“I think that is our cue to leave.”Ezekiel rose to his feet.“Will you hold his basket while I put him in?”
Together they wrangled Tristan into his temporary prison, then they left Longview behind.
As their hack trundled down the drive, Ezekiel turned to a quiet Nora.“How can I best support you?Would you like me to escort you to a friend’s so you’re not alone?”
“No.I love the Guardians, but all I want is to go home, eat a bigplate of crackers and sardines, and then curl up in bed and forget today ever happened.”
“I don’t know.There are parts of today I never want to forget.”
She looked up at him, confusion stamped on her expression.Not that he could blame her.The last hour had been one of the most miserable of his life, but there had been bright moments.
“For example, I never want to forget hearing you say my given name for the first time or the way you felt in my arms or how your lips felt against mine.”
She straightened away from him and glared.“We did not kiss, sir.”
“Too bad.Maybe we can still fix that.You are my fiancée, after all.”
Lingering heaviness mixed with her laugh.“You are a scoundrel, Don Giovanni.”Even as she said it, she returned to leaning against him.After a loud, slow breath, she regarded him with warm admiration.“Thank you for making me laugh.I needed it.”
“Any time.”He refrained from kissing the top of her head again.She hadn’t noticed that first silent but intimate declaration that she was his.He had to take things slow, even though what he really wanted was a soul-twining kiss that communicated their shared burdens and support of each other in ways words never could.It would come eventually.She didn’t fully trust him yet, and they still had many hurdles ahead, but God willing, he would court and marry her.
They were quiet for a while as each absorbed the events of the afternoon.As the hack reached the edge of the bustling city, he looked down at her again and said, “I know today has probably been one of the worst of your life, so I’ll understand if you need me not to come by tomorrow.”
“Please come.I need today and tonight to wade through my emotions, but your deadline is approaching, and I think the distraction of music may be exactly what I need.”
“Then I’ll be there as soon as I can after feeding Tristan.”
“Bring him.He’s a terror, to be sure, but he’s a comfort too.I’m sure Mrs.Jerden won’t mind.”
“Anything for you, Donna Anna.”
That earned him an elbow to the stomach, but he couldn’t help the smile.His heart ached with the pain of today, but it also held hope for better days to come.
What had she done?Constanza wrung her hands as Nurse Abbott escorted her down the dim gaslit corridor.Even the fog of medicine couldn’t shroud her from dire consequences.She should never have confessed she was Katherine Yates.Unless she convinced Dr.Chalfant she was his version of healed, she would never see Eleonora again.Her sweet girl, who’d always maintained her composure, had sobbed and clung to Constanza as tight as the night she’d escaped Winston.
She’d failed Eleonora.Again.
In her selfish quest to be absolved, she’d laid her family on the altar of her ego.She’d known when she wrote her confession that it would hinder her release, and she hadn’t cared.Why should she want release when Marcellus didn’t want her and Winston would be more likely to find Eleonora?Eleonora was a strong girl making her own way in the world.She had friends who took her on adventures and taught her all the things Constanza had been miserable at.Nora hadn’t really needed Constanza around for anything more than their once-a-week lessons.
Or so she’d thought.
Eleonora’s sobs and begging for her to discard her identities as Constanza and Katherine had shown her how wrong she’d been.Eleonora did need her, and she needed Eleonora.
She released a shuddering breath.She could fix this.Shehadto fix this.If what Eleonora said were true, her absolution didn’t come from man declaring her forgiven.No priest was necessary, just an honest, prayerful talk with Christ.She could pray for forgiveness, be forgiven without a need to suffer here as her penance for the past, and starther life anew.Then all she’d have to do was play Dr.Chalfant’s game.She could deny her past as Katherine Yates and Constanza Brisbane if it meant escaping this prison and returning to Eleonora.Besides, what did it matter if she no longer claimed herself as Constanza or Katherine?She would never go back on a stage.Age had robbed her of her most important assets—beauty and voice.Oh, she was passable, but she’d rather go out as an incomparable and not some old hag trying to resurrect her fame.And with forgiveness, there was no need for anyone else to know about her past.
Winston and Ursula might still come, but her years of warning about their eventual return had been unheeded by all.If she still wished to protect Eleonora, she couldn’t do it from within these walls.Although, Constanza’s protection might not matter as much as it once did.
She eyed Mrs.Beaumont trailing behind them.Her son had taken quite the shine to Eleonora, and by Eleonora’s clinging to him, a betrothal would be forthcoming.When that happened, Eleonora would become safely ensconced in a new name and new life—with an opera man, of all people.Oh, wouldn’t that set Marcellus’s coattails on fire.All these years of denying his wife and daughter the music and life so dear to them, all in the name of safeguarding them, had failed.It was like God had taken Constanza’s side and declared Eleonora belonged on the stage and provided a man who would not be frightened away by Constanza’s asylum stay.
As long as Eleonora took Mr.Beaumont’s name, even if Winston or Ursula saw her, they wouldn’t recognize her as the awkward, chubby-faced eleven-year-old they’d tried to steal away.
Perhaps things were not as bad as Constanza had originally thought.It would be a long six months until her next evaluation, but she could convince Dr.Chalfant she was healed of herdelusions.She could join Eleonora and teach her how to navigate the business and cutthroat relationships of the opera world.A laugh bubbled out at her brilliance.If everything went smoothly, she might even be released before Eleonora’s wedding.
Nurse Abbott stopped them before they reached the fourth-floor dormitory.
What now?All Constanza wanted to do was crawl into bed and dream of her daughter’s future while the effects from whatever they forced her to take wore off.
“You should know Dr.Chalfant intends on placing you in isolation if you cause even the slightest trouble.”Nurse Abbott folded her arms and gave a laughably stern look.Constanza had seen smiles more frightening.“I fought for you and Miss Davis to have this last visit.Do not make me regret it.You are Josephine Davis, not Constanza Brisbane or Katherine Yates.Get well so you can go home.Your daughter needs you.Do you understand me?”
