Unhonored Read Free Page A

be all, Margaret.”
    â€œYour ladyship,” Margaret protested, “it is my duty to see that you are properly dressed and prepared for this evening’s—”
    â€œI have a private matter to discuss with Miss Van der Meer,” Ellis said, her voice strong and brooking no argument. “That will be all, Margaret.”
    â€œI’ll … I’ll return in half an hour, your ladyship.” The woman frowned but curtsied slightly before she left the room, closing the door behind her.
    Ellis took in a deep breath, her eyes shifting to Alicia.
    â€œMiss Kendrick, it seems, had taken the liberty of choosing the costume for madam this evening,” Alicia said through a pleasant, if insincere, smile. She crossed the room toward the party dress draped over the chair. She swept it up in a single motion, holding it up for Ellis’s inspection as though she had taken up Margaret’s role as her lady’s maid. “I believe it will draw out the color in madam’s eyes.”
    Ellis drew in a breath as she gazed at Alicia.
    â€œEllis,” Alicia asked in a cautious voice, “what is it?”
    â€œAlicia,” Ellis said carefully. “Who are you?”
    â€œYou are in a mood tonight,” the woman replied, her brows knitting slightly and her eyes narrowing as she spoke. “You know better than anyone who I am.”
    â€œNo, Alicia, I mean who are you supposed to be?” Ellis glanced around the room. “What’s your part in this charade they call life here?”
    â€œI am your best friend.” Alicia’s lips parted slightly and she spoke through clenched teeth. “I travelled with you when you were so ill abroad. I am your companion and confidant. I am here for you, Ellis. It was your husband who brought me here to stay with you during your recovery.”
    â€œI don’t have a husband,” Ellis said.
    â€œYou don’t remember a husband,” Alicia said through a crooked grin. “Practically the same thing. Rather daring of you, I must say, to have a husband. It’s never been done in our circles and no one is really sure what to make of the idea. But you are Lady Ellis after all. Who are any of them to question your behavior—especially me?”
    â€œYou hate it, don’t you,” Ellis said. “You hate serving me.”
    â€œWe all have our part to play, Ellis.” Alicia looked away and sighed, her hands running longingly down the smooth silk of the white dress in her hands.
    â€œAlicia,” Ellis said softly. “What part am I supposed to play?”
    Her friend looked up sharply. “You are Lady Ellis, mistress of Echo House … as you have always been.”
    â€œAlicia, no!” Ellis took a step toward the woman, her eyes pleading. “I’m Ellis … just Ellis. You helped me try to escape Gamin. We tried to flee on the train—you, me and Ely—but the train brought us back into the town. The demon found you—killed you—and now it’s the train all over again in a house that never ends. I don’t want to play this terrible game anymore and I think you don’t want to, either.”
    â€œThis game?” Alicia burst out the words as a laugh. She carefully replaced the dress over the back of the chair. “This game is all there is. It’s all there ever will be.”
    â€œThat’s not true,” Ellis replied.
    Alicia gestured to the small stool in front of the makeup table. “Will you please sit down?”
    â€œAlicia, why are you…”
    â€œPlease.” Alicia cocked her head slightly to the right, her voice adamant as she again made the gesture with emphasis. “Sit down.”
    Ellis stood looking at the immovable Alicia for an interminable time before drawing in a long breath and sitting on the stool facing the mirror. Alicia swept up a towel from off of the chair next to her and moved behind Ellis