Chapter Six
Kaitlyn hadn’t had a moment alone with any of her friends including Cyrus. She wondered if keeping them apart was all planned. Reese had been snagged right before dinner and taken away to do a few more classes on the dances since she was still so panicked about it. Kaitlyn knew Jem had arrived since he’d texted her, but he was in the dance class as well to make sure he was prepared enough to join in on this elaborate event.
When she’d tried to get to Cora, either someone else would take one of them, or a couple of ladies joined their group and took over the conversation. Kaitlyn caught sight of Nellie pointing at her and Cyrus at different times, speaking to some of her servants or even the ones who were acting as townsfolk for the night and dressed up for the ball. Did she know they had broken her rule about the upper floor?
Kaitlyn fingered the dance card she held. It had been filled immediately, leaving only room for the last few dances. She wouldn’t even be able to dance with Cyrus until the end of the night.
Kaitlyn had to get to the bottom of this. She started to weave her way through the crowded ballroom toward Nellie, but before she made it five feet, Nellie flitted away on the arm of someone who was ready to take her to the dance floor.
Kaitlyn turned to find her friends. They were all occupied, and the gentleman she would dance with next approached to escort her to the floor.
She was dying to get back to that painting and to take the others with her, but she would have to wait. Deciding not to let it interfere with her last big night here in the Twickenham manor, she was determined to put all the dance lessons to use and enjoy the ball. Her partner was kind and handsome, but nothing more than a fun companion for the dance. Kaitlyn was glad they didn’t do the double sets like were often done in the past. More than five minutes with one man on the dance floor could be a little much.
As her dance finished up, Kaitlyn caught sight of Jem. Joy rushed through her. She excused herself from her partner, knowing it was slightly rude, but she figured she’d be forgiven since it was her brother. She rushed across the room and threw herself into his arms. “You’re here! It’s about time. Did you just get let out of the dance class?”
She looked between him and Reese, who entered the room with him. Reese rubbed her forehead. “I had to do that stupid dance so many times before I got the footing right. But this guy, he picked it up after doing it only twice. It’s not fair.” She playfully pushed Jem, who shrugged as if a little embarrassed. He turned back to Kaitlyn.
“So have you had the time of your life?” He looked around the room. “Isn’t this exactly what you’ve always wanted to do?”
“It’s been like a dream come true. There have been so many fun things. I wish you could have been here for more of it. I could totally see you pulling off the perfect English gentleman. You could probably even get the accent right and wouldn’t have to pretend to be a wealthy American business owner.”
“Yeah, but I think there’s more than just talking like them. You have to know all of the history.”
“There is that.”
Jem nodded out onto the dance floor. “How has Cyrus been doing?”
“Really well, actually. I think it’s started to grow on him.”
“Well, what do you know?”
“Oh,” Kaitlyn said, surprised she’d forgotten it for a moment in the excitement of seeing her brother. “Earlier this afternoon, Cyrus and I were exploring the upper level floor and we saw the strangest thing.”
Before Kaitlyn could explain, one of Nellie’s servants dressed as a fine gentleman interrupted and took Reese’s attention. “I would be honored if you’d join me for this dance.”
Another servant leaned in to Jem. “Mr. Taylor, if you’ll allow me to introduce you to some of the ladies here needing a dance partner.” He took Jem away, leaving Kaitlyn more sure someone didn’t want her to tell her secret. And that made her want to tell it even more. She found Cyrus free for a moment across the dance floor, but she knew she’d never make it over to him before he was claimed by someone else. She decided she’d bide her time. Even if it wasn’t until after the ball was over, she would show the others the painting before they left the manor. She’d even wait until all the servants were asleep if she had to.
***
By about eleven thirty, most of the dancers looked tired. It was getting easier to get closer to Kaitlyn and the other girls from home. As he saw Reese and Jem standing near the entrance of the ballroom, he caught Kaitlyn’s eye and motioned for her to join him there. As she walked along the outer edge of the dance floor, she neared Cora and brought her.
“Finally,” Kaitlyn said as the five of them finally stood together. “We’ve been trying to get to all of you.”
“Why?” Cora asked.
“We saw something we need to show you all,” Cyrus said. “We were on the top floor doing some exploring and saw a painting that we really think you need to see.”
“I thought Nellie said guests weren’t allowed on that floor,” Cora said.
“We aren’t,” Cyrus said. “Kaitlyn was feeling a little rebellious and decided to break some rules.”
Kaitlyn waved away his explanation. “There’s this huge room with a ton of different styles of clothes, but then there’s another room just past that one where we found it. You’ve got to come see.”
Jem glanced at Reese. “What do you think?” She looked like the idea intrigued her.
Cyrus grabbed Kaitlyn’s hand and pulled her with him. “Let’s go before someone stops us.” He glanced back, surprised that no one was even looking their way. They made it through the front foyer to the stairs with nothing to impede them, so they continued.
Kaitlyn pointed the room with the clothes to the other girls, but Cyrus motioned for them to follow him. “Show them the clothes later. They have to see this first.”
When they got to the door of the huge portrait gallery, it was cracked open even though he was sure he had closed it when they sneaked in earlier. With the darkness of the night, they had no way to see the paintings and the other decorations in the room, so Cyrus felt along the wall near the door.
Cora pulled out a phone and turned the light app on for him.
“Thanks,” he said as he flipped it on. When a soft glow flooded the room, Kaitlyn rushed forward, pulling one of the other girls behind her.
“There,” Kaitlin breathed, her voice a hush. “What do you see?”
They all leaned forward, studying the portrait. Everyone reacted differently, but they all seemed just as surprised as he and Kaitlyn had.
“What the—” Jem began.
“I told you.” Cyrus started humming an ominous tune.
Jem turned to Kaitlyn, then to the others. “Okay, nice trick. How’d you get this done? I wasn’t even here till a few hours ago.”
“I didn’t do it,” Kaitlyn said with a scowl.
“This is creeping me out,” Reese said.
“Do you guys feel weird?” Cora mumbled, her gaze glued to the picture.
The other girls nodded. Cyrus looked over at Jem, who stared hard at the picture.
“I’ve got to get a picture of this,” Cora said. She took a few selfies.
“Do you see a glow?” Cyrus asked, turning around. The others looked up at the light fixture and shook their heads. Cyrus looked closer at the painting, sure something about it was glowing, but with his eyes fixed right on it, he couldn’t see anything anymore. The center of his chest got a little tighter. He felt Kaitlyn’s hand reach for his, and he gripped it tight.
Cora turned to the others. “Quick, everyone, stand by your doppelganger and we’ll get a picture.” She held up the phone and the five of them got in close. She snapped a picture. Before she could lower the phone, a burning sensation started at Cyrus’s back. He looked at the painting on the wall again. This time he was sure it was glowing.
The fancy clock under a glass case chimed the midnight hour and the painting seemed to reach for them. He stared at it in horror. The others around him grabbed on to each other as if seeking comfort. He closed his eyes, trying to push down the stomach-turning sensations. He pulled Kaitlyn close.
“Oh, well done,” Nellie’s voice came from behind them. Cyrus opened his eyes, surprised the lighting was different. He turned around and stared at someone that wasn’t the same Nellie he’d seen only minutes earlier downstairs.