Across the room a paperboard box sat under the window. Pamela made her way swiftly toward it and opened the flap. She recognized some of Lizbeth’s things. She pulled out her hairbrush and small round box of hairpins.
She leaned back on her heels and frowned. If Lizbeth had moved out, suddenly or not, she would not have left her brush and hairpins behind. She reached in and began to rummage through other items when the sound of the door hitting the wall had her jumping to her feet.
Mrs. O’Leary stood there glaring at her. “What are you doing in here?”
Pamela’s heart thumped so loudly she was sure Mrs. O’Leary could hear her across the room. She swallowed several times, then said, “I w-w-w-was just l-l-looking for …” She had no idea what to say, and no matter if she did come up with a reason, it would make no sense.
“Sorry,” she mumbled and walked across the room and slipped past Mrs. O’Leary who said nothing but continued to glare at her, arms crossed.
Completely out of breath, Pamela hurried to her room and leaned against the closed door. “Oh, m-m-my g-g-goodness.”
Her heart continued to pound so hard she felt as though she would empty her stomach on her shoes. Whatever was she thinking going into Lizbeth’s room? With shaky fingers she changed into a walking suit and attempted to fix her hair as best she could.
Mrs. O’Leary was nowhere in sight when she left her room and headed downstairs. Her heart had at least calmed down, but she still felt completely at sixes and sevens when she left the house to meet Addie and Lottie.
Once her mind calmed down, she decided that she certainly didn’t want to worry her friends with her troubles since they were both in a family way. Maybe Mr. Smith would stop by tomorrow as promised and she could confide in him.
“Don’t you b-b-both l-l-look wonderful.” Pamela kissed Lottie and Addie on the cheek and stood back to admire them. “M-m-marriage and impending m-m-motherhood agrees with y-y-you b-b-both.” She pulled out the empty chair at the table where an array of sandwiches, tarts and biscuits sat in the middle. Their favorite teapot with the sweet pink and white flowered cozy over it rested next to the platter.
“How are you students progressing?” Addie asked as she poured the three of them tea. She fixed it with milk and sugar, just as each of them liked it.
“They are d-doing well. In f-f-fact Miss Chambers has improved so m-m-much th-that I’m finding it hard to b-b-believe.”
“Maybe she just needed to get away from her mother. From what you told us she is a bit of a shrew.”
“Y-y-yes. That sh-she is from what M-m-miss Chambers s-s-says.” Pamela took a large, wonderful mouthful of her tea and closed her eyes as it slid down her throat. Whatever it was about tea she didn’t know, only that it calmed her down.
“Is everything all right, Pamela?” Lottie looked at her with concern.
“Y-y-yes. Why do y-y-you ask?”
“Well for one thing, your stutter seems much worse than it normally is when you’re with us
.” Addie also studied her with concern.
She felt bad holding out on her very best friends, but there was nothing they could do except worry themselves. It was best if she kept it all to herself until Mr. Smith could figure out what was going on.
“I am p-p-probably just a bit t-t-tired.”
“How is your friend Lizbeth? I thought you had invited her to tea with us?”
“Uh. Y-yes. I d-did. B-b-but, uh.”
Lottie covered her hand with hers. “We are your best friends, Pamela. If something is wrong, please let us help.”
“I assure y-you -b-b-both, everything is f-fine. Lizbeth is unemployed, as y-you know, and she s-s-said th-that once she is receiving a p-paycheck again sh-she would join us at th-the Pump Room for t-t-tea.”
“Today would not have cost her anything,” Addie said softly.
Oh Lord. “I d-d-did not see her t-today. I think s-s-she was out sh-shopping when I l-left.” Pamela took another gulp of tea and wiped her mouth with her napkin, and then patted her sweat-beaded upper lip. She was not a good liar.
Fortunately, the conversation turned to other things until finally the three of them finished their tea. Pamela and Lottie helped Addie bring the things she had left in the store to her carriage which was right in front of the store.
They hugged and kissed each other goodbye with promises to visit again the following week at Addie’s home.
Pamela passed on a ride home with Addie or Lottie, thinking the walk would do her good to clear her head before she returned home.
6