He shook his head, then winced.“No, it’s my fault.I should have known her nature the moment I saw her.My purposes in coming have been accomplished.If you’ll show me out, I have an appointment to keep with a young woman.”
“Leave her out of this!”Constanza attempted to lunge at him, successfully knocking one orderly from her leg.She kicked at the others, desperate for one more chance to stop Winston.“It’s me you want!Me!”
“Get another dose!She’s too riled for only one.”
Feet pounded away as the orderly regained his position on her leg.
Winston faced her and exhibited mock pity.“I feel for the family.I cannot imagine the suffering they must endure.Tell me, what will happen to her?”
“She’ll be kept in isolation and sedated until she’s no longer a danger.”
“Good.”His attempt at pity slipped into satisfaction.“I would hate for anyone else to be harmed by her.”
“I can personally promise she will see no one but attendants and the four walls of her cell for quite some time.”
“Even better.Good day, Katherine.Until we meet again.”Winston dipped his head, then followed Nurse Charity out.
“You have to stop him!You can’t let him go!”The fight was draining from her, but she couldn’t surrender.With one last heave she knocked the orderlies from one arm and shoved against the other two.
Someone grabbed her flailing arm, and a second needle pierced her skin.But it didn’t matter.She had nothing left.Darkness closed in on her, and the only thought she could hold on to was that Eleonora would once again be the one to suffer for her failure.
Chapter Twenty-Two
NORA STAYED IN BED WELLinto the next morning, with a headache and the weight of grief making anything else unappealing.In a rare need to cling to something, she retrieved her childhood doll from the shelf.Molly no longer wore the matching dress from that dreadful night, but she still carried the hatpin Nora had exchanged the hairpin for.When they first came to Cincinnati, she’d carried Molly everywhere and slept with her every night, knowing a weapon was near at hand.With age, knitting needles had replaced her doll, but sometimes the need for a piece of her old life—of Mum—couldn’t be denied.
Nora smoothed back the thick red yarn of Molly’s hair and stared at the doll she had long considered a miniature of Mum and sighed.It didn’t seem right that the sun had come up and the world moved about its business like nothing had changed.Of course, nothing had for others, and to most of those who knew Nora, nothing had changed for her either.They thought Nora’s mum had disappeared five years ago.The need for mourning was long past, not fresh and new.
Practically, the only change to her daily life would be no more Tuesday trips to Longview.She would rise every day, complete her chores, sup with Father, read books, and knit socks.Oh.Not socks.Not anymore.She only knit them for the sake of donating to the patients at Longview.What would she knit now?Maybe she could stilldonate them and visit once a month.Ezekiel’s mum still resided there and had visitors.Nora could always inquire about Mum, maybe find a way to convince Dr.Chalfant to reconsider.
A tear slipped onto her pillow.Dr.Chalfant would never concede.
Lily knocked, then cracked open the door.“Are you awake, miss?”
Nora laid Molly aside and pushed up from the bed.Wallowing wasn’t getting her anywhere, and Lily likely needed help.“I am.You can come in.”
The door opened, and a vase with a large bouquet of colorful flowers preceded Lily’s entrance.“These came for you.”She set the vase on the side table, then pulled an oddly shaped package from her apron pocket.The paper-wrapped item was tied shut with twine and had a white note tucked safely beneath the bow.
Nora accepted the package, but no outward evidence indicated who had sent it.She had her suspicions, but she didn’t want to presume.“Thank you, Lily.I’ll be down shortly.”
Once alone, Nora freed the note.A watery smile broke through the heartache.
Donna Anna,
Given yesterday’s events, I thought you might need some flowers to brighten your day.They’re not as beautiful as you, nor do they smell as good.
An unexpected laugh shook her.He’d been smelling her?Good heavens, depending what she’d just eaten or done, she was as apt to smell of sardines as of her purposely muted and unmemorable perfume.If he was comparing her favorably to flowers, she must have smelled of rose water.Either that or, like Tristan, he had an affinity for sardines.She smiled at his attempts to charm through the written word and continued reading.
I thought about adding chocolate to sweeten your morning, but I recalled you gave Tristan your last can of sardines onMonday and how you wanted nothing more than to go home to sardines, crackers, and bed.I’m sorry they’re late, but may the flowers and f-i-s-h make you smile and think of me.
Until this afternoon,
Don Ottavio
Nora unwrapped the paper to find a package of crackers and two cans of sardines.Of all the gifts she’d ever received, these were the best because they showed he truly knew her.Who else would send her sardines over chocolate?
She chuckled again as she propped the note and snacks against the vase’s bottom.At least for a few days, the gifts would reside there, reminding her of the man who cared.Too bad she didn’t have any friends with an interest in photography.It would be an odd thing to keep a picture of, but she would love to have it for the day when he was gone.He stood by her for now, but how long would he stay when he discovered her family’s true identity and that she likely followed Mum’s path?
That afternoon, Mrs.Jerden was elated to allow Nora and Ezekiel the use of her piano and even didn’t mind that Tristan joined them.In fact, she was quick to insist the arrangement even more convenient as she had baking to do.She could play chaperone by keeping the kitchen and parlor doors open and listening for voices or music.So long as she heard either, she’d know nothing untoward was happening.Nora appreciated the bending of chaperone rules.After yesterday’s revelations and Ezekiel’s gifts this morning, she didn’t know where their conversation would lead, and the extra privacy was a relief.
