Chapter Twenty Four

A few seconds later, her younger sister flew down the stairs and Mira found herself in another hug, this time gardenia-scented.

“I’m sorry!” Cecily broke into a sob and it became clear that she’d been stewing in this feeling since they’d parted ways at the hospital and now it had exploded. Her blue-green eyes filled with tears that spilled down her cheeks like crystals. At least she was a pretty crier. “It’s all my fault!”

“There, there. It’s no one’s fault.” Mira soothed her and stroked her back. “It just happened.”

Cecily shook her head. “No, Nanny told me to wear a veil in case his highness was around and I-I said n-no because I thought there was no way he would be hanging around the hospital, but then! Then!” Her lower lip started to wobble again. “If Mister Adelram wasn’t there, I don’t think I could have suppressed the seizure until the doctors came!”

“Why didn’t you want to wear a veil?” Mira asked. She didn’t care about whether Cecily wore one or not, but was curious.

“The n-netting scratches me,” was Cecily’s hitching response and she finally covered her eyes. “I-I should have p-put up with…”

That was the second time Cecily had mentioned having a problem with textures. Sensitive skin was a very common trait for heroines so Mira supposed this was in keeping with her character, but she was also a firm believer in not ‘putting up’ with anything ever.

“I would have done the same,” Mira chuckled and laughed outright when Cecily looked up at her in surprise. “See, I’m fine and even if I wasn’t it wouldn’t be because you didn’t want to wear a veil. Why don’t you show me the sitting room? We can talk more there.”

Cecily’s cheeks went pink. “I accosted you as soon as you got inside the door,” she whispered, covering her face again. “What’s wrong with me? Come look, Nanny made us a family room on the second floor away from Vesper’s office area.”

Mira let herself be led upstairs to a nice little sitting room with soft chairs, a salamander grate, and excellent light that was enhanced by several more wall mirrors. It was a nicely informal space with plenty of room for as many as six people to sit comfortably in the evening with their hobbies.

“This one is yours,” Cecily said as she showed Mira to the one nearest a low bookshelf. There was an electric reading lamp next to it and Mira discovered that the seat extended a bit to support her calves, a bit like a chaise with better lumbar support, although not quite a recliner.

“Very comfortable,” Mira agreed. “Now, tell me about what’s got you upset?”

Cecily brought over a floor cushion and sat on the floor next to Mira’s lap, much like she’d done with Vesper in the hospital. Nanny excused herself to fetch tea without being asked so something must have happened. Colvin didn’t even pretend to not ignore Nanny’s hint that he should leave too. Instead he went and stood by the wall just out of sight so they could pretend he wasn’t there.

“I met our father,” Cecily explained quietly. “He–he was very unhappy on your behalf; about the rumors, the Fenbys, and then Andrei seeing us in the street. He wasn’t unkind, but…” she trailed off and Mira could fill in the blanks. An older man was upset and Cecily was looking for reasons why it could be her fault. She looked up, startled, when Mira stroked her head.

“…but it wasn’t the reception you were hoping for?” Mira guessed.

Cecily dropped her gaze and shook her head. “No, I suppose it wasn’t,” she admitted and leaned into Mira’s touch just a little. “I don’t think I would have been any happier if it was, though, for a different reason. Are you really feeling better?”

“Much better,” Mira reassured her. “We can try another meeting with him when things are more settled. I’m sure it will go better when he has fewer fires to put out.” It sounded like things could hardly go worse.

Cecily nodded again. “I’m glad you’re back,” she said softly.

“Are you girls in here?” Vesper called from the stairwell. She let herself into the sitting room and Mira could actually read relief in the slight lift of her brow when she took stock of Mira’s good color and bright eyes. “Good. You’re looking much better. Do you see, Cecily? She’s recovering well.”

Mira smiled and felt something settle in her chest like a tumbler falling into place as Cecily nodded, but with her cheeks puffed again so Mira had clearly missed out on something and she was surprised to find she was actually a little disappointed about that. It always took a while for her new lives to feel like they belonged to her and sometimes her new family never did feel like they were actually her family, but this time… this time she’d gotten lucky, hadn’t she?

000

Mira didn’t stay lucky, of course.

She got an entire day to tour the house, meet the new staff, and arrange her study before one of the love interests figured out where she lived.

The study was actually divided into two sections so that Colvin was able to handle his personal matters while still attending to her and hers. They’d divided the room with standing screens so that Mira’s reading wasn’t disturbed when a Bowler Hat arrived to drop off papers or have a whispered conversation with their employer.

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It was a bit reassuring that she wasn’t Colvin’s sole concern, in some ways. Although, now she did wonder if the crown princess was using her home to shelter some kind of budding crime lord or, worse, her personal spymaster. Vesper certainly wasn’t paying him enough to keep that many people on a payroll and Mira had counted five Bowler Hats so far, all alike in stature with matching underbites.

Either something was going on there or the Bowler Hat family women all threw remarkably similar children.