Unhonored Read Free

the bed, its surfaces gleaming with the same finish.
    One of the chairs had an ornate silk dress carefully draped over it. It was white with a diamond pattern quilted into the bodice. Large, black pom-poms adorned the front in a single line branching around along the edges of a peplum skirt at the waist. An unbelievably wide Elizabethan ruff formed the collar. On the table beyond sat a white cloche hat crowned with yet another black pompom and beside it a white-sequined mask. Gazing at the elegant costume, Ellis was suddenly conscious of how miserable she felt in the thick, soaked traveling suit she wore.
    Ellis stepped cautiously into the room, her eyes fixed on the dress in the corner.
    â€œWell, it’s about time you showed your face!”
    Ellis started visibly at the unexpected voice coming from the corner just inside the door. She turned, taking several steps backward into the room, her hands reflexively rising in front of her.
    â€œEllis, you hardly need a costume, you’re such a fright already,” the young woman said with a giggle. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”
    Ellis drew in a long, shuddering breath. When she had last seen Alicia Van der Meer, she had been undeniably dead, a shriveled and shrunken corpse. Now she stood before her dressed as an Egyptian queen of the ancient world. A pattern of near-Eastern wall paintings adorned the wide hem of her long dress and the tops of her sleeves. A glittering gorgerine—a necklace of layered disks—hung around her neck while, from a circlet of gold around Alicia’s head, a rearing cobra stared back at her. She was the picture of ancient royalty yet somehow Ellis could not get the image of her as the mummy she had last seen her as out of her mind. It was unnerving to see this restored woman standing before her suddenly and incredibly alive.
    â€œAlicia?” Ellis said, blinking. “Are you all right?”
    â€œAnd how else would you have me be?” Alicia replied with a mischievous grin.
    Ellis threw her arms around Alicia. “I am so sorry for what happened to you!”
    â€œEllis, stop it!” Alicia laughed as she pushed Ellis away. “You’ll ruin the dress.”
    â€œYou … you were dead … both of you,” Ellis stammered, blinking as though to comprehend what her eyes could not believe.
    Margaret’s eyes narrowed. “Is madam playing one of her tricks again? It is in poor taste for her ladyship to be jesting in such a manner.”
    â€œNo, Margaret … Alicia … please,” Ellis said quickly, her words coming in a rush. “I’ve got to find Jenny!”
    â€œBut of course you do. We all do,” Alicia replied. “That’s the whole point, isn’t it? We’re all looking for Jenny!”
    â€œWhat?” Ellis shook her head. “No! I’ve got to find her and get out of here!”
    â€œBe calm, your ladyship,” Margaret said, her eyes narrowing critically. She turned toward Alicia with a critical frown. “It’s that old trouble flaring up again. Perhaps you should go and fetch the doctor…”
    â€œNO!” Ellis shouted, her voice demanding and firm.
    Both Margaret and Alicia glared back at her.
    â€œI mean,” Ellis said carefully, “I am in no need of the doctor. I am perfectly well. I just need a little time to myself before … before…”
    â€œThe reception, madam,” Margaret prompted.
    â€œThere is a reception?” What game are these two playing at? she thought.
    â€œYes, madam; before the masquerade.”
    â€œYes, of course,” Ellis said carefully. Her eyes remained fixed on Margaret. “Thank you, Margaret. You’ve been a great help.”
    Margaret hesitated, giving a glance sideways at Alicia that was not returned.
    â€œI am sure you have other duties to attend to,” Ellis said in measured words. “Alicia will attend to me. That will