This Darkest Man by Sinden West

ladies man. He made a name for himself when they arrived
because he went around seducing all the daughters and sometimes the wives in
this community.”
    I
let out a laugh, even though it was the opposite of how I was feeling. “That
must have been very scandalous for the time.”
    “It
was,” Marie continued, her brow furrowed. “He was a trouble maker. He may have
been out for a harmless bit of fun, but the women who succumbed to his advances
were labeled whores and beaten or ostracized by their families. They called him
‘The Dark Man’ because of his dark hair and eyes, and his selfish actions.”
    “What
happened to him?” I asked.
    She
shrugged. “He disappeared. They say that he ran off with the young wife of
Edwin Larsen.”
    I
arched an eyebrow, my interest caught. “Really?”
    She
nodded.  “Believe me; it was hugely scandalous because they both disappeared at
the same time. The Larsens weren’t popular back then of course being wealthy
landowners. Some say that Old Edwin got what he deserved, but with that
skeleton turning up in your house…”
    “You
think it’s the wife? What was her name?” I leaned forward, eager to have my
mystery solved.
    “I
don’t know. I’ll see what I can find out.” She patted my hand again as she
stood. “I just thought it ironic that someone who looked like that handsome
young man ended up in the Larsen house.” She gave me a knowing smile. “You were
obviously very taken with him.”
    I
blushed. “I—“
    “I’m
sorry. I didn’t say it to embarrass you. You’re a young woman. You should be
having fun and living life. I’m just sorry that he’s gone. Do you think that
you’ll see him again?”
    I
shook my head.
    “Oh,
well, there’s plenty more fish in the sea. I’ll call in tomorrow and see if
you’re feeling better.” I waited until she left before I went to my aunt’s desk
and pulled out the family Bible. The writing in the front was worn but the name
Edwin Larsen was clearly written in a flowing script and next to his name where
his wife should have been recorded was a mess of ink. Someone’s name had been
scratched out as if to void her existence. Next to it was the name Diana and
the year of their marriage. This was obviously the second wife who had provided
him with children.  I ran my hand over the ink blots that were long dried, my
own problems forgotten and my mind was transfixed on this woman who had dared
to anger her husband for the sake of what was hopefully true love.
    “Were
you in love with Daniel?” I asked softly. “Did you leave with him?” There was
no response, and I remembered the ring. Putting the book aside I went to the
safe and pulled out the box of jewelry and began to rifle through it, searching
for the garnet that was dark as a drop of blood to shine through all the
sensibility of my ancestors’ pasts.
    But
it wasn’t there.  It was gone.

Chapter Eight
    “Why
didn’t you get a room with other people? You’ll get lonely in that shoebox all
by yourself.” Erin stared out at me from the screen of my laptop, not looking
particularly impressed at my new place. I just shrugged at her. She knew what I
was like by now, she knew that I would never be comfortable living with a bunch
of strangers.
    “It’s
close to work.” My new job was the opposite of my new living situation. I
worked in a cubicle on a floor filled with a hundred others. It was a fancy
corporate law firm and I was just one of many lowly employees. My official
title was assistant to the assistant to the assistant of someone important. It
was okay. I worked quietly at my desk, obeyed orders that were barked to me,
and kept to myself.
    “Well,
when I get back we’re going to get a place together and—” Someone to the side
of her was rambling in French. “Hey, Matilda. I had better go. My date’s here!
Love you. See ya.” And she was gone.
    I
stared at the screen before shutting it. At least I had one friend in the
world, it was just a