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lady_maryMary returns to her hostesses home in Lincolnshire clutching a small case. Thankfully, it had been sitting in her rented room when she returned upstairs from the bar, because their was no way she could put her own garments back on by herself, and she was most certainly not asking any of the other patrons for help.
She rings for Anna, who arrives quickly, and to her credit, does a very good job not letting Mary's strange attire throw her.
"Good evening, m'lady."
"Good evening, Anna. Please, could you help me out of these ridiculous clothes."
"Will you be going back down to the drawing room, m'lady."
"Oh, no. I've had about all I can take of them for one day. I'd rather retire early." Though is it truly early if she's been gone for hours, first riding, then socializing with strange women.
Anna helps her out of her jacket and gently folds it on a chair. "You haven't asked where I've been or why I've been dressed this way."
"I wouldn't want to pry," says Anna. "You'll tell me if you need to."
"You'd hardly believe me."
"I've never known you to be a liar, m'lady."
"Well it began right after Patrick died…" Anna listens attentively as Mary recounts her first and subsequent visits to Milliways, freely admitting that the place she's describing seems impossible. She herself would find it impossible had she not seen it first hand.
Anna doesn't excuse Mary of trying to deceive her, nor does she seem to think that Mary is hysterical. However, she does ask, "Are you sure it's safe, m'lady?"
"I hadn't really thought," Mary answers. "People there are strange, but no one has threatened me harm."
Anna agrees that it's best not to tell Countess, or anyone else in Mary's family. Their reactions would probably be less measured than Anna's. And as for the clothes…
"I'll just pack these riding clothes, m'lady. I'm sure I can find a quiet time to launder them once we're back home."
Mary's not quite sure when her life became full of quite so many secrets, but if she continues as she has been, there doesn't seem to be an end in sight anytime soon. More and more, the woman she seems to be on the surface may not truly be who she is at all.
She rings for Anna, who arrives quickly, and to her credit, does a very good job not letting Mary's strange attire throw her.
"Good evening, m'lady."
"Good evening, Anna. Please, could you help me out of these ridiculous clothes."
"Will you be going back down to the drawing room, m'lady."
"Oh, no. I've had about all I can take of them for one day. I'd rather retire early." Though is it truly early if she's been gone for hours, first riding, then socializing with strange women.
Anna helps her out of her jacket and gently folds it on a chair. "You haven't asked where I've been or why I've been dressed this way."
"I wouldn't want to pry," says Anna. "You'll tell me if you need to."
"You'd hardly believe me."
"I've never known you to be a liar, m'lady."
"Well it began right after Patrick died…" Anna listens attentively as Mary recounts her first and subsequent visits to Milliways, freely admitting that the place she's describing seems impossible. She herself would find it impossible had she not seen it first hand.
Anna doesn't excuse Mary of trying to deceive her, nor does she seem to think that Mary is hysterical. However, she does ask, "Are you sure it's safe, m'lady?"
"I hadn't really thought," Mary answers. "People there are strange, but no one has threatened me harm."
Anna agrees that it's best not to tell Countess, or anyone else in Mary's family. Their reactions would probably be less measured than Anna's. And as for the clothes…
"I'll just pack these riding clothes, m'lady. I'm sure I can find a quiet time to launder them once we're back home."
Mary's not quite sure when her life became full of quite so many secrets, but if she continues as she has been, there doesn't seem to be an end in sight anytime soon. More and more, the woman she seems to be on the surface may not truly be who she is at all.
