Maudlin's Mayhem (Bewitching Bedlam #2)(48)

Sitting down at the table, I called out, “Franny? Are you around?”

She appeared in the doorway. “Is something wrong, Maddy? Are you all right after last night?”

“Yeah, I’m okay.” I flashed her a sheepish grin. “I’m just lonely, I guess. Life’s been so fucked up lately that I’m feeling a little isolated.”

She floated over and did her best to sit down at the table, although she was sitting through one of the chairs rather than against the back of it. I jumped up and motioned for her to move, then pulled the chair out for her to a normal distance so at least she gave the illusion of sitting on it.

As I ate my sandwich and drank my mocha, she watched me. “It’s been so long since I ate that I can’t remember what it’s like.”

“What did you used to like when you were alive?”

She tilted her head, a little more to the side than was natural, but then she straightened up, beaming. “Our cook made—I remember now—the cook made the most marvelous rolls. They were some sort of Danish pastry, I don’t know their name. But they were sweet buns with a custard filling. I loved those so much. She also made a flourless cake using hazelnut meal. I remember that she used to have one of the men who helped on the estate grind the nut flour for her. And her fudge…”

Franny paused, looking wistful. “Life then seemed so much simpler than life does today. But it wasn’t always easy. My best friend married young, four years before I died. She seemed to grow up so fast when the children came. She had three babies by the time I fell down the stairs. Once she confided in me that she wished she hadn’t been in such a hurry to marry. She said she was tired and that the children, even with a nanny, were a handful.”

I finished my sandwich. “You were engaged, weren’t you?”

“Oh no, my mother was trying to make me accept an engagement, but that’s what triggered the whole…well…that’s partly why I ended up with a broken neck. I ran back to my room because we were arguing, and got absorbed in a book. You know the rest of the story.” She gave me one of those What-else-is-there-to-say looks.

“Why didn’t you want to marry him?”

“He was stupid. He was pig-headed and stubborn and didn’t appreciate a woman with a brain. My mother thought I should just marry him and be done with it. But I refused. I wasn’t about to let some fool run my life.” She narrowed her eyes. “Sometimes, as I watch you and your friends, I think I would have fit in much better during this time period than my own.”

“I think you probably would have, too, Franny. Again, I’m doing what research I can in order to free you from this house. You wouldn’t believe what it’s like out there now.” I wanted to free her, and yet I had become used to her and it was comfortable having her around. But I didn’t want to see her remain trapped.

“I have an idea of what it’s like. Whenever you turn on the TV, I watch. I have a clue what the outer world must be like now. It’s amazing, really. Things we never would have dreamed of are happening—both brilliant and horrific.” She leaned forward, and her torso cut through the table. At my wince, she pulled back to look like she was resting her elbows on the surface. “Maddy, who do you think hexed you?”

“I’m pretty sure it was Essie. Now, I have no clue what she’ll do given the fact I dusted Thornton. She wanted him back.” I finished my mocha. “Well, there’s not much I can do about it now. She’ll have to find herself another boy toy. Part of me wants to know what she used him for, and part of me really, really doesn’t want to know.”

I glanced at the clock. “I think I’ll go down to the bank and make certain my money is still where it’s supposed to be.”

She vanished as I stood. I arched my back, and then remembered I was supposed to gather Thornton’s things for Essie. After the attack last night, I wasn’t quite so eager to do so, but finally I headed toward the maid’s quarters where he was staying.

The butler’s pantry was off the dining room, and behind that, the maid’s quarters. I stared at the door, feeling an overwhelming reluctance to go in. I hated intruding on other people’s private lives. But Thornton was gone, dust to dust, and his life was now fair game. Taking a deep breath, I opened the door and pushed through.

The room was neat, that was no surprise, and everything seemed organized in a particular way. I wouldn’t have been surprised if I discovered that Thornton had suffered from some sort of OCD. But it was too late to ask.

I walked over to the closet and opened the doors. There, hanging in a neat formation, were three suits, six pair of trousers, and six button-down shirts. Two suitcases were in the corner and I pulled them out, peeking inside. They were both empty. I folded the suits and neatly tucked them in. If Essie wanted them, she’d get them. I was tempted to jam everything into a garbage bag, but that didn’t feel like it would have been respectful to Thornton, and until he had turned into a vampire, he had been a likable man.

I found three pair of shoes—two pair of sneakers and one pair of dress shoes—and added them to the suitcase. At the dresser, I opened the drawers one by one. Underwear, socks, and six polo shirts, all neatly folded. A box of condoms. I packed those away, then opened the bottom drawer. There in the back was a small black vinyl case. I set it down on the bed, and then added two manila envelopes, which were full of pictures, and all of his grooming supplies that were on the top of the dresser. As I stared at the barely full suitcases, it occurred to me that it wasn’t much to show for a man’s life.