Early the next morning, I awoke to the sound of loud and persistent knocking on my door. It was so early, Charlotte hadn’t even arrived yet and the curtains were still drawn over the windows.
The guards were talking with the morning visitor, who was nearly shrieking in her reply. It was Bridget. She sounded upset.
I checked on Elva, she was still sound asleep. Then I rolled out of bed. I threw on a silk robe and rushed to the door.
The moment, Bridget saw me, the tears began to flow down her cheeks. “Oh, Piper! I have to talk to you at once.”
Fortunately, at that same moment, Charlotte was approaching us down the hallway. I asked her to keep an eye on Elva, and went with Bridget to her own room where we could speak privately.
Bridget plucked a handkerchief from her nightstand and dab
