Side Story:
Closeness of a Childhood Friend
A FEW DAYS AFTER Giles and Richard orchestrated the successful arrest of Gordon and Minister Saquille, a Clayburn family carriage returned to the townhouse from the Heyward estate, where Fiona had been staying. Norman and Cecilia were waiting as the carriage parked, and Hans, who had attended parliament in place of the absent baron, stepped out of it.
That’s odd, Norman thought, noticing that Fiona wasn’t with the butler. He tilted his head inquisitively, and, beside him, Cecilia seemed even more perplexed. A dark cloud quickly shrouded the radiant excitement on her face.
“Hans, why isn’t my sister with you?” she asked, peering anxiously into the empty carriage.
“Miss Fiona won’t be coming home yet,” Hans said apologetically.
“She’s not coming home? Oh dear, why not?”
“Let’s go inside and I’ll explain everything. I’ve brought a letter from her.”
Fiona was supposed to shelter in place at the Heyward estate until the counterfeiters were in police custody; now that they had been arrested, Cecilia had assumed her sister would come right home. But once they ambled into the parlor, caught their breath, and listened to Hans’s explanation, everything became clear.
“Apparently, Miss Fiona’s testimony will be crucial during the interrogations and trial. With all the detectives and policemen coming and going, the Heyward estate is the ideal place for her to stay.”
“Ah. Yes, that makes sense.”
The Clayburn townhouse was outside the center of the royal capital. The Heyward estate was much closer to the police department where the investigation was taking place. Moreover, government officials coming and going from the estate would draw no suspicion, whereas if policemen were to visit the humble Baron Clayburn, which stood on the lower fringes of the peerage, they would draw attention and people would inevitably assume something was amiss.
Fiona was one of the good guys who thwarted the counterfeiters, Norman thought, but the fact remains that she was mixed up with the conspiracy. I guess that doesn’t look very good.
The mere fact that Fiona had a job outside the home already raised many eyebrows, so it was certain that, were they to learn of her involvement, some people would ignore the actual criminals and criticize Fiona. Then all the backbreaking efforts from her father and Giles to keep her free from scandal would have been for naught.
“Sorry, Cecilia, but you’ll have to hold out just a bit longer.” Norman gave her a sympathetic smile, but Cecilia’s disheartened gaze remained fixed on the letter from Fiona that Hans had handed her. “I understand that you’re upset. I know how much you were looking forward to her coming home.”
“Thanks, Norman. But I…”
The sisters had never spent a day apart before. To Cecilia, spending time away from a family member was new terrain. And it was very sudden, besides.
Fiona had mentioned many a time that when Cecilia came of age, she wanted to travel the world with their uncle Reginald, but that was still in the future; Cecilia had plenty of time to prepare herself for it. This absence was different. Fiona left home one day for work as she usually did…and never came back. The complete lack of warning had gutted Cecilia even harder than her absence might have otherwise.
Frail since birth, Cecilia never went out much, so her family was her world. Neither her father nor Hans were worthy replacements for her sister, so it was difficult to tell her not to feel anxious. Norman worried about potential impacts to Cecilia’s health, but between Hans’s visits to relay news and communications from Fiona and Olga’s regular visits after she learned of Fiona’s absence, Cecilia’s health had remained stable.
But understanding that her sister would eventually come home was one thing; adjusting to her absence was another. Norman feared the extension to her sister’s absence might worry Cecilia again.
He wished he could be of some help. It didn’t matter how far back their friendship went; Norman was incapable of filling the lonely hole in Cecilia’s heart by himself. Knowing that made him feel unworthy…and something else festered beneath the surface in his heart.
What is this feeling? he thought, surprised. He couldn’t name it. But he returned his focus outward, deciding now was not the time to dwell on it.
“Can’t Fiona come home for a visit, at least?” Cecilia asked. “Even for half a day.”
Norman supported Cecilia’s plea with a look at Hans. She had a point: The interrogations wouldn’t last all day, so a visit was surely within reason.
But Hans shook his head. “If it were only the interrogations, Miss Fiona would do just what you suggested, Miss Cecilia. But she has an audience with His Majesty to prepare for.”
“A royal audience?”
“Yes. It will be a modest affair, but His Majesty wishes to offer his direct appreciation for her hard work. In the near future too.”
Cecilia and Norman’s eyes rounded at this unexpected news. A blessing from the king meant that Fiona’s actions had been deemed meritorious. Norman and Cecilia were thrilled for Fiona, and they wanted to celebrate with her. Her father, who had been under stress all this time, would likely be relieved to hear it as well.
“That’s amazing!” Norman beamed. “But now I get it. She has to prepare for that.”
The practical issues this posed brought Norman’s head back down from the clouds. Hans nodded heavily, a grim look on his face. “Exactly. When the master was given his title, he had years to prepare, and there was a memorandum to follow. I haven’t the faintest idea where to begin in preparing Miss Fiona for her audience.”
“Yes, you wouldn’t,” Norman agreed.
“Is it really so difficult?” Cecilia asked.
“I’m not exactly an expert myself, but there are special pledges to sign and all sorts of etiquette rules to follow,” Norman said. He and Hans folded their arms and frowned thoughtfully, and Cecilia looked even more worried. “When you have a royal audience, there are proper responses to memorize, and not to mention she will need a proper dress.”
“But she already has a few dresses… No, you’re right. None of those would do,” Cecilia said.