The sunshine poured in and, glancing out the window, Gilda thought that there were more blossoms out on the lilac bushes than there had been the day before.
Then she turned towards the bed.
As she had expected, Heloise was fast asleep.
She stood looking at her sister and thought how lovely she was and that she looked very much younger when she was unconscious than when she was awake.
Now there was a faint smile on her lips and her skin seemed almost translucent.
“Heloise,” she called out.
But there was no response.
Gilda called her name again.
Then she bent forward to touch her shoulder.
Her sister did not move.
“Heloise, you must wake up!” Gilda said. “It is eight o’clock and you know you have to hurry to London to see the Marquis.”
She thought, if nothing else, that would arou
