Disclaimer: This story is based on characters created by L.J. Smith, as portrayed in the TV series created by Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec. The plot is based on the novel The Cardoss Luck (1974) by Janet Louise Roberts. All rights to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.
Author's Note: Thank you for all the lovely reviews. I apologize in advance for the language – it's not completely era-appropriate. Also, David is perhaps more forward than a boy of 10 would have been in the 1800s, but I wanted his interaction with Elena to be candid and fun. Enjoy!
FORTUNE FAVORS THE BRAVE
~ II ~
Elena looked out the window. It was almost dusk. They had set out for Mystic Falls at the break of dawn, and there was no indication that they would be reaching their destination any time soon. David, who sat beside her in the carriage, was having a hard time keeping his eyes open.
They had amused themselves with different games on their journey thus far, the latest being 'black horse'. The rules of the game were simple enough. When the carriage passed another equipage with a black horse, the person who said the words first was the winner. David excelled in the game. Damon stated he was colorblind and thus, to him, all horses were grey. The twinkle in his eyes as he made that statement refuted its accuracy.
Elena had brought several of her books along, and had also acquired several new children's books, which she had begun to read to David. He looked at her with adoration in those clear blue eyes of his and Elena caught Damon observing them with an inscrutable look on his face on several occasions.
Damon had changed since they left Atlanta. The days of their courtship had passed in carefree camaraderie, and Elena had been confident that their year together would fly by with equally lighthearted companionship. But now, after all was said and done, he had become reserved.
He was still very much the gentleman, and he was not unpleasant in any way, but it was as if the light had gone out in his eyes. That boyish playfulness that she had grown so accustomed to in the past couple of days was gone.
She found comfort in the fact that David had obviously taken a liking to her. His adoration was nothing short of adorable, and she felt genuine affection towards the boy. He had lacked a mother figure for too long.
Damon had told her David lost his father, Damon's brother Damien, to consumption as late as last year. David's mother had died in childbirth.
When David's eyelids began to droop and his head came to rest against Elena's side, she shifted in her seat so that he could lay down with his head in her lap and pulled a blanket over his tiny frame.
He was still so scrawny, despite all the food Elena's cook had plied him with. It would take time, but Elena was confident that with the refreshing country air and regular healthy portions, he would soon be a strong little boy.
She stroked the child's raven hair fondly, and when she looked up from his sleeping form, she was met with pools of blue, as difficult to read as ancient texts. Damon had his poker face on and she could not determine whether he was pleased or not with the fact that his nephew was already so attached to her. Yet the boy seemed intelligent and well aware of the fact that Elena would not remain in their lives for long.
"Is it much further?" Elena asked quietly, as to not disturb the sleeping child.
"I'm afraid so. You should rest. I understand this journey has been tiresome."
"No, not at all. Yes, I am weary, but it has also been an adventure. I have not seen these parts before."
"Where did you grow up?"
"Fell's Church. It is a small village about a day's journey from Atlanta."
"I see. I have heard of the Gilberts of Fell's Church. They are prominent people."
"Not my parents. When my father married beneath him, my grandfather disowned him. As the eldest, my uncle controlled the family estate after grandfather's passing. When I came to live with my uncle after my parents' death, I was treated like his servant – as I told you upon our first meeting." She paused.
"Since arriving in Atlanta, I came to learn appearance meant everything. I was suddenly wealthy, but I did not appear as such. The shop attendants refused to help me, and it was not until I found a seamstress that agreed to make my clothes that I was accepted into society."
"And became the Belle of the Ball."
"I would much sooner be referred to as the Ice Queen."
"Yet I could see the fire inside you when you approached me. Tell me, why me of all people? You undoubtedly had many suitors to choose from."
"Men who wished to possess me, you mean. No, Mr. Salvatore, that was not what I sought."
"Well, it seems all worked out in our favor, then," he said, his voice void of emotion.
"I should hope so."
"Get some rest, Mrs. Salvatore. We have a long journey ahead of us still."
It was midday when the carriage came to a halt in front of an impressive structure. They had stopped for breakfast at a tavern earlier, and after a few more hours, they had finally arrived at their destination.
As Damon helped Elena dismount the carriage, she took in the beauty before her. The Salvatore mansion's antebellum architecture was tarnished and the gardens overgrown, but she could see its potential. A year of idleness had left her restless, and she could feel her fingers itching to get to work.
"It's a beautiful house, Mr. Salvatore," she said in earnest.
"It was once," he said somberly.
"It can be again."
"I do not have the funds to restore it to its former glory, Elena. It's the only thing I have left to my name, and I pray I shall be able to hold on to it for David."
Elena nodded in understanding. She would raise the issue at a later time, when they were both well rested and away from listening ears.
Elena set the servants to work – airing out the rooms, preparing a meal, starting fires in the bedrooms and library. They would have to hire more help. It was a large estate and Emily, the cook and the two man servants were not enough to run this household.
Damon disappeared into what Elena presumed was the study and did not re-appear until one of the servants announced dinner was prepared.
After dinner, Emily helped David to his room and Elena promised she would come up to read to him.
When they were alone in the library, Elena turned to her husband. "There is something I wish to ask you."
"By all means," he said, leaning back in his worn leather chair in front of the fireplace, a tumbler of amber liquid in his hand.
"I wondered… since this will be my home – for the next year at least – would you mind if I made some slight alterations?"
"No, not at all. I wish you to feel at home."
"Thank you. Well, I should go to David and read him his story," she excused herself. "Good night, Damon."
"Good night, Elena."
After she had tucked David in and promised him they would explore the grounds together the following day, Elena went to her bedroom.
It was a large, feminine room with a canopy bed and a beautiful dresser and closet. The carpet was worn, but Elena felt confident it could either be cleaned or replaced. The canopy and curtain fabrics were frayed and would need to be replaced, but the furniture was made of sturdy and fine wood, and it could easily be polished and restored to its former glory.
There was a door leading into the master bedroom – her master's bedroom, to be exact. There was no lock on that door and Elena felt an inexplicable shiver go through her body knowing that her husband would be sleeping behind that door. She shook off that strange feeling and rang for Emily to help her undress for the night.
"I must go back to Atlanta," Damon announced at breakfast, just as David had been excused and gone to play with the kittens the cook had brought with her to Mystic Falls.
"Oh." Elena was surprised to find herself feeling disappointed. They had not said they would spend every day of their year in each other's company, and he was of course free to go wherever he chose. Still, they only just arrived…
"You have all you need here, I hope?"
"Yes. I was planning on going into town and familiarize myself with the townspeople. Would it be all right if I hired more servants?"
"More servants? What for?"
"Well, with all the remodeling and…"
"Remodeling?"
"I thought… you said I may do some alterations?" Elena said tentatively.
"I assumed you meant new drapes, a few throw pillows. I do not wish you to spend your money on this house."
"But would you object? I promise, I will not make any drastic changes..."
"It is not necessary."
"But I want to. Please, Damon. I have not had a home to call my own for so long, and I…"
"There is no stopping you once your mind is set, is there?" he said, his voice laced with amusement.
"Not really, no," Elena blushed.
"Well, go ahead. I trust your judgment. Just… do not take on more than you can bear."
"I promise, I will not."
"Good. Well, I should be off," he said and rose from the table.
"Any indication of when you might return?" Elena said quickly, rising from the table in equal haste. Was she sounding like a possessive wife already?
"When my luck changes," he said casually.
Elena's heart sunk in her chest. He was returning to the card tables. Of course, now that he had the means to gamble again… No, it was not her place to question what he did with his allotted share. The money she gave him was his to spend as he chose, and she knew he had set up a trust for David, so the boy's future was secure. But she could not help but feel a twinge of hurt that he would prefer the company of gamblers over hers and David's. Especially David's.
"I shall try to return quickly," he said as he noticed her distress.
"I did not mean… I am merely concerned…"
"… for David," he completed her sentence. "I assure you, he will give you no trouble. He has spent much time with governesses. I will be sure to speak with him before I leave."
Elena nodded.
"Besides, the good people of Atlanta will worry about you if I stay too long," he smiled and kissed her hand.
"Do give my regards to…" Elena trailed off, realizing she really had no-one to send her regards to. Mason Lockwood and Elijah Smith had been kind and respectful – for the most part – but she was a married woman now. It would hardly be appropriate to send her regards to her former suitors via her husband. "… to your friends," she finished gracefully.
David was in low spirits for only a short while after Damon left – on horseback, not in a carriage – then he was distracted by a nest of birds and a burrow where he insisted there might be bunnies.
"Uncle Damon told me that he and father would chase the rabbits around the estate because they would eat all the cabbage, and their cousin Stefan wanted to shoot them, so they had to make sure the bunnies stayed away when he came to visit."
"I see."
"I don't like cabbage. It's ok if the bunnies want to eat it."
"But vegetables are good for you, David."
"I know, father always said so," he sighed. "It does not make them taste any better, though."
Elena laughed. "Well, Bonnie is an excellent cook and I bet she can make even vegetables taste yummy."
"Impossible," he gawked.
"No, not at all," Elena laughed.
"Miss Elena?"
"Yes, David?"
"Did you like vegetables when you where young?"
"When I was young? David, how old do you believe me to be?" Elena chuckled.
"Uncle Damon is more than 30 years old."
"Wow," Elena joked, "his hair must be graying soon."
"I am sure it will."
"Well, David, I am not many years past 20."
"20? That is double my age, miss Elena."
"And does that make me old?"
"Yes," he nodded seriously.
"Indeed… well, then, will you help an old lady around the grounds?" she smiled.
David gladly offered his arm, undoubtedly emulating the men he had seen walking in the streets of Atlanta.
They had just sat down for afternoon tea when one of the servants announced a visitor. Puzzled, Elena excused herself and went to see who it was. On the doorstep stood a tall, sandy-haired man who looked about Damon's age, perhaps slightly older. His eyes were kind and his appearance clean and respectable. He did not appear to be from a large city, though.
"I apologize for the intrusion, Mrs. Salvatore, but I heard Salvatore Manor was once again inhabited, and I wished to make your acquaintance. My name is Alaric Saltzman. I am the mayor of Mystic Falls. I first came here as a tutor, but I was elected mayor a few months ago. It is a small town," he shrugged.
"Well, do come on, Mr. Saltzman," Elena gestured towards the sitting room. "We were just about to sit down to tea. Would you care to join us?"
"Thank you," he inclined his head.
"And who might this young man be?" he said as he entered the room to find David on the sofa.
"This is David," Elena said, "My husband's nephew."
"It is a pleasure to meet you, David," Alaric smiled and extended his hand. "I have heard many great things about your family."
David glanced at Elena, who nodded almost imperceptibly, and he rose to shake the outstretched hand.
"Please," Elena gestured for Alaric to have a seat in one of the chairs and rang for Emily to bring another cup of tea.
"So… a tutor you say…" Elena said pensively.
"Yes. I must admit, I much preferred teaching to my role as mayor. But at least my new position offers me the opportunity to greet all new arrivals and ask if I could be of assistance."
"Well, this is actually rather perfect," Elena mused. "You see, I was planning on hiring more servants and perhaps even a gardener, for restoring this estate to its former glory. Do you know of any who might be seeking employment?"
"Well, this is certainly good news," Alaric smiled. "Our town will surely blossom in your merciful light."
"Please, Mr. Saltzman, I deserve no such praise, I assure you. I was taught the importance of community from an early age, and I would be honored to contribute to economic growth."
"How many servants do you expect you need to employ?"
"Well, I will need women who are able to sew – drapes, upholstery and alike – painters and cleaners. Some of the rooms are in poor condition and will have to be re-done completely, but some may be simply in need of cleaning. I plan to start with only a few rooms, so perhaps… five to ten employees?"
"I will send a few women that come highly recommended, and you can discuss details."
"Excellent."
"Did you also say you needed a gardener?"
"Yes. Do you have anyone in mind?"
"Mr. Flowers. He is elderly and cannot see very well, but he is passionate about gardening. You could not ask for a better consultant."
"Well, then I shall not," Elena smiled. "Please, bring him over at your convenience."
The rest of the afternoon tea was spent discussing the weather, the predicted crops and the townspeople. When David was excused to go play with the kittens, Elena felt she had gotten a grip on the town and its inhabitants. She had one last question, though.
"Of course I will need to discuss this with my husband, but is there any chance to employ a tutor for David? Would you consider taking up teaching again or do you have any recommendations?"
"I am afraid my current profession takes up far too much of my time, but my wife's nephew is studying to be a school teacher. He is reliable and earnest, and perhaps he would be a nice match for David – at least until you can find another suitable tutor."
"By all means, bring him around."
"You have been most kind, Mrs. Salvatore. I believe I speak for the entire town when I say we are most happy to have you here."
"Thank you, Mr. Saltzman," Elena smiled. "I am happy to be here."
It was true, Elena realized as Alaric Saltzman took his leave. She was happy to be here. She had instantly fallen in love with the estate and its potential. This was her home, even if only for a short while, and she intended to treat it as such.