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“I’m so excited to see it all.”
“Afterwards, you’ll want to sleep for a week.”
“I do not doubt it.”
“These vegetables are for supper. Lady Anna Rutley will be joining us with her father.”
Laura’s heart sank. Now she truly was confused. If Anna was coming with her father, it was quite clear what that meant. If this business was becoming official, why was Edward holding a ball in the first place? Was it to announce the engagement? If so, Laura was quite sure that the event might entirely obliterate her heart.
“Is there anything else I can do?” Laura asked.
“I’ll have you assemble sandwiches soon.”
Laura smiled. “That sounds amusing.”
Some of her favourite tasks were in the kitchen of the estate or out in the garden. Mostly, she liked interacting with the people in these places. Laura considered what a shy girl she was when she left Sage Brook. Although she was still rather soft-spoken, Laura enjoyed her interaction with others more than before. Was that all Edward’s doing?
As the day wore on, the realization that Anna was coming to dinner with her father, the engagement would be official, and then would be announced at tomorrow’s ball, caused Laura to take pause emotionally. She couldn’t bear to see Edward. When he requested tea in the afternoon, which was now the signal for Laura to come to him, she refused.
“Diana, take this tray.”
Since Diana knew about some of the situation, she knitted her brow. “What is going on?”
“It’s difficult to explain. Please take it.”
“Very well.”
Laura would try to explain it to Diana later if she had the words to do so. She sighed and shook her head. Edward would be upset. She hadn’t had Diana go in her place for weeks because Laura was always in great anticipation of seeing Edward as much as she could. Once Diana returned, Laura searched her eyes to see how it went.
“He seemed rather upset.”
“I don’t mean to hurt him.”
“Has he been unkind?”
Laura shook her head. “No, the situation has been unkind. I’m afraid it’s going to end in ruin.”
Diana instinctively took Laura into her arms. “Everything is going to be all right. I promise.”
Laura pushed a tear away from her eye. “I hope so.”
Much the same happened when the day wore on and reached supper. Laura didn’t have the heart to walk into that dining room and see Anna seated beside Edward, the match being made.
“Ermengarde, I fear that I’m unwell.” Laura brought a hand up to her forehead.
Ermengarde moved Laura’s hand away and placed her wrist on the same spot. “You do feel hot.”
“May I go to my room?”
“Do so.”
Laura felt a sense of relief when she exited the kitchen and went down to her room. She couldn’t avoid these types of situations forever. But for the time being, it was the only relief that she could count on. Laura lit the taper and laid down on her bed, looking up at the ceiling and clutching herself. She shed more tears. Would everything have to come to an end? She reasoned that it must. Laura knew that this moment would arise one day and promised herself she’d walk through it with grace.
Laura closed her eyes and willed herself to sleep. She wished to dream. If only she could will her mind to dream about whatever she chose, then she’d dream about herself and Edward at sea, on a fine ship. Once again, Edward would be at the helm, and Laura would gaze off into the sea with joy. She’d turn and watch Edward, the captain of the ship, and admire his handsomeness as his hair danced in the ocean air. A contented smile would come to her lips as she realized that the handsome fellow steering the ship was all hers. For the rest of time.
“Laura?”
She felt someone tugging at her shoulder and realized that she had indeed been asleep all that while. “Harrison?”
