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Authors: Shirley Marks
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did not
remain long. Aunt Penny advised her niece that she should
be off to bed and acquire the sleep she so sorely lacked.
Upon entering her bedchamber, Muriel found Lydia laying
out a night rail and wrapper, preparations for the night.
Lydia turned toward the door. "Is there something you
need, Lady Muriel?"
"I believe I am ready to retire for the evening," Muriel
informed her abigail.
"It's still very early." But Lydia hurried to close the bedchamber door.
"Aunt Penny bid me to do so, and I must confess, I have
been excessively fatigued of late." Muriel stood with her back
toward Lydia, ready to be divested of her frock. "I believe
my aunt is right: the extra rest shall do me good."
"She and Mrs. Wilbanks have been concerned that you
might be attending too many parties." Lydia unfastened the
tapes, removed the garment, and laid it over a chair. She retrieved the night rail and slipped it over Muriel's head, allowing it to hang free. "I confess, I might have to agree with her."
"I hate to overly worry her about such things." Muriel sat
at her dressing table. "I think an early night will be just the
thing to set me to rights."
Lydia agreed. The abigail stood behind her and brushed
her long, dark hair and asked about Muriel's beaus and whom
she favored and if she thought he might come up to scratch.
She inquired after Miss Wilbanks' suitors as well, saying,
"Oh, that Mr. Stanley is a great favorite of hers, is he not?
And so handsome too."
Muriel made a noncommittal reply.
Muriel's braided hair lay upon her shoulder. Lydia helped
Muriel into bed, pulled the covers around her chin, and bid
her a good night's sleep.
"Remember, Lydia, I plan to sleep until well after noon."
Muriel was sure to remind her. "I shall ring for you when I
wake."
Muriel may have gone to bed early, but she was far from
falling asleep. She lay still, but her mind was busy pondering the tasks ahead of her. She needed to retrieve the dress,
bonnet, shoes, and plain, serviceable cloak she'd hidden.
There were notes, paper, pencils, and books already secured
in her satchel, which she did not wish to forget. All would
need to be placed somewhere quickly accessible so she should
not fumble about in the dark early in the morning.
After waiting a good half hour, she drew the covers away,
swung her legs over the edge of the bed, slid to the floor, and
went to work. She needed to make her preparations to leave
down the back stairs and out a side door early the next morning. Above all it was important she keep very quiet.
As she had planned the night before, Muriel readied
herself for travel, donning her plain bonnet and cloak just
after sunrise the next morning. Under her arm she carried
the satchel containing her notes, extra paper, pencils, and
books she would need.
Slipping out of Worth House, she followed the few handwritten directions on Sir Samuel's map. His aunt's town
house was not far, well within walking distance. Soon, Muriel stopped before an ivy-covered portal and used the key
he'd given her. Pushing open the large iron gate, she stepped
inside, off the main street, and latched it behind her.
The dim morning light hardly illuminated the garden.
From what she could tell, it looked like a veritable jungle.
Not five minutes had passed before a small black carriage
rolled to a stop in the street. It was Sir Samuel, come to relay
her to Signore Biondi's.
With the aid of the Baronet, Muriel entered the vehicle
and settled on the bench seat across from Sir Samuel.
"Let us be off." Sir Samuel glared at her from his side of the interior. With a quick double tap to the roof, the carriage sprang into motion. "This is most improper, Muriel. I
cannot see how His Grace could condone our actions."
"I'm not asking for his blessing." Muriel placed her satchel
next to her. "I trust you implicitly. I know you shan't allow
any harm to come to me, chaperoned or not."
"That is quite true. Would it be
remain long. Aunt Penny advised her niece that she should
be off to bed and acquire the sleep she so sorely lacked.
Upon entering her bedchamber, Muriel found Lydia laying
out a night rail and wrapper, preparations for the night.
Lydia turned toward the door. "Is there something you
need, Lady Muriel?"
"I believe I am ready to retire for the evening," Muriel
informed her abigail.
"It's still very early." But Lydia hurried to close the bedchamber door.
"Aunt Penny bid me to do so, and I must confess, I have
been excessively fatigued of late." Muriel stood with her back
toward Lydia, ready to be divested of her frock. "I believe
my aunt is right: the extra rest shall do me good."
"She and Mrs. Wilbanks have been concerned that you
might be attending too many parties." Lydia unfastened the
tapes, removed the garment, and laid it over a chair. She retrieved the night rail and slipped it over Muriel's head, allowing it to hang free. "I confess, I might have to agree with her."
"I hate to overly worry her about such things." Muriel sat
at her dressing table. "I think an early night will be just the
thing to set me to rights."
Lydia agreed. The abigail stood behind her and brushed
her long, dark hair and asked about Muriel's beaus and whom
she favored and if she thought he might come up to scratch.
She inquired after Miss Wilbanks' suitors as well, saying,
"Oh, that Mr. Stanley is a great favorite of hers, is he not?
And so handsome too."
Muriel made a noncommittal reply.
Muriel's braided hair lay upon her shoulder. Lydia helped
Muriel into bed, pulled the covers around her chin, and bid
her a good night's sleep.
"Remember, Lydia, I plan to sleep until well after noon."
Muriel was sure to remind her. "I shall ring for you when I
wake."
Muriel may have gone to bed early, but she was far from
falling asleep. She lay still, but her mind was busy pondering the tasks ahead of her. She needed to retrieve the dress,
bonnet, shoes, and plain, serviceable cloak she'd hidden.
There were notes, paper, pencils, and books already secured
in her satchel, which she did not wish to forget. All would
need to be placed somewhere quickly accessible so she should
not fumble about in the dark early in the morning.
After waiting a good half hour, she drew the covers away,
swung her legs over the edge of the bed, slid to the floor, and
went to work. She needed to make her preparations to leave
down the back stairs and out a side door early the next morning. Above all it was important she keep very quiet.
As she had planned the night before, Muriel readied
herself for travel, donning her plain bonnet and cloak just
after sunrise the next morning. Under her arm she carried
the satchel containing her notes, extra paper, pencils, and
books she would need.
Slipping out of Worth House, she followed the few handwritten directions on Sir Samuel's map. His aunt's town
house was not far, well within walking distance. Soon, Muriel stopped before an ivy-covered portal and used the key
he'd given her. Pushing open the large iron gate, she stepped
inside, off the main street, and latched it behind her.
The dim morning light hardly illuminated the garden.
From what she could tell, it looked like a veritable jungle.
Not five minutes had passed before a small black carriage
rolled to a stop in the street. It was Sir Samuel, come to relay
her to Signore Biondi's.
With the aid of the Baronet, Muriel entered the vehicle
and settled on the bench seat across from Sir Samuel.
"Let us be off." Sir Samuel glared at her from his side of the interior. With a quick double tap to the roof, the carriage sprang into motion. "This is most improper, Muriel. I
cannot see how His Grace could condone our actions."
"I'm not asking for his blessing." Muriel placed her satchel
next to her. "I trust you implicitly. I know you shan't allow
any harm to come to me, chaperoned or not."
"That is quite true. Would it be
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