“I don’t even know if it really happened.Do you know how hard it is to admit that I might be losing my mind?That maybe your next visit with me will be at Longview?”
Theresa played with the lock of the window that had been partially open on Saturday.“You’re not going to Longview, no matter if the attack happened or not.But itisimportant that we determine if you are in danger, so start from the beginning and take us through the end.”
“Look at Theresa being the voice of reason today,” Flossie teased.
Theresa stuck out her tongue.“I’m not always impulsive and illogical.I can be reasonable when I want to be.It’s just not as fun.”
Nora walked them through her day, literally retracing her footsteps as they searched for how someone might have sneaked in the house without her notice.The first possibility had been while she was singing upstairs, but then why wait so long to attack her?It happened hours after she finished.Nora retrieved the libretto, several pages now missing, and returned to the kitchen.
“So you read the libretto here, and that front window was the one potentially unlocked, correct?”Lydia asked.
At Nora’s nod, Lydia directed Theresa to go outside and attempt to climb through the window without being noticed.Theresa grumbled about sending the shortest person for the job, but they all knew she was the only one who still regularly climbed trees.Usually it was to slip in or out of her house without Colonel Plane knowing, but she was still the most agile.Hopefully no one would think her a burglar and report her.Abraham would not be amused and would demand to know what they were up to.Though they heard Theresa struggle her way in, it had been quiet enough to miss while engrossed in reading the libretto.It would explain how Nora checked all the locks before bed and still found one undone later.Add in the sounds she thought were raccoons in the attic, and the possibility she was really attacked grew.
Nora wasn’t sure if she was relieved or more unsettled by that.
In her room again, they looked for the missing libretto pages as proof they’d been dropped upstairs and not in the parlor.
Flossie rose from her search on the floor by Nora’s nightstand.“What’s this?‘Donna Anna, given yesterday’s events—’”
Nora snatched Ezekiel’s note from Flossie’s hands.
“Donna Anna?”Theresa’s head tilted, then a grin broke free.“Isn’t that what Mr.Beaumont called you at my house?”
“Look at Nora blush,” Lydia joined in.“I bet those flowers aren’t just Lily brightening the room.”
Nora shoved Ezekiel’s note in her pocket with the knitting needles.“Mum’s no longer allowed visitors, and Mr.Beaumont was attempting to cheer me.”Actually, that was the perfect way to turn the conversation.“She’s claiming to be Katherine Yates, the heroine of her libretto.She’s never lied about who she is or believed herself to be someone else.Do you think there is more to this libretto than Mum coping with my kidnapping?”
“First off, I know what you’re doing.”Lydia leveled her with a look.“Second, I’m sorry.And third, it’s something to consider.What do you know of Katherine—”
Harold barked like he was demanding someone to play with him, but he was downstairs and everyone else upstairs.Was Lily back from the market already?A loud crash followed, mixed with cat yowls and dog yips.Tristan!Oh heavens, he must have escaped the room she’d stuck him in knowing Harold was coming.Nora raced down the stairs, praying Tristan would be all right and Ezekiel wouldn’t hate her for putting his mum’s favorite pet in harm’s way.When she skidded into the parlor, Tristan sat hissing at a chair with his tail lashing back and forth.Harold’s whimper came from beneath the chair, and Nora dropped to all fours to peek at him.Poor Harold lay with his head on his paws and big eyes begging her to rescue him ...from Tristan.A dog was scared of a cat?Either Tristan had learned how to fight or Harold was chicken-livered.
“Harold!”Flossie’s panicked voice lessened Nora’s amusement.Nora scooped up Tristan, and he meowed his demand to be released.
“Oh, baby, are you okay?”Flossie retrieved her terrified pooch and cradled him like a child as she cooed at him.
Once the pets were separated and settled again, Nora asked the question she dreaded.“So what do you think?Did I imagine it?Or was I attacked?”
Flossie stroked the now-snoring pup on her lap.“There is no solid evidence either way.Both are possible, but I lean toward it happening.I know you’re afraid because of what happened to your mother,but it’s not like you to have an overactive imagination.Have you seen Ursula and Winston around since then?”
Nora swallowed.“I’ve seen one or the other following me almost every day since, but never where there is a crowd that would prove them to be real or imagined.”
The clock struck one, meaning Ezekiel should arrive at Mrs.Jerden’s soon.How had the morning gone by so quickly, and how would she get the Guardians to leave without giving away the reason?With as often as they’d teased Lydia for running off to meet Abraham, it was embarrassing to admit Nora now understood why Lydia was so eager.
“You shouldn’t be alone.We can take turns running errands with you.”
“You all have your own responsibilities.You don’t need to spend your days with me.Lily is sufficient, and I’ll make sure she goes anywhere I need.Father should be home any day now.Speaking of errands, I promised Mrs.Jerden I’d come over for a visit about now.”
Nora was fairly certain they suspected her, but after a promise to spend the night with one of them if Father didn’t return by supper, they agreed to reconvene tomorrow afternoon.Now she just needed to get a peevish Tristan over to Mrs.Jerden’s without getting scratched or without his escaping to chase the chickens in the courtyard again.
Chapter Twenty-Four
WHENEZEKIEL ARRIVED, HE WASless than his jovial self.He made jokes, smiled, and charmed both her and Mrs.Jerden throughout the meal, but Nora could tell something was heavy on his mind.
Please don’t let him have bad news about his mum, Lord.He’s had it hard enough.
“Thank you for my box of chocolates, Mr.Beaumont.I think I’ll take my time cleaning the kitchen and enjoy them while you two work.”Any subtlety Mrs.Jerden tried for was lost when she wagged her brows.
Nora shook her head as she led the way to the piano.If that woman had her way, there would be a marriage proposal by the end of today’s visit.Tristan trotted alongside Nora, then jumped to his favorite spot on the windowsill.As grumpy as Tristan could be, he’d become quite affectionate toward her.He wouldn’t be happy when Ezekiel took him home this afternoon.
