Drapery

A/N: I'm not doing so hot emotionally and my pup's being a strange, but comforting void.

Shadow awoke early the next day, rain pattering quietly against the window as he bathed and dressed for the day. He knocked on Sandy's door, finding the same woman from yesterday carry a tray out of the room.

"You're early," Sandy said, hand coming out of the canopy to beckon him closer. "I wasn't expecting you 'til the afternoon."

"I wanted to get an early start," Shadow replied, going over to his easel and setting up the canvas. "I'm sure you'd want me out of hair as soon as possible as well."

"Oh, no. It's jus'. . .I haven't had visitors since my accident. Lord knows Randy would worry himself sick if I said I wanted to go outside." She said, a dry laugh filling the room. "He's been taking care of me ever since, but sometimes I wish he'd remember I'm still his sister n not some helpless maiden. Drives me mad when he checks in every hour."

"Well, I'm here. That should placate him, right?" Shadow joked, going over to the curtains. "Do you mind if I open the curtains. These candles aren't enough light."

"It's been raining since last night, but go ahead."

Shadow wrinkled his nose as flurries of dust floated up once he drew the curtains back. How long had she been confined to this one room with the curtains drawn? Shadow turned, walking over to his easel again. "If I may," he started, swallowing. "how long has it been since your incident?"

He waited, his heart pounding in his chest as a small series of rustling sounded behind the canopy and the bed creaked. He looked up as the canopy was pushed back and he was face to face with Sandy. One of her legs—her only working leg, he realized—hung off the bed as she smiled at him.

"Just about three years," she finally answered, green eyes downcast before meeting Shadow's gaze. "I figured you couldn't do your job with me hidin' n all so. . ." she trailed off, asking, "Is something wrong?"

Shadow looked at her face, forcing himself not to stare at her missing leg. The knee had a long healed scar and—no, it was rude enough he had even asked her and he wasn't about to start staring at his client.

"No," he breathed out. "I just, what happened?"

Sandy shifted back into bed, grabbing the book on her nightstand. "I, um,"

"I'm sorry," Shadow interrupted. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to." He grabbed his pencil and the chair by the window. "I'll get started, you can read if you like."

Sandy was quiet for a moment before humming in response. Shadow began to sketch as she read, scratchings of his pencil and turnings of pages in her book seeming loud.

"What got you into painting?" Sandy suddenly asked, looking over her book at him.

He wished she had stayed like that, it was coy yet somehow bold. "My stepmother, she encouraged me in it while my stepfather was away at sea," Shadow answered. He might as well keep the conversation going since they couldn't sit in silence forever. "What book are you reading?"

"The Mysteries of Udolpho, it's by Ann Radcliffe. I never thought I would get around to reading this." Sandy grew quiet for a moment as Shadow tried to remember the way she looked only a few moments ago.

Their eyes met as he glanced at her to make sure his light source was correct. Shadow swallowed, a blush working its way onto his face. The sketch turned out better than he expected. It was when she had looked him over her book for the first time, her evening gown and face shadowed by the sunlight.

It was domestic yet somehow ethereal. Maybe it was the way her eyes shined or how the brown of her fur seemed golden at that moment despite the rain.

"I'll come back in the afternoon to start painting," Shadow said, quickly standing up and putting the chair back.

"Alright," Sandy said, glancing from her book. "You can leave the curtains that way, a bit of sunlight never hurt anyone."

Shadow nodded, moving his easel and canvas out of the way. He headed downstairs, pausing as Randy walking towards him with another man.

"Ah, I hope my sister wasn't too much trouble," Randy said, putting a hand on Shadow's shoulder. "Valen, this is the painter I was talking about. He'll be here a few weeks to do Sandy's portrait."

Valen looked at Shadow, quiet as they shook hands. "It's nice to meet you. I hope you immortalize my betrothed so that Randy doesn't feel too lonely when she leaves." Valen said with a grin on his face.

"I'll do my best," Shadow mumbled, moving past them to enter the dining room. He quietly thanked the servant that sat his breakfast in front of him, trying not to dwell on the fact that Sandy was betrothed. It would have been nice to know earlier or else he would have changed his sketch.