door, I found myself confronted by my pensive mother. She was dressed immaculately and looked lovely despite the frown upon her forehead.
“Glynis, what is it? You are so pale!” She rushed into the room and gathered me to her.
“I had the most hideous night,” I cried out.
Taking my hands in hers, she drew me to the window, staring at my face, my neck and then, to my surprise, my body. “No one disturbed you? You are unmolested?”
“No, of course not,” I said, but I found myself wanting to hide from her gaze. I felt quite unlike myself as I drew away from her, glancing warily toward the bed.
“Glynis, are you sure?”
I shook my head and forced a laugh. “I suppose I am acting rather odd. I just did not sleep well, Mama. I just - it was the wind. It seemed to sound like voices at times. ”
My mother hesitated, then nodded. “Yes, and so it seemed to me as well, as if the very night was whispering at the window. But of course, that was just nonsense. ” Despite her words, I could see she was unnerved and she touched the cross around her neck lightly.
“Perhaps, but I did have horrible dreams. They were quite disturbing and unchristian in every way. I think it is this horrible place. ”
My mother sighed and began to fuss with my hair. Her eyes revealed her own restless sleep. Dressed elegantly in blue, she looked very out of place in this strange grotesque castle.
“I had nightmares as well. It is just that this country is so wild. So foreign. They were just dreams, that is all. Now get dressed. ”
I tossed my curls at her, feeling rather contrary and moody this morning. I was upset that she did not appreciate how much my nightmares had frightened me.
“But, Mama-”
“Come now, we must get you ready for the day. Enough of our delusions. ” My mother waved her hands as if to sweep the memories of our disturbing night away.
I flung myself onto the bed dramatically. “I do not wish to dress! I had the most horrible night!”
“The night is behind us. ” She appeared relieved that I had not been ravished by our host and determined that we should put the terrible night behind us.
I curled up in the corner of the bed and wrinkled my nose as she held up a peach colored gown. “It was dreadful! And so is that dress!”
“Really, Glynis, must you be so difficult so soon in the morning?”
“I hate that dress!”
“It is a lovely gown. Do not be spiteful. ” She held up the gown that she had insisted we purchase in Paris and waved it about.
“I did not like when we bought it. I do not like it now. ” I tossed my curls and fussed with my robe. I was tired from the events of the night and rather perturbed that my Mother dismissed my trauma. My fear and emptiness of the earlier hours gave way to a nice rush of indignant anger.
I pouted at her, and she ignored me.
“Well, it looks rather sweet on you even if you are not. ” My mother set her lips and gave me the look I could not bring myself to defy.
As she helped me dress, I grumbled.
“Oh, to be home, with proper servants,” she said.
“I rather miss Midge and Gretchen. ” They had tended to the Wright children all of our lives. I had a fond spot for both of them.
“Yes, I miss all of them. It is too tiring trying to look after both you and May. Your sister barely slept last night and kept falling asleep when I was fixing her hair. ” I caught the look of disdain on her face. “It is this dreadful place. ”
“Then we are leaving soon!”
“Perhaps. ”
“What do you mean?”