The swish of silkand satin being carefully folded.
Trunk lids opening and closing.
Mattie’s every action a death knell to Estelle of the wondrous future she’d hoped to share with Valentin—oh, no, Valentin!
She sighed brokenly. The shock of last night at the ball still enveloped her like a nightmare from which she could not awaken.
Tomorrow morning she, Adam, and Linette were leaving Bratavia and she wouldnever see the man of her dreams again!
Dear God, how would she continue to live and breathe without him?
“They brought you a tasty-smelling stew, Miss Easton, and fresh-baked bread, butter, blackberry jam. Sit up now, will you? You must keep up your strength—”
“You eat, Mattie. I can’t…”
“Well, miss, at least that’s a small miracle, you finally spoke to me. I’ve already eaten so I’ll justtake the tray back to the kitchen.”
Estelle gave a small nod, wondering if Valentin had turned away food as well. She could not forget the look in his eyes just before she’d left the ballroom…as if the world had suddenly spun to a stop for both of them.
She wished so desperately that she could spend even a few last moments with him! Adam had revealed earlier that Valentin had come by to speakwith him and why, but her brother-in-law had told him it was best he not try to see her.
Hearing that Valentin had been so close and that Adam, however well-meaning, had kept them apart was almost too much to bear. She was certain Valentin knew how much she loved him, but she’d never told him, no, not once!
If only there was a way she could see him, but with Adam and Linette checking on herevery so often no matter it had grown late—
“Are you sure you won’t try even one bite of the stew before I take it away?” Mattie said from the door, still trying to coax her to eat. “If you’d like, I could bring you something else from the kitchen—”
“Yes, Mattie, bring me that tray!” A desperate idea seizing her, Estelle sat up so suddenly that the young woman gasped and nearly dropped the wholething. “Set it there upon the table.”
“Of course, miss.” Mattie’s eyes only grew wider as Estelle climbed out of bed and began to pull her linen nightgown over her head.
“Mattie, please, don’t ask me any questions. I need you to exchange clothes with me, hurry!”
Instead of hurrying, Mattie still gaped at her, blushing furiously as understanding dawned and she took a step backward. “Oh, no,miss, you can’t be thinking—”
“Please, it’s my only chance to see Valentin again. I love him, Mattie! I need to tell him—oh, please!”
She didn’t know if it was the desperation in her voice or the tears smarting her eyes that made the young woman nod and quickly begin to undress.
“God bless you, Mattie, thank you!” Estelle donned the attire of a lady’s maid while Mattie, down to a thin shift,tugged the nightgown over her head. Thankfully they were almost a match in size even though Mattie stood a bit shorter.
“Now climb into my bed and pull the covers up over your ears. Your hair is darker than mine but I’ll turn down the lamps so hopefully no one will notice. If my sister or brother-in-law come by, you must lie very still like you’re sound asleep. I’m sure they won’t disturb you.”
“And if they do, miss?” Mattie said doubtfully, climbing into the bed as Estelle wound her hair into a knot and pinned it underneath the prim cap. “What shall I tell them?”
Estelle paused, actually not knowing how to answer Mattie. All she could do was hope that Adam and Linette would understand—please, may they understand!
“I’ll be back soon, don’t worry.” Estelle knew she needed to leave quicklybefore Mattie had a chance to change her mind. She hastened around the room turning down the three lamps, slipped on a pair of her own shoes since Mattie’s didn’t fit her, and then rushed back to the bedside table to pick up the tray.
“Keep your eyes lowered, miss, and say little until you reach where you’re going. Godspeed to you.”
Her throat tightened with gratitude, Estelle nodded and hurriedto the door, the dishes on the tray clattering. She forced herself to slow down a bit, though her heartbeat raced.
Fortunately the hallway was dark and quiet, but she heard low voices coming from Adam and Linette’s room. Oh, dear, she had hoped they might already be sleeping. Yet she couldn’t worry about that now.
It didn’t take more than a few moments and she’d reached the entrance hall, keepingher eyes lowered just as Mattie had told her to do as she passed several servants. Fortunately, they didn’t seem to pay her any mind. She hoped that would be the case, too, once she reached the top of the grand staircase where a pair of armed guards stood stiffly at the entrance to Valentin’s private apartment.
No matter how she tried to keep the tray steady, the dishes still rattled, which onlymade her heart race all the faster. She took a deep breath and approached the carved double doors, both uniformed young men surveying her with interest.
“I’ve not seen you before,” said one, while the other stepped close to inspect the contents of the tray.
She shrugged lightly, thinking it was better to say nothing than give herself away somehow, and inclined her head toward the doors. To herrelief, they opened them and waved her inside. Estelle took no more than a few steps into the most opulent surroundings that she’d ever seen when she spied Robert, Valentin’s valet, coming straight toward her.
“Excuse me, young lady, but I ordered no tray.”
She gasped, ducking her head, but it was too late as Robert came up short, staring at her as if he couldn’t believe his eyes.
