Voices Deep Inside (Book 1)

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Caught in the Act

Some girls had returned early from the afternoon of horse racing to prepare for the evening's dance. Myrna had attended the races. As soon as the races finished, Myrna return to the estate home and went upstairs to the bedroom chamber to lie out Talia's items for the dance. When she entered the room, she saw Prissy Garland standing in front of Talia's wardrobe.

"Miss? What are doing?" asked Myrna.

Prissy was so startled that she turned around and put her hands behind her back. Myrna marched over to the armoire, looked at Talia's ball gown, and saw a large slice in the dress's sleeve.

"What have you done?" asked Myrna as she turned to stare at Prissy.

"Nothing," said Prissy. "I was just... I needed..."

Myrna saw the lid of her sewing basket opened. She quickly bent over and dug around in the basket.

"Give me back my scissors."

"What are insinuating?"

"What do you have in your hand behind your back?"

"None of your business."

"You purposely ruined her dress. Why would you do such a thing?"

"I did not. How dare you accuse me of such a thing? Besides, you can't prove it. You are nothing but a servant girl."

As she said those words, the door opened, and Talia and Josie walked into the room.

"Myrna, is everything okay?" asked Talia.

"No, it isn't," said Myrna.

"She is making accusations against me. Don't listen to her, she is lying," said Prissy.

"No, I'm not."

"I have never heard Myrna tell a lie. Will someone tell me what is going on?"

Myrna walked to the armoire and pulled out Talia's harvest gold ball gown.

"The sleeve to your gown has been cut. And my sewing scissors are missing."

The girls gasped as they saw the damage done to the sleeve.

"I caught her in the armoire."

Talia looked at her with a Thanturnam style stare as she walked towards her. Josie slipped out the door and rushed down the stairs to get their mothers and Mrs. Huntley.

"Why would you do such a thing?" asked Talia.

"You can't prove that I did it," said Prissy. "Besides, you are going to take the word of a servant girl over mine."

Prissy still had her hands behind her back.

"What are you holding behind your back?"

"None of your business."

"Did you steal my jewelry as well?"

"How dare you accuse me of such a thing?"

"Then, show me what is in your hand."

Josie returned with her mother, Mrs. Huntley, and Mrs. Huntveldt. Mrs. Garland followed the women and was the last one into the room. Mrs. Huntveldt took charge of the situation as the lady of the house.

"Girls, what seems to be the problem here?" asked Mrs. Huntveldt.

"She ruined my gown for this evening," said Talia.