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the open door at the end of the hall. “Take your time.” Before I could answer, she was gone.
    I slowly walked down the brick. As soon as I stepped outside, I could hear the ocean. I thought it must be the North Sea. Yet for all I knew, we could have traveled south and now faced the Mediterranean. How I wished I had a better sense of geography.
    It was not clean, but still I was relieved to find a toilet and a pump for water. I took out my handkerchief and washed over my face. There was a foggy mirror hanging on the wall and I stopped for a glimpse of my reflection. My face was worn and my eyes dull. The only thing reflecting light was the garnet and gold necklace around my neck. Thinking of the clientele inside, I slipped it off my neck and dropped it in my purse. It was my only valuable; heaven forbid it be stolen.
    When I returned I saw my father seated at a table with a bottle of wine. He motioned for me to join him and a young woman came out and set a plate of fish and potatoes down in front of us.
    We ate the food and once the wine was drunk, he ordered another bottle. “Now Garnet, I shall explain the plan. Nell has a nice estate home just over the waterway. She has agreed to take you in for awhile.”
    “For how long?” I asked, biting back the tears. It was hard to imagine this harsh woman having a home fit to take in guests.
    “Oh, only for a couple of weeks, maybe less,” he said, pouring himself a glass of wine. “I am on my way to Paris to meet with a cousin. He is confident he has discovered the secret to break the curse forever. As soon as the curse is broken, I will come back for you.”
    “Does Nell know of the curse?” I asked.
    “Oh no. She must know nothing, not even your real name. If your name is so much as mentioned, the wind will carry your location to Aurochs’ keen ears. Make no mistakes, she is angered by your disappearance. She does not like to be tricked and she will seek a revenge greater than this family has ever seen.”
    He leaned across the table and held the wine bottle over my glass, but I shook my head. I did not know what the balance of this day would reveal and I needed a keen wit.
    “What if she asks questions?” I asked.
    “I am leaving you here on the pretense of exiling you from an undesirable suitor. Your name is Margo Delancy. She needn’t know anything more.”
    The conversation came to a halt when Nell came over to the table. “Well, if you travelers have had your fill of my food and wine, it is time to leave.”
    “By all means. It is getting late,” Father said. “Margo, go with Nell and I’ll get your things out of the carriage.”
    Nell smiled at me and I stood up. “Good-looking girl,” she said, winking at my father. “I find girls like her are mostly trouble,” she said in a serious tone, looking back at my father.
    “Not this one. You’ll have no worries with her. Right Margo?” he asked, encouraging an answer from me.
    “I am told I have an agreeable disposition,” I replied.
    “Well, see that you stay that way,” Nell said, reaching over and giving my bottom a pat.
    Father left for the carriage and I followed Nell out to the waterfront. As we approached, I could see a faint figure of a girl standing on the dock.
    “Did you get all those pots scrubbed?” Nell asked sharply.
    “Yes Ma’am,” she replied.
    Nell moved closer and towered over the girl. “Did you clean up the kitchen and mop the floor?”
    “Yes Ma’am, everything is in order,” she spoke up, this time in a louder voice.
    Nell backed up a bit. “Good. Then I will not be in raw sorts in the morning when I come back to this hell hole, right?”
    “Yes Ma’am, I mean no Ma’am; you will not be in raw sorts.”
    Nell turned to me, “This is Arlene. She’ll get you settled in when we get home.”
    “Arlene is your daughter?” I asked.
    Nell let out a laugh, but it was not filled with joy. “I ain’t got no children. I ain’t ever been close enough to a man to get