Chapter 20. The girl in scarlet appears again

Sabrina's POV

"Good morning, Count Lancaster. Good morning, Ms. Halcombe," Sir Percival said. Laura managed to smile and gave me a nod.

"Good morning, Percival," Mirror said. "I'm surprised that you could even see me, because you look completely blind. Sabrina Grimm has restored her memory, and you didn't notice it."

Percival blanched.

"S-s-s-orry, sir-r," he stammered. "I hon-n-nest-t-t-ly did-dn't s-s-suspect it."

"Of course not," Mirror replied. "But I think you knew that Daphne Grimm had found a lot of friends after running away from that asylum. Why did you lie to me about this, Percival?"

Percival's eyes grew wide, and he looked at Laura, then at me, as if searching for help.

"Let's assume it was an honest mistake as well," Mirror continued with a pleasant smile. "But if you lie to me once more, you're going to pay for this with your life. Understand?"

"Yes, sir!" Percival sighed with relief. "So, what are we going to do with Sabrina?"

Mirror glanced at me:

"Percival, I'm not stupid enough to discuss this in front of her. Right now, the only wise decision is to keep her here. Tell some servants to keep an eye on her."

"But sir, the door of the house is always locked, and I have the keys..."

"Shut up," Mirror said kindly. "I know Sabrina better than you do. She's famous for breaking different locks."

I listened to this horrible conversation, and I didn't know what to do: I was helpless! I could threaten these men if I wanted to. But then, I'd be captured, judged, and sentenced to imprisonment for attacking respectable people. Laura'd be left here without any protection. So, I had to remain quiet.

Sir Percival called Mrs. Michaelson to serve the breakfast. Mirror was the only one who ate it, in fact. Percival and Laura were both too frightened, and I was careful. Mirror could have put Forgetful Dust or some kind of poison into the food!

When the breakfast ended, Laura jumped on her feet.

"I have a bad headache," she said. "I need a walk in the garden. I'll be back in two hours or so. Can I go right now?"

"Sure," Percival said. It was clear that Laura wanted to get away from Mirror for a little while. I envied her.

"Now, Percival, call some servant to keep an eye on Sabrina," Mirror ordered. Percival called for the silliest servant in the house: a dull fat woman named Margaret. He told her:

"Margaret, you must watch Ms. Halcombe. Don't allow her to go out of the house."

"Yes, Sir Glyde," Margaret said with a foolish smile.

"Watch Ms. Halcombe indeed!" I mumbled and went upstairs. In two minutes, I heard Mirror going to his mysterious workroom too. Sir Percival was alone downstairs, so there was no dialogue to overhear. I've decided to rest. Margaret went to my room and stepped on the balcony: she was going to make sure I wouldn't jump out of the window.

Four hours later

Laura came running to my room, wiping tears away. I was sure something horrible had happened.

"Laura, what's it?" I exclaimed.

"It's Daphne... she came to the garden..." Laura spoke in a hysterical voice. "Nobody saw her... she was hiding in the rosebush... she wore her scarlet gown... she found me and said... Walter's been captured... Mr. and Mrs. Grimm and Basil have been captured... Count's soldiers... brought them... along... the road to... Limmeridge!.."

"What? Did Daphne find out the location of their prison?"

"She told me... she tracked them down... and... and... saw... a secret passageway... not far from the village of Limmeridge!"

"Oh, Laura, but it's wonderful!" I said. "I know that a part of my family, along with Walter, has been caught. Mirror told me... Never mind," I didn't want to scare the already frightened girl. "So, the only thing I needed to know was where they were taken. Now that Daphne's here, I'll try to meet her, and she'll tell me the exact location of that place. I'll write a letter to Fort Charming, and Charming will send a rescue group."

''But what if Mirror reads the letter?"

"He has already read one of my letters, so from now on I'll be very careful. I know what to do with the letter!"

"Sabrina, thank you, thank you so much!" Laura smiled through tears. "I have felt terrible - until you came!"

"Try to believe in a bright future," I told her. "We'll fix all the problems, Laura!"

We hugged, and Laura went to her room. I shouted to that dull maidservant:

"Margaret, Laura forgot a ruby brooch in the garden! Could you search for it?"

"I must keep an eye on you," Margaret replied with a yawn. "Ms. Fairlie can find a brooch by herself." She returned from the balcony, grinning like a fool. I clenched my fists in rage.

"First, stop talking to me like this," I snapped. "Second, Laura can't go to the garden again - she... she twisted her ankle. Third, you must obey me: I'm the sister-in-law of Sir Glyde's!"

"All right, but you'll go to the garden too," Margaret said. "I must keep an eye on you. By order of Sir Glyde."

"That's the best choice," I nodded. We went outside to the garden together. Luckily Margaret was so awfully stupid! When we got far enough from the house, I suddenly turned to her and punched her in the face. Her ever-present foolish smirk faded.

"Uh, what are you..." she started, but I punched her again and again and again. It looked like she hadn't studied martial arts.

"Now listen!" I said. "You're going away from Blackwater Park, never to return," I searched my purse and took out all of my money. "Here's your salary. It's more than you deserve. You're fired, Margaret Portcher. You're fired for being this rude with me. Learn your place. Go!"

Margaret was stunned. I raised my fist again, so she snatched the money and hurried away. When I was sure she was gone, I started to search for Daphne.

After twenty minutes or so, I lost hope. Perhaps Daphne visited Blackwater Park only to tell Laura the latest news, and then she went to Cumberland to rescue our family and Walter by herself.

I glanced at a couple of rosebushes, all covered in crimson roses. Wait! Laura mentioned Daphne had hidden in a rosebush.

"Daphne!" I called. No response. "Daphne! Are you there?"

I knelt down and pushed the branches away. There, in the middle of red rose petals (just like in blood), lay an unconscious dark-haired girl in a scarlet gown, scarlet dress, and scarlet shoes.