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door.
    “These halls can be difficult to navigate this time of night. Shall I call for a maid to take you to your room?” I asked. Mrs. Eckhardt looked behind her into the dimly lit hallway and when she turned back with a timid expression and a brief nod, I rang the bell for the maid. The wait for Franny took some time, but it may have felt longer for Mrs. Eckhardt offered little conversation. She seemed very happy when she was guided from the room by the rather flamboyant maid.
    When we were alone, Celia and my Aunt decided I would be chaperoned by Lady Hilbourne on my journey to Germany. Not only would it be helpful to my Aunt, who had many engagements in London during the time of my travel, but Celia had plans to visit her mother around that month.
    Celia told us that she would be leaving the following afternoon to meet her son, Leo, in the village. He would be arriving by carriage from London.
    “He has not been back since the war and what kind of mother would I be if I did not go to greet him? I do have the morning and I was hoping that you might ride with me around the Rhineholt grounds before we depart?” she asked me. I looked at Aunt Emmaline and she nodded her approval.
    When Hilda took me riding, she would fall far behind me, so it would feel as though I had a little time to myself, but it was not the same freedom as when I played songs in the Long Hall. Uncle Charles gave me a docile white mare called Truffle for Christmas the same year that he got Aunt Emmaline a beautiful golden horse called Perseus. My Aunt was once thrown from her horse, and it was thought to be the reason she was barren. It took her a year to fully heal from the accident. When my Uncle gave her the horse as a gift, she refused to ride him. Before long, my riding skill was far better than my governess’s, so I began to exercise Perseus while Hilda took Truffle. Since I was a better horsewoman, Hilda happily rode the sweet, fat creature whose mane was always in her eyes.
    In my room, after the guests had retired, I began to unbutton the gown and take down my hair when there was a knock at the door and my Aunt entered. She took over letting down my hair before saying anything to me. When she had brushed and braided it all into one long tail, she sat down on the bed.
    “Dear, what did you think of Mr. Eckhardt?” she asked. I was not sure how to answer the question. I spent so little time with him that evening and was not sure what I was supposed to be judging him on.
    “He seemed awfully dull,” I said and she sighed at my response.
    “The Eckhardts are well known in Germany. They have a large estate and there is, of course, the title...” she said. I was still not certain what she was getting at.
    “You will be old enough to marry on your return from Germany and there will be the season in London. I’m sure that Mr. Eckhardt will plan to attend some of our balls at the London house.” The realization swept over me that she was already trying to marry me off. She was strapping me into a wedding dress and pushing me toward the altar.
    “I am tired,” I said as I stood up, hoping she would take the hint.
    “Of course, dear. Do not sleep too late, you’ll miss your ride with Lady Hilbourne. She would be disappointed.” She stood in the doorway and I nodded.
    Lying in bed, I stared at myself in the mirror for a long time until I drifted off to sleep, forgetting to blow out my candle. My dreams were of my Mother that night. She was brushing my hair beneath a tree with white blossoms all over it. She kissed the palm of my hand and the blossoms began to fall from the branches above. I woke up to the sound of footsteps in the hallway and a faint light flickering beneath the door. My own candle had gone out on its own. There were voices whispering in German near my room. One was a man's voice that I could not place and the other was Hilda’s. Then there was a clicking sound, like a key turning. I crept slowly to the door and clasped