certainly seemed too comfortable about walking into my room unannounced and uninvited.
Unnerved by Lillian’s sudden appearance, I accidentally let the exquisite glass perfume bottle drop from my hand. It hit the corner of the dressing table, shattering on contact. The scent, far stronger now as it spilled out on the table and carpeting, permeated the air, making me feel queasy. I stared down at the shattered glass with dismay, then bent to pick up the shards.
A scornful smile colored Lillian’s expression, not improving it, as she crossed the room in long, gliding steps and brushed me aside with a dismissive wave of her hand. Silently and thoroughly, the gaunt woman set to the task I’d begun. If the heavy scent bothered her, she gave no sign of it.
“I’m…so sorry about the vial. It’s just…You startled me.” No sooner had the words come out than I instantly regretted them. It certainly wouldn’t help matters to blame Lillian for my own clumsiness.
“Nicholas sent me up to ask what you wanted for your breakfast.” Lillian spoke without affect, but I felt duly chastised nonetheless.
“Oh…It doesn’t…matter,” I replied meekly, glancing at my closed suitcase. I had meant to skip breakfast at Raven’s Cove and remain in my room until just after ten. Then my plan was to steal out of the house and meet the cab at the wrought-iron gates to the property.
“Bacon and eggs?” Lillian was dropping the last of the larger shards into the wicker wastebasket beside the dressing table.
“No, thanks. I don’t really care for—Just some…toast and coffee will be fine.”
Lillian glanced up from her task, giving me a curious look. I had the clear impression she’d been testing me; that she knew Deborah didn’t care for bacon and eggs and wanted to see what I’d say. Did Lillian, like her cousin, have doubts about my identity? Not that it mattered what either one of them believed at this point, I told myself firmly. Or what I believed, for that matter. Either way, I was leaving.
But then my gaze fell once more on the photo. Was I again acting impulsively? In leaving so precipitously, was I really running away from…myself? As I looked at the image of the handsome, adoring man with his arms around the “girl of his dreams,” I couldn’t help wondering if it would truly be so awful for Nicholas to come to accept me as Deborah; to welcome me back to Raven’s Cove? Could this be a chance at a new beginning, not just for me, but for him, as well? For the two of us together? What if he were to once again look at me with that same heartfelt love…?
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