Page 3 of Cloaked in Beauty

He nodded, his eyes sad as he watched the house burn. “Yes, ma’am. You and the young miss were the last to leave.”

“Thank the Lord.”

“I don’t know how this could have happened, Mrs. Radcliffe.” The butler’s shoulders slumped. Scarlett hadn’t known they could do that. “I checked every sconce, lamp, and hearth before turning in. Nothing was amiss.”

“You are not to blame for tonight’s tragedy, Fellows. I know where the blame lies, and I plan to ensure nothing like this happens again.” Mama swiveled toward her maid. “Is the carriage ready?”

Miss Emily tipped her head toward the carriage house. “Carter’s hitching up the team now.”

“Good. She has to disappear tonight.”

Disappear? Scarlett’s forehead scrunched. Who had to disappear?

Miss Emily patted the pillowcase she held. It clanked like metal. Had she found some armor? It had to be small to fit in a pillowcase, but maybe it was magic and would grow when it came out. If it grew big enough, Carter or Mr. Fellows could wear it to battle the dragon and make it leave.

Leaning close, Miss Emily lowered her voice. “I didn’t have time to dig through the sideboard for the dining silver, but I grabbed the sterling tea set and the few trays that sat on top. They should fetch a good price.”

Scarlett frowned. Armor would have been better. Mr. Fellows couldn’t battle a dragon with a teapot and tray.

“You did well, Emily. Thank you.”

“I can’t believe he did this.” Miss Emily’s eyes watered as she looked toward the flaming house. “To burn people in their beds for money. Especially a child! He’s a devil of a man.”

“That’s why we have to take drastic measures to keep her safe. Scarlett is all that matters now. I’ll sacrifice anything to protect her.”

Mama’s arms tightened around her, but Scarlett squirmed. What did they mean? Who was the devil man?

Before she could ask her questions, the carriage arrived. Carter hopped down from the driver’s perch and opened the door. He took her mother’s pillowcase and the one Miss Emily held and placed them on the floor of the carriage. Mama lifted Scarlett inside first, then climbed in beside her.

Scarlett leaned against her mother’s side, her worries too big to sit by herself. Mama’s worries must have been big, too, for she lifted Scarlett across her lap, tucked her head under her chin, and snuggled her against her chest. Mama’s heart thumped beneath Scarlett’s ear, the steady beat offering comfort.

Carter set the team in motion, and soon the gentle rocking of the carriage began to lull Scarlett back to sleep. But when she closed her eyes, all she saw was fire, dragons, and a man waving his hand over them like the song leader at church. Her eyes popped open, and she gripped Mama’s waist.

“Is the devil man gonna get me?”

Mama’s arms tightened around Scarlett for a moment before she urged Scarlett to sit back enough to see her face. Scarlett’s hood fell down to her shoulders, and Mama stroked her hair.

“No, sweetheart. You are completely safe. I promise.” Tears shone in her eyes, but her voice held firm, as if no questions wobbled in her mind. “Grandmother Flora and I have a plan all worked out. She’s going to help you hide so well that no one can find you.” Mama smiled and bopped the end of Scarlett’s nose. “No one is better at hiding than Grandmother Flora.”

“Are you gonna hide with us?”

Mama’s smile broke. “Oh, how I wish I could! You are my favorite person in the whole world, and there is no one I want to be with more than you.” Her hand cupped Scarlett’s cheek. Eyes glistening, she gave a little sniff that made Scarlett’s heart tremble. “I have to stay here to make sure no one figures out where you are. And to watch over the Radcliffe employees for Daddy. Their jobs allow them to take care of their own little girls and boys. Since Daddy’s not here, watching over them is my responsibility.”

Scarlett wagged her head as new tears overflowed her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. “No! I don’t want to go without you.” She’d already lost Daddy. She couldn’t lose Mama, too.

Please, God. I don’t want to leave!

Mama rubbed the tears off Scarlett’s cheeks with her thumbs, then squished Scarlett against her chest and squeezed her tight.

“Oh, Letty, I don’t want you to go without me, either. It breaks my heart. You are my dearest girl. The joy of my life.” She loosened her hold and rubbed Scarlett’s arm. “We both have to be brave. And smart. Doing what we want isn’t always what is best. Doing what is best, even when it hurts, is what God calls us to do.”

Scarlett closed her eyes as Mama’s fingers ran up and down her back. The gentle touch soothed away the worst of the worry even though her heart still felt broken.

“Your grandmother loves you, and she’ll take good care of you. It won’t be so bad. You’ll have adventures, just like the girls in your stories. I’ll miss you every day, but I’ll never stop thinking about you. I’ll keep you close in my heart and write down everything I wish I could share with you. That way, when we finally see each other again, we can catch up on all we missed.” Mama’s voice cracked, and the sound of soft crying filled the carriage.

Sorrow tugged on Scarlett’s heart. She’d only ever heard her mother cry once before. When Daddy died. Scarlett didn’t want Mama to cry like that again. She could be brave and do what was best, even if it wasn’t what she wanted. Maybe then Mama wouldn’t hurt so much.

Scarlett pulled away and sat up straight in Mama’s lap. She sniffed and rubbed her nose on her sleeping gown’s sleeve, then she placed both hands on Mama’s face and looked into her watery eyes.