Chapter 12

Julia woke early the next morning, and went to check on Kay. She was stopped on her way down the hall by General O'hara.

"Good morning, Miss Villani," he said brightly.

"Good morning, General. How are you?"

"I am well. How are you?"

"I'm awake. That's a start."

O'hara chuckled," I suppose it is. I'm glad that I caught you. The Lord General would like you to join him for breakfast, if you are not otherwise engaged."

"Oh! I'd be happy to," Julia said with a smile," I would just like to check on, and speak to my sister first."

O'hara's face seemed to darken for a split second," Ah yes. She seemed quite upset last night."

He smiled slightly," Hint taken, My Lady. Well, I will not delay you any longer. I will see you later for breakfast."

They parted ways in the usual manner, and Julia continued down the hall to Kay's door.

"Kay?" she called as she knocked.

There was no answer, so she knocked again, and jiggled the handle. It was locked. Julia scratched her head as she leaned against the door. Her finger scraped across a pin in her hair, which she pulled out and stared at. Shrugging her shoulders, she pulled another one out, turned to the door, and proceeded to pick the lock. The door creaked as it swung open, and Julia was taken aback by the scene before her.

Parchment had been scribbled on, and scattered all over the floor. There was an ink bottle overturned on Kay's ball gown, which had been thrown on the floor, along with the rest of her clothing. Julia gagged at the overpowering stench of alcohol, sweat and vomit. She quickly shut the door so that no one else would see the wreckage.

"Kay?"

Julia looked over at Kay's bed, tilted her head and saw a hand protruding from underneath it. Julia got down on her hands and knees, and crouched down to get a better look. The hand belonged to Kay, and she was out cold, and naked as the day the she was born, with only a thin sheet separating her from the freezing cold floor. Julia was disappointed to see a large (and empty) liquor bottle cradled, almost protectively, in the crook of her left arm.

Julia sighed," Kay!"

Kay stirred, but only enough to grunt, and turn her head, and pass out again. Julia laughed, then quickly covered her mouth. Kay had ink smeared all over her cheek, and, judging from the fragments on her face, bits of parchment had gotten stuck to her. Julia sighed, and ducked under the bed. She got under both Kay's arms, and dragged her out.

"Come on, Kay. Hey!" she smacked her cheek," Wake up woman."

Kay grunted and opened one eye, only to immediately scrunch it shut again, slap a hand to her head and wretch.

"Chamber pot," she choked," Quick!"

Julia quickly obliged, and backed away as Kay emptied the contents of her stomach.

"Go away," Kay gasped as she wiped her mouth," I don't want you to see me like this."

"It's a little late for that," Julia replied, as she wrapped a thicker blanket around Kay's naked and shivering body," I have already seen you."

Kay scoffed and smiled," Thanks."

Julia smiled and put her arms around her sister. They were silent for a moment, and Kay knew that she would not have to apologize for a thing, for a moment like this, coming from her baby sister was a sign of silent forgiveness.

"How the hell were you getting away with seeing a rebel for so long?"

"I have no idea," Kay laughed," But I did."

Silence once more.

"I'm sorry you had to let him go. I can see that you cared about him."

A tear fell from Kay's eyes," I really did. But the way he acted when I told him we were done...it said a lot about how he really felt about me."

"Good or bad?"

"Bad. I thought he loved me. But...he couldn't be understanding of the situation. It was so easy for him to walk away..."

Julia was sympathetic, but she sighed," I think you should be understanding of him too, though. I mean...you're talking, first of all about a continental sneaking onto British property to see a woman. Aside from that, we aren't from here, so behaviors and such aren't the same. He really was risking a lot more than he will ever know. SO many things could have happened, Kay."

"I know," Kay replied with sincerity," I'm really grateful to you, Julia. I get the shivers just thinking about what would have happened if the Colonel or Captain had found us first, and not you."

"You would do the same for me," Julia replied," I would give up the Captain if it meant keeping you safe from harm. Family is more important."

Kay hugged her tightly," What would I do without you?"

"Get drunk and paint your face with ink?"

The two burst out laughing as Kay smacked her shoulder.

"Hey it was fun," Kay said," You and I should drink together sometime, for old times' sake."

Julia thought on it for a second," I suppose it wouldn't hurt. But it has to be after the Dragoons leave. I will never live it down if Bordon was to catch me drunk."

"Fine. When is that?"

"A couple of days I believe."

"Ok, then," Kay said," It's a date."

Julia stood up," Well, get dressed. It's time for breakfast."

"You mean...go downstairs?" Kay asked," I don't think I can face anyone else. They all hate me."

"You have to, Kay. Today is a new day, and I promised that I would help you to fix things. And the best place to start is...?"

"At the beginning," Kay sighed with a weak smile.

"You'll be fine," Julia said before excusing herself from the room.


Lord Cornwallis was surprised to see Kay enter the dining room with Julia, but at the same time, he was annoyed that she was even there. It was an equal surprise that she even dared to show her face after the rumored events of her actions during the ball. He felt that he was being a bit obsessive over Julia. Perhaps it was her natural charm, or her humble personality. All he knew was that he liked being in her company. No, he was not in love with her. He simply enjoyed having a female friend for once, and a beautiful and educated one at that.

"Ah, there you are, Julia," Cornwallis said as he and O'hara stood up," Good morning, Kay. I was not expecting you to join us, but the more the merrier."

"Good morning, sir," Kay said humbly.

The sisters seated themselves across from Cornwallis and O'hara, and the party began to eat. The silence was a little awkward.

"I really enjoyed the Ball last night," Julia said, trying to break the silence," I do hope that there will be more."

"Indeed there will be," O'hara replied with a smile.

"I was sorry to not be able to stay the whole time," Kay said timidly.

Cornwallis stared at her for a second. His response came out like word vomit," Yes...I am told that you were saying goodbye to the officer you had been seeing."

Julia sensed Kay freezing up, and stepped in once more to save the day," It was the right thing to do before rumors and such got too out of hand. Kay has done a lot of reflecting on her behavior as of late. As I have already said to countless people, she knows what she did, and wishes to repent and start afresh. And to set the record straight, she was not visiting a rebel. I have finally seen him for myself, and can at least assure you that he was a regular of the British Army. I wholeheartedly forgive her for her actions, and can only hope that others will do the same. She was brave enough to present herself before you, my Lord. I see it as proof that she wants to refine herself for real this time."

Cornwallis smiled at her," Ah, Miss Villani. You have such a big heart. How fortunate Kay is to have a sister like you. I suppose that if that be the case, then I cannot deny a cry for help. Let us put it behind us then, and grant Kay her request to start over."

"We've all made our share of mistakes," O'hara raised his glass," After all, no one is perfect."

"As the saying goes," Kay perked up a little," If there was one perfect person in this world, then we'd all be nobody. But no such person exists, therefore we are all somebody."

"Here, here," Cornwallis said.

The entire group raised their glasses to that. Kay mentally thanked Julia for what she had done. For her, Kay would do her best to behave this time, solely to show her sister that her efforts would not go to waste.