Read Online Innocent Darkness by Suzanne Lazear - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Suzanne Lazear
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tending the garden for hours because she could be outside among the plants. The matron left her alone as long as she worked and didn’t dally.
The rose garden in the back corner quickly became her favorite. The first few days Noli missed it, thinking it the wall to the estate behind them, instead of a separate little garden. Fragrant, climbing rosebushes, not yet in bloom, grew wild around the stone walls, mixing with ivy and honeysuckle. This concealed the hidden garden from the rest of the grounds and the fence dividing it from the house next door. Faery lilies, rosebushes, sweet peas, foxglove, bluebells, lady slippers, milkweed, and fragrant herbs like thyme, lambs ear, and lavender filled the garden with fragrance and colors. The whole place seemed wild and abandoned, which only added to the garden’s magic feeling. She could practically see the faeries dancing among the blossoms.
Magic? Faeries? Bah. She sounded like V, all fancy and no practicality. They were far too old to believe in such nonsense. But he’d like this place and she could see him coming here to read one of his dusty old tomes.
A giant oak tree stood guard in the center of the garden, reminding her of her own faery tree back in Los Angeles. A sharp pang of homesickness shot through her. No tree house hid among the foliage, but an old rope swing dangled from a branch. Someone had once loved this place. The tree’s huge branches made for perfect climbing. Ivy and honeysuckle festooned the trunk, adding to its magical appearance. A ring of toadstools circled it.
Her hands itched to climb the tree, but memories of Miss Henderson’s whip made her legs burn at the mere thought. Hoyden-like behavior would earn her extra private lessons.
Instead, she cut bouquets and brought them into the house to arrange in vases in the front hall, the fancies sewing room, and Miss Gregory’s office. She’d been praised for her thoughtfulness and skill at arranging. Good—a reason to go back often. She had no desire to tame the wild garden, but the roses certainly could use some attention.
“Miss Gregory?” Margaret’s voice cut through the soft din, her thin face flushed, eyes gleaming with spitefulness.
Inwardly Noli sighed as she focused on yet another bowl of bland food. Ever since Margaret realized Noli and Charlotte were friends, she’d tortured Noli, too. She’d make stains on her clothes and fuss when Noli couldn’t get them out. Track dirt in on clean floors. Claim to be allergic to the flowers. Find fault with the way Noli made her rickety cot.
“Yes, Margaret?” Miss Gregory looked up from her conversation. She, Miss Henderson, and Miss Nelson, sat at the head of the table. Next came the fancies, the blues in the middle, new girls at the end.
“I believe Magnolia has an illegal piece of jewelry. A necklace.” Margaret smirked. “New girls aren’t permitted jewelry.”
Noli writhed in embarrassment in her hard wooden chair. How did Margaret know? She’d been so careful to keep it hidden.
Miss Gregory’s eyes narrowed as she looked down her pointed nose. “Does she? Thank you, Margaret. Magnolia Braddock, come here.”
Margaret beamed, probably imagining her reward for telling.
The fancies continued their inane conversations, completely ignoring everything else around them. The blues whispered clandestinely as Noli left her seat, making her way shamefully to the head of the table. None of the greys spoke, since they weren’t permitted to speak unless spoken to at meals, but Charlotte flashed her a worried look.
“What is this?” Reaching out, Miss Gregory grabbed her pendant and yanked it clear off her neck, breaking the chain in the process.
Noli tried to maintain a facade of calm. Anger—or tears—wouldn’t get her anything but extra lessons and punishments.
Miss Gregory clucked her tongue. “I’m disappointed in you. What do you have to say for yourself?”
“Miss Gregory, this isn’t a piece of jewelry but an
The rose garden in the back corner quickly became her favorite. The first few days Noli missed it, thinking it the wall to the estate behind them, instead of a separate little garden. Fragrant, climbing rosebushes, not yet in bloom, grew wild around the stone walls, mixing with ivy and honeysuckle. This concealed the hidden garden from the rest of the grounds and the fence dividing it from the house next door. Faery lilies, rosebushes, sweet peas, foxglove, bluebells, lady slippers, milkweed, and fragrant herbs like thyme, lambs ear, and lavender filled the garden with fragrance and colors. The whole place seemed wild and abandoned, which only added to the garden’s magic feeling. She could practically see the faeries dancing among the blossoms.
Magic? Faeries? Bah. She sounded like V, all fancy and no practicality. They were far too old to believe in such nonsense. But he’d like this place and she could see him coming here to read one of his dusty old tomes.
A giant oak tree stood guard in the center of the garden, reminding her of her own faery tree back in Los Angeles. A sharp pang of homesickness shot through her. No tree house hid among the foliage, but an old rope swing dangled from a branch. Someone had once loved this place. The tree’s huge branches made for perfect climbing. Ivy and honeysuckle festooned the trunk, adding to its magical appearance. A ring of toadstools circled it.
Her hands itched to climb the tree, but memories of Miss Henderson’s whip made her legs burn at the mere thought. Hoyden-like behavior would earn her extra private lessons.
Instead, she cut bouquets and brought them into the house to arrange in vases in the front hall, the fancies sewing room, and Miss Gregory’s office. She’d been praised for her thoughtfulness and skill at arranging. Good—a reason to go back often. She had no desire to tame the wild garden, but the roses certainly could use some attention.
“Miss Gregory?” Margaret’s voice cut through the soft din, her thin face flushed, eyes gleaming with spitefulness.
Inwardly Noli sighed as she focused on yet another bowl of bland food. Ever since Margaret realized Noli and Charlotte were friends, she’d tortured Noli, too. She’d make stains on her clothes and fuss when Noli couldn’t get them out. Track dirt in on clean floors. Claim to be allergic to the flowers. Find fault with the way Noli made her rickety cot.
“Yes, Margaret?” Miss Gregory looked up from her conversation. She, Miss Henderson, and Miss Nelson, sat at the head of the table. Next came the fancies, the blues in the middle, new girls at the end.
“I believe Magnolia has an illegal piece of jewelry. A necklace.” Margaret smirked. “New girls aren’t permitted jewelry.”
Noli writhed in embarrassment in her hard wooden chair. How did Margaret know? She’d been so careful to keep it hidden.
Miss Gregory’s eyes narrowed as she looked down her pointed nose. “Does she? Thank you, Margaret. Magnolia Braddock, come here.”
Margaret beamed, probably imagining her reward for telling.
The fancies continued their inane conversations, completely ignoring everything else around them. The blues whispered clandestinely as Noli left her seat, making her way shamefully to the head of the table. None of the greys spoke, since they weren’t permitted to speak unless spoken to at meals, but Charlotte flashed her a worried look.
“What is this?” Reaching out, Miss Gregory grabbed her pendant and yanked it clear off her neck, breaking the chain in the process.
Noli tried to maintain a facade of calm. Anger—or tears—wouldn’t get her anything but extra lessons and punishments.
Miss Gregory clucked her tongue. “I’m disappointed in you. What do you have to say for yourself?”
“Miss Gregory, this isn’t a piece of jewelry but an
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