Worth

Chapter 8 (Pt. 1)

There was bacon somewhere in her wing. Eggs too. She could smell them, but Violet The Vegetarian was served a thimble of a fruit cup containing apples, grapes and walnuts, and three sand dollar sized blueberry pancakes with maple syrup and jam. Coffee, thank goodness, was for everyone and so she did not have to pump water from a well into a bucket or milk her own cow. She poured herself a cup and opened the envelope containing the day's instructions.

"Today, Violet must avoid James at all times."

It was even underlined.

"Violet, the Mistress, and James the Protégé are having an affair. You must not arouse suspicion of motive by being seen together. However, a secret rendezvous is planned for four o'clock in the pantry where you may be caught in a timely kiss."

Violet wadded up a pancake and shoved the entire thing in her mouth. She re-read the instructions to be certain.

"May be caught in a kiss? Does that mean if we kiss we might get caught, or does that mean we must kiss and maybe someone might catch it? And what makes anyone so sure I'd kiss a total stranger?" Violet tried on indignation for size. She put sugar in her coffee twice. "What if I don't want to kiss James? What if James wants to kiss me? What if by four o'clock I think kissing's a great idea? How dare whoever concocted this plot assume that I would?

"Oh."

Instinctively reluctant towards anything as forced as matchmaking, Violet knew when she'd been duped. Maybe not right away, but now the curtains parted and there was Leo pulling all the strings. If he had no ulterior motives for her, wouldn't she have been excused from the weekend like his friend from the deli? And James, wouldn't he have been spared on account of sainthood? Saint Jimmy the Great, the Loyal, the Locator of Antique Weaponry? So they did get along. Maybe it was all a happy coincidence. But no, there was nothing random about the Mistress and Protégé meeting in the pantry, and the thought both touched and terrified Violet in the best way possible.

The day's schedule was as follows:

- 8-9:30 am: Breakfast

- 9:30 am: Attendance in the foyer in suitable dress

- 10-12:00pm: Horseback riding along Prim Ravine Trails

- 12:30pm: Showers

- 1-4:30pm: Lunch and lounging poolside, swimming optional

- 4:30-6:30pm: Private time in personal quarters or family room

- 6:30pm: Cocktails

- 8:00pm: Dinner

- 9:30-11:00pm: Philroy's discretion before bedtime

She ran to the closet, nearly knocking her breakfast tray onto the floor. Sure enough, there it was, a garment bag that could double as a body bag if necessary labelled "Riding Outfit, Day 3." Blouse, breeches, jacket and crop. The itinerary said nothing about a 12:15pm visit to the emergency room, so she would hope for the best.

Once, and only once, Violet had ridden an elephant at the circus. It wasn't so much riding as it was eating candy on top of something it cost her parents ten dollars to stick her onto. She was three. There were pictures to prove it, if no real personal recollection, but it left her with the impression that she might never again have the audacity to look an animal in the eye and say, "Hold still while I climb on top of you."

After the disappointment of the supplied boots fitting her perfectly, Violet fled to Elizabeth's room, still in her night clothes, desperate for advice and/or an excuse. Elsa was sitting on her sister's bed, properly dressed and looking bright and fresh. Elizabeth stood in front of her mirror with her wrists caught in her jacket sleeves.