'
Lord Ren's recovery took longer than his previous... episode, and despite being on tenterhooks over her position at Varykino, Rey could not help but feel the merest bit concerned. The other staff certainly were.
For now, she left the parlour, (the last closed up room), alone, and concentrated on cleaning the rooms that were in use and taking a greater role in the kitchen work.
Poe was dispatched to Dockray for meat and any ingredients Rey requested, so she could bake cakes and biscuits regularly.
The sun started to shine again, and Lord Ren finally made it downstairs. Rey had no notion of his improvement so she was in the library, cleaning. She had paused for a moment, to study the globe of the world, wondering how it could be round when the horizon was always flat, when the clearing of a throat startled her.
Lord Ren stood in the doorway, dark of countenance and pale of cheek, yet, although he still loomed large, he seemed different, not as intimidating somehow. Which was ridiculous because he may be about to dismiss her.
Dipping into a curtsy, Rey lowered her eyes, "Lord Ren! I am almost finished here but I can leave now, if you wish?"
Internally, she winced at her choice of words - 'almost finished here,' seemed like a poor omen;
should she just ask him about what he intended to do with her? Unbidden, came the memory of her dream, of soft lips upon her brow and whispered endearments. It became necessary to look at the floor, in the vain hope that her blush would go unseen.
She watched with a quickening heartbeat as Lord Ren's polished black shoes stepped closer to her, but she kept her eyes downcast, afraid of his anger or ridicule.
There was the quiet yet unmistakable sound of an in-drawn breath, something she didn't think she would ever grow used to or understand, and then he spoke.
"Continue as you were, Miss Johnson," his voice was raspy, yet quiet and it felt oddly intimate.
A little shiver passed through her as she looked up to see him casually take a seat in one of the chairs and open a book. Was this some sort of test? And why was the unusual scent she associated with the library suddenly stronger? The queer peppery, musky scent becoming more noticeable over the leather and wood smoke.
Lord Ren was utterly still, save for his large fingers turning to a particular page in his book, and although his eyes never left whatever he was reading, she felt like she was being watched all the same.
With a hard swallow and a strange flippy feeling in her stomach, Rey awkwardly continued with her dusting as quickly yet as thoroughly as she could.
As she was gathering her things to leave, Lord Ren spoke without turning his head, "In the future, if you wish to take a bath, please inform Mr Hux."
Did that mean she could stay? The slightest feeling of indignation coiled through her, because she had told Mr Hux, but, this was a gift-horse and she would not look it in the mouth. She allowed the indignation to be swallowed up in the tide of relief that coursed through her.
"Of course, Lord Ren…" how did one appolgise to a member of the peerage? "I, ah, beg pardon for my imprudence."
After waiting for him to reply for a full minute, she concluded it must have been enough and he wouldn't be acknowledging her, so she scurried from the room and down to the kitchen where she collapsed in a chair.
"Are you quite all right?" Dopheld asked from the stove.
Rey looked up and grinned at him, "I am very well, Dopheld, thank you."
He looked understandably confused, but returned her cheer, "Oh, well, jolly good then!"
"Shall I make scones for tea?"
'
With Lord Ren up and about again, the atmosphere in the house eased in one sense but returned to slammed doors and a jumpy Dopheld, (though he didn't seem unduly unhappy about it), and Rey went back to avoiding Lord Ren as much as she could.
It was hard not to dance wherever she went, after his tacit indication that he wouldn't dismiss her, Rey felt a little like she was walking on air. She couldn't help humming as she worked, or stop herself from smiling every other moment.
'
One day at breakfast, Mr Hux found her with a very pleased expression on his face.
"Rey, could you please open up the drawing room and remove the dust sheet from the pianoforte? I have engaged a tuner to attend to it later this morning."
With a smile that would rival the Cheshire Cat's, Rey nodded, "Of course, sir!"
"Thank you," with a nod, he left the kitchen and Rey turned to see Poe and Dopheld giving her puzzled looks.
"Does that mean you can play?" Poe asked around a mouthful of toast.
Ignoring his poor manners, Rey shook her head, "No, not at all, but it seemed so sad that it couldn't be played if a visitor stayed who had the accomplishment."
Poe laughed, "We don't have visitors to stay, ever, it's just us and the master."
Thinking of Lady Solo, Rey shrugged and answered optimistically, "Well, there is a first time for everything."
'
As it had been a while since she had cleaned the drawing room, she opened the windows to let the stale air out and after neatly folding the dust sheet that covered the piano, she made sure it was well polished with nary a spot of dust to mar its surface.
This was the first visitor since she arrived at Varykino, and she was doubly glad she had taken care of the foyer and hall rather than starting on the parlour room. Everywhere on view looked clean and smart. Not that a piano-tuner was someone that needed impressing, but it still felt important all the same.
'
Mr Hux dealt with the man when he arrived and Rey went to clean the dining room so she would be able to listen to the piano being brought back to life.
As the notes got clearer and sweeter, she felt like she may burst with glee, which was thoroughly silly, but besides now, she would likely not hear it sound again for some time, possibly never.
That afternoon she made Victoria Sandwiches with the last of Miss Tico's strawberry conserve, to celebrate.
Poe had bought some very nice spiced apple jelly which they had enjoyed on the scones she made, but she hoped she would be able to buy more strawberry conserve or jam soon, they weren't yet in season, but Poe would be travelling to Penrith in the next few days to collect a clocksmith and she hoped he may be able to find some in the shops there.
'
On the day of his trip to Penrith, Mr Hux allowed she and Dopheld to go with Poe as far as Collierhagg Beck for a brief visit with Miss Kanata.
Just as she was climbing into the trap, Rey realised with chagrin that she had forgotten she would need her pocketbook. Poe laughed good-naturedly when she confessed and allowed her to hurry back inside to collect it.
As she flew inside, she had to pause in wonder on the stairs, because the space was filled with the sound of the pianoforte. Rey had little knowledge of music, but that hardly mattered because whatever was being played, was simply, breath-takingly, beautiful.
For a moment, she was frozen in place, so enraptured that she completely forgot the urgency of her errand, then, as whomever was playing fumbled slightly, she remembered and quietly carried on to the hall.
As she glanced into the drawing room, expecting to see Mr Hux, (because Poe and Dopheld were outside and Mr Hux had been quite keen to have the instrument fixed), Rey was shocked to stillness once again as her eyes landed on Lord Ren sitting upon the bench, hunched over somewhat as his large yet somehow graceful fingers moved fluidly across the keys.
Perhaps she made some sort of noise, or Lord Ren merely felt the intensity of her regard, because he stopped playing abruptly, the sudden cessation jarring, and whipped around to stare at her.
Clearly, he was as surprised at seeing her as she had been him, because he just regarded her for a moment, then tensed, his hands fisting at his sides.
"I was given to understand you had gone out."
The beginning of the sentence started off slightly discomposedly but by its end, he was back to his curt, brusque self, yet she thought he was less collected than he had been in the library earlier.
Nonetheless, Rey swallowed and dropped a curtsy, "I am sorry, Lord Ren, I just came back to fetch something, I'll leave."
'
She was so bewildered that it was halfway towards Collierhagg Beck before she realised she had completely forgotten to fetch her pocketbook.
Happily, Dopheld offered to cover anything she may buy and she promised with reddened cheeks to reimburse him as soon as they arrived home.
'
It was a very different journey to the last time Rey had travelled that road. She had pleasant company for a start and the sky was blue and the sun was out. With summer fast approaching, the trees and bushes were thick and green and the air was filled with the trilling of birds.
Once she got over her strange encounter and the embarrassment over her forgetfulness, she enjoyed the journey immensely.
It was roughly the same distance as Dockray but as that was uphill, it felt a lot swifter and she looked forward to a chance to stretch her legs on the walk home.
Poe stopped the trap at a small stream that disappeared under the road.
"Rather smaller than the Aira Beck, isn't it?"
He was right, when compared to its fellow, Collierhagg Beck looked somewhat pathetic.
Rey smiled and shrugged, "It's still very pretty," she insisted as Dopheld helped her down from the trap. "Thank you for letting us join you."
"Oh, my pleasure, the drive to Penrith will be rather dull without you," Poe winked, then clucked to his horse and started off again, "Don't forget the master's tincture!"
Dopheld scoffed as he watched the trap speed away, "As if I would," he muttered as he shook his head, then looked at Rey with a smile and awkwardly offered his arm, "The path is more of a trail really and rather rocky underfoot."
Taking his arm, Rey turned away from the lake and let him guide her into the trees. The birdsong was even louder here and the woods had a stillness to them that made leaving the sunshine no disappointment. The effect was a little like the fog had been, like they had stepped into another world, though this one was entirely pleasant.
"Maz, Miss Kanata, is quite eccentric but is perfectly amiable," Dopheld remarked as they walked.
It may have been the fresh air, or her strange morning, but Rey allowed her curiosity to get the better of her, "What is the tincture Poe spoke of?"
"Oh, ah, well," poor Dopheld stammered, "Master has a… an infirmity, Maz makes a special remedy that helps him when he has need of it."
Infirm, was not a word Rey would have used to describe Lord Ren, even when at his wannest; but, she had only been here for a few months, so she merely nodded in answer.
Presently, they arrived in a clearing in the trees, in which sat a small dwelling of curious design.
As they walked into the sunlight again, bells chimed somewhere above them and Rey noticed a string she had knocked with her foot that led to the bells hanging from a Rowan tree.
The cabin, for want of a better word, was small and compact but with a very tall chimney on one side and an ever taller one on the other, for what reason, Rey could only imagine. Parts of the building were wooden, but other parts were dry stone, the two small windows she could see were stained in a riot of colours and the treeless land surrounding the house was given over to a large variety of plants, all of which looked very robust.
As they made their way up the narrow path towards the open front door, a voice drifted out to them.
"In you come, Dopheld, don't shilly-shally around, I haven't got all day!"
Inside, the little home was as strange as it appeared on the outside, it was quite dimly lit and very cluttered, there were various and manifold items everywhere, some peculiar and some like the huge bunches of herbs hanging from the ceiling, recognisable. The room they entered was warm despite the open door and Rey noticed a roaring fire in the hearth with a huge pot hanging above the flames.
"Oh, and whom do we have here?"
Rey attempted to find the owner of the voice but failed until a very small person bustled out from behind a stack of well worn books. Miss Kanata was tiny, with thick glasses over sharp brown eyes and deeply tanned skin. She was dressed in an assortment of layers, all of which were in contrasting colours.
Dipping a respectful curtsy, Rey held out her hand, "Good afternoon, Miss Kana-"
"Phaw! None of that misses business, please. Call me Maz."
Shutting her slightly gaping mouth, Rey nodded and Maz mirrored her, then stared her up and down.
"So, you'll be the new maid then, Rey," she smiled at Rey's obvious surprise, "Oh the birds tell me everything that occurs on my Lake," she shook her head, muttering, "That foolish boy! Still he'll find his tongue eventually, more of his father in him that he would like, that's his problem."
Rey looked uncertainly at Dopheld who silently shrugged before Maz could catch him.
"Well, so Dopheld dear, you are here for the tincture of the moon for the boy and some more sweet-sleep for you? I have them made up and ready to go."
"Thank you, Maz, ah, would you have enough sweet-sleep for Rey, too?"
Maz's beady eyes focused on Rey, one of her hands coming up to tap her lips, "Tell me girl, how is your sleep troubling you?"
"Oh," Rey blushed under such scrutiny, "Well, I have been having the most vivid dreams, some of which are quite unpleasant and the others leave me feeling as if I have hardly closed my eyes."
"Indeed, and are there any recurring themes?"
Suddenly Rey felt rather awkward, she didn't want to divulge her dream of Lord Ren or the wolf, "I, well the most distressing of my dreams was that I was," here she blushed further with shame, "I was back at the workhouse in London, I was stuck there and would only ever leave when I died."
A small warm hand clasped hers, Maz's expression had softened, "Dear child, you will never have to go back there," she smiled beautifully, "I see that the belonging you seek is ahead of you, there may be some bumps in the road, but you are on your way. Now", she clapped her hands together with vigour, "I will make you up what you need, do not fret Dopheld, it will just take two shakes of a lamb's tail!"
Maz disappeared behind the books again, but Rey could hear her muttering to herself and the sound of tins and boxes being opened and closed. A look at Dopheld granted her another shrug and a small, encouraging smile.
Maz was fairly true to her word, it had been less than five minutes when she emerged from the gloom, a small tin in her hand. "If this doesn't banish the, unpleasant," (here Maz eyed her as if she had an inkling that Rey hadn't been entirely honest with her,) "Dreams away, come back. It is a slightly slapdash concoction, but it should do the trick."
'
They had made their farewells and started down the path, when Maz called out , "And next time, tell young Solo to come himself! That boy owes me a game of chess!"
Rey stumbled in shock and Dopheld just caught her from turning head over heels.
"You see?" he murmured as she righted herself, "Quite eccentric, but she makes excellent remedies."
From everything she had seen, Rey rather suspected Maz really may be a witch, or some sort of wise-woman at the least, but she hadn't had an air of evil or danger, in fact, despite her oddities, Rey decided she rather liked her.
'
Scone recipe
(I couldn't find a Victorian one, so here is my recipe - I work in ounces because I am a Luddite, but you can find conversion charts on google)
'
INGREDIENTS
'
8 oz self raising flour
2 oz butter
1 oz sugar
¼ pint of milk
'
METHOD
Rub the butter into the flour, then add the sugar. Stir in most of the milk - sometimes you don't need it all and sometimes you do so it's best to see. Mix till it forms dough. Handles the dough as little as possible for best results. Cut out rounds or squares and brush the tops with a little milk.
Bake in a HOT oven (230 or 210 for fan) and keep a vigilant eye on them as they can suddenly catch if left in a little too long. 8-10 minutes depending on how big they are. Remove at once and leave to cool. These are best eaten on the same day or you can freeze them.
(If you are doing a traditional English cream tea, you cut the scone in half, spread with butter, add the jam or conserve of your choice (but it ought to be strawberry if you're being traditional) then top with a dollop of clotted cream (NOT whipped cream). Enjoy with a cup of tea, Earl Grey if you have it!)
'
A/N: Apologies over the late mention of slow burn- sometimes I forget the tagging system here is so different to AO3. Here are some of the tags I've used over there -Historical Mystery AU, Historical Inaccuracy, Enemies to Lovers, no beta we die like men, Slow Burn, Author has Taken some Liberties, Angst, HEA, A Slice of Life, The Slowest of Burns
