“Both of you, quiet!” Lottie says. She rests the back of her hand on Marigold’s forehead. “How are you feeling?”
She tries to clear her throat, but it’s too dry to swallow. “Want to go to bed,” she mumbles.
Lottie leans in and wraps her arms around her. “I’ll help you up.”
August joins, tucking himself under Marigold’s arm.
They walk about three steps forward when Lottie’s nose scrunches up. “Why do you smell like that?”
“Rude, Lots,” August scolds. “Marigold, you smell perfectly normal.”
“Don’t lie to her, August. She reeks of salt and smoke.”
August leans in even closer, taking a big whiff of her. “What are you talking about, Lots? I don’t smell anything.”
“You must be catching a cold. I could smell her before Mr. O’Connell brought her inside.”
“Maybe you’re just being mean to her for no reason, as per usual.”
Marigold’s head drops, and Lottie and August tighten their grip on her as they push forward toward her room.
She struggles to speak. “Can we stop… debating… my… stench?”
“Sorry,” Lottie and August say in unison.
“I just… need… sleep.”
Eyes closed, she collides, and the world fades to black.
Chapter Twenty-One
Aknock wakes Marigold the next day. She slept all the way through morning for the first time in years.
Still in her pink lace nightgown, she hurries out of her room and opens the door with a smile.
“Hello, Miss Marigold,” says Mr. Benny.
“Mr. Benny! Come in!”
“Thank you, kindly. I came to deliver this,” he says as he hands her an envelope, sealed with a wax emblem displaying her family’s crest.
Finally, another letter from home. She takes the letter and presses it to her heart, as if the letter is her dear little siblings whom she can finally pull into a hug after so long apart.
“Thank you for bringing me this. Feel free to help yourself to anything in the kitchen while you’re here.”
He smiles wide and starts snooping in the kitchen as Marigold tears open the envelope to reveal a letter in her sister’s hand.
My dearest sister,
I am thrilled to write to you with such wondrous news. I’ve accepted a proposal from Mr. Woodrake, and we are to be wed at the end of the month as we have received a special license from the archbishop. I realize that the travel is long andgrueling, but you must be in attendance on such a joyous day.
I am also writing to inform you that you will be my maid of honor. In an unconventional twist, I’ve also decided that Frankie will attend me as well. Mother urged me to simply position Frankie as a groomsman alongside my betrothed (I love saying that. My betrothed. I can hardly believe it.), but Frankie and I insisted. Do begin your travels promptly after receiving this letter. You mustn’t be late!
I think about you every day. I am so proud of you, and I cannot wait to hear of your adventures.
All my love,
Aster
