Author's Note: I want to thank everyone who has taken the time to read, enjoy and review this story. I love knowing what you all think. To the Anonymous reviewer who mentioned my transposition of the "Your" and "You're" in the previous chapter...i HOPE that's the only time it's happened, but it is very hard to see those things when reading my own work sometimes. Unfortunately, i don't know how to go back and fix that now that it's posted. So, i'll apologize and hope you will all forgive me.
I hope you continue to enjoy this - and future - chapters.
psyche b
12. Surprise
Aiden was even more watchful that night than he was usually. Mary had to practically push him out of the bathroom so that she could shower. In the end he only left because she agreed to leave the door open, so that if she fell he would hear her. She had barely dried off when he scooped her up and brought her into the bedroom. Mary found she was too tired to protest. She curled up against him and was asleep before Aiden even got the covers arranged around her.
The next morning, Mary went downstairs early and completely bypassed the rooms where she expected her guests to gather, preferring the kitchen. Joanna and Maureen were both putting the finishing touches on the meal.
"Morning." Mary poured herself a cup of coffee.
"What are you doing in here, Miss? You're guests will wonder if you're still feeling poorly." Maureen said.
"I need a cup of coffee before I face another crowd." She added sugar and a little milk and sat down at far end of the table. "God knows what they're saying about me anyway."
"I'm sure they're all hoping you feel better. You still look a little pale." Maureen handed the fork she was tending the sausages with to Joanna so she could sit with Mary for a minute. "Are you certain that you're feeling alright?"
"I'm fine." Mary said firmly. "I just need to start sleeping a little more. It all smells wonderful by the way." That wasn't the whole truth. The look and smell of the eggs turned her stomach, but she wasn't about say anything. Maureen would have only asked more questions.
"I've been telling you that for the last month." Maureen got up again.
"I know. And I didn't listen." Mary smiled a little, and picked up a platter of pastries. "I'll start bringing things into the dining room."
"You'll do nothing of the kind." Maureen said, taking a platter from her.
"Maureen-"
"No! I might have gotten used to you wanting to scrub and polish because from what you've told me that's how you were raised, but I'll not let you act like a servant in your own house when you have guests here." Maureen set the platter down again and smiled a little. "Besides, what would they think of me?" Mary laughed a little.
"You win. I'll go be a good hostess." Mary took another long swallow of her coffee. "Where are they?"
"Out on the terrace." Maureen started putting the sausages on a plate and Mary realized how good they looked.
"Thanks." She grabbed one from the plate and ate it on the way out to the terrace. She was surprised that it actually seemed to settle her stomach a little.
Mary was expecting to see Veronica, Caroline, Ramona and Robbie for breakfast. Nigel and Quentin had stayed as well though, and even though she was surprised, she was glad to see both of them.
"Good morning everyone." She noticed that there was coffee and tea set out on two wrought iron tables. Matching chairs were placed in conversation clusters. The assembled group greeted her warmly. She fielded several questions about how she was feeling and how she slept before Joanna announced that breakfast was ready in the dining room. Everyone served themselves and even though Mary took some of the eggs the thought of actually eating them turned her stomach. She concentrated on the sausages and fruit.
"Well, since no one else is going to say it, I will." Veronica said. "Last night was probably the most amazing thing I've ever been a part of."
"It was?" Mary was genuinely surprised. She knew it had gone well - not counting her little spell – but she didn't think it was all that wonderful.
"When we worked with Ambrose it felt like a great physical effort that produced very little result, but his technique was far different from yours." Quentin said. "Where did you find it?"
"Well, I don't know really." Mary sipped her juice. "I read a number of different sources, but none of them really made sense to me so I read through Ambrose's journals. He wrote about searching the literature and choosing the technique that made the most sense to him. I did the same thing, I just got a little more creative."
"Do you fee ready to try waking Esme?" Robbie asked.
"Well, not this morning." Mary laughed softly. "But yes, I think that should be the plan. If we fail I don't think we can make it any worse than it already is."
"It's going to work this time." Ramona's statement was firm and Mary didn't want to be the one to be the voice of doubt.
The rest of the meal was spent in good-natured conversation and laughter. A few possible dates for the attempt to wake Esme were discussed, but without the whole group present it was impossible to make a firm plan.
Only Veronica stayed on for lunch and Mary was glad to have most people gone. Exhaustion had been creeping up on her ever since the middle of breakfast. The only explanation Mary could come up with was the lack of sleep from the previous weeks. At two in the afternoon she lay down for a short nap, and was awakened by Aiden sitting down next to her. She could see the concern in his eyes whenever he looked at her, even though he didn't mention it.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Over the next few weeks, Mary's life seemed to revolve around the telephone, her e-mail and food. She was still trying to find a date to wake Esme. This time it was harder than before. She had expected opposition from Andy and his faction, but he was surprisingly cooperative after her display. From the tone of his voice on the phone she could tell he was grudgingly impressed. Things were simply not lining up with everyone's calendars.
