I lied, my hand releasing the door handle. As I hustled them back to the waiting brougham, I wondered what on earth Michael and his nurse were doing taking tea with Tamsin our travelling companion! It was another mystery to assail me, but in some ways the most curious mystery of them all!
6
I was pondering over this small mystery while preparing myself for the coming evening. What part did Tamsin play in the lives of the occupants of Ravensmount? And whatever role it was, did it have anything to do with that day at the inn when she had tried to prevent me from staying here? I turned it over and over in my mind and could as yet reach no conclusion.
‘Shall I help you into your gown, Miss Sara?’ Tilly’s voice interrupted my thoughts. The pale peach gown slipped easily over my head, encasing my body with a luxurious feeling of softness and coolness. While Tilly fastened the hooks and eyes at the back of the bodice, I looked again at the portrait over the mantel.
A small ray of fading sunlight fell across the lovely face depicted so cleverly on the canvas, so much so that I sensed the eyes were watching me and I had a sudden desire to know the name of Abraham’s wife.
‘There Miss, all done. I’ve adjusted the frills and will now arrange your hair,’ said Tilly, stepping around to the front of me and obscuring my view of the portrait.
‘Thank you,’ I said, walking across to the dressing table and sitting on the chair, my thoughts no longer with this afternoon’s scene at the tea shop, but with Michael and Tobias.
Tilly piled my blonde curls on the top of my head, securing them with a gilt comb, leaving soft ringlets either side of my face and the nape of my neck.
‘Now the necklace, please,’ I said to her, reaching for a string of creamy pearls. Tilly secured the jewelled clasp with some difficulty.
‘There Miss,’ she said, her administrations complete. ‘Come and look in the full length mirror for you look fit for the Queen’s court,’ she complimented me.
‘My gloves first,’ I reminded her. We both giggled as we struggled with the tight fitting gloves which practically met the edge of my short sleeves of my gown. Then, picking up my fan, I walked over to the mirror. The sun’s ray had moved from the portrait and now shone off the wardrobe by my bed, bathing me in a golden glow with minute particles of silver dust surrounding my reflection.
‘What do you think?’ Tilly asked excitedly. ‘You’ll be loved by all who see you, Miss and that’s the honest truth.’
‘Thank you, Tilly. You’ve done a wonderful job, now you run along and do whatever pleases you this evening,’ I urged her.
‘Me and Emily are going to stand at the minstrels’ gallery later so we can see who you dance with,’ she informed me.
‘Then I hope you both enjoy the spectacle,’ I said hesitantly and with some annoyance.
With Tilly gone I gathered myself together. Moving out of the door I walked along the corridor, my sumptuous skirts swishing on the carpet beneath my feet. As I reached the top of the wide staircase I could hear snippets of conversation coming up to meet me and I could see Rosalind and a couple of strangers talking, a glass in each of their hands.
Taking a deep breath I started to descend the staircase, my skirts pulled up a trifle with one hand lest I fall, the other hand delicately fanning myself for I felt suddenly hot. As I reached the third step from the bottom all conversation ceased and I could see both Michael and Tobias watching my progress down the stairs.
Tobias, dark and mysterious and Michael at his side, dark and gentle. Then I blushed for I realised I had come to a halt on the stairs and I smiled to cover my confusion, stepping lightly onto the polished floor below.
‘Fetch Sara a glass of sherry,’ instructed Rosalind bustling over to me and kissing me enthusiastically on both cheeks. Over her shoulder I could see Tobias walking to the drinks trolley situated
6
I was pondering over this small mystery while preparing myself for the coming evening. What part did Tamsin play in the lives of the occupants of Ravensmount? And whatever role it was, did it have anything to do with that day at the inn when she had tried to prevent me from staying here? I turned it over and over in my mind and could as yet reach no conclusion.
‘Shall I help you into your gown, Miss Sara?’ Tilly’s voice interrupted my thoughts. The pale peach gown slipped easily over my head, encasing my body with a luxurious feeling of softness and coolness. While Tilly fastened the hooks and eyes at the back of the bodice, I looked again at the portrait over the mantel.
A small ray of fading sunlight fell across the lovely face depicted so cleverly on the canvas, so much so that I sensed the eyes were watching me and I had a sudden desire to know the name of Abraham’s wife.
‘There Miss, all done. I’ve adjusted the frills and will now arrange your hair,’ said Tilly, stepping around to the front of me and obscuring my view of the portrait.
‘Thank you,’ I said, walking across to the dressing table and sitting on the chair, my thoughts no longer with this afternoon’s scene at the tea shop, but with Michael and Tobias.
Tilly piled my blonde curls on the top of my head, securing them with a gilt comb, leaving soft ringlets either side of my face and the nape of my neck.
‘Now the necklace, please,’ I said to her, reaching for a string of creamy pearls. Tilly secured the jewelled clasp with some difficulty.
‘There Miss,’ she said, her administrations complete. ‘Come and look in the full length mirror for you look fit for the Queen’s court,’ she complimented me.
‘My gloves first,’ I reminded her. We both giggled as we struggled with the tight fitting gloves which practically met the edge of my short sleeves of my gown. Then, picking up my fan, I walked over to the mirror. The sun’s ray had moved from the portrait and now shone off the wardrobe by my bed, bathing me in a golden glow with minute particles of silver dust surrounding my reflection.
‘What do you think?’ Tilly asked excitedly. ‘You’ll be loved by all who see you, Miss and that’s the honest truth.’
‘Thank you, Tilly. You’ve done a wonderful job, now you run along and do whatever pleases you this evening,’ I urged her.
‘Me and Emily are going to stand at the minstrels’ gallery later so we can see who you dance with,’ she informed me.
‘Then I hope you both enjoy the spectacle,’ I said hesitantly and with some annoyance.
With Tilly gone I gathered myself together. Moving out of the door I walked along the corridor, my sumptuous skirts swishing on the carpet beneath my feet. As I reached the top of the wide staircase I could hear snippets of conversation coming up to meet me and I could see Rosalind and a couple of strangers talking, a glass in each of their hands.
Taking a deep breath I started to descend the staircase, my skirts pulled up a trifle with one hand lest I fall, the other hand delicately fanning myself for I felt suddenly hot. As I reached the third step from the bottom all conversation ceased and I could see both Michael and Tobias watching my progress down the stairs.
Tobias, dark and mysterious and Michael at his side, dark and gentle. Then I blushed for I realised I had come to a halt on the stairs and I smiled to cover my confusion, stepping lightly onto the polished floor below.
‘Fetch Sara a glass of sherry,’ instructed Rosalind bustling over to me and kissing me enthusiastically on both cheeks. Over her shoulder I could see Tobias walking to the drinks trolley situated
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