Tracie Peterson - Dawns Prelude

"I'm so sorry to be a bother," Lydia interjected while Zerelda and Kjell took over.

"Bah, you aren't a bother. Here, Kjell, bring her right in," the woman declared. "I got the letter you sent about your father and husband dying. I knew you wanted to come north but didn't figure to see you so soon. I thought you'd still be laying plans for the trip."

Lydia studied her aunt. She was different than she remembered. At forty-five, Zerelda Rockford was a most unconventional woman. She had given her hair a blunt cut at the shoulder, and it gave her face an angular appearance.

"Here, she can have this room," Zerelda said, opening the door.

Kjell followed her in and deposited Lydia on the bed. "Is there anything I can do to help you out? You need wood brought in, Zee?"

"That would be good. You can build up the fire, too. The day has a chill, and we need to keep Liddie warm."

"I'm really not helpless," Lydia said when her aunt began unbuttoning her suit jacket.

"You look pretty had off. Your eyes are sunken. I'd say your fluids are depleted, and you probably haven't had a decent hit of food in a while," Zerelda said. She smiled down at her niece. "You lookjust as you did as a girl. I can't believe so much time has passed."

"A lifetime of nightmares," Lydia whispered. "And now this. I haven't been able to keep food down since we set sail. It was all just too much."

"Well, it's behind you now. I'll take good care of you, and soon you'll be up and running. You bring that violin of yours?"

Lydia was so exhausted that she'd not even given it much consideration. "I did. Can we ask Kjell to bring it in?"

"Of course."

"There were times the violin was all that got me through the had times. Floyd was so…" Her words trailed into silence.

Zerelda stroked her hair. "I know, and I'm so sorry. Had I any say in the matter, I would have convinced Zachary to send you to me rather than to sell you off in marriage." She shook her head. "But despite the man's poor judgment, I can't believe he's gone."

"My father thought he was doing the best for the family, I'm sure. He wrote me a letter of apology before he died. I'm not entirely sure I forgive him, but I am happy to say he left me enough money to comfortably live out my years."

Zerelda helped Lydia from her jacket and then unfastened the button on her skirt. "Doesn't do a body any good to withhold forgiveness. The devil is the only one who stands to gain anything from that."

"Then the devil gained a great deal in the Gray household. You've never met more vindictive people, and forgiveness isn't a word in their vocabulary"

"Your letters truly painted an ugly picture." Zerelda went to the foot of the bed. "Take hold of the bed frame."

Lydia did as she was instructed while Zerelda pulled her skirt off. Lydia barely had the strength to hold on to the iron post. The coolness that swept over her body made Lydia realize her condition. Lying there in her petticoats, chemise, and corset, she felt almost naked. What if that man Kjell returned?

As if reading her niece's mind, Zerelda went to the door and closed it before retrieving a nightgown from the trunk at the foot of the bed. "This should be a great deal more comfortable." Without asking Lydia 's permission, Zerelda unhooked her corset. Lydia tried to sit up, but dizziness washed over her anew.

The room won't stop spinning."

"Sometimes it's like that," Zerelda said. "Some folks get what they call motion sick."

She maneuvered the rest of Lydia 's clothes from her body, then placed the nightgown over her head. Lydia found she barely had the strength to put her arms through. She fell back against the pillow and sighed.

"Goodness, but you're skin and hones. I'll get some soup going for you as soon as I have you tucked into bed."

"I can't eat," Lydia said, feeling sick at the thought.

"You'll he able to take a little soup. I have a special recipe that helps with the nausea. Then I'll give you some tea to help you sleep. You'll see," Zerelda said, straightening. "You'll soon he right as rain."

Lydia reached out. "I'm sorry I wasn't able to get you the information about my arrival. Everything happened so fast."

"Don't fret about it. We can discuss it later."

"But I've imposed myself upon you, and I never even gave you a chance to approve my coming."

Zerelda laughed. "You are such a silly goose. Of course I approve your coming here. I wouldn't have had it any other way. My employer is leaving for Germany at the end of the summer. His wife passed on a few months hack. I think I told you about that."

Lydia nodded.

"Well, I was seriously wondering what the Lord had for me next, but now I guess I know." She offered Lydia a sweet smile. "I'm so glad you've come, Lydia. You are going to he a blessing to me."

"I demand you tell us where Lydia has gone," a red-faced Mitchell Gray declared.

Dwight Robinson merely shrugged. "I presume that if Mrs. Gray wanted you to know her whereabouts, she would have left a forwarding address."

"So she has moved?" Marston eyed the lawyer closely. It was clear by his expression that he hadn't meant to reveal even this much. The man quickly recovered, however.

"Well, she isn't living at the mansion anymore, so don't you imagine she has?" Robinson replied.

"And is she still in the city?" Mitchell asked. "Look, we have a business to run. There's a guard there who tells us we are no longer needed. This is our family's business, and we have a right to it."

"Not according to the will." Robinson looked at both of them before momentarily settling his gaze on Marston. "Sirs, I have no authority to share any information with you. Mrs. Gray has given me no instruction to share her whereabouts."

"But what of the legal business that involves her?" Mitchell again pressed for answers.

Marston leaned hack in his seat and held his temper in check. So Lydia had finally learned to stand up for herself. He almost smiled at the thought. He rather liked this new temperament. It made her more of a challenge.

"I assure you both I am quite capable of handling Mrs. Gray's legal affairs. She has given me her full permission to see to her best interests."

"Then you have her permission to share with us her current address," Marston said with a smile.

Robinson shook his head and returned Marston's stiff smile. "My dear sir, I think without saying anything more, we both know that giving you access to her whereabouts is not at all in keeping with her best interests."

Marston narrowed his eyes. "You are playing a dangerous game, Robinson. We have strong allies."

"You may have had at one time, but only because your father bullied everyone. Times are changing. The politics, the atmosphere of the city-it's all transforming for the better. New laws will make it more difficult for people like you to harass and harm others."

Mitchell slammed his fist on the arm of the chair. "That's slander, I daresay"

"Mrs. Gray endured a great deal at your father's hand. As I understand it, there was much that was questionable in his actions."

"No one cares about such things, and well you know it. She's a woman," Marston declared. "She was a wife, nothing more than my father's property. When she refused to be obedient as she had pledged in her marriage contract, my father was forced to be heavy-handed at times."

"All that to say, you would do well to remember that your father wasn't the only one who knew how to utilize information," Robinson replied. "If I were you, I would refrain from bringing too much attention to myself. Society may accept such matters, but I do not. I see nothing acceptable in beating women and children. A man must surely he a weakling if he has to take such actions."