//CLARA//
I didn't realize I'd fallen asleep.
One moment I was staring at the canopy. The next, a knock cracked through my skull like a hammer.
"Miss Eleanor?"
I jolted upright, heart slamming against my ribs.
"Miss Eleanor, are you decent?"
Hattie. I let out a breath and pressed a hand to my chest.
"Yeah," I called out, my voice rough. "Come in."
The door opened. Hattie stepped inside, already dressed, her apron crisp, her hair pinned tight. She took one look at me and frowned.
"You're still in bed."
"Observant."
"The seamstresses will be here in an hour. Aunt Cornelia is already downstairs."
I groaned and fell back against the pillows. "Kill me now."
Hattie didn't laugh. She just crossed to the wardrobe and started pulling out dresses.
"You'll need to eat something before they arrive. I can bring up a tray."
"I'm not hungry."
"You said that yesterday."
"Still true."
She turned to look at me, her arms full of silk.
"Miss Eleanor, you can't avoid them forever."
