Eighty-five

Celia

As we discussed the action plan for gathering proof against Matron Arwen, I finished another plate of cookies that Grace had brought from the kitchen hurriedly after seeing how quickly I finished the first plate.

It seemed my stomach needed food while I hatched a plan. As I was busy discussing the next steps with Grace which were more of trying to ensure that she would not back out at the last moment, there was a knock on the door.

I furrowed my eyebrows while Grace immediately stiffened.

She sprang up from the bed while I tried to gather my senses. I feared it was the prince himself while she feared that it was her arch enemy.

She began stammering, “I…I will hide in the washroom, if it is the Matron tell her I am scrubbing the toilet”

“Calm down and stand here with me, Grace”

But she was not even listening to me, “Or…or tell her I went in the garden to work in the sun, that will please her”

I held her by the shoulders and said in a stern voice, “Shh, stop being so flustered. I