Read The Passing Bells for Free Online Page B

ma’am,” Ivy blurted. Her arms parted as though they had a will of their own, and the clean sheets and pillowcases fell to the floor with a dull thump. She hurried into the room to find Alexandra standing impatiently in front of a mirror.
    â€œThe buttons . . . Do up the buttons. . . . Quickly, but don’t miss any.”
    â€œNo, ma’am.” There seemed to be dozens of them, tiny ivory ones running from the waist of the dress to the neck. She began to button them, her fingers trembling. “There’s ever so many,” she whispered.
    Alexandra tried to look down over her shoulder. “Don’t start off wrong or you’ll have to do them all over again.”
    â€œI—won’t—ma’am.” The fabric was a beige wool challis, of such fine quality that it felt like silk to the touch. “Oh, miss, it’s ever such a lovely dress.”
    â€œDo you think so?” Alexandra asked anxiously.
    â€œOh, yes. So pretty.”
    Alexandra scowled and ran her hands over the dress, smoothing the fabric across the hips.
    â€œI was rather worried about it. I’m going up to London and I do so want to look nice. You’re sure that you like it?”
    â€œOh, my, yes, ma’am.”
    â€œI wasn’t certain about the shade.”
    â€œIt’s . . . so nice against your skin, ma’am. Like . . . like a pale brown mist.”
    The young woman turned around and smiled. “Why, what a lovely thing to say. Quite poetic of you. A pale brown mist. Oh, I do feel better about it now!” She turned back so that Ivy could continue with the buttons. “I have a lovely hat that goes with it—a beige sailor with dark-brown velvet ribbons. You’re new, aren’t you?”
    â€œYes, ma’am.”
    â€œWhat’s your name?”
    â€œIvy, ma’am. Ivy Thaxton.”
    â€œWell, Ivy,” Alexandra began then stopped as she noticed a middle-aged maid hurry into the room. “Well, Velda, it’s about time. Wherever did you run off to?”
    â€œI am sorry, Miss Alexandra. I . . .” The woman hesitated when she saw Ivy, and her gaunt features clouded with anger.
    â€œIt doesn’t matter,” Alexandra said with a shrug. “I’m buttoned now. But do hurry and get my hat. I’m in a most awful rush.”
    â€œYes, Miss Alexandra.” Velda gave Ivy one final withering look and then hurried into an adjoining room.
    Alexandra bent quickly toward the mirror and gave her cheeks a firm pinch to redden them. “I shall ask one final favor of you, Ivy. I must kiss Mama good morning. Please hurry downstairs as fast as you can and tell the lady who just arrived—Miss Foxe—that I shall be down in a few minutes and that we must drive like the wind or we shall miss our train.” She spun away, pirouetting in front of the glass.
    Ivy backed toward the door, her brain in a whirl. “A . . . Miss Foxe?”
    â€œYes, yes—quickly—quickly.”
    Ivy flew out of the room and down the hall. She gave no thought to taking the back stairs. There couldn’t possibly be time for that. She was on a mission, the importance of which escaped her understanding, but a mission nonetheless. She ran full tilt, clutching her little cap to keep it from flying off her head, down the L-shaped hall of the west wing to the central corridor of the main house. It was exhilarating to run along such a broad carpeted surface. She felt like laughing out loud. It was like running down High Street early in the morning when all the shops were closed, racing Cissy and Ned and Tom to school. She nearly collided with a footman on the upper landing above the great hall.
    â€œSorry!” she called out, descending the stairway two steps at a time. The startled man stared after her in mute astonishment.
    The astonishment was shared by Mr. Coatsworth and two other footmen standing in the