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.

end in failure. But at least

of me in the

you stay with Elva?” I asked

“Yes.”

I nodded. “Thank you.”

and made my way down to

already waiting. They whispered as I entered, and I heard echoes of

it, it seemed, had

raised platform at the

nearest a microphone.

was alone where I stood. No one would talk to

concern filled

but how she is better now,

heard,” Susie said. “Thank God her fever

I agreed.

Nathan said into

the girls turned to look at

previously planned for today has been postponed. A

on inclement

not raining,” a girl from the

lost the bet, at the

however one managed to do that.

far out

not,” Nathan said, “Yet Miss Piper has still won the deal between

not even drizzling, the forecasters have predicted that tonight we will

moon.”

around the room.

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