Both Ada's and Edna's words rang loud through Arabella's mind, so incessantly echoing against the inner walls of her skull that she'd started repeating them to herself in her own voice.
"The Master has never invited anyone to his chambers in order to recite poems before" and "What other use could he have for you?"
The wait for Lady Persephone did not help the rising pressure that constricted the blood in her veins one bit. The young woman had hastened towards the lounge room as soon as the sun had kissed the horizon line.
Sitting there stiffly, the whole time she alternated between tugging at her sleeves, scratching at the wood of the armchair and clenching the skirt of her gown.
Although, her patience was more or less rewarded when the Lady appeared through the door.
Arabella sprung up at once in order to curtsy before her gracious hostess.
"My Lady," she muttered.
"Take a seat," Lady Persephone ushered to the chair Arabella had been sitting upon before her arrival, "I'd sent Katherine after you yesterday, and was told your time had already been reserved,"
"Yes," Arabella gulped, "Master Silas had asked me to come by his chambers earlier the previous morning," she kept her head low, maintaining her voice at a soft but audible level.
The Lady looked her up and down before raising an eyebrow, "And what did he require from you?"
"He merely wanted me to recite poems while he worked on the wood, my Lady,"
"Is that so?" the Lady asked in a higher pitch, gracefully placing her hands together on her lap.
"Yes, my Lady," Arabella nodded, her eyes on the floor.
"That is most interesting," the Lady had dragged her words, almost whispering them as she scrutinized Arabella's figure.
Some of the tension that had been turning the air thick was lessened by the arrival of Ada who held a silver tray that carried a small teacup at its center.
"Here is your tea, my Lady,"
Ada bowed then turned to leave, but not before throwing an apologetic glance at Arabella.
"Hold it," the Lady stopped her in her tracks, "Send a word for Katherine and her sisters to join us here,"
"Yes, my Lady," Ada bowed once more and scurried out of there.
The summoning bell that the Lady always used for such purpose lay there upon the table where it usually sat.
Arabella thought it odd that the Lady wouldn't make use of it, especially since the vampires would flash in almost instantly if rung, sparing her the patience of waiting.
However, the answer to her question quickly followed as Persephone took a deep breath and straightened her stance before boring her eyes into Arabella's.
"Remain still," she ordered, "I'd like to see your eyes,"
As though struck by the curse of the gorgon, Arabella's muscles hardened while her gaze was nailed to the Lady's, leaving nothing but the rising and falling of her chest as proof of life.
"I see there's no change in your eyes. You are in the clear," Lady Persephone paused before adding, "For now,"
It was very subtle, but Arabella took notice of the slight relaxation in the Lady's shoulders which allowed her to loosen up in turn.
"There's been a lot of… Chatter about you two spending time together lately," Persephone picked the conversation up again, "And I must say, not much of what I've heard on the matter pleases me. Speak, girl, have your feelings towards my son changed since the last time you and I have spoken?"
At those words, Arabella immediately shook her head, gripping her knees tightly, "No, my Lady! They have not!"
The Lady's narrowed eyes lingered on Arabella's chest, where her pounding heart lay, for a moment before pushing a sigh, "Once again, your heart proves unreliable under these circumstances. Calm yourself, girl. I won't bite your head off," she picked her teacup, but right as her lips came an inch from its mouth, a clear and steady mutter escaped her, "I believe you,"
"Thank you," Arabella still held and glared at her own knees as though they'd both flee the rest of her body.
"Do not get attached to him, child," Lady Persephone took a second sip.
"Understood, my Lady,"
"It's for your own good as well," the Lady softened her tone.
A fresh breeze blew by suddenly, announcing the entrance of Katherine and her two sisters. The three curtsied, but only Katherine approached the Lady, a thick looking book in hand.
"Here per your request, my Lady," the vampire handed the book over to the Lady with much poise, bowing before stepping back.
"Good. Please wait by the piano, girls. We still have a few things to discuss here," said the Lady.
"Yes, my Lady," they all chirped in unison.
Without another word, Katherine, Allegra and Grace walked over to the piano as told, seemingly carrying on a conversation they'd already started before entering the lounge room.
Lady Persephone turned towards Arabella again, "I've browsed through the pages of this tome and found quite a few poems that delighted me," her hand brushed over the book cover gently, "It comes from the human literature section and it holds over a hundred gems," she took a deep breath, "I'd like you to learn as many as you can from today until the ball comes,"
"I shall do my best, my Lady,"
Arabella took the book off Lady Persephone's hands when she extended it her way.
"You may start from tonight and it is preferable that you remain out of sight during the days leading up to the ball," said the Lady.
"I understand,"
"Go straight to your room from here," the Lady paused, "You won't be taking any dance lessons from now on,"