“I agree,” Paulina said. “From the way they all talk about him, it’s evident they’ve grown to care for him very much. It would be a shame for them to lose that. And luckily for me, I get to spend the day making myself acquainted with the young man. Don’t you worry. You know your old auntie won’t let on at all that she knows a thing. I will gracefully plead your case once again to the family that you need rest and assure them that you’re doing a little better and you’ll be right as rain very soon. I’ll come back this evening and give you a report—maybe sooner if things get boring.”

Amala felt restless throughout the day. She’d grown tired of clinging to her bed, and now that she’d resumed her eating habits and had gotten some good rest, she felt a desire to return to the habits of her normal life—except that her normal life included Henry coming and going from her home. She couldn’t avoid him forever, but she wanted to. She felt ashamed of how she’d led him on—however unintentionally—and she wasn’t sure she could even look him in the eye. She didn’t want her family to sense any negative tension between them, although they’d never seemed to sense anything at all between them for many months. Still, Amala didn’t feel ready to face Henry yet, and she felt impatient over the fact that he was apparently settled in here for the day.

After supper when Paulina had still not yet returned, Amala got herself dressed in a simple dark-blue dress that was easy to get in and out of. She brushed through her hair, grabbed a cloak, and went quietly down the back stairs, hoping to get out of the house without being seen.