Two Chapter Twenty-one You’re here!” A feminine squeal split the morning air, and weight landed on Camellia’s bed. Disoriented for a moment by the familiar walls of the bedroom she had grown up in, Camellia squinted at the dark-haired girl perched on her bed. Almond-shaped eyes the color of violets stared back at her. “Jasmine.” It was the only encouragement her younger sister needed to launch herself at Camellia and envelop her in a tight embrace. The nightmare of the dark journey home began to fade. She was home. Home where everything was still normal. The scourge of war and soldiers and traitorous spies had not touched Natchez, and she hoped it never would. Emerging from Jasmine’s hug, Camellia leaned back and stretched her arms over her head. “What time is it?” “Noon.” The single word caught her in midyawn. “It can’t be that late.” “Grandmother said we should let everyone sleep this morning.” Jasmine hopped off the bed and went to the pair of long windows on the far side of the bed.
