Garnet or Garnets Curse

say.
    “Just say thank you to the gentleman,” Maria encouraged.
    “Very well, thank you kindly Robert,” I said, ending the conversation.
    Once inside the home, the miscellany of the family dynasty was a delight for our eyes. The grand entrance hall with a glass roof served as a conservatory for a variety of exotic plants and statues. The plaster walls were lined with paintings and tapestries lit by sparkling crystal and gilded brass candelabras.
    Auntie always said it was a sign of poor breeding to allow oneself to appear overly impressed by things of wealth. But I was like a child unable to control my emotions and wandering eyes. When I looked at Robert his expression was not boastful, but more of that of amusement.
    Maria was fumbling with an arrangement of words to form a proper complement to our host when we heard fast-approaching footsteps. Robert turned to face a dark-haired woman trotting toward us. He cleared his throat, “Buenos tardes, Rosa.”
    Her dark eyes flashed in our direction and then turned to Robert. “Buenos tardes, Senor Shelley,” she echoed back and dipped her knees slightly.
    Robert raised his finger to us, signaling for us to wait. He walked down the hall and Rosa followed. Maria and I stood silently listening to the fading sound of their heels clicking down the hall.
    Once we were alone we peered into the sitting room. Maria pointed to the black heating grates, indicating that the house had been refurbished with the most modern heating service. The dark red velvet sofas and walnut tables were perfectly arranged. On the back wall were two large windows revealing a view of the grounds. By one sat a grand piano and by the other a game table for cards or an intimate chat. I imagined walking across the silk Persian rugs in my bare feet.
    “Garnet,” Maria whispered. “Look in here. Someone certainly has a great passion for reading.” I tiptoed across the hall and feasted my eyes upon more books than I had ever seen in my life. This room had a masculine flare with rich leather chairs and hunting trophies mounted on the wall.
    The glaring eyes of a large moose head held me enchanted until I heard Maria speak. “Not a speck of dust anywhere.” I looked up and saw her running her finger along the chair railing.
    “Very impressive. Simply perfect,” I agreed. The words had just left my lips when we saw a cat with a mouse run out of the room at the end of the hall. Moments later a large-framed woman rushed after the cat with a broom.
    “Well, almost perfect,” Maria joked. We were still snickering when we saw Robert approaching. On his heels were two servant girls, who stopped before us, curtsied and ran up the stairs giggling. Robert shook his head offering his apology for the girls and directed us into the sitting room. We had barely taken a seat when Rosa entered the room with a tray of refreshments.
    During the course of our eating, I witnessed several servants rushing up and down the stairs. All of them appeared to be of Spanish descent.
    When Rosa appeared at the door and quietly nodded her head, Robert jumped to his feet. “Well ladies, it is late and I am sure you are ready to retire for the night. May we escort you to your rooms?”
    We followed them up the marble stairs to the second floor living hall. Robert paused when we entered a cozy oak sitting room. “This was my mother’s favorite room. It joins the family bedrooms. After my father died, she never came down to the dining room again. She ate the balance of her meals over there by the window. She said it was a comfort to her to dine overlooking the rose garden he planted for her.”
    “I can understand her feelings exactly,” Maria said, acknowledging a little of her own feelings of widowhood.
    “Garnet, I have taken the liberty to give you my mother’s room. I hope you do not mind the close proximity to my quarters. If you like I could post a servant by your door.” He looked at me sincerely for a moment, then laughed, making light of his remark.
    He opened the door. Rosa rushed in, turned on the lamp and closed the velvet curtains. “Please enter, ladies,” Robert said, extending his arm to me.
    From the moment we stepped into the large oval room, we found ourselves immersed in the perfect feminine retreat. The ceiling was draped with yards of silk and the French-style bed was dressed in purple and gold.
    “Is the room to your liking, Garnet?” Robert asked, even though he knew from my expression the