Page 57 of Hidden Raphael
At the library, Kimberly heard a soft hum. The air was chilly. She rubbed her arms and decided to speak about barriers with Meg. She turned and walked into the door. A blast of arctic cold greeted her as Meg was on her knees scrubbing.
Kimberly stared into Meg’s green eyes. The older woman kept scrubbing, but said, "Morning, mistress."
"I'm not anyone's mistress."
Meg shrugged and continued to work. "If you say so, ma'am."
Kimberly shook her head. "Meg, we need to talk about when it's appropriate for you to come into a room."
"I have work to do, and who is where doesn't matter."
Kimberly pressed her lips together, as her teeth wouldn't stop chattering. "It matters to me when I'm sleeping."
Meg continued to clean the floor. "Laundry never ends if you let it sit until it's convenient for everyone, mistress."
Did she work all night? Meg must douse all the fires and prefer this frozen state to work. Kimberly tapped her foot then changed her course of action. "Have you seen Raphael?"
Meg sat up to rinse her sponge in the bucket. "No. The master left the house early this morning."
The master? Seriously. It was creepy. Kimberly dropped her hands to the side. It was pouring outside. "How do you know?"
Meg squeezed her sponge then went back onto all fours. "He left a note for you."
Kimberly hugged herself. "Where is it?"
"In the library."
Kimberly smiled. He left her a note? "Will he be back for breakfast?"
Meg scrubbed the floor until it shone. "I believe so, mistress."
She'd wait to discuss the mistress phrase with Raphael on how to stop Meg. In the middle of the night, Meg shouldn't sneak into bedrooms. What if they woke up and decided to have another round? Would Meg just sit outside the door and wait? No. Raphael should know how to stop her. Kimberly turned around and almost left.
Her sigh made the room even more frigid. Meg spoke to her back. "You might never make him happy, mistress. The master considers himself a lost cause."
Kimberly swung around fast. "Why?"
Meg sighed. "Because the last woman he loved died. He doesn't have the heart to love again."
Tiffany had been his brother's wife, and Raphael hadn't liked her. The woman he mentioned last night dumped him. Was there someone else Meg spoke about? She bit back her words and walked away.
Whatever the answer, it was best if it came from Raphael and not through someone else.
Halfway down the corridor, Kimberly wondered. She reached out and clutched her medallion. She'd forgotten to give this back again. What if Raphael's heart was engaged elsewhere? He had warned her off numerous times, though she had refused to listen.
If so, with time, he'd get over it. Dead women were not competition for the living.
A smile grew on her face, and she made her way toward the library. No matter what Meg said, she'd not ruin her good mood. Raphael had been wonderful last night.
The fire in the room kept it toasty and warm. In the hall it was neither hot nor cold. She was fine now.
The storm outside rattled a window and reminded her today she would spend inside.
Raphael's lips tasted better than any food she'd ever eaten, and she wasn't hungry. Kimberly scanned all the tables, but the one closest to where she first met Raphael was where she found his note.
Kimberly,
I had to go. Lying next to you was more than I deserved.
