Book 3: Chapter 71: The Rose Dawn Orphanage
The sound of a nesting pair of bluebirds singing outside the bedroom window of the refurbished servant’s house woke Ivy just as the first rays of dawn broke across the lush country landscape of pre-autumn foliage outside the narrow glass window. She quickly removed her blankets and then moved through her morning routine. Her internal clock had regressed quite naturally to the early morning hours of a working maid despite her newly established position as Matron of the Rose Dawn Orphanage.
Extra time was needed to remove her old bandages, then rinse, tap dry, and apply ointment to the sores on her shoulders, chest, stomach, and the few places on her back she could reach where the worst of the curse mark had spread. Once done, Ivy meticulously wrapped herself in fresh cotton bandages, clenching her teeth every time the material grated against the inflamed skin until she secured the end of the cotton dressing two inches below the mark with a safety pin.
The young matron took a moment to steady her breathing and unclench her jaw before moving to the refurbished oak vanity desk that had once belonged to Mrs. Turnbell. Once there, she opened the sturdy mahogany medicine box with shaking fingers and pulled out one of the three remaining vials of Hana’s blood-infused tonic. Ivy quickly dumped the sticky fluid down her throat, tapping the glass vial against her teeth to encourage the last drops to fall free. Her clenched muscles relaxed as she sagged into the chair, gripping the desk with her left hand as she closed her eyes with a faint moan of relief at the almost immediate effects that numbed the worst of her pain.
‘Only two left. Should I send a letter to Lady Hana? She promised to bring the next batch when she and the Duchess came to visit the orphanage.’
Ivy massaged her aching jaw and temple as she listened to the gentle ticking of the grandfather clock in her study just across the hall. She soon roused herself and continued getting dressed, grateful for the conservative style of the many full-length dresses of solid dark or neutral earth colors patterned with various flowers and lace that lined her wardrobe.
Once sufficiently clothed, the young matron opened her jewelry box and pulled out the obsidian wolf necklace the Duchess had gifted her during the Royal Hunt. She shivered beneath the cool magic that radiated from the speckled black gemstone. Something she had learned to appreciate during the warm periods of the day when she had to be outside, either checking up on the children or attending to other matters around the estate. While she had been given a handful of staff to help manage the orphanage, Ivy still oversaw all matters that required dipping into the budget assigned to its operations.
The young matron grabbed her shawl from the dresser and draped it carefully around her shoulders and neck before leaving the bedroom of her private suite on the second floor, complete with a study and private bath. She took the stairs to the second floor, where the rest of the orphanage staff had small private rooms, a shared public bathroom, and a community kitchen.
The orphanage cook, Dennis, who had previously served in the Turnbell household, nodded towards the matron as she descended the stairs.