Voices Deep Inside (Book 1)

Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine

Clothes for the Party

The Garland family arrived on Friday to spend the weekend. They prepared the east wing for their stay. Timothy and his wife, Essie, took Timothy's room and her two sisters, Prissy and Prudence, chose a room across the hall from their parents.

The Huntley staff had planned a dinner party and card games on the first evening of their stay. The next night, the staff set up a buffet meal in the ballroom. Dancing followed the meal. They invited surrounding neighbors to the dance, all except the Thanturnam family.

Talia's plan included disguises as guests for her and Gerald, and she would need a carriage to drive them off the estate to her mother's home. She needed to talk to Mick. If he wouldn't help, at least she could say goodbye.

"What brings you by so early?" asked Mick when he saw Talia.

It had been many days since she had been down to the stable to see him. He missed her, but he knew she was heartbroken. Just seeing her lifted his spirits, knowing she was all right.

"Maybe, I should ask 'what do you need?'" said Mick.

Talia walked up to him and stated, "I need a carriage for tomorrow night along with a driver to take us to my mother's home."

"Oh, is that all? Us? Who do you mean by us?" asked Mick, wondering if she was suggesting he run away with her.

Then, Talia told the story of discovering her father, who had been imprisoned all these years by Omar.

"Please Mick, come with us. Be our driver tomorrow night, and let's go to my mother's estate to live," said Talia.

"What about your true love? Wouldn't you rather ride to the Thanturnam estate?" asked Mick.

Talia's eyes turned ice cold as she said, "He left me, and I am not going after him."

Mick saw the conviction in her eyes and realized that her plan just might work.

"I will need groomsmen clothes to look presentable," said Mick.

"Then, you'll help us?" said Talia with delight in her eyes.

She gave Mick a big hug and thanked him repeatedly. Talia left the livery area in search of clothes. She went to the laundry and told them they sent her to retrieve a groom's set of clothes for one of the drivers for tomorrow night.

The laundress helped her find a pair of pants, a clean shirt and a long frock coat with a hat. Talia wrapped the clothes in brown paper and tied it with a string. She walked the clothes back to the livery and gave the clothes to Mick, who looked in shock at the package that she had found so quickly.

Next, she headed to Master Jamison's room on the second floor. The room was in total disarray, and Master Jamison was gone for the morning.

She opened his armoire and looked through his dress clothes. Talia located a brocade vest and pants, a white shirt and a long dark cutaway frock coat. She grabbed a tie, along with undergarments and socks. She took one of his long black woolen cloaks from the chair.

Talia heard a noise in the hallway and continued to make it look like she was cleaning Master Jamison's room as she put the pile of clothing on the chair by the door.

It was Master Timothy, and he was pulling his wife's sister Prissy into Jamison's room. He was all over her as she squealed and giggled when he tried to kiss her.

Talia stepped out from behind the armoire and cleared her throat.

"Excuse me, Sir, Ma'am," said Talia. "I will come back later to clean Master Jamison's room."

His sister-in-law startled, and she broke free of his grasp and ran out the door.

"Your timing was very unfortunate," said Timothy, glaring at her.

"If you excuse me, I need to see to Master Jamison's clothes for tonight," said Talia, gathered the clothes from the chair as she walked past him.

She dashed into the sewing room. Talia closed the door and rushed to the bookcase with her arms full. She handed the clothes to her father and then looked at his shoes. They were badly in need of repair and a shine.

Talia explained her plan to her father and told him of the pieces that had fallen into place. She left, assuring him she would find some boots.

Talia went to the tannery on the estate, telling the shoemaker that she needed a pair of boots for one of the guests. He gave her an older pair from the shelf and said they would need a polish.

The old man handed her the polish and a couple of rags, and Talia set to task polishing the boots. He pointed out some tips and told her she could come back anytime to help him polish boots. Talia thanked him.

* * *

On Friday evening of the dinner party, Talia went through the coatroom while guests dined on their harvest feast. She secured two pairs of gloves, one for her and one for her father.

She took the back staircase to the east wing. Talia slipped into the sewing room unnoticed and waited at the bookcase for Gerald to answer. She brought in the gloves.

"How did everything fit?" asked Talia.

"Just fine except the pants. I will need a belt," said Gerald. "I have lost so much of my initial weight. The length was suitable, but the pants will need a belt."

She showed him the gloves. Then they quickly rolled the extra clothes in a blanket and hid it under his bed.

"Have you figured out what you will wear?" asked Gerald.

"I thought I would try on some dresses from the armoire in the sewing room," said Talia.

"I like the one you chose the other day when you were twirling around," said Gerald. "I remember your mother wearing that color."

Talia blushed as she remembered being caught daydreaming. She agreed on the dress and slipped into the sewing room.

She opened the door to the armoire and removed the harvest gold satin dress. She went behind the dressing screen to the darkness of the room and took off her servant's dress.

She slipped the beautiful gown over her head and adjusted the shoulders. The sleeves felt tight, but they were long enough for her arms. The waist was loose, and she adjusted the front ties to support her bosom.

The length was perfect. She rushed back to the bookcase and went to seek her father's approval. Gerald was standing by the window, holding a book up in the moonlight to read while he waited.

Talia came through the secret compartment. She had removed her scarf, and her dark red hair flowed over her bare shoulders. She slowly turned around like a little girl, and her father smiled with pride for at this beautiful young woman.

"I hope someday I get a chance to thank Agnes for raising such a wonderful young lady," said Gerald as he walked forward and took her hands.

He held up her hands to admire her in the moonlight.

"Do you think we can truly escape?" asked her father.

"I believe we can. Mick will drive us tomorrow evening, and the three of us can leave for mother's estate," said Talia with confidence.

Gerald knew he had to try. But in the back of his mind, he knew if they caught him, Omar would throw both of them in the prison tower to rot.

He feared for their lives, but the chance to see Geneva again was worth the risk.