She slumped, letting her gaze settle on the ornate curve of the foot of a nearby end table. She stared at it until it grew fuzzy, then split into two. Her eyes must be crossing. Or she could be going blind. Maybe if she went blind then Lord Newbury wouldn‘t want her anymore. Could one go blind by keeping one‘s eyes crossed for days?
Maybe. It might be worth trying.
She tilted her head to the side.
―Annabel? Miss Winslow? Are you all right?"
―Fine," Annabel said automatically, still staring at the table.
―Oh, the tea is here!" Olivia exclaimed, clearly relieved to break the awkward silence. ―Here we are." She sat down and placed a cup in a saucer. ―How do you take yours?"
Annabel reluctantly pulled her gaze from the table and blinked, allowing her eyes to uncross.
―Milk please. No sugar."
Olivia waited for the tea to finish steeping, chattering away about this and that and nothing in particular. Annabel was happy—no, grateful—to just sit and listen. She learned about Olivia‘s sister-in-law, who didn‘t much enjoy coming to town, and her twin brother, who was (on odd days) the spawn of the devil. On even days, Olivia had said, her eyes flicking heavenward, ―I suppose I love him."
As Annabel sipped the hot liquid, Olivia told her about her husband‘s work. ―He used to translate awful documents. Just dreadfully boring. One would think that papers for the War Office would be filled with intrigue, but trust me, that is not the case."
Annabel sipped and nodded, sipped and nodded.
―He complains about the Gorely books all the time," Olivia continued. ―The writing really is dreadful. But I think he secretly loves translating them." She looked up, as if she‘d just thought of something. ―Actually, he has Sebastian to thank for the job."
―Really? How is that?"
Olivia‘s mouth opened, but it was several moments before she actually said, ―Honestly, I don‘t quite know how to describe it. But Sebastian gave a reading for Prince Alexei. Who I believe you met last night."
Annabel nodded. Then frowned. ―He gave a reading?"
Olivia looked as if she still couldn‘t quite believe it. ―It was remarkable." She shook her head. ―I still can‘t quite believe it. He had the housemaids in tears."
―Oh my." She really did need to read one of these Gorely books.
―At any rate, Prince Alexei fell in love with the story. Miss Butterworth and the Mad Baron . He asked Harry to translate it so that his countrymen can read it, too."
―It must be quite a story."
―Oh, it is. Death by pigeons."
Annabel choked on her tea. ―You‘re joking."
―No. I swear to you, Miss Butterworth‘s mother is pecked to death by pigeons. And this, the poor woman, after being the only member of her family—except for Miss Butterworth, of course—to survive the plague."
―Bubonic?" Annabel asked, wide-eyed.
―Oh, no, sorry, it was pox. I wish it had been bubonic."
―I need to read one of those books," Annabel said.
―I can give you one." Olivia set her tea down and stood, walking across the room. ―We have many copies here. Harry sometimes marks the pages, so we‘ve had to buy multiples." She opened up a small cabinet and bent down to look inside. ―Oh, dear, I forgot I‘m getting a bit unwieldy."
Annabel started to rise to her feet. ―Do you need help?"
―No, no." Olivia let out a little groan as she straightened. ―Here we are. Miss Sainsbury and the Mysterious Colonel . I believe it is Mrs. Gorely‘s debut effort."
―Thank you." Annabel took the book and looked down at it, running her fingers over gilt letters on the front. She opened to the first page and read the opening.
The slanted light of dawn was rippling through the windowpane, and Miss Anne Sainsbury huddled beneath her threadbare blanket, wondering as she often did, how she would find money for her next meal. She looked down at her faithful collie, lying quietly on the rug by her bed, and she knew that the time had come for her to make a momentous decision. The lives of her brothers and sisters depended upon it.
She slammed it shut.
―Is something wrong?" Olivia asked.
―No, just…nothing." Annabel drank more tea. She wasn‘t sure she wanted to read about a girl making momentous decisions just then. Especially not one who had brothers and sisters depending on her. ―I think I will read it later," she said.
―If you want to read now I‘m more than happy to leave you to your peace," Olivia said. ―Or I could join you. I‘m still only halfway through today‘s newspaper."
―No, no. I‘ll start it tonight." She smiled ruefully. ―It will be a welcome distraction."
Olivia started to say something, but just then they heard someone entering the front door.
―Harry?" Olivia called out.
―Only me, I‘m afraid."
Annabel froze. It was Mr. Grey.
―Sebastian!" Olivia called out, shooting a nervous glance at Annabel. Annabel shook her head frantically. She didn‘t want to see him. Not now, when she was feeling so fragile.
―Sebastian, I wasn‘t expecting you," Olivia said, hurrying toward the drawing-room door.
He stepped in, leaning down to kiss her cheek. ―Since when do you expect me or not expect me?"
Annabel slouched down in her seat. Maybe he wouldn‘t see her. Her dress was almost the same blue as the sofa. Perhaps she‘d blend in. Perhaps he‘d gone blind from having crossed his eyes for days. Perhaps—
―Annabel? Miss Winslow?"
She smiled weakly.