Darkest Dreams by Jennifer St Giles

him, we’d always been accompanied by a number of people, which afforded very little opportunity for conversation—exactly what I didn’t want to occur today. I had things to say that I knew my family would not understand, and would only be hurt by. For the Trojan Horse Plan now not only had meaning for my sister Cassie, but for me too.
    In light of the incident with the man on the boardwalk, I desperately needed to face the reality of my situation. After my sensual thoughts of Alexander and pirates, my dreams had turned ugly, to a scene so nightmarish I’d awakened early, drenched in perspiration and shivering. I’d had a vision of myself trapped within a cage where strangers came, constantly touching me, drowning me in their thoughts. I became completely lost, no longer knowing who I was, or who anyone else was either.
    Had the dream portended that madness was to be my fate if I didn’t find a way to shelter myself? I shuddered.
    I had to live alone, and I had to support myself. The only thing I knew of life was antiquities and how to catalogue them, which meant I would need to seek employment in a museum or, as Alexander had suggested earlier this summer, and as my father had alluded to by the gift of Aphrodite’s ring, I could be paid to catalogue individual art collections in private homes. Employment in a museum would most likely put me in a position of having to interact with more people on a daily basis than working in a private home. By living alone and frugally, it was possible I would not have to take many assignments to survive.
    To this end, I would need references, thus I needed a job. And that was exactly what I planned to ask Alexander for today. He’d offered before, so it wasn’t too outrageous for me to approach him about the matter today. Still, my heart fluttered at the idea of going to meet him alone, even if he was, in fact, now family. Working for him could be the path to my independence.
    Living in the wilds of Cornwall, far from the eagle-eyed confines of Oxford’s proper society, afforded both Gemini and I more freedom than we’d ever known, and now having a married sister had—in a number of ways—expanded those strictures. I knew the viscount had a housekeeper, a widowed sister of Mrs. Murphy’s, who lived at the castle. I knew he had a number of servants as well. So, in truth, I wouldn’t exactly be alone with him. It wasn’t as if I was a society miss with a reputation to keep sterling, either. Marriage was not in my future. Besides, a woman employed did not have need of a chaperone. Cassie herself had gone alone to Killdaren’s Castle months ago to work as a maid, and she didn’t bring a chaperone along. I could do the same.
    With my mind made up, I hurriedly finished dressing. The family usually gathered for a late breakfast, and I wanted to be gone before they started to head down the stairs for that meal. Careful not to wake Gemini, Prudence, Rebecca or Bridget, all of whom slept in the same wing as me, I slipped quietly from my room and went down the servant’s staircase that led directly to the kitchens and the back door leading to the stables. My chances of encountering Cassie were limited that way.
    The huge hearth blazed with a welcoming fire as the rich aroma of kidney pies and fresh scones filled the air. Maids scurried to follow Mrs. Murphy’s jovial instructions, and she turned my way as I exited the stairs.
    â€œYou’re up a bit early, lass.”
    â€œYes,” I said, pasting a confident smile on my face. “I’ve a number of important errands to attend to, and I’m not exactly sure when I’ll be back.”
    Mrs. Murphy’s brows arched. “Then you’ll be missing the morning meal?”
    â€œUnfortunately. And most sorry I am. It smells delicious.”
    â€œNo need to worry. I’ll wrap a few scones for you to carry with you.” She told a maid to ready a