Chapter 4

John had waited at the foot of the stairs every morning for eight mornings. If he couldn't wake up next to Anna, with Anna, before Anna, the next best thing was seeing her as soon as he could. Thomas was curious as to what had happened to them, but he had had the good taste for once to hold his tongue. John hoped, he believed, that in time Anna would soften towards him and if not return home, at least tell him what was wrong. He knew that quiet persistence was the only way.

Anna wasn't softening. If anything, his persistence was annoying her. John fancied that the change in her was obvious to all who knew her. Anna could keep her feelings to herself, but this was different. There was Ivy. Nice girl, if only Daisy would lighten up a bit. John was certain anyone who interacted regularly with Anna knew something was wrong. It was as if a switch had been flipped, and all the light gone from her eyes. He only hoped the others were as puzzled as he was. She said it wasn't him, John knew it wasn't her, which meant either she was lying or it was something else. Anna wasn't lying. Thomas was laughing. Anna was lying, but not about it not being him.

Mrs. Hughes bustled by. She glanced at him, and then down. She glanced at the top of the stairs, and then away. John stared at her. She didn't look at him, but she knew. John felt his jaw tighten. She hadn't looked him in the face since the night of the concert. She knew.

John stifled a yawn. He heard Anna's footsteps, soft, determined, but less quick, on the stairs. He hadn't slept since she left. He saw her first. She looked hollow. She saw him. He took a deep breath, and tried to smile. Anna didn't try. Her black eye was fading, but both eyes were sunken. She stopped, and gathered herself, and looked exasperated. It was the same every morning. He would find out. Orpheus had failed to retrieve his wife from Hades. John looked at the ceiling as Anna passed into the servants hall. At least she had tried to smile about Miss Baxter. It hadn't been a proper smile, but she had tried. John thought he could bear it if she had some spirit to her, but not this bitterness. He knew he could bear it if she didn't look so dead.

John straightened his back, and went in to breakfast. He might fail to retrieve Anna, but today he would find out what had dragged her down to Hades.