Cecilia threw the bolts home with relief and leaned back against the heavy entrance door. She looked about the hall with dim night vision and felt some of the ichors drain out of her. She was home. She was safe. Clutching the dressing case tightly to her chest, she made her weary way upstairs to her room.
Too tired to examine her small hoard from Cheney House, she opened a trunk in the corner of the room where many of her widow's clothes were stored. Shifting several tissue-wrapped bundles aside, she laid the dressing case in the trunk along with the papers she'd stuffed in her pockets. Then she hurriedly undressed and, shivering with cold, she laid Franklin's clothes in the trunk, carefully covering them with her widow's weeds.
She made her way to the bed and slipped the waiting nightdress over her head before collapsing on the big, wide bed. Pulling the heavy comforter over her shoulder, she sighed deeply, letting tense muscles find release. She was asleep, cradled in deep, exhausted slumber, in moments.
* * *
It wasthe rattling of china that woke her. She reluctantly opened her eyes. "Sarah, is that you?" she mumbled, struggling to raise herself on one elbow. "What time is it?"
"Yes, ma'am. It just wants ten o'clock. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you, ma'am. I thought you'd be awake by now."
"That's all right, Sarah. I should have been. What have you got there? Breakfast? Bring it here."
"Yes, ma'am." She laid the tray on Cecilia's lap then arranged the bed pillows behind her. "Lady Meriton is still sick but not quite so pulled by it now, I think. Leastwise, she was in good spirits when I took her tray to her. She'd like you to visit when you're dressed."
"Of course. I don't mean to be confined to my bed."
"Lord knows, ma'am, you've seen enough of that!"
Cecilia's lips twitched with humor. At least it appeared her deception was still firm with the servants. "I agree." She raised her chocolate cup in salute. "Here's to good health. Sarah, would you be a dear and layout my blue floral?"
"Certainly, ma'am. And ma'am, I could fix your hair too, I could," she 'said eagerly. "Just like I did at Oastley."
Cecilia looked at her shrewdly. "I believe, Sarah, you've settled in nicely to being a lady's maid."
The young woman blushed.
She laughed. "Do not be embarrassed, my dear. I don't know what I would have done without you."
"Thank you, ma'am," she said and happily went to the wardrobe.
Cecilia watched her over the rim of her cup. It served her purposes well for Sarah to do for her. Lady Meriton's woman possessed an eagle's eye for worry or fatigue, and with the arrogance of long-standing family retainers, she asked too many questions.
Cecilia turned her head to stare at the trunk in the corner. She'd slept overlong. Its secrets would have to wait. Now she must see to her aunt's well-being and prepare for whatever visitors might come by to inquire of her health.
She made her visit to Jessamine as quickly as she could, but still, it was past noon when she quit the room only to be informed Sir Harry was below. She found him standing in front of the parlor windows staring into the street.
"Sir Harry?"
"Ah—your pardon, Mrs. Waddley. I was wool-gathering, I'm afraid. Reviewing my play in my head, contemplating improvements."
"We received your kind invitation early this morning. Thank you. I didn't realize you were quite so talented. But surely you're not planning any changes now. Isn't the performance scheduled for this Sunday evening?" she asked while gesturing toward a chair. She sat on the sofa at a right angle to the chair.
"Yes," he said, flipping the tails of his coat up before he sat down. "But I do not let that consideration stand in my way. Rather it is an incentive! This is my first entirely original play."
"So I understand. What is it about?"
"Ah—now that I wish to be a surprise to all theton.I've sworn my players to secret as well."
"With your interest in the theater, it is unfortunate you could not take to the boards professionally."
"Yes, the sad fact of my position at birth. I am convinced that had I been born a lesser man, I would have been a greater man," he said whimsically.
Cecilia laughed as she felt cued, yet she thought she detected a bitter ring of truth to his words.
"I understand Lady Meriton is still not feeling up to snuff?"
"That is true, though when I left her this morning, she looked much improved. I quite have the feeling I no longer have to run from her in fear of infection," she said lightly.
