131

DARLENE

The clack of the phone I had been holding in my hand falling and shattering on the floor sounded distant to my ears as I watched the door knob twist and turn slowly before the knocks repeated and a woman’s mousy voice came from the other side of the door.

“My Lady? Lady Darlene?” The woman’s voice came again and I felt my heart jump and pound in my chest, my lips stretching into a smile as I reached for the door, unlocked it, and swung it open with strength, I hadn't realized I possessed.

The sound of the wood beating against the back wall loudly seemed to startle the pixie-haired maidservant that slapped a hand to her chest in horror.

The images of Mary in my head dissipated as the slack-jawed smile that had no doubt etched into the lines of my mouth fell away until I stared back at her morosely.

The woman standing in front of me was not Mary, she must have been Asian, nothing like the countryside girl with her deep smile lines and big dark eyes. Instead, this woman had a sm