Evening || 10 August 1800 || Dancing Hippo Topiary, Colchester House Garden
It had started as a game sardines, proposed by Lady Tilbury and quickly agreed to by Lady Boyle. Despite coming up with the idea, neither were inclined to hide and Ladies Peebles and Findley proved just as reluctant. It had ultimately fallen to Amelia to headstart the game.
She had stolen away willingly. Cool evening air was a welcome respite after the heat of the ballroom and the Colchester’s garden was akin to a fairyland, with its topiaries and the soft light of glowworms nestled in the hedges. There was something freeing about wandering down the garden path with little concern for where it would take her.
The ideal hiding spot had presented itself after several mindless turns. She nestled herself between an overgrown rosebush and a rather rotund animal balanced on one leg. It was only a matter of waiting.
And waiting.
And waiting some more. Then counting to pass the time as she still waited. When she reached 300 when the realization sunk in–– no one was coming.
The second realization came to her as she stepped out from between the bushes and looked to the opposing paths on either side of her–– she hadn’t the faintest clue how to get back to the house.
There was a rustle of leaves, the splash of a foot stepping in a puddle leftover from the evening’s rain. Aside from whoever was approaching, she was very much alone. Amelia went still.
“Is someone there?”
@ixnay-on-the-ipshay