Reaching for one of the bottles, she almost tripped on the child sitting on the floor cradling a doll. What was the brat doing here on her own?
Samantha's eyes widened. This was the woman with the loud voice that scared her. And she was going to touch something on Mama's dressing table. Samantha knew better than to touch anything on the table. She had been scolded and she didn't like to make her mama unhappy. Besides Mama had made sure she had pretty things of her own to play with.
So when the lady touched the bottle, Samantha said, “No, no. No touch Mama bottle,” shaking her head and her hand the way her mother had done when scolding her.
Fortunately the bottle hadn't broken when she dropped it, but it now lay on its side, seeping perfume.
Harriet’s temper exploded and she seized the child roughly by the arm. Swinging her hand back, she slapped Samantha's face as hard as she could.
“How dare you talk to me that way!” she yelled.
Hearing a gasp from behind her, she turned and saw that Celeste had walked in. She glared at the younger woman and stalked out of the room.
“Bad lady,” Samantha had announced solemnly as her mother cradled the bruised cheek, which had first shown a white handprint but now was burning a cherry red.
“You are a very brave little girl, Samantha.” murmured her mother, leaning forward to kiss her daughter’s forehead. “Let's go see Mrs. Flowers to see if she has some ice to put on your face so that it feels better.”
The toddler nodded solemnly and the two walked slowly from the room. Celeste paused to take the time to lock it behind her this time.
Flight
Two days earlier, Miranda had announced she had been invited to spend some quiet time with their cousin Amy.
“You are invited too, Celeste,” she had said.
“I think I've uprooted Samantha enough in the last few weeks. I had best stay here.”
William had approved the plan so Harriet bit her lip and remained silent. Miranda would only be gone for a few days and she still had two of her hostages within her control.
~~~
They could hear the front door slamming from the kitchen as Mrs. Flowers was giving Samantha an extra treat for tea.
“You stay here,” said Mrs. Flowers, and scurried about to confirm that Harriet had left. Henry, too, had heard the bang and joined the ladies in the kitchen where Celeste explained to her plan to leave on the next possible train for Kansas
“I had been expecting that question from Miss Miranda,” replied Henry, and excused himself to fetch the current train schedule. I understand you have not really unpacked your things, and larger items can be sent later. If you can be ready within two hours, we can put you on a fairly direct route.”
Celeste’s plan to use Miranda's ticket had been approved.
“Don't you worry, we will see that Miranda gets off safely, too, as soon as she returns from your cousin’s house.”
~~~
Celeste had plenty of time to think on her journey west.
There were a number of things that didn’t make sense to her, and she began to make mental notes of discrepancies. Chief among these was her father’s behavior. He was mostly absent these days, and, when home, was reserved and distant—not his normal demeanor at all. But it wasn’t just her. He’d pulled away from Miranda, too.
The only person around whom he’d behaved naturally was his granddaughter, Samantha. Her he tossed joyfully into the air and he cuddled and read to her, much as he had behaved when Miranda and Celeste were children.
Now he himself was married to that harridan, Harriet, who was doing her best to bankrupt him and empty the house of any goods of value. Celeste shook her head in confusion. None of this made sense. Not her plunge from Happy Housewife to Wailing Widow, nor her father’s conversion from Sorrowful Spouse to Harried Husband. And his distant behavior was the most confusing aspect of all.
She clung to Henry’s words to her, spoken when he’d brought her back home:
“All is not as it seems. It must not be talked of and we must each do our best to carry on as if all is normal. But have faith in your father. Despite appearances, he has not changed and still has your best interests at heart. You know within you that his women, your mother, sister, daughter and self, have always been his most important treasures. Just hold on to that thought if things start seeming strange.”
Philadelphia
Harriet has screamed in fury when she realized Celeste and Samantha had flown the coop. With Miranda at her cousin's, all three of her hostages were out of her grasp.
Her first action was to fire the remaining servants, which by now appear to be down to Henry and Mrs. Flowers.
She needed to talk with Karl.
~~~
After Harriet’s tirade when he’d been “fired,” Henry had gone to his office to advise William of the situation, starting with Harriet’s attacked on Samantha and ending with the terminations. William had approved heartily of Celeste’s prompt action as well as that of Henry and Mrs. Flowers. In fact he was very proud of both his daughters and the way they had been handling their lives under trying circumstances.
~~~
Harriet had calmed down by the time William returned from the office. She explained her plan to visit her brother in Philadelphia the next day.
“Wonderful,” said William. “I will be glad to accompany you. I've been wanting to get out of the office.”
It didn't fit with Harriet's plans but she could make do. Besides he would
