Chapter 20 The Queen

The first warm rays of the morning were on my face. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, then slowly opened them.

The other side of the bed was empty. He was gone, gone again, as on the first night.

Leon always left without my knowledge.

No good morning greetings, no farewell kisses. I felt sad and lost, and the smell of him still lingered on the other side of the bed.

I shifted my body to the position in which Leon had slept the night before, my face pressed against the silk sheet. A faint smell of grass filled my nose. I imagined touching Leon’s cheek and kissing his lips.

Oh, what is wrong with me? Why do I feel so sorry for him? I felt as if my heart and body had departed with him. At that moment a voice from outside interrupted my thoughts.

“Miss Emily, are you up?” From outside the door came the cautious voice of a maid.

“Oh, yes! I’m getting up!” I sat up to answer the voice outside the door.

“Can you come in and serve me now?” " the maid asked again.

I cleared my