Voices Deep Inside (Book 1)

Chapter Ten

Chapter Ten

Leaving the Party

The day of the dance, Talia worked in the ballroom, freshening the swags and helping to set the tables for the festivities. She looked at the black velvet curtains where she had spent nights talking to Roman. Her heart grew cold at the thought of him, and she knew she would never see him again.

If her plan worked, she would ride away tonight from the Huntley Estate to a whole new life. Talia understood the plan was dangerous. Walking down the long staircase in traveling clothes with dress clothes underneath was taking a chance on being recognized.

After the servants set the buffet meal up for the evening, Talia told Agnes goodbye. She told her she was leaving this evening to find her mother. She gave Ida and Old Pa an extra hug that evening, knowing she may never see them again.

Agnes cried because she knew it was for real this time. The conviction in Talia's voice struck a sharp pain in Agnes's heart. She hugged her again, and then Talia gathered her belongings and left for the stable to give Mick her satchel to put in the carriage.

"What have you decided? Are you coming with us?" asked Talia.

Mick looked out the door to the back paddock and knew there were more adventures to be had in his life and this time, leaving felt right.

"Ay, I be traveling with you tonight," said Mick. "Ten o'clock it tis, then."

"Thank you, Mick," said Talia, hugging her dear friend.

Talia went back to the kitchen and grabbed a basket of food to take to Gerald. Carrying her cloak on one arm and the basket of food in the other, she walked the staircase as casual as possible, and then she slipped into the sewing room.

Gerald welcomed her into his room. He was dressed in the finery of Master Jamison's clothes. Everything looked large on him, but he tucked and arranged the clothing to look quite presentable.

Her father welcomed the food basket, and Talia told him he looked handsome in his new clothes.

Talia combed his hair with her fingers and braided his long grayish-red hair, tying it off with a black ribbon. Talia saw a satchel packed on the chair.

"My dear, you need to get dressed to leave," said Gerald.

Talia went back to the sewing room and undressed. She was ashamed of her undergarments. The coarse cotton hung on her frame. She wore woolen stockings and her work boots that she shined with a day-old biscuit.

The harvest gold satin dress slid over her slender arms, and she adjusted the laces on the bodice. She sorted through the scrap basket, looking for a ribbon long enough to tie around her waist. She found a long, dark burgundy ribbon. The ribbon helped her tighten the waist of the dress.

She braided her hair and then wound the braid on the back crown of her head. Talia had collected hairpins all week as she cleaned and saved them in a small leather pouch. She securely pinned her hair and pulled loose strands around her face and a few in the back to give her hairstyle a softer look.

Talia folded her old clothes and placed them in the bottom drawer of the armoire. She went back to her father's room. They still had forty-five minutes to wait before descending the staircase and walking out the door.

Talia and Gerald discussed the escape plan and possible scenarios if they are stopped. They put their cloaks on, along with their gloves. Gerald picked up his satchel and stopped to look around his room one more time, and then he and Talia left through the secret compartment in the bookcase into the sewing room.