I’d sent a bird to share I was arriving so he’d know and could prepare.
I just hoped the bird made it.
I didn’t like communicating by bird. It obviously took much less time to do so than sending post by land or sea. But it was easy to intercept a bird, or other things befell the creatures, and half the time they didn’t make it to their destination.
And alas, for Kristian, after what had befallen him when he’d helped me with my traitorous plans, my arrival would not be a pleasant surprise.
Therefore I decided to send another bird prior to my departure in the morning, just in case.
The door to my dressing room opened and Josette moved through it.
“All’s packed and ready for our departure on the morn, milady,” she said, moving toward me.
“Thank you, Josette,” I replied.
She stopped several feet in front of me. “Is there anything you need?”
I shook my head, turning my attention back to the fire. “No. You may seek your bed.”
To my surprise, moments passed and I didn’t feel her presence leave.
I turned back to her.
“Is there more?” I asked.
“He’s alone, back in the morning room.”
I knew to whom she was referring and at the thought I felt a warmth hit my belly at the same time a cold chill slid over my skin.
“I think…well, milady,” she went on nervously, “I think he might be there waiting for you.”
Providing Josette with an elevated salary was not only because she was very good at doing what she did. It also didn’t solely have to do with the fact she did the job of three lady’s maids.
It was because no one knew what was happening in a house better than the servants.
For years, Josette had been my eyes and ears in places I’d never be privy, providing information I’d never have without her, much of it of great use.
She was not the only lady’s maid who offered these services. Indeed, I suspected they all did if they were any good at their jobs.
But she made a point of ascertaining all I might need to know (and some I didn’t but it didn’t hurt to hold the knowledge) and sharing it with me.
Yes, she earned her elevated salary in a number of ways.
Therefore, it was not surprising that, even though I didn’t share with my maid what had transpired with Noc the night before, she would know.
However, now, as I gazed up at her, I did not see the usual. A petite, pretty, plump, ash-blonde girl with blank, hazel eyes looking down at me and awaiting my response because she was doing her job.
I saw a pretty girl with kindness and concern in her hazel eyes, looking down on me, knowing all I’d lost and that I had not one, single true friend in the world.
That look only made me feel warmth.
Touch her hand, mon ange, show her what her compassion means to you.
Antoine’s voice sounding in my head made me blink and lose focus.
“Lady Franka,” Josette called, and I forced my attention from waiting to hear more in my head from my dead lover to my maid. “I’m happy to assist you back into your gown.”
Noc sitting alone in the morning room very well might mean he was waiting for me. That he’d enjoyed our time together (which I knew he did). That he wanted more before I was to leave.
Or perhaps it meant he wanted an explanation of what transpired earlier in the queen’s study.
Either way (especially the latter), I would not go to him.
It would be better he leave this world when he eventually did with nary a memory of Franka Drakkar of the midnight soul.
It was better anyone was not touched by that blackened spirit.
Now I’m just feeling sorry for myself, which is dire as well as boring, I thought.
What I said to Josette was, “We have a long ride ahead of us on the morrow. We should both get a good night’s rest.”
She looked disappointed before she covered her expression and nodded.
“Would you like another sleeping draught?” she inquired.
I didn’t need to sleep twelve hours again (although I actually did). I needed to be up, as I’d instructed Josette to wake me, at half past five so we could see to my toilette and be away before the palace woke and became bustling. This meaning (I hoped) we’d be away without running into anyone I didn’t wish to see.
And one of those primary “anyones” was Noctorno Hawthorne of the other world.
Therefore I shook my head.
Josette nodded again and she seemed to be moving to leave before she hesitated and turned back to me.
“You’ll sleep?” she pressed.
I studied her, noting she couldn’t quite hide her feelings of worry…for me.
Thus I continued studying her, thinking, Gods, did she actually like me?
I’d never been cruel to her. I’d never been overtly kind. I respected her talents, demonstrated that in more ways than monetarily, but never told her so.
Perhaps that was just her way. I wouldn’t know, for outside her sharing gossip while she was attiring me or doing my hair, or I was giving her orders, we didn’t speak very much. But there were many, for reasons unfathomable, who were thoughtful and benevolent to just about anybody.
It appeared my maid was one of those many.
I didn’t know what to do with this. Outside Antoine—and Kristian when I allowed him to do so—no one had ever shown concern for me.
Or kindness.
Not in my life.
“Yes, Josette, I’ll sleep,” I felt safe in assuring her.
To my surprise at this juncture I endured my lady’s maid studying me, seemingly to determine if I spoke truth, before it became clear she approved of what she saw. When she did, she nodded again and made her move to leave, this time following through.