the handle. It was locked. Why was Hilda locking me into my room? I could unlock it and open it from my side, so she was trying to keep someone out. All the men who were guests at Rhineholt that night spoke German. So who was that man in the hall?
I tiptoed back to the bed and got under the covers again, but it was a sleepless night.
Chapter 2
I was out of bed early after weaving in and out of sleep. Giving up on any kind of rest, I got up and put on a lilac colored morning dress with tiny embroidered flowers on the puffed sleeves and skirt. I tried to make something presentable of my hair but it was of no use, so I swept part of it to the back of my head and held it in place with a pearled comb leaving half of my hair down. I sighed as I looked in the mirror and thought, “ Well, I may not be up to Aunt Emmaline’s standards, but it will have to do for now.” With that, I went downstairs.
It was earlier than I realized and Bernadine barely had breakfast set out on the side board. Buffet style, as it always was when there were guests. She took one look at me and shook her head.
"Miss, when yer Aunt sees you, ye'll be in a heap of trouble." It did not stop her from giggling. I could see that she found it amusing that I did not bother to put my hair up, as that was the current fashion. It seemed that Bernadine was not quite ready for me to grow up.
Sitting down with my breakfast, I sighed when Julian came into the conservatory, filled his plate, and took a seat next to me.
"So, my mother tells me that you'll be accompanying us to Germany?" he asked. I was dismayed at the prospect of being stuck with him for that long.
"You're coming, too?" I asked without disguising my chagrin.
"Don't sound so delighted!" he shot back, "I have business in Hamburg before I return to India."
I did not care for his presence, but I was surprised that he would be returning to India so quickly after his arrival home. I had heard what a long journey India could be from England. After all the stops at ports for supplies and trading, it could be five months.
"Don't be sad, my dear. I know you are heartbroken, but you will be away at school and won't even miss my teasing you," he said in a mock comforting tone. The corner of his lips turned upward, and I couldn't help smiling with a raised eyebrow.
"Do you really think I'd miss someone so uncivilized?" I asked defiantly, remembering our conversation the night before.
He laughed and then grabbed my hand. He was suddenly far too serious for my liking, and looked me straight in the eyes.
"I might miss you, now that I've seen you again, all grown up." I snatched my hand back, revolted, and we spoke little as we ate. Julian made several attempts at conversation, but I ignored them.
We finished our breakfast before anyone else even came in. My Uncle arrived just as I was getting up to leave, with Aunt Emmaline a moment behind him. She assessed my appearance and said nothing, but gave me a look that made me shiver that also made me laugh a little inside.
"Tamsin, I have asked Gerard to ready the horses for you and Lady Hilbourne," Aunt Emmaline said.
I knew that Hilda did not care to try to keep track of me on horseback since I got far ahead in almost no time, while she flopped around on the back of old Truffle. I smiled at the thought of a riding companion keeping up with me, for once.
"I think I'll join you!" Julian chimed in and my mood sank.
I couldn’t get rid of him. I greeted the Eckhardts half heartedly as they entered the conservatory. Celia swept into the room after them, like a breath of fresh air, kissed me on the cheek, and began to lightly fill a plate. I gave a hard look to Julian again. He got up, excusing himself, and shrugged at me as he left the room.
I headed upstairs to change into my riding habit. I was about to round the corner into the hall where the stairs began when I heard our maid, Franny, giggling. Quietly, I leaned slightly around the archway
I tiptoed back to the bed and got under the covers again, but it was a sleepless night.
Chapter 2
I was out of bed early after weaving in and out of sleep. Giving up on any kind of rest, I got up and put on a lilac colored morning dress with tiny embroidered flowers on the puffed sleeves and skirt. I tried to make something presentable of my hair but it was of no use, so I swept part of it to the back of my head and held it in place with a pearled comb leaving half of my hair down. I sighed as I looked in the mirror and thought, “ Well, I may not be up to Aunt Emmaline’s standards, but it will have to do for now.” With that, I went downstairs.
It was earlier than I realized and Bernadine barely had breakfast set out on the side board. Buffet style, as it always was when there were guests. She took one look at me and shook her head.
"Miss, when yer Aunt sees you, ye'll be in a heap of trouble." It did not stop her from giggling. I could see that she found it amusing that I did not bother to put my hair up, as that was the current fashion. It seemed that Bernadine was not quite ready for me to grow up.
Sitting down with my breakfast, I sighed when Julian came into the conservatory, filled his plate, and took a seat next to me.
"So, my mother tells me that you'll be accompanying us to Germany?" he asked. I was dismayed at the prospect of being stuck with him for that long.
"You're coming, too?" I asked without disguising my chagrin.
"Don't sound so delighted!" he shot back, "I have business in Hamburg before I return to India."
I did not care for his presence, but I was surprised that he would be returning to India so quickly after his arrival home. I had heard what a long journey India could be from England. After all the stops at ports for supplies and trading, it could be five months.
"Don't be sad, my dear. I know you are heartbroken, but you will be away at school and won't even miss my teasing you," he said in a mock comforting tone. The corner of his lips turned upward, and I couldn't help smiling with a raised eyebrow.
"Do you really think I'd miss someone so uncivilized?" I asked defiantly, remembering our conversation the night before.
He laughed and then grabbed my hand. He was suddenly far too serious for my liking, and looked me straight in the eyes.
"I might miss you, now that I've seen you again, all grown up." I snatched my hand back, revolted, and we spoke little as we ate. Julian made several attempts at conversation, but I ignored them.
We finished our breakfast before anyone else even came in. My Uncle arrived just as I was getting up to leave, with Aunt Emmaline a moment behind him. She assessed my appearance and said nothing, but gave me a look that made me shiver that also made me laugh a little inside.
"Tamsin, I have asked Gerard to ready the horses for you and Lady Hilbourne," Aunt Emmaline said.
I knew that Hilda did not care to try to keep track of me on horseback since I got far ahead in almost no time, while she flopped around on the back of old Truffle. I smiled at the thought of a riding companion keeping up with me, for once.
"I think I'll join you!" Julian chimed in and my mood sank.
I couldn’t get rid of him. I greeted the Eckhardts half heartedly as they entered the conservatory. Celia swept into the room after them, like a breath of fresh air, kissed me on the cheek, and began to lightly fill a plate. I gave a hard look to Julian again. He got up, excusing himself, and shrugged at me as he left the room.
I headed upstairs to change into my riding habit. I was about to round the corner into the hall where the stairs began when I heard our maid, Franny, giggling. Quietly, I leaned slightly around the archway
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