LoverforRansom Read Online Free

further.
    “Ransom rode in Biffle’s cavalry.” Mrs. Byrne smiled
proudly. “Did he tell you?”
    “He did not,” Cathleen said as Mrs. Byrne teetered across
the wide expanse of the upstairs hall.
    Cathleen recognized her trunk in the center of one of the
bedrooms flanking the hall. The upstairs was much the same as the downstairs,
with enormous rooms and towering ceilings. Gracefully carved crown moulding
gleamed white against the garish gold wallpaper. The doors on either side of
the upstairs balconies and in both front and back had been thrown open to draw
in a breeze.
    Mrs. Byrne entered the front bedroom. “Jenny?”
    “Go away.”
    Mr. Byrne had warned her, but Cathleen had not been prepared
for so prickly an introduction to her new charge.
    “Now, Jenny, don’t you be rude,” Mrs. Byrne scolded. “Your
teacher, Miss Ryan, is here.”
    Cathleen slipped her glasses in the pocket of her skirt as
she hesitated at the door.
    Jenny sat on her unmade bed, her back to the door. Her long
blonde hair hung in unkempt tangles. Her frock was untidy. Clothes lay
scattered across the floor and several drawers on the dresser gaped open, their
contents spilling over the sides.
    Mrs. Byrne made an unsuccessful attempt at straightening the
dresser. “She won’t allow anyone in to clean.”
    Cathleen had seen the blind become despondent and depressed.
But she’d never seen anyone this unresponsive.
    When Cathleen drew nearer, Jenny made a clumsy effort to
scramble away.
    “I don’t need a teacher,” she said, her tone laced with
spite. “Leave me be.”
    “I’ve been blind too,” Cathleen said softly. “I know what
you’re going through.”
    Jenny snorted and twisted away. “You’ve come a long way for
nothing.”
    * * * * *
    A bell somewhere outside tolled and Cathleen heard little
Charles’ voice. “Quittin’ time! Supper!”
    She packed the undergarments she’d brought along in the
drawer at the bottom of the wardrobe before pouring water from the pitcher into
the basin and washing her face and hands.
    Her stomach rumbled. It’d been awhile since she’d eaten and
though most of the Southern fare was not to her taste, she looked forward to
whatever they saw fit to serve.
    After tidying her hair, she stepped into the hallway, nearly
running into a servant carrying a tray laden with food and a glass of milk. She
nodded, setting aflutter the ties to the white kerchief secured around her
hair. “Evenin’, ma’am,” the round-faced girl said as she continued down the
hall.
    “Good evening,” Cathleen said but stopped walking when she
realized the meal was destined for Jenny. “Excuse me. Is that plate intended
for Miss Byrne?”
    “Yes ma’am,” the girl said, her doe-like brown eyes rounding.
Her cinnamon-colored skin gleamed, doubtless from her tenure in a hot kitchen.
“Miss Jenny always takes her meals in her room.”
    “She’s not allowed to dine with the family downstairs?”
Cathleen didn’t want to jump to conclusions.
    “Oh, she’s allowed,” the girl said. “She don’t want to. She
wants her food brung to her.”
    “That’s unacceptable.”
    “But—”
    Cathleen smiled. “It’s all right, Miss…”
    The girl preened and grinned. “Oh, I ain’t no miss or
nothin’. My name’s America but everybody calls me Merry. You can too if you
want.”
    “That’s lovely, Merry,” Cathleen said. “I’m Miss Byrne’s
teacher, Miss Ryan. And if you don’t mind, I would appreciate it if you’d take
Miss Byrne’s food to the table and tell them we’ll be down for supper.”
    Merry looked uncertain. “Miss Jenny ain’t gon’ be happy
’bout that.”
    “I’ll take care of Miss Jenny.”
    “Aw’ right, then,” Merry said and shook her head as she
turned around and started down the stairs.
    At that moment, Jenny appeared in the doorway. She groped
her way two steps into the hall. “Merry! Don’t you take that food downstairs!”
    Merry stopped, twisted and started back up