Chapter 7 The Sky Over London

                                    

                                          


                          
Bonnie was sleeping but Relly could not settle down and not wanting to disturb her companion left the bed they shared and put on her wrapper went downstairs to the library. The moon light filled the room and Relly felt no need to lite a candle. Wrapping her arms around herself she gazed out the large window. She had on her night gown and wrapper, both silk and well worn. They had been a gift from Papa on her twelfth birthday and originally blue and ankle length. Now many washings and a lot of growing later they were only the palest blue and mid calf in length. They were so threadbare that she could almost see through them. She pondered why Nick had never mentioned that and blushed thinking about it. She certainly was taller then she had been but she was disappointed her body had not blossomed as much as she had hoped. She was well aware of how other girls looked at seventeen and she was almost eighteen, just weeks away, and little changed from when she was fourteen. Would Nick be disappointed. He had told her she was beautiful. Money had been so short that food was often scarce. The last two years she had become very familiar with hunger subsisting on potatoes, turnips and brown bread. Her mind wandered from subject to subject frequently focused on little but Nick. Had he winced when she crashed into him? Did he have a slight limp when he walked and hesitate when he stood. Then it dawned on her Nick had been injured. She scolded herself for her self absorption when so many had less and Nick was hurting. Then she heard a familiar voice in her head as gasped with joy.
                          
Ailleacht was sitting cloaked in the garden calling her. Relly did not hesitate but ran directly to the garden. "It's so good to see you," she whispered and hugged her golden dragon.
                          
"Come fly with me Relly, you seem unhappy."
                          
"I'm not unhappy, just in a funny mood and yes let's fly." She hoped on Ailleacht's back and they were off into the night sky over London. "It's so dark how can you see?" Relly asked.
                          
"See through me eyes little one and behold my world." Suddenly Relly saw the world through the dragon's eyes and all below and above was clear. The candles in the windows and the gas lights so very bright. She saw people walking, on horseback and carriages. The city was as alive at night as during the day. They followed the multiple bends and curves of the river and circled the buildings and sights Relly had read about. The slums with their retched poor and filthy hovels were completely open to their sight as were the homes of the wealthy and Nobel class. The city was breath taking in its size and scope, the capital of the modern age. They flew most of the night and landed in the garden before those who lived in the day were up and about.
                          
"Thank you, Ailleacht. I needed that," Relly whispered as she kissed her dragon.
                          
"I thought you did, I'll see you again."
                          
Relly rushed to her room and lit a tallow candle and started to write her latest installment of Dearest Almost-Brother then retired to bed. By the time she had awoke, missing breakfast, her missive had been read by the entire household and Nick had submitted it to the papers. Her previous "Flight through the Pass of the Shepard's" already considered her best as was her "Flight to Aberdeen" and this surpassed both. Bonnie and her sisters were in awe of her stories.
                          
"I see you were up all night writing,"Cloe said.
                          
"I cannae sleep. Did Nick stop by?"
                          
"You were still sleeping, he did check in on you. He will be back for dinner. He mentioned that Charles will release your annuity funds to you so between those and those he already forwarded to me you are well prepared for shopping and a grand first season."
                          
"I hope I won't need a second."
                          
"You have already declared you intentions so you are way ahead, but usually the man declares his intentions first."