Before Time Runs Out

Chapter 7

December 20th, 1907

My dearest Ethel, I hope this letter reaches you well, I have to admit it took me many days to word this the way that I wished to. I hope your present arrives in the mail on time, I sent it out with this letter. I wish to see you again soon, and have you over for Christmas dinner if you would like. Lancelot misses you also.

Yours sincerely,

Carmelita

Ethel sat the letter down on her desk, opened the small silver box with a click, and pulled out a golden compass, with an inscription on the back of it.

'So, you'll always find your way to me. Carmelita.' Ethel grinned as she sat it on her desk, turning the compass in her hands before opening it and looking down at the hands. There was a small clock at the bottom left, with letters on it instead of words.

"J, F, M, A, M," She furrowed her eyebrows. The letters started at d, then ended at n, and there were twelve in total. The minuscule hand inside the clock in the compass was pointed at the letter D, edging towards J.

 "The letter of each month. But why does it start at December and end in November?" She was interrupted by a knock on the door, and abruptly stood up from her chair. Her long curls trailed along behind her in her winter nightgown and quilt, the quilt dragging along the floor as she walked over and opened the door. There was a large pair of boxes, and she picked them up, closing the door behind her as she walked over to her bed. She opened them and gasped at the sight. A beautiful crimson gown, embroidered with golden tool and lace, with diamonds sewn into the pattern. Real diamonds. It was made perfectly for the winter, and along with it came a custom pair of heeled boots, the same color as the dress. There was a note tucked within the dress, and Ethel picked it up and read it.

"I'll have a car ready for you by six, signed Carmelita." She checked the time, seeing that she had two hours on the grandfather clock in her room. She splayed the dress out on the bed, setting the shoes down beside it, changing into her undergarments. She braided her hair up into a Victorian-style braided bun, to keep it from her face. She pushed the hairpins into her hair, being cautious, before doing her makeup. She used the red lipstick that Carmelita had slipped into her pocket before they had parted last time. She finished what she was doing, standing up and pulling her dress and shoes on, tying them, then checking the time. How had it taken her three hours to get read? she could have sworn she had just glanced at the clock, and it had only passed an hour. She opened her door and rushed down the stairs, grabbing her coat out of the closet and her gloves.

"Where on earth are you heading off to?" Verna looked up from where she was sitting, a cigarette between her fingers.

"I have a date to go to, I'll be back when I want to come back."

Before she could respond Ethel had rushed out the door, pulling her gloves and coat on. The driver was already there, one of the maids from the house. She opened the door for her, and Ethel thanked her, climbing into the closed-off interior of the automobile. Carmelita had requested a car with a closed-off interior this time, due to it being one of the coldest days of the year and the light flurry of snow that was coming down. She did not make much conversation with the maid, feeling anxious. Why was she anxious? She had seen Carmelita a few other times already, it is because she wanted to impress her? That was always an easy task. She could trip and Carmelita would compliment her on being able to steady herself. She quickly realized she had not put any jewelry or perfume on, which made her nerves worse. She gazed out the window at the snow passing by the darkened sky seeming endless.

They finally made it to the house, which in a way was more of a castle to Ethel, and she walked up the steps and inside. A maid took her coat and gloves and she thanked her, studying the home once again. Every banister was decorated in red ribbon, and the house smelled of cranberries and pine. She looked down the see Lancelot pattering towards her, and with a smile, she leaned down to pet him. He curled around her feet and was still as fat as ever. She looked up to see Carmelita standing there in an evergreen-colored dress, her long raven hair trailing down her bare shoulders that were framed with the lace of the dress's neckline. She made her way over to Ethel, and before she could say hello embraced her tightly, slipping a necklace around her neck and clasping it. It surprised Ethel as she stepped back, looking down at it, eyes widening in surprise. It was a simple golden chain but clasped on the end of it was a heart-shaped periwinkle-colored diamond.