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Authors: Karen Engelmann
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the queen, her face still as marble. Mrs. von Hälsen turned and put a hand on Mrs. Sparrowâs arm. âI am so pleased,â she said.
Women are the strangest gamblers.
The spectators began to applaud, and Carlotta joined in until The Uzanne grabbed her by the wrist and forced one hand to the table. âI thought the king had been taken earlier in the game,â she said.
âThat was knave to my ace, fourth trick,â Mrs. Sparrow said, pulling the ace and knave of diamonds from her pile of cards, then gathering up the entire deck. âPlayers often confuse a knave for a king.â Mrs. Sparrow picked up Cassiopeia and closed her, then did the same with the other three fans. She rose from the table, clutching the four fans like tinder in her trembling hands, and turned to Mrs. von Hälsen. âI have been lucky with your nieceâs cards and good fortune should be shared. Please bring her and call on me one day soon.â Mrs. Sparrow gave a nod and disappeared down the dark corridor to her private rooms.
I could not see The Uzanneâs face, but Carlotta leaned over to kiss her cheek. âThere, there, Madame. You said yourself we must look to the future.â Carlotta hesitated, and I watched her face display the triumph of her kind heart over her social station. âI have heard rumors of a merry outing to meet the morning in DjurgÃ¥rden. Will you come?â I slipped from my seat and tried to signal Carlotta that this simply could not happen: I wanted to declare my intentions as soon as we were alone. But Carlottaâs eyes were only for her stricken benefactress.
The Uzanne took out her ivory souvenir and pencil and wrote the word SPARROW in a shaking hand. There were damp circles under her arms and breasts, watering the embroidered flowers on her gown. She turned to her tender companion. âYes, Carlotta, we must look to our futures. But I have plans already, and so do you.â Carlotta looked puzzled. âI have arranged a rendezvous for you with Lieutenant Halland. He is close to Duke Karl and related to the De Geers.â
âThe De Geers!â Carlotta placed a hand on her bosom. The family was noble and their wealth was legendary. âWhere is he?â she asked, glancing around with the prettiest of smiles.
The two ladies made their way toward Duke Karlâs entourage, and The Uzanne handed Carlotta over to an inebriated officer with unruly facial hair. Intervention would at best cause embarrassment and at worst a duel, so I stood stiffly by and observed as the lout kissed her ungloved hand and she admired his uniform. There was not so much as a glance in my direction as the fervor of their exchange increased. When Carlotta took the officerâs arm and pressed herself against him, raising her tender lips to his, I convinced myself that she was merely playing the game and pleasing both The Uzanne and her mother, but her obvious pleasure was painful to watch.
The Uzanne seemed to want more than a word with Duke Karl, leaning toward him in the most alluring of postures, but Pechlin stood suddenly, calling loudly for the dukeâs carriage. The remaining guests began to take their leave, the house servants bowing and scooping up empty glasses in their wake. I disappeared with the throng and cut back into the shadowy courtyard. The light in the sky was finally approaching that of evening, and the blue hours waited, where the sun hovers on the horizon for hours and only the strongest of stars show themselves. One is caught between night and day in a rare azure world, just as I felt caught between Carlottaâs initial encouragements and her disappearance. I waited until everyone had gone, then climbed the servantsâ stairs and sat in the upper room until Mrs. Sparrow could lay the cards.
Chapter Six
Cassiopeia
Sources: E. L., Mrs. S.
MRS. SPARROW LOOKED PALE and tired, the skin beneath her eyes sagging somewhat more than usual. She set a tray
Women are the strangest gamblers.
The spectators began to applaud, and Carlotta joined in until The Uzanne grabbed her by the wrist and forced one hand to the table. âI thought the king had been taken earlier in the game,â she said.
âThat was knave to my ace, fourth trick,â Mrs. Sparrow said, pulling the ace and knave of diamonds from her pile of cards, then gathering up the entire deck. âPlayers often confuse a knave for a king.â Mrs. Sparrow picked up Cassiopeia and closed her, then did the same with the other three fans. She rose from the table, clutching the four fans like tinder in her trembling hands, and turned to Mrs. von Hälsen. âI have been lucky with your nieceâs cards and good fortune should be shared. Please bring her and call on me one day soon.â Mrs. Sparrow gave a nod and disappeared down the dark corridor to her private rooms.
I could not see The Uzanneâs face, but Carlotta leaned over to kiss her cheek. âThere, there, Madame. You said yourself we must look to the future.â Carlotta hesitated, and I watched her face display the triumph of her kind heart over her social station. âI have heard rumors of a merry outing to meet the morning in DjurgÃ¥rden. Will you come?â I slipped from my seat and tried to signal Carlotta that this simply could not happen: I wanted to declare my intentions as soon as we were alone. But Carlottaâs eyes were only for her stricken benefactress.
The Uzanne took out her ivory souvenir and pencil and wrote the word SPARROW in a shaking hand. There were damp circles under her arms and breasts, watering the embroidered flowers on her gown. She turned to her tender companion. âYes, Carlotta, we must look to our futures. But I have plans already, and so do you.â Carlotta looked puzzled. âI have arranged a rendezvous for you with Lieutenant Halland. He is close to Duke Karl and related to the De Geers.â
âThe De Geers!â Carlotta placed a hand on her bosom. The family was noble and their wealth was legendary. âWhere is he?â she asked, glancing around with the prettiest of smiles.
The two ladies made their way toward Duke Karlâs entourage, and The Uzanne handed Carlotta over to an inebriated officer with unruly facial hair. Intervention would at best cause embarrassment and at worst a duel, so I stood stiffly by and observed as the lout kissed her ungloved hand and she admired his uniform. There was not so much as a glance in my direction as the fervor of their exchange increased. When Carlotta took the officerâs arm and pressed herself against him, raising her tender lips to his, I convinced myself that she was merely playing the game and pleasing both The Uzanne and her mother, but her obvious pleasure was painful to watch.
The Uzanne seemed to want more than a word with Duke Karl, leaning toward him in the most alluring of postures, but Pechlin stood suddenly, calling loudly for the dukeâs carriage. The remaining guests began to take their leave, the house servants bowing and scooping up empty glasses in their wake. I disappeared with the throng and cut back into the shadowy courtyard. The light in the sky was finally approaching that of evening, and the blue hours waited, where the sun hovers on the horizon for hours and only the strongest of stars show themselves. One is caught between night and day in a rare azure world, just as I felt caught between Carlottaâs initial encouragements and her disappearance. I waited until everyone had gone, then climbed the servantsâ stairs and sat in the upper room until Mrs. Sparrow could lay the cards.
Chapter Six
Cassiopeia
Sources: E. L., Mrs. S.
MRS. SPARROW LOOKED PALE and tired, the skin beneath her eyes sagging somewhat more than usual. She set a tray
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