horse that Leo carried me to Creeda on. In the dream, I was in panic because there was a strange feeling that he was leading me the wrong way. I was screaming his name, but he would not turn. There was a flash and I was lying in the bed at Aven Cottage, with my wound undressed, the blood soaked my gown and the sheets. I heard the old woman’s whispering voice in my head.
“ Zwei Seelen, ein Körper.”
Another flash and the old woman’s contorted hand was right before me. She let go of the candle, enveloping me in the bright flames.
I gasped and shot up in my bed. My body shook and my night dress clung to me with sweat. Getting up, I went to open the window. A cool breeze blew the hair off my shoulders, and I began to calm myself down. It was the pressure that surrounded me. There was simply too much happening far too fast. It felt as though I was on Perseus, galloping toward a cliff with no way to stop him to gain a clear head.
The following afternoon I complained that I was not feeling well at breakfast and went back to bed. Celia and my Aunt took Li to see something of London, and I would have liked to have joined them, but being awake most of the night left me far too tired to go out. When I awoke, I went down to the library and began reading. Torrence, the butler came in not a moment later to say that a gentleman was waiting to be seen and I thought, How does Julian always seem to catch me when I’m by myself? I walked the length of the hallway toward the drawing room, it was empty when I got there, so I stood by the window and waited.
When Torrence came back he announced the guest.
“Mr. Eckhardt...”
I froze, knowing what he had come to ask me.
I did not know how to react, and Torrence came to my rescue by asking if he should ring for tea.
“Yes, thank you, Torrence.” After ringing the bell, he left us alone.
“Eckhardt,” I said, and he came to me and took my hand, slowly bending to kiss it and lingering a little too long when he did. He stood several inches taller than me and had an austere look about him.
“Tamsin,” he said and I was surprised that he used my Christian name and it made me all the more nervous. He did not look much different from when he came across Li and I in the forest that day.
“What brings you to London?” I asked cordially as I sat and gestured for him to do the same.
“I have come to see you, of course!” he said, genuinely surprised that I was not expecting him. There was a long and awkward pause while I waited for an explanation.
“You are about to have your season?” He asked, but I knew he was aware that was so.
“Yes, of course, along with Li, whom you met in the forest in Germany,” I responded questioningly. He nodded to the mention of Li.
“Ah yes, how is your friend?” he asked, but I did not feel that he was truly interested in the answer.
“She is well. I believe her season will be short as she already has a suitor,” I said. He nodded again, and then he moved closer to me. His hand took mine and before I realized what he was doing, an arm went around my shoulders and he kissed me hard on the lips. I wriggled free, standing up I shouted at him.
“How dare you be so familiar with me!” I was turning red, my hands began to sweat. He stood and reached for my hand, I snatched it away.
“Tamsin, we have written to one another for years, will you be so formal with me? I thought you knew what my intentions were...” He appeared to be truly shocked that I was so surprised by his actions. Apparently I had been naive in the understanding of our relationship. I looked to the door, wondering where the maid was with the tea, and longing for another person’s presence in the room. I finally understood why Aunt Emmaline never left me alone in the company of men. My silence seemed to spur him to continue.
“Please sit, I apologize for my forwardness. You must understand that I have cared for you since that moment I saw you in that darkened hall,
“ Zwei Seelen, ein Körper.”
Another flash and the old woman’s contorted hand was right before me. She let go of the candle, enveloping me in the bright flames.
I gasped and shot up in my bed. My body shook and my night dress clung to me with sweat. Getting up, I went to open the window. A cool breeze blew the hair off my shoulders, and I began to calm myself down. It was the pressure that surrounded me. There was simply too much happening far too fast. It felt as though I was on Perseus, galloping toward a cliff with no way to stop him to gain a clear head.
The following afternoon I complained that I was not feeling well at breakfast and went back to bed. Celia and my Aunt took Li to see something of London, and I would have liked to have joined them, but being awake most of the night left me far too tired to go out. When I awoke, I went down to the library and began reading. Torrence, the butler came in not a moment later to say that a gentleman was waiting to be seen and I thought, How does Julian always seem to catch me when I’m by myself? I walked the length of the hallway toward the drawing room, it was empty when I got there, so I stood by the window and waited.
When Torrence came back he announced the guest.
“Mr. Eckhardt...”
I froze, knowing what he had come to ask me.
I did not know how to react, and Torrence came to my rescue by asking if he should ring for tea.
“Yes, thank you, Torrence.” After ringing the bell, he left us alone.
“Eckhardt,” I said, and he came to me and took my hand, slowly bending to kiss it and lingering a little too long when he did. He stood several inches taller than me and had an austere look about him.
“Tamsin,” he said and I was surprised that he used my Christian name and it made me all the more nervous. He did not look much different from when he came across Li and I in the forest that day.
“What brings you to London?” I asked cordially as I sat and gestured for him to do the same.
“I have come to see you, of course!” he said, genuinely surprised that I was not expecting him. There was a long and awkward pause while I waited for an explanation.
“You are about to have your season?” He asked, but I knew he was aware that was so.
“Yes, of course, along with Li, whom you met in the forest in Germany,” I responded questioningly. He nodded to the mention of Li.
“Ah yes, how is your friend?” he asked, but I did not feel that he was truly interested in the answer.
“She is well. I believe her season will be short as she already has a suitor,” I said. He nodded again, and then he moved closer to me. His hand took mine and before I realized what he was doing, an arm went around my shoulders and he kissed me hard on the lips. I wriggled free, standing up I shouted at him.
“How dare you be so familiar with me!” I was turning red, my hands began to sweat. He stood and reached for my hand, I snatched it away.
“Tamsin, we have written to one another for years, will you be so formal with me? I thought you knew what my intentions were...” He appeared to be truly shocked that I was so surprised by his actions. Apparently I had been naive in the understanding of our relationship. I looked to the door, wondering where the maid was with the tea, and longing for another person’s presence in the room. I finally understood why Aunt Emmaline never left me alone in the company of men. My silence seemed to spur him to continue.
“Please sit, I apologize for my forwardness. You must understand that I have cared for you since that moment I saw you in that darkened hall,
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