The Moon Master's Ball (5 page)

But then, as her eyes adjusted to the
darkness, Tilly noticed a pair of green curtains that reminded her
of a dense forest covering the entrance of a small black wagon. The
mouse climbed up to it and scurried underneath the curtains,
leaving Tilly to assume she should follow. She spread the silk
apart cautiously and peeked inside.

“Hello?” She slid between the curtains and
entered the black wagon, her eyes opening wide as she looked
around. Candles lit up the small space, illuminating the piles of
velvet ribbons distributed about the room. Each ribbon was more
unique than the last, and Tilly walked closer to inspect them. Gems
she had never seen before inlaid every strip, making them finer
than the most expensive ribbons one could find at a dress shop.
There were stones as black as night sewn into a ribbon the color of
an aged rose. Tilly reached out her hand to touch it.

“I believe you’ve entered the wrong
wagon.”

She jerked her hand back like a child caught
stealing a cookie and looked around for the speaker. A man who must
have been standing in a back corner of the wagon now slowly
approached her. “Are you lost?” he asked with a voice that reminded
her of chocolate and caramel mixed together.

“I . . .” Tilly stared up at the strange,
tall form before her and wondered how he could stand so perfectly
straight in such a small space. He was painfully thin, and his dark
clothes hung on his gaunt frame, making him appear willowy and
fragile. Yet something about the way he held himself made Tilly
certain he was anything
but
fragile. His pale face was
young, though he was older than Tilly. Chestnut hair hung in his
wintry grey eyes, just brushing his shoulders when he tilted his
head to study Tilly.

“Are you quite well?”

Tilly gathered herself and blinked several
times. “Y—yes. I’m fine. Are you the Moon Master?”

His eyes narrowed. “Who’s asking?” There was
a hint of hostility in his voice.

“My name is Tilly Higgins. Lord Hollingberry
sent me. I have a letter.” She held out the letter to him, making
certain he could see the Hollingberry seal.

“Lord Hollingberry?” He took the letter
gently from her grasp and opened it a bit awkwardly with one hand.
His eyes scanned the paper several times before he folded and held
it back out to her.

“Don’t you want to keep it?” Tilly looked
from him to the letter.

“I have no need to.” He watched as she took
the letter from him and placed it back in her pocket.

“I’ll just . . . I’ll just be going now.”
Feeling awkward, Tilly took a step backwards and startled when
something dashed past her feet. Scatter climbed up to the Moon
Master’s shoulder and perched there like a proper parrot. Placing
his paws on either side of his Master’s ear, the mouse leaned in
and whispered. The Moon Master smirked and patted Scatter’s head
with one finger.

“Well, we won’t tell him you’ve made it into
a nest, will we?”

Tilly turned to leave, giving the lovely
ribbons one last glance.

“Wait.”

She turned around when the Moon Master spoke
to her.

“Take a ribbon, please, Tilly Higgins.” He
gestured generously.

Even though her task was accomplished—even
though she wanted nothing more than to escape the Circus—Tilly
paused and looked at the beauty before her. Giving the Moon Master
a cautious glance, she fingered a yellow ribbon with green
gems.

“May I?” From a near pile he selected a pair
of ribbons the color of a frosted violet with gems that shone like
stars. “These are my favorite.” He held the two ribbons out to
her.

“Thank you. They’re lovely.” Tilly took them
and rubbed the silkiness between her fingers. She could not help
noticing that he only ever used one hand.

“Have we met before, Miss Higgins?”

The Moon Master’s question shocked Tilly,
and she looked sharply up at him. “No. We haven’t,” she said a bit
more emphatically than she meant to. “I never come to the Circus. I
only came now because Lord Hollingberry requested it of me.”

“I see. Forgive me if I offended you.” He
dipped his head graciously and then nodded to the curtains. “Make
your escape. I know you’re dying to leave.”

Without further ado, Tilly left the Moon
Master and the mouse on his shoulder, suddenly feeling
claustrophobic.

When the curtains were closed again, the
Moon Master sat down in his rickety chair, placing his head in one
palm. “I scared her away, Scatter. I spoke too soon.”

The mouse patted his cheek.

“Follow her. Make certain she is safe.”

With a loyal chirp, the mouse darted off his
master’s shoulder and followed the young girl, who was running
towards the safety of Winslow village.

Once well away from Bromley’s Circus, Tilly
stopped to catch her breath, sitting down in the meadow’s grass.
The sun was setting behind the Circus tent. She couldn’t believe
she had gone back. The day seemed too surreal to comprehend. But,
at Lord Hollingberry’s request, she
had
returned to the
Circus, and she
had
seen the Moon Master. The task was
done.

Why had he seemed to recognize her? And what
was Lord Hollingberry’s connection to the strange Moon Master?
Tilly felt her dress pocket, remembering the letter tucked inside,
waiting to be read. Little caring whether or not she was doing the
right thing, she pulled it out and fingered the broken seal.

“Tilly! What are you doing here?”

She shoved the letter back into hiding and
looked up at Rodger approaching with his two little sisters.
Rising, she brushed herself off, trying very hard not to look
guilty. “Hello, Rodger. I’m just on my way back to Winslow Manor.”
She offered the two girls clinging to his hands a shaky smile then
started to walk past them.

“Wait a moment.” Rodger let go of his
sisters and stopped her. “Just last night you were upset about the
Circus, and now here you are, sitting in Bromley Meadow. What made
you change your mind?”

It was a reasonable question, but Tilly
certainly didn’t feel like answering, nor did she think it was
right to. After all, she didn’t have all the answers; Lord
Hollingberry did.

“I was running an errand. Please, Rodger. I
don’t want to talk about it.”

Rodger pursed his lips and watched her walk
away, noticing that she took a shuddery breath. Glancing towards
the Circus, he saw Ellen waving at him. He waved back, then leaned
down to his sisters and said, “Girls, see Ellen over there? Go to
her, and she’ll take you around the Circus. I’ll be right back.”
Then he ran to catch up with Tilly.

“Mind if I walk you home?” He appeared
beside her and sauntered along, hands in pockets.

Tilly turned to him, somewhat aggravated.
“Not today, Rodger. Go be with your sisters.” She walked faster,
but Rodger sped up and dodged in front of her, walking
backwards.

“Well, I
feel
like walking you home.
Is that all right?”

Tilly sighed, truly not wanting his company
at the moment. “If you wish.”

Rodger grinned triumphantly. They made quick
progress back to Winslow Manor since Tilly set such a fast pace.
Neither one said a word until they reached their destination.

When they stood at the back entrance, Tilly
turned to Rodger. “Well, I’m here, safe and sound. Go back to your
sisters, Rodger.” She opened the door, but Rodger drew it shut
again. She sighed. “What now?”

“I want to make sure you’re all right.” He
gazed upon her with all the concern in the world, which only made
Tilly angry.

“Do you?” She crossed her arms and glared at
him. “Fine. I’m not all right. In fact, I’ve had a completely
horrible day, and I
don’t
want to talk about it. I’ve been
used, and I’ve been scared, and I just want to be
left
alone.
”

Rodger took a step closer, a strange
expression on his face. Then he reached out and gently took her
hand. Tilly pulled half-heartedly away, only making his grip
tighten. “In case you didn’t notice, Tilly, I
care
about
you, and I want to be sure you’re safe.”

“Stop it, Rodger! You’re being ridiculous.”
She pulled away again.

“Very well.” He let go of her and grinned,
albeit ruefully. “I’ll leave you alone. Just promise me you’ll take
care of yourself.”

Tilly nodded. Then she rushed inside, closed
the door, and leaned her back against it, breathing hard. When she
cautiously peeked out the window, Rodger still stood there gazing
at the spot where she had been. Then he turned back towards the
meadow without the usual jaunty spring in his step.

Without wasting another minute, Tilly sped
up two flights of stairs to Lord Hollingberry’s study, only just
stopped herself from barging in, and raised her fist to knock on
the door. She hesitated, however, when she heard voices from within
the room.

“She’s back. It’s time.” That was Lord
Hollingberry’s voice.

“Are you absolutely certain? We only have
one shot at this, or that poor boy will be—” A woman was speaking,
but the lord cut her off.

“You don’t need to tell me the consequences
if we fail. This isn’t going to be easy, but we must take a
chance.” He emphasized the last phrase by pounding his hand on his
desk.

Feeling a bit wicked for eavesdropping,
Tilly knocked on the door to alert them of her presence. There was
a long pause, and then she heard Lord Hollingberry’s voice say,
“Come in.”

She opened the door and inhaled sharply when
she saw Caroline, the innkeeper, sitting in the chair in front of
Lord Hollingberry’s desk. “Caroline?” Her voice quavered when she
spoke.

“’Ello, dear.” Caroline rose and faced
Tilly, placing her bonnet on her head. “I was just leaving.” She
walked towards the gaping young girl then turned to face Lord
Hollingberry, who had risen politely. “Proceed as you so desire.”
With these words she left, patting Tilly on the cheek as she
brushed past.

“Come in, Tilly. Come in.” Lord Hollingberry
waved her inside, and she shut the door behind her. “My, you seem a
bit flustered!” He chuckled, but stopped quickly when Tilly didn’t
join in. “Did you do as I asked?”

Tilly nodded. “I did. The Moon Master
appears to have seen me before. Also, a mouse rode on his shoulder
and whispered in his ear.”

“Ah well, things haven’t changed much.” Lord
Hollingberry walked around his desk to her. “I’m sorry, dear girl.
I know that must have frightened you a great deal.”

She clenched her hands but didn’t speak.

“I wish you would trust me. You must know I
would not have put you in that situation if it weren’t absolutely
necessary. Remember, there is something greater taking place.”

Tilly sighed and rubbed her forehead with
one hand. “Why won’t you
tell
me what that ‘something
greater’ is?”

Lord Hollingberry gazed upon his maid, his
tired old eyes full of compassion. “I cannot. The time is not yet
right.” He brushed a strand of hair out of her eyes and smiled at
her. “Why don’t you go clean yourself up, hmm? Get some sleep.
You’ve earned a good rest.”

Tilly felt her anger evaporate, leaving only
tired confusion in its place. She nodded, turning to the door.

“And Tilly?”

She looked around.

“
He
isn’t your enemy. Try to
understand that.”

Tilly tried to speak but found she had no
words. With a little shake of her head, she left the study and
hastened down to her bedroom, collapsing on her bed. Something
crackled in her dress as she did so, and she pulled out the letter
she had almost forgotten about. Too tired to feel guilty about
reading a private message, Tilly slid her finger under the broken
seal and saw only two words scrawled across the page.

Her heartbeat quickened, and she felt as
though she would faint at any moment. She read the words again,
making certain they were real. Sure enough, those letters were not
some odd illusion caused by her exhausted brain.

The only words on the crisp piece of paper
spelled out a name:

Tilly Higgins.