Silver in the Blood by Jessica Day George

noticed that no one in this family seems to finish their sentences anymore?” Lou asked, flopping down in a chair. “Or if they do, it’s because they’re not saying what they really mean?”
    â€œIt’s decidedly odd,” Dacia agreed. “But what really worries me more right now is how intensely Lord Johnny and that man who insulted you were staring at Mihai all through the second half of the opera.”
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    FROM THE DESK OF MISS DACIA VREEHOLT
    28 May 1897
    To my dear mother,
    I hope that you are well. I am sure that you are very busy getting ready for the journey to Newport for the summer. I must confess that I am jealous, and find that I will miss the old routine. This may come as a great surprise to you, after my protests and complaints of the last few years, but now that I have been gone from home for some time, I do miss it.
    In fact, I miss it so much that I truly wish that I could return home, and soon. I have been abroad for three months now, and it is becoming very wearying for me. I know that Lou and I are supposed to stay until after Christmas, but I do not think it will be at all enjoyable for anyone concerned. Lou has only been here two days, and she is already showing signs of nervous strain. Aunt Kate does not seem to be enjoying the visit, either.
    I am, of course, pleased to make the acquaintance of my Florescu relations, but I think that a month would be more than sufficient for us to get to know one another. And we could always return in years to come, when you are able to accompany us!
    Please consider sending for me. It would be so much better coming from you, I am sure that Aunt Kate would agree completely.
    Your loving daughter,
Dacia

CALEA GRIVITEI
    There truly is no rest for the wicked, Dacia thought. Her old nurse had been fond of the phrase, almost too fond, really, trotting it out as an excuse for everything from waking Dacia up at the first light of dawn to making her march bleakly through the park in all weather as a grim form of exercise. But the morning after Dacia had attended the opera with Lou and Prince Mihai, it was all too true.
    She and Lou had stayed up late talking, turning over possible reasons for Uncle Cyrus and Aunt Maria’s argument, and the scrutiny of Lord Johnny and the man who had insulted Lou. And how did they know each other? Lou had told her about seeing the two men together on the Orient Express as well. It was all too puzzling, and the cousins soon found that they had far too many questions and no answers whatsoever. Finally, exhausted, Dacia had simply climbed into Lou’s bed and they had gone to sleep side by side, as they had many times aschildren. Dacia would never admit how comforting she found it, in this strange house. Even after staying here for weeks, everything about the big mansion still seemed too . . . foreign.
    The maid came in and opened the curtains at seven o’clock in the morning, when Dacia and Lou had only been asleep for four hours.
    â€œI’m sorry, young ladies,” she had said with an apologetic smile. “But
Doamna
Maria ordered me to wake you now.”
    â€œGnnnh,” Dacia replied, and put her pillow over her head.
    Lou sat up abruptly, looked blankly at the maid, the open window, then Dacia, and then collapsed back onto the bed. “Gnnnh,” she said in agreement.
    The maid giggled and went out, but she apparently tattled on the cousins, because Aunt Kate swept into the room a minute later and opened Lou’s wardrobe. The doors creaked, and Lou made a noise that was roughly the same pitch.
    â€œWhy do we have to get up?” Dacia didn’t remove the pillow from her face.
    â€œBecause you are being fitted for some traditional clothing this morning. Then we will be making social calls in the afternoon, followed by a dinner with the family this evening. There is no time for you to lie in bed.”
    Dacia took the pillow off her face and sat up. “Making