Her heart skipped as his lips twisted up on one side and he turned away.
She glanced over at Magdalen. She was speaking to the Duke of Wolfberg, who sat on the other side of her.
She wanted to shake her and say, “Don’t talk to Wolfberg! You are supposed to be making Lord Thornbeck love you.”
She needed to have a talk with her friend. There were only three more days left!
Just then, Endlein wandered in. Her gaze roved around the room, and she wore a very confused, frustrated look.
Avelina rose and quietly walked to where Endlein was standing at the back of the room. “May I help you, Endlein?” she whispered.
“I am looking for my daughter, Annlin. But I don’t understand. Who are all these people?”
She looked so thin, Avelina said, “Why don’t you come with me to the kitchen and I’ll get you something to eat.”
“Oh. I never feel hungry. I’m looking for Annlin.”
But she allowed Avelina to lead her out and down the stairs toward the kitchen.
“Where are we going?”
“To the kitchen, to find some food. All is well, do not worry.” Avelina tried to speak soothingly. “After we get some food, I will help you to your room.”
The kitchen servants looked up when they entered.
“Can we have some food, please? Whatever you have.”
Two of the servants gathered some cheese and bread and some fruit pastries and brought them to a table and coaxed Endlein into sitting down to eat. Avelina thanked them, then stayed with her while she ate and the servants went back to work.
Endlein actually ate quite a bit. Then she suddenly stood. “I need to find Annlin.”
Avelina touched her arm and said gently, “We cannot find her tonight, Endlein. Can I take you up to your room? Come. Let me take you there.”
The only problem was, she didn’t know where the woman’s room was. She asked one of the servants, who explained, and Avelina took her arm and led her up.
When they finally reached Endlein’s narrow little bedchamber, Endlein turned and smiled at her. “When I find my daughter, we shall do something kind for you. What is your name?”
“Av—Dorothea. Dorothea.”
“Dorothea.” Endlein turned and went toward her bed.
Avelina closed the door. It was sweet of Endlein to want to do something for her. Poor Endlein.
Avelina meandered back to her bedchamber after praying alone at the chapel. Only two more days until the ball.
She had prayed for forgiveness for all of the half-truths and deceptions of the past two weeks, and for favor with Magdalen, that she would not hate her when Avelina told her the truth. And she prayed that she would not embarrass herself with tears at having to leave this place—at how much she would miss Lord Thornbeck and Lady Magdalen.
When she opened her bedchamber door and went inside, she saw a familiar-looking piece of paper on the floor. Another note under her door. Avelina picked it up and read it. Meet me on the balcony at the end of the gallery next to the ballroom after dark.
Her heart leapt at the thought of seeing him again. She had not seen Lord Thornbeck all day. Probably he was spending time with some of the other ladies. But she only felt slightly jealous thinking about that. Now she would see him on this clear night, with the moon and stars above.
Avelina hurried to tidy her hair. Irma was almost never around to help her with her hair, her dress, or anything else. Irma had confessed the night before that her new friend, Gerhaws, had introduced her to another servant—a man with whom Irma was obviously infatuated, as she was now not even coming back to her room overnight to sleep. Avelina wanted to warn Irma that the manservant would break her heart when they had to leave, but she couldn’t imagine Irma would be eager to hear any advice from her.
She scurried to Magdalen’s door, but before she could knock, she noticed a piece of paper attached to the door.
I am waiting for you at the balcony.
M.
She glanced at the end of the corridor. The guard was not there. Where had he gone? And if Magdalen was waiting for her at the balcony, then she must already be with Lord Thornbeck. A pang of jealousy attacked her like a bird of prey, its talons gripping her heart.
No. She stomped her foot to force her heart to listen. I will not allow jealousy to get hold of me. Magdalen was her friend, and Avelina could never have Lord Thornbeck anyway.
She hurried toward the balcony. She would be joyful for Lord Thornbeck and Magdalen.
So why did she have to blink away tears as she walked?
When she arrived at the gallery, the long, narrow room’s only light came from the windows and the moonlight outside, as all the torches and candles had been snuffed out. As she walked the only sound was the swishing of her skirts and scuffling of her slippers on the stone floor. The portraits seemed to watch her as she passed, their eyes following her. Her heart beat faster, and she was thankful when she reached the open door at the other end of the long room.