***
Kim woke with a start. Her heart felt like it was in her throat, and she panicked for a second until she realized where she was. Kim sank back down to the pillows and breathed in and out steadily. Her nightmare had been a confusing mix of fears. Mairelon and his magic being enslaved by Mannering, Kim overhearing Mairelon say he was really only marrying her out of pity, Mairelon dying... Kim shook her head to clear it. 'Look at you,' she told herself, 'scared senseless by some half-baked dream.'
Kim lay in bed, hoping for sleep to return, but realizing that possibility was slim. It was still hours until what Aunt Agatha would consider a proper hour to be up and about, so she was doomed to stay here, consumed by her fears for Mairelon and doubts of her own worthiness to be his wife. She kept tossing and turning in the attempt to escape her worries in sleep, but sleep failed to return.
When Kim went down for breakfast, Mairelon's mother inquired if she'd slept well and seemed skeptical at Kim's, "Yes, thank you."
Mairelon wasn't at breakfast. And it rapidly became apparent that there were social calls in store for Kim this morning. A few hours later, Kim found herself the guest of a young lady she vaguely remembered meeting weeks ago, along with three other girls and their mothers. Kim barely managed to participate in the conversation, which she found deathly boring. Smiling to herself, she thought how much livelier it would be with Mairelon here. Conversation with Mairelon was anything but boring. Thoughts of Mairelon kept her mind occupied for the rest of the visit, and she was glad when she and Lady Wendall were seated in a carriage bound for home.
"Have you been doing well lately, Kim?" Mairelon's mother asked her lightly.
"Yes, I've been fine..." Kim replied quickly. Kim considered telling Lady Wendall something about the emotional turmoil she'd been swamped in, but didn't know what to say. For as wonderfully kind as Mairelon's mother had always been to her, she was still born and bred in Society, and Kim knew she wouldn't be able to understand Kim's fears about her new place in the ton.
"You know if there is ever anything you need," Lady Wendall continued, "You have only to ask."
Kim blushed, realizing how remiss she was in thanking the Merrills for everything they'd done for her. "I'm fine... you've been more than generous... thank you for everything... I'm in your debt," she stammered.
Lady Wendall waved her thanks aside, "No, you're not, Kim; you're part of the family now." She smiled at Kim, "And about to be an even closer part of the family." She patted Kim's hand, apparently reassured from any doubts she'd had regarding Kim's well-being.
***
Kim woke with a start. Her heart felt like it was in her throat, and she panicked for a second until she realized where she was. Kim sank back down to the pillows and breathed in and out steadily. Her nightmare had been a confusing mix of fears. Mairelon and his magic being enslaved by Mannering, Kim overhearing Mairelon say he was really only marrying her out of pity, Mairelon dying... Kim shook her head to clear it. 'Look at you,' she told herself, 'scared senseless by some half-baked dream.'
Kim lay in bed, hoping for sleep to return, but realizing that possibility was slim. It was still hours until what Aunt Agatha would consider a proper hour to be up and about, so she was doomed to stay here, consumed by her fears for Mairelon and doubts of her own worthiness to be his wife. She kept tossing and turning in the attempt to escape her worries in sleep, but sleep failed to return.
When Kim went down for breakfast, Mairelon's mother inquired if she'd slept well and seemed skeptical at Kim's, "Yes, thank you."
Mairelon wasn't at breakfast. And it rapidly became apparent that there were social calls in store for Kim this morning. A few hours later, Kim found herself the guest of a young lady she vaguely remembered meeting weeks ago, along with three other girls and their mothers. Kim barely managed to participate in the conversation, which she found deathly boring. Smiling to herself, she thought how much livelier it would be with Mairelon here. Conversation with Mairelon was anything but boring. Thoughts of Mairelon kept her mind occupied for the rest of the visit, and she was glad when she and Lady Wendall were seated in a carriage bound for home.
"Have you been doing well lately, Kim?" Mairelon's mother asked her lightly.
"Yes, I've been fine..." Kim replied quickly. Kim considered telling Lady Wendall something about the emotional turmoil she'd been swamped in, but didn't know what to say. For as wonderfully kind as Mairelon's mother had always been to her, she was still born and bred in Society, and Kim knew she wouldn't be able to understand Kim's fears about her new place in the ton.
"You know if there is ever anything you need," Lady Wendall continued, "You have only to ask."
Kim blushed, realizing how remiss she was in thanking the Merrills for everything they'd done for her. "I'm fine... you've been more than generous... thank you for everything... I'm in your debt," she stammered.
Lady Wendall waved her thanks aside, "No, you're not, Kim; you're part of the family now." She smiled at Kim, "And about to be an even closer part of the family." She patted Kim's hand, apparently reassured from any doubts she'd had regarding Kim's well-being.
***