Page 97 of A Sorceress Comes to Call
The pounding on the door that had woken her was growing in intensity. “Ma’am!” someone called through the door. “Lady Hester! Are you there?”
Alice? Cordelia’s maid?
Hester sat up. Her movement woke Richard, who said, “Whuzzh? Huh?,” and then his eyes snapped open.
Hester put a finger to her lips, then called, “Alice? Is that you?”
“Yes, ma’am! Please, open the door!”
Richard, with unexpected athleticism, rolled off the bed and under it. Hester grabbed a dressing gown and went to the door, opening it a crack. “Good heavens, Alice, what time is it?” A thought penetrated the fog of sleep. “Is Cordelia ill?”
“She’s gone,” said Alice. “Off to stop Falada by herself.” The maid’s face was grim. “And it’s nearly dawn, and she isn’t back yet.”
“Shit,” said Hester, with feeling. “Get out from under there, Richard. It doesn’t matter now.”
CHAPTER 35
Returning to Evermore’s estate seemed to take less time, or perhaps Cordelia simply slept through it. She couldn’t believe that anyone in that much pain could sleep, let alone on horseback, but she was simply done in. Evangeline rode before her, so all she had to do was wrap her arms around her mother’s waist and rest her head between her mother’s shoulder blades. It wasn’t good sleep, but it was better than being conscious.
Dozing like that woke a memory of being very young, too young to sleep apart. She remembered the feel of the sheets and the lumps of the down pillow, but mostly she remembered the smell of her mother’s skin.
The same smell was in her nostrils when she lifted her head, thinking that she’d heard someone call her name. They were in the woods again and it was dark, but Falada did not let leaves slap Evangeline in the face. He picked his way to the edge of the wood and Cordelia saw a streak of light across the edge of the sky, yellowish as a fading bruise. Below them, lanterns moved across the lawn and the garden, swinging in the hands that carried them.
“Good,” her mother murmured. “They’re making this easy for us.”
Cordelia was about to ask how when she heard her name again, thinly, being shouted in the distance. “Cordelia…? Are you there…?”
“Down you get,” her mother said, sliding off Falada herself. “That’s Evermore nearest us. Now call his name, and make it convincing.”
“I… uh…” Cordelia wondered what would happen if she screamed “Run away!”
He wouldn’t listen. No one ever listens when you shout something like that. They just come running to see what you’ve done to yourself.
Her mother narrowed her eyes. Cordelia gulped. “Richard!” she shouted, hoping that using his first name would tip him off that something was wrong. “Richard, I’m here!”
The bobbing lantern turned their way. “Cordelia!? Is that you?”
Cordelia closed her eyes. Here it is, the only brave thing I’ll ever do… “Don’t come any closer!” she shouted. “Mother’s here—”
Her mouth snapped shut so quickly that she bit her tongue. Blood filled her mouth and she couldn’t spit it out. Couldn’t do anything at all, but stand there, tasting copper and salt.
“I’m not surprised,” her mother said. “Disappointed, but not surprised.” She shook her head and clucked her tongue. “Really, Cordelia. You might have at least thought this through.” She took out the penknife and pressed it into Cordelia’s palm. “We’ll discuss your behavior later.”
Cordelia’s body turned and stumbled toward Evermore. The wound on her leg cracked open and she could feel it leaking down her calf. “I’m so sorry,” she called, her voice much too giddy. “I didn’t mean to make everyone worry. I think I must have been sleepwalking. I’ve had the most dreadful nightmare.”
Evermore halted and set down the lantern. His gaze flicked past her, to the edge of the woods. “Ah,” he said.
Can he see Falada? Did he hear me warning him?
“I feel terrible for putting everyone through so much trouble,” her voice prattled on. She felt her fingers clench on the knife.
And then—
Cordelia?
Penelope! She screamed the name inside her head, hoping that it was loud enough to hear. Can you hear me? You have to warn Evermore! I’ve got a knife and Mother’s in control of my body and she’s going to stab him!
I hear you, but I can’t warn Evermore. He can’t hear me. There’s all these things on you, like ropes. Is that the spell?
