Who agreed? I wanted to know but the morning cooks and kitchen maids were drifting in now, so I focused on the loaves and then, when they were done, moved on to a mound of potatoes that needed peeling for the servants’ evening stew.
When I reached the bottom of the pile and set the pot of water and potatoes on the stove for Mrs. Crossey, she frowned at me. “Perhaps this is a bit too much too soon. Why don’t you take a break?”
“I feel fine.” The truth was, I didn’t feel fine. Not at all. I was going through the motions, but nothing felt right. It was as if I were moving underwater. Sounds were muted. My thinking was muddled. “Maybe a bit of fresh air would feel good.”
“Of course it would. Take as long as you need.”
I removed my apron and hung it from a handle on the worktable before making my way out to the terrace.
The outside air was crisp, and the sun was beginning to break through the gray blanket of clouds. I settled on the bench and looked out over the field and wished for my dragonfly.
I missed her.
I knew she was so much more than my dragonfly now, and I knew I should be happy that she’d been freed from her curse. She was back where she belonged.
But would I ever see her again?
At the creak of the door, I wiped away the tears that had invaded my eyes and tried to breathe.
“Mrs. Crossey said I might find you here.”
It was Marlie.
“Yes, I’m here.” I coughed away what was left of that stray emotion.
“It’s good to see you up and about. It’s been lonely in the room without you, though I’m sure it’ll seem quite humdrum to you now that you’re accustomed to such luxurious accommodations.”
“Honestly, I’ll be happy to be back in my own bed.”
It was true. I’d even missed Marlie’s company, and no one was more surprised by that fact than I.
“Is something wrong?” She looked at me like I was keeping a secret, and perhaps I was.
A month ago, I wouldn’t have considered asking her the question that was nagging at me. A month ago, I never would have breathed a word about anything to anyone but my dragonfly, and on this topic I probably wouldn’t have breathed a word even to her.
But there was a smile and an understanding in Marlie’s eyes that somehow made it all right. And she knew so many of my secrets now. Nearly as many as Mrs. Crossey. Still I couldn’t quite meet her gaze when I asked, “Have you seen Mr. Wyck?”
The look that came over her told me she knew it was not the casual question I was pretending it to be.
“He’s made himself quite scarce. Even Abigail hasn’t seen him since… and, well, you know she tends to follow his whereabouts quite closely.”
Actually, I didn’t know that. And now that I did, I regretted saying anything about him.
“You should probably try the mews, though, if you need to speak with him. Do you need to speak with him?”
She eyed me with that funny look of hers.
“No,” I said quickly. “I was only thinking I hadn’t seen him since… I wanted to thank him is all. He was a great help. To all of us.”
She sucked her lips against her teeth, trying to hold back a grin. “Just thank him? Are you sure that was it?”
“What are you implying?”
She shrugged without conviction. “I’m not implying anything.”
“I should get back.” I stood and brushed imaginary dust from my skirt. “Mrs. Crossey will be wondering where I am.”
Marlie scoffed. “That’s one way to change the subject.”
I ignored her and grabbed the door handle. “It doesn’t matter, I suppose. I don’t think we’ll be seeing much of Mr. Wyck anymore anyway.”
“Who knows what the future will bring?”
The friendly glimmer in her eyes eased my consternation. “You’re right. Thank you.”
“It’s what friends do,” she said.
Friends, indeed. Perhaps for the first time I truly believed it.
I went back to my table to find a bowl of white onions waiting, and I got to work.
The afternoon passed in the blur of dinner preparations. Then later, as I wiped the table, cleaning away the accumulated residue of another day, Mrs. Crossey pulled up close.
In a whisper, she said, “Meet me in Fayte Hall at our usual time, if you would.”
I looked up, not without disappointment. It had been such a long day, and I was eager to slip into my own bed. Our mission was done, after all. The threat was gone. Couldn’t training take a night off? “I’m not sure what use I’ll be to you or anyone. It’s all I can do to stay on my feet.”
The regret on her face looked sincere. Still she shook her head. “It’s necessary. I can’t say more, but I’ll explain tonight. I promise.”
A promise? From Mrs. Crossey’s own lips. Well, that was something.
~ ~ ~
I slept soundly that night, so soundly I nearly slept through my meeting with Mrs. Crossey. Marlie jostled me awake.
“C’mon, sleepyhead. We have to get you-know-where.”
“You’re coming, too?” I asked, half-awake.
She answered by handing me my coat and putting her own around her shoulders before ushering me out the door.
When we neared Fayte Hall door, I could hear voices within. A lot of voices.
Marlie pulled it open, revealing robed figures everywhere. Twenty? Thirty? I tried to tally them all, but there were too many.
Marlie removed her coat, grabbed a robe, and pulled it around herself. “Have you guessed why we’re here yet?”
I shook my head dumbly.
“C’mon.” She urged me toward the divining pool.
“Wait.”
We both turned. It was Abigail.
I froze.
“She’s going to need this.” Abigail took a robe from a hook and handed it to me.
I looked at Marlie.
She nodded as if she knew my thoughts. Yes, she’s a Fayte Guardian, too.
I took the robe and tried to meet her gaze but only managed to stare at her hand. “Thank you.”
“You’re
