The Column Racer Read Online Free Page B

across his forehead and flooding beneath his eyes like cob webs, held out a knobby hand that appeared to be nothing but skin on bone. Areli grabbed for it, and the man helped her up onto the main level with hidden strength. Areli didn’t look back into the hole as the man concealed the boards and replaced the large dresser over the top of it.
    Areli quickly ran to her maid, who held her firmly, yet gently.
    “It’s okay, darling,” said the maid, “you’re going to be okay.”
    “You don’t have to worry, Miss Roberts,” said the servant, “the boy is in good hands.”
    “I don’t think that’s what she’s crying about,” said the maid.
    “Well, then what . . . ooooh,” said the servant, as the maid gave him a hard stare, jogging his memory to a recent conversation they had carried.
    “It’s okay now, darling,” said the maid, “now, tell us what’s happened. Did he hurt you? Do you need me to go down there and smack some sense into that young man?” Areli shook her head, but her eyes were still spewing out tears and her shoulders were trembling horribly. “Come on, let’s go, into the next room, darling.” Areli clung to the maid as they exited out of the hallway and into the drawing room. The servant followed behind, and all three sat in a sitting area overlooking a fireplace. “Now, are you going to tell us what happened? You know you can’t carry this all by yourself.” Areli looked at her, and then accepted the handkerchief offered by the servant. She then told them what had transpired beneath the floorboards with Talon.
    “Well, he’s a fool,” said the maid, “he as sure a fool as ever, Areli. And that’s all there is to it. I swear to the stars, you father should have had that one’s head checked when he was working on him.” Areli shook her head slightly. “Brockham, tell her that boy is a fool.”
    “He’s a fool, Areli. He’s a mighty fool,” said the servant, “an unbelievable fool.”
    “Well, then that’s that. He had his chance,” said the maid, “a pretty girl like yourself. You’re going to find someone, Areli. I can feel it. I can feel it when I look up at the stars at night. He’s going to love you, Areli. It will be real love, darling. I can promise you that.” Areli wiped the tears in her eyes.
    “I just thought,” said Areli, “I just thought that maybe he could have been the one.”
    “Boys can do that to you,” said the maid, “love is a tricky thing, Areli. But when it’s right it’s right. And when it’s wrong, you just have to learn to walk away. But don’t close your heart to love, Areli. Love will always find its way to those that are open to it.”
    “But I was open to it,” cried Areli, “why didn’t love come to me now. Couldn’t it tell? Didn’t it know?”
    “Love is not always kind to our wishes, Areli,” said the maid, “love is a perfectionist. But when it’s real. Love is at the present, always.”
    “I thought it was real.” The maid held Areli closer to her.
    “That’s the thing about love,” said the maid, “when it’s not real . . . it brings nothing but heartache and pain.”

    “Areli, darling,” said Areli’s mother from the foyer entrance into the drawing room, “the guard will be here any moment, darling. Come. There are many people who want to see us off.” Areli sat up and looked in the direction of her mother’s voice. “Please, Areli.” Areli looked at both her maid and the servant. She had been so caught up in feelings for Talon that she hadn’t properly said her goodbyes to them. Her voice stuck to her throat.
    “We know, Areli,” said the maid. Areli hugged her. She squeezed her so hard, that she feared she might have broken one of her ribs. She then hugged her servant, and then stood up from her spot.
    “I love you,” said Areli, “I love you both dearly.”
    “We love you too, Areli,” said the maid. The servant already had a handkerchief out to dry the wetness on his cheeks. He