Page 53 of The Secret Life of the Elusive Governess
It was probably unwise for her to go off alone but she had to overcome this fear. In the past few days, she had found herself startling and jumping at sudden sounds, and reacting with fright to people who came upon her unexpectedly. She feared to go to sleep and woke up with the slightest sounds. It was nerve-racking, which was why she was pushing herself to have some normal interactions.
Before she entered the store, she spotted someone from the corner of her eye and whipped around to look. But the person—a man—disappeared around a corner with a casual gait.
It is probably nothing…She consoled.
Entering the low room, Caroline breathed in the faint scent of lavender perfume and brushed away the tiny dust motes from her face. Bolts of cloth were on the walls; and large trays of needles, spools of multicolored thread, and tin thimbles lay on the plain wooden table.
“Miss Robins.” The seamstress, Mrs. Plume, a middle-aged woman with a headful of dark curls and a round pudgy face, called out from the half-open door of a back room, “A moment dear, I’ll be out soon.”
Caroline leaned on the counter and tried to calm herself.Nothing is going to happen, I will be perfectly fine.
Then, through the single glass window, her eyes spotted the same man from before and she jerked so hard that she sent the tray of thread plummeting to the floor.
“Drat!” she bent to retrieved the fallen objects but darted her head up to see—nothing. The man she thought she had seen was gone.He probably wasn’t even there in the first place.
Fixing her concentration on retrieving the spools, Caroline censured herself. Was her anxiety getting so out of hand that she was imagining things? She got the last of the spools in place and lifted the tray back onto the counter just as the seamstress bustled out of the back room.
The woman’s eyes lifted, “Was that the clatter I heard from the back room?”
Caroline sighed, “Yes, unfortunately, I knocked it over.”
She was waved off, “Nothing to worry about, dear, here is the dress you’ve ordered. Three months of payment for a deep blue muslin, all worked up. I must say, you have a wonderful figure, Miss Robins, this dress should be wonderful on you. There was enough material to make a sash, too, and I placed a wonderful flower pin for you there.”
“Oh,” Caroline blushed, “You did not have to do that, Mrs. Plume,”
“Nonsense.” The lady refused, “A hard-working lady like you needs some pampering. Have a good day, Miss Robins.”
Slipping the package in her bag Caroline nodded, “Good day to you, Mrs. Plume.”
Stepping out of the shop sent another heavy dose of anxiety, and distrust wrapped around her like a cloak. Caroline breathed heavily as she strode down the walkway. Her senses heightened as she automatically veered away from the entrance of the gaping cul-de-sac and swiftly pondered crossing the street to avoid it.
However, she kept on her way as the haberdashery was only two shops down. Mid-step, the hairs on the back of her head sprung to life and she spun around to look behind her. There was no one behind her who looked like the man she had seen earlier, but that did not stop her racing heart.
Another sense twisted her around and she spotted the alarmed, curious, and repelled look of the people on the other half of the street. She even saw a lady twist her son’s face away as they walked by.
Wonderful, now they think I’m fit for Bedlam. This is nonsense, Caroline, no one is stalking you.
Nevertheless, she hurried to the haberdasher and only inside did she feel a sense of safety. Knowing that Mr. Collins was just around the corner was another nugget of assurance, also.
“Miss Robins, how nice to see you again,” the owner smiled.
The governess tried to remember the man’s name but felt too anxious to so, and settled with a generic greeting of Sir.
She walked around the store, picking up the little odd and ends she needed, a spool of thread, a packet of needles, a hair ribbon, and a pair of gloves. Habitually, her head darted up to look out the windows and she purposely positioned herself away from the door.
“Every—”
Caroline startled so hard she nearly toppled over a lamp. Instantly, her hand flew to her breast just as she believed that she spotted the man from before over the owner’s shoulder.
“Miss Robins?” the man said with a deep frown in his face, “Are you well?”
Breathing in deep but silent breaths, Caroline nodded, “I am, I do apologize for alarming you but I… I am having an off day.”
The man hummed as he turned away, “I understand, we all have some of those.”
She pressed a hand to her forehead, “My stars. I need to get it together.” Gathering her items together, she went to pay for them and resolutely ignored the searching look of the owner.
Biding him goodbye, Caroline left.One more to go…just one more store and I am done.
