Eternal Deception by Jane Steen

Author:Jane Steen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aspidistra Press

28

Runaway

“You look beautiful, Momma.”

I smoothed down the front of the dress I had just put on and regarded myself in our small bedroom mirror, tucking an errant curl back into place. The day that Martin and his wife were due to arrive had finally dawned, and I was, as Mama would have said, making an effort.

My dress was an elegant shade somewhere between purple and maroon, trimmed with velvet of the same color. A pieced, stand-up collar framed the neck that Martin had once described as “swan-like.” The only ornament I needed was the brooch he had given me, its single pearl luminescent against the dark velvet.

“I’m going to find these sleeves a nuisance while I’m working.” I inspected the elaborate, low-cut cuffs with their swept-back decoration, pleased at how small and pale my hands looked emerging from the dark fabric. “Maybe Tess was right and I should change later—but then, supposing they’re early?” I twisted round to look at the train of my dress; it too was going to be an awful nuisance all day, but I had cut it so well, and it did look elegant.

I laughed inwardly at the fuss I was making over my appearance and turned my attention to Sarah.

“Now do remember to remind Teddy you’re to be back no later than three o’clock. Lucy has promised she’ll take care of washing and dressing you, and you must let her brush your hair out thoroughly. And no yelling about the tangles.”

I smoothed a hand over the tight braids I had begun high on Sarah’s head to keep her hair as free of burrs and prairie dust as possible. Her pale green dress lay on my bed along with a new pair of stockings and her best satin slippers, brushed free of dust.

“I wish Lucy could come with us.” Sarah hitched up one strap of her overalls, and I smiled at how pretty she still managed to look in clothing better suited to a boy.

“Lucy’s too ill, darling. She’s better off indoors, reading quietly in the library with her Mama. Thea and Teddy will look after you.”

“Thea calls me Princess Nobody and gets cross with me if I don’t do exactly as she says,” Sarah pouted.

“She won’t do it while Teddy’s around. And for shame, a big girl being mean to someone much smaller.”

I held out my hand to Sarah and felt her small, warm hand grasp my long fingers in total trust. I was a little nervous about allowing Sarah to go out on the prairie with Teddy and Thea, but the notion of having her underfoot all day when I—

I didn’t know why I was so fretful about Martin’s impending visit. I wanted to make a good impression, I supposed, to show him I had my new life well in hand and he needn’t worry about me. And I didn’t want to be introduced to Martin’s resplendent wife wearing the plain skirt and shirtwaist of a superior servant. I was determined to appear as the lady I was in fact, if not in position.

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