When I awoke, I was surprised to find myself in my own bed, while the physician tended to Elva beside

  1. me.

I looked around the room, but Nicholas was gone. I wondered how long he stayed. Likely not for very

long. He did dislike me, after all.

Still, he had been kind to stay at all, even with all the layers of hurt between us. He had been kind to me

last night, and I would not soon forget it.

I rose and dressed, and by the time I was done, the physician was ready to talk to me.

“She should have a full recovery. She will need to rest for a day or so. Her body is fatigued from fighting

off her illness so hard.”

I thanked her, though my relief did not fully squash my guilt. Elva had only been in danger at all because

of my inability to protect her. If I had stayed away from her until I was absolutely certain I was healed, she

might never have gotten sick.

The thoughts plagued me even after the physician exited the room. No sooner had she gone than Mark

entered.

“All of the girls are being summoned into the parlor room,” he said.

I knew, with the distinct lack of pitter–patter of rain against the window, that it was not storming outside.

failure. But at least Elva was safe for now, no

me in the

stay with Elva?” I asked

“Yes.”

I nodded. “Thank you.”

the room and made my way down to the parlor, where most

already waiting. They whispered as I entered, and I

seemed, had already spread through the

raised platform at the far side of

nearest a microphone.

stood. No one would talk to me. At least, not until

concern

how

Susie said. “Thank God

I agreed.

into the microphone. “Attention,

the girls turned to look at

hunt previously planned for today

on

raining,” a girl from the front

Since I had lost the bet,

however one managed to do that. Hopefully Lena

too far out of

said, “Yet Miss Piper has still won the deal between her and Nicholas.

even drizzling, the forecasters have predicted that tonight we will experience a

moon.”

room.

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