s impressive skill with a needle.” His scowl deepened. “Small wonder she stands here looking dead tired, with dark circles under her eyes. This is not service. It’s abuse. And why does Elandra submit to it? Because she’s been trained to think that’s her place? Who did that to her?”
His scowl aimed itself at Hecati, who raised both hands.
“Now, my lord. You must not misunderstand the situation. You requested that I raise Elandra in domestic training, and—”
“Aye, teach her how to supervise servants and manage a household,” he said angrily. “Teach her grace and poise and accomplishments, not to run about in a patched gown a scullion would be ashamed to wear, with dirt on her cheek and her hair uncombed, and her spirit fair scared out of her.”
“She’s a headstrong, temperamental girl,” Hecati replied with equal heat. “Hard to train and rebellious. Strong measures have been called for to teach her her place. If I’ve made her take a servant’s role to Lady Bixia from time to time, it’s only to make her understand that she is not Lady Bixia’s equal.”
“Isn’t she?” he asked with an edge to his voice.
“Of course not. The factors of her birth—”
“Elandra’s mother was better born than Bixia’s!” he roared.
Hecati sniffed. “But not under lawful union with yourself, my lord.”
“At our rank, what does that matter?” he said. “You have common ideas, woman. Aye, and common morals as well.”
Reddening, Hecati drew herself up. “I can see my years of effort are unappreciated. Well, you’ll soon learn for yourself what your baseborn daughter’s really like when you’re thrown into her company, my lord. Perhaps you will regret not heeding my warnings about her.”
“Elandra is not to blame for what transpired between her mother and me,” he said.
“Her very presence is an affront to Bixia and the memory of my dear sister Ousia!” Hecati cried.
“And so you punish Elandra because you cannot punish me?” he retorted, his voice very quiet and very, very angry now.
The room fell silent. Hecati looked tense and alarmed, as though she realized she had gone too far.
Albain turned to Elandra and stared at her hard.
It was a glare such as he gave his men during inspection. She felt reduced to a speck, insignificant and worthless. She had fallen short of his expectations somehow, and yet she did not see how she could have done better ...