Quinn
"MY LADY! MY LADY!"
The alarming voice calling for me caught my attention, and knowing something was up, I finished buttoning up my blouse and headed out of the walk-in-closet.
"What is it, Jenny?" I asked, still feeling slightly sleepy. It was only just half-past six in the morning, after all.
The nursemaid was pale as a ghost as she said, "Lilly. I can't find Lilly, my lady."
"Lilly?" I said. "Isn't she in the twins' room?"
It had been decided last night that Lilly would be sharing Abi and Alex's room since they were close in age. I had even magically created a new, fancy bed for the little girl, too.
"She's not there, my lady," Jenny said. "Martha and I went to check on them a few minutes ago, but..."
Lilly is in Jonah's room, came Vicky's voice.
I widened my eyes.
"My lady? What is it?" Jenny said.
"Vicky said Lilly is in Jonah's room," I said. "Have you checked his room yet?"
Jenny appeared flummoxed. She shook her head. "Uh, no, my lady. But why would Lilly be in Lord Jonah's room?"
I said, "It's probably because she's attached to him. He was taking care of her yesterday after he had given her a chocolate chip cookie."
"Ah, I see," Jenny said.
"Shall we take a peek in Jonah's room?" I said.
At Jenny nodding, we went downstair and popped our heads insideJonah's sanctuary. And there was Lilly, snuggled right next to Jonah in bed.
"Oh my," Jenny said. "She really is with Lord Jonah."
"I think we should leave them to sleep for another hour," I said. "Lillyneeds it." That also reminded me I had to do a health check on her, too. She,like all of the refugees, was undoubtedly low in all the typical nutrition.
Closing the door, I turned on my heel and said, "Bring Lilly to thequarantine center this afternoon. I need to do a health check on her."
Jenny nodded. "Yes, my lady."
I headed out the door and downstairs. Since it was early, I expected thedining hall to be empty of people, except for the usual group of early birds,but not so. It was crowded and noisy today, and I suspected most wereeither the nurses and healers working at the quarantine center or the volunteers. They must have wanted to get the day started as soon aspossible.
I was just sitting down when I saw Elizabeth, Maria, Frances, Eden, and Sara walking in through the door. I wondered if they made it a point to
come down together or if it was a.coincidence.
They took seats alongside me, and two maids brought trays of ourbreakfast, placing them on the table.
"Looks like it's going to be a busy day," Maria said as she picked upslices of crispy bacon.
"A busy week more like it," Sara said, putting a ladle of rice porridge intoa bowl.
Frances nodded and then said, "I still can't believe there were that many captives in the dungeon, and the ones that were severely mistreated..." She shook her head. "I can only imagine the horror of what they've beenthrough."
Adding sausages to her plate, Maria said, "Their wounds were gruesome.
If we weren't there when we were, they would probably..."
"It's unimaginable how some men could do those sorts of things to other
human beings," Eden said. To me, she asked, "Do we know yet who'sbehind all that?"
