Darkness descended when Lucy wasn"t looking. She waited in her room awake long after her maids had gone to sleep. With the darkness, came silence and time for all of deeper motive to move. A light knock on her window told her Walter was there to deliver. She moved towards her window in a gliding pace, opening it to let in the cool night air."Do you have what I asked?" she asked lightly in a tone one without knowledge would mistake as a whisper, but she was heard as intended.
"Yes, my lady." Walter answered and pa.s.sed to her the doc.u.ments he was given.
"The man, how did he seem?" Lucy asked as she opened the doc.u.ments.
"Afraid." Walter answered after some seconds of pause.
"Of whom?" Lucy asked. The light by from her table reflected outside well enough to see the dirty blonde hair and deep set green eyes paused in thought.
"I am not sure he knows." he said.
"I knew you were one capable of a.s.sessing character."
"You have but met me once, my lady." Walter countered.
"Once is enough." Lucy answered.
"Dare I ask why you say so, my lady?"
"You spoke very well for a person of your status. That only meant you had somewhat of an education to affect judgement. The moment I threatened you and your kin, you had the sense of mind to know when to feel fear. Yet you had enough judgement to stay calm even though you were but standing on hot coal." Lucy flipped through the papers he had brought.
"That says nothing much of presence of head than lack of brawn, my lady."
"Only very few men would look into eyes of a new born and feel fear. It means you see something. Something worthy of fear."
"Does that mean it was a test, my lady? That you will not truly harm my family?" Walter asked, curiosity more than hope soaked his voice. Only then did Lucy look up from the papers. She looked almost amused by his tone than his question.
"If I said so, would you believe me?"
"Yes." He answered before thinking, surprising himself. He more than any felt she probably would still kill his entire bloodline. But why did he answer yes? The lady smiled for the first time since he had seen her.
"Good. That means you"re ready for your next job." She said handing him a pouch. He looked into it and inside, gold.
Walter froze for a second. For some reason, he saw a light shine on his dark life. A light that felt to him, would burn him inside out. A light some part of him desperately wanted to chase away. Those words from the lady"s mouth gave him an impression he could not describe. He knew he felt something; was it anxiety? Was it delight? What was this feeling? Lucy took Walter"s silence for a confirmation.
"Do you believe anyone would have me as an enemy?" Lucy asked.
"Yes, my lady"
"Why?"
"Some people are born to be killed." Walter answered. Lucy paused for a moment to stare into green eyes.
"Your impression of me is amusing. As much as people would think it wise to play with me, how many do you think I truly ignore?" Lucy asked.
"None."
"I guess, I do give that impression." Lucy sighed.
"The Mclears are a rich family devoid of t.i.tle in any form possible. But for their riches, they have not a standing in society. They seem to find it amusing p.r.i.c.king my skin as I but try to make a turn." Lucy paused a moment, allowing the air to grow stiff between her and her words.
"You have an impression of Jo Jodanham. Have him look into them for me or don"t, it"s up to you really." Lucy said, causing Walter to frown in confusion. That was no instruction at all.
"I have work for him. Tell him, I want to know each person the headmistress has in her confidence, no matter how insignificant. He will be paid when he delivers." Lucy instructed.
"I will." Walter answered. He knew he had received an instruction and had been dismissed, but he waited. She had not truly told him what to say about the Mclears issue.
"Is there something else?" she asked him. She no more stood by the window, but he could see her shadow cast upon the table by the side.
"No, my lady. I shall take my leave." he left in haste.