chapter 6

"Who's Roderick? Do I know him?" Angelica asked not sure to whom this Roderick person was.

"Oh, dear, of course you're not going to know to whom I speak of. Roderick is the man who brought you and your young sister here to me. He's the one that came to your assistance last eve. You'll be seeing him soon enough. He's a very good man with a very good heart. Ah, Ann, please take sweet Michelle down to the kitchen for one of Cook's apricot treats." Once Michelle was gone, Lady Arlene approached Angie's bed and sat on the edge facing Angie. "Now that we are alone and you are breaking your fast we can speak openly, for you see, we have a very serious matter that we must speak of." Lady Arlene took a deep bracing breath then continued in a steady reasonable voice. "Because of the incident from last Eve you must marry, dear." She paused to let this bit of news to sink into Angie's numb mind, she continued only after Angie's eyes widen and shock. "Yes, my dear, has the only way to save your re