Julia woke early the next morning and went to check on Kay. She was stopped on her way down the hall by Gen. O'hara.
"Good morning, Miss Villani," he said brightly.
"Good morning Gen. How are you?"
"I am well thank you. And yourself?"
"I'm awake. That's a start."
He chuckled,"I suppose it is. I'm glad that I caught you. The Lord Gen. would like you to join him for breakfast if you are not otherwise engaged."
"I would be happy to. I just want to check on and talk to my sister."
O'hara's face seemed to darken for a flash of a moment.
"Ah yes...she seemed quite upset last night."
Julia was just as upset with Kay as everyone else, but she felt that what Kay did was brave and gutsy for her, and she deserved a second chance.
"Yes. She has seen the error of her ways, and now asks for a second chance...which I hope that people will grant her."
O'hara smiled slightly,"Hint taken my lady. Well, I will not detain you any longer. I will see you later for breakfast."
He bowed to her and she responded with a curtsy. She stared after him for a moment then continued to Kay's door.
"Kay?" she called as she knocked. There was no answer. She repeated the action then jiggled the handle. It was locked. Julia scratched her head as she leaned against the door. Her finger scraped across a pin in her hair, which she pulled out and stared at. Should I, should I not, she thought to herself. Shrugging her shoulders she pulled a second pin from her hair, looked around her, then picked the lock. She was taken aback by the scene before her.
Papers had been scribbled on and scattered all over the floor. There was an ink bottle overturned on Kay's ball gown which had been thrown on the floor along with what looked like the rest of her clothes. Julia gagged at the overpowering stench of alcohol, sweat and vomit. She shut the door so that no passerby would see the wreckage.
"Kay?"
Julia tilted her head to the side and saw a hand protruding from under the bed. She got down on her hands and knees and found that Kay was out cold under the bed. She was completely naked with only a thin sheet separating her body from the freezing cold floor. And Julia was disappointed to see a large and empty liquor bottle cradled almost protectively in the crook of her left arm.
"Kay."
She stirred but only enough to grunt and turn her head and pass out again. Julia laughed then covered her mouth. Kay had ink smeared on her cheek, and judging from the fragments on her face, some parchment had gotten stuck to her. Julia sighed and grabbed Kay under both her arms and dragged her from under the bed.
"Come on Kay. Hey," she lightly slapped her cheek,"Wake up woman."
Kay grunted and opened one eye. She then scrunched it shut and pressed a hand to her head, and then wretched.
"Chamber pot," she choked," Quick!"
Julia speedily obliged her and backed up some as Kay emptied the contents of her stomach.
"Go away," Kay choked as she wiped her mouth," I don't want you to see me like this."
"It's a little late for that," Julia said as she wrapped a thicker blanket around Kay's exposed and shaking body," I have already seen you."
Kay scoffed and smiled,"thanks."
Julia smiled and put her arms around her sister. They were silent for a moment, and Kay knew that she would not have to apologize for a thing, for a moment like this coming from her baby sister was a sign of silent forgiveness.
"How the hell were you getting away with seeing a rebel for so long?"
"I have no idea," Kay laughed,"But I did."
"I'm sorry you had to let him go. I can see that you cared about him."
A tear fell from Kay's eye,"I did. But the way he acted when I told him we were done...it said a lot about how he felt about me."
"Good or bad?"
"Bad. I thought he loved me, but he couldn't be understanding of the situation. It's not love if he can't understand me and still love me."
"But you should be understanding too you know. I mean you're talking about a continental coming onto british property. So many things could have happened."
"I'm really grateful to you Julia," Kay said as she looked into her eyes,"You risked your life to save mine. I shutter to think what could have happened if the Col. and Capt. had seen him and not you."
"You would do the same for me. I would give up Capt. Bordon if it meant that you were safe from any harm. We are family after all."
Kay hugged her tightly,"What would I do without you?"
"Get drunk and paint your face with ink."
The two burst out with laughter as Kay smacked her shoulder,"I had fun though. You and I should drink together. For old times sake."
Julia thought for a second," I suppose it wouldn't hurt. But it has to be after the Dragoons leave. If Bordon finds me trashed I will never live it down."
"When do they leave again?"
"In a couple days I believe. Cornwallis has been flipping shit over the Ghost. Wants the Col. to go find him. But we all know how that's gonna play out."
"Ugh, I wish we could change it."
"Me too, but we both know that we can't mess with it. Lord knows what we could ruin if we try to change anything."
Julia stood up,"Well put some clothes on and come downstairs for breakfast."
Kay looked unsure,"I don't know if I can face anyone. They all hate me."
"You have to, Kay. Today is a new day and I am going to help you fix your reputation. And the best place to start is..."
"At the beginning," Kay finished with a weak smile.
"You'll be fine."
Cornwallis was surprised to see Kay with Julia, and at the same time was irritated that she was even there. He felt that he was being a little obsessive about trying to figure out where he had seen Julia before, but at the same time he enjoyed her company and therefore took every opportunity to spend time with her. No he was not in love with her, he simply enjoyed having a female friend for once, and a beautiful and educated one at that.
"Ah, there you are Julia," Cornwallis said as he and O'hara stood up,"Good morning Kay. I was not expecting you to join us, but the more the merrier."
"Good morning, sir," Kay replied. The sisters seated themselves across from Cornwallis and O'hara and the party began to eat.
"I really enjoyed the ball last night," Julia said to break the ice,"I hope that there will be more."
"Indeed there will be," O'hara replied.
"I was sorry to not be able to stay the whole time," Kay said timidly.
Cornwallis stared at her for a moment,"Yes..I am told that you were saying goodbye to the officer you had been seeing."
Julia could sense Kay freezing up again and stepped in once more to save the day,"Kay has done a lot of thinking lately. As I have already said to countless people, she knows what she did, and wishes to repent and start afresh. And to set the record straight, she was not visiting a rebel. I don't know where that rumor came from, but I have seen the gentlemen for myself and can vouch that he was indeed one of the regulars in the Kings army. I wholeheartedly forgive her for her actions, and I hope that others will as well. She was brave enough to show her face before you, my Lord. I think it is proof of her seriousness to refine herself for real this time."
Cornwallis smiled at her,"Ah Miss Villani, indeed you have such a big heart. How fortunate Kay is to have a sister such as you. I suppose that if that be the case, I cannot deny a cry for help. Let us put it behind us then, and grant Kay her wish to begin again."
"We all made our share of mistakes," O'hara raised his glass,"After all, no one is perfect."
"As the saying goes," Kay perked up a little,"If there was one perfect person in this world, we would all be nobody. But no such person exists, therefore we are all somebody."
"Here, here," Cornwallis said. The entire group raised their glasses to that. Kay smiled at Julia, mentally thanking her for what she had done. For her, Kay would behave this time as best she could, solely to show her sister that her efforts would not go to waste.