Amala did as she’d been told and quickly lay back down with her back to the door, pulling the sheet up to cover most of her face in order to hide any evidence of all the sobbing she’d been doing. She heard Paulina conversing kindly with Pearl, who brought in a tray and set it on the table near the window. Paulina assured Pearl that she would take care of Amala for the morning, and Pearl said she would be available if they needed anything at all. Amala knew Pearl had been concerned, and she’d been nearby to help with little things when Amala needed them. Perhaps Pearl too sensed that Amala’s ailment was more emotional than physical, but they weren’t close enough to discuss such things. Which made Amala all the more grateful for Paulina’s timely visit and her insight in making it possible for them to spend this time together.

“Come and eat, precious,” Paulina insisted after Pearl had left and closed the door. “You must keep up your strength, and you can tell me all about what ails you. There will be no secrets between us.”

“Does that mean you’ll tell me all about the real adventures of your life?” Amala asked as she stood up and put on the robe Amala handed her.

“One of these days,” Paulina said with a wink.

They sat down across from each other at the little table, where Paulina spoke a brief prayer over their meal before she began loading Amala’s plate with scones and sausages and fresh fruit from the serving dishes.

“Put lots of marmalade on those scones,” Paulina ordered. “You need some sweetening up; and those sausages will put some substance into you.” She also put a boiled egg still in its shell in front of Amala and poured her a cup of tea, putting exactly the right amount of cream and sugar in it, as if she’d served Amala tea according to her personal preference just yesterday.

“Now, talk to me while you eat,” Paulina insisted, loading up her own plate. “Talk with your mouth full; I don’t care. It’s just the two of us here; no need to be ladylike or eat like birds.”