“Thank you, mademoiselle. And your gown is stunning. The color suits you perfectly.”
“I know! Miss Kate said it would.”
Kate was in a flowing gown of deep crimson with a silver mantle over her strong, bare shoulders. Her stately appearance, however, was undone by the tension in her face. She sat next to Imogen, holding her sister’s gloved hand.
“Ladies, I am to be your escort,” Simon said. “I knew that if I didn’t come, some other gentleman, overcome by your magnificence, would lure you to his party.”
Charlotte giggled but looked with surprisingly adult dismay toward Kate, who laughed politely at Simon’s glibness. Imogen simply stared down. She wore another mourning gown that had been altered to run a bit long, with a high collar and sleeves that extended to her wrists. However, there were accents of deep violet including long gloves, and her misshapen hand was hidden inside a fur muff that was on a silken cord around her neck. A hat with a long veil that prevented any view of her features covered her head.
Simon was disturbed when she pulled her tendril-fingered hand out of the muff and lifted the homunculus skull. She held it in her elegant silk-gloved hand and began to play it: “My sister has a gold key that our father made. It’s what you want. My sister has a gold key that our father made. It’s what you want.”
Kate sighed. “Imogen, don’t you want to come inside for dinner? The only people there are your friends. Simon. Malcolm. Penny. And Charlotte.”
“My sister has a gold key that our father made. It’s what you want. My sister has a gold key that our father made. It’s what you want.”
Simon sat back patiently next to Charlotte, letting Kate focus on her sister and Imogen on her.
Kate’s tone was warm and encouraging. “Are you worried about walking to the door? That people will stare at you? They might, but only because it is their nature to do so. You must overcome that. That is your challenge. If you don’t, you allow the wrong people to win. You see that, don’t you?”
The gears turned faster and the words of the skull sped up.
Charlotte added, “I’ll be with you, Imogen. We can hold hands. Who cares what they think? I’d like to go in. Please? But I’ll go back home if that’s what you want.”
The skull gradually grew silent, but Imogen continued to cradle it with her long, supple fingers.
“You have come so very far, my dear Imogen,” Kate urged gently. “Everyone here who matters wants you with us for the celebration. You deserve to be here. You are a part of us. None here are perfect, but together we have overcome incredible odds time and again.” Kate reached out and took the skull from her. Imogen tensed and her fingers reached out in shock.
“We are family, Imogen.” Kate’s voice was quiet but firm. She placed the skull on the seat across from her, next to Charlotte who stared at it wide-eyed. “You won’t need that inside. Won’t you come along? The others are waiting. Let’s not disappoint them.”
Imogen sat stone still, her hands clasping together tightly. A small shape appeared from the muff and her hedgehog waddled out onto her lap. It sat sniffing the air. She didn’t appear to notice it.
“For me then,” Kate said. “No matter how frightened you are, do this for your sister. I want you to come inside. It’s important to me. So I’m asking you, please, come with me. We won’t stay long unless you wish it. But imagine if we have a grand time like when Father would take us out for Christmas dinner. Just us. Just family.”
From inside the dark veil came a single gargled sound. “Yes.”
Kate gasped and seized Imogen’s arm. “You spoke! My God, Imogen, you spoke!” She turned to look at Simon, with tears already streaming down her cheeks.
Charlotte said, “I’ve never heard her talk. Did you hear her talk, Mr. Simon?”
Simon nodded and put a finger to his lips to silence Charlotte.
“Come, Imogen,” Kate said with an unsteady voice, sliding toward the door. “Now we really have something to celebrate.”
The door opened immediately. Kate moved out of the carriage and extended her arm back toward her sister. Simon sat quietly. Charlotte seemed eager enough to explode, but she stayed still.
The bustle of traffic roared in the street around them, and dozens of strolling Londoners glanced curiously at the livery coach. The horse’s breathing steamed into the cold night air.
Imogen herded the hedgehog back into her muff, then slowly raised her normal hand and placed it in Kate’s palm. Kate drew her sister toward her. Imogen’s black gown rustled as her hidden feet slid along the floor. When she reached the door, Kate held her hand tightly and took her other elbow since her strange hand was now buried in the muff. She held Imogen up as she stooped to put a tentative foot on the carriage step. The poor girl was shaking in fear.
“You’re doing fine.” Kate helped her sister take the first ungainly step. “We’ll go as slowly as you need.”