Page 76 of Why Do Earls Fall in Love?
Chapter 16
Elizabeth did not resist as Charlotte towed her downstairs and toward the front door. Old Alf followed them, watching avidly, and Charlotte spotted at least one maid peeking around a corner downstairs.
“I have several questions for you, Eli,” she declared firmly. “The Earl has his own issues to discuss with you, as well. Come along, we’ll have a stroll and a chat.”
Fortunately, Elizabeth caught on. “Questions, ma’am?” she asked uncertainly.
“Yes. I want to understand the extent of the education you’ve had so far and make plans to fill in any gaps.” She gave the girl a stern look. “If you want to continue to work in service at this house, I insist you must be able to read and write, at the very least.”
The girl bowed her head. “Yes, ma’am.”
Charlotte paused to let Old Alf scurry past to open the door. The footman smirked as they left, but Elizabeth kept her head down as they went through the gate into the garden square. Charlotte kept her hold on the girl as they walked all the way around several groupings of young elms and mature shrubs. There was no one about, so she led the way to a bench tucked amongst them, where they would be hidden from view.
Elizabeth rose a teary gaze to her. She collapsed against her suddenly, sobbing into her shoulder again. Charlotte held her tight and let her cry it all out. Such tension the girl must have endured. Playing her role. Seeing her brother. Dealing with villains like Hurley and Mrs. Prigg.
Gradually, the girl’s shoulders stopped shaking and her wracking sobs quieted. Heaving a sigh, Elizabeth straightened. “How did you know?”
“You have your brother’s nose,” she answered wryly. “And you share his habit of tapping your fingers when you are anxious.”
The girl nodded. “Thank you,” she said, wiping her eyes. “I couldn’t see it at first, but you are right. You were right to send Hurley away.”
“I’m happy to have the excuse to get him out of the household,” Charlotte confessed. “But I do wish you’d been able to trust me, to confide in me, sooner. It must have been dreadful for you.”
“Honestly, it wasn’t so bad.” The girl sank down onto the bench. “I’ve never known such freedom. Once I managed to get a bedroom to myself in the servant’s quarters, it was quite liberating. When I first hired on, they meant to put me in the stables with the other lads.” She shivered. “I told them that hay made me snuffle and sneeze and that fixed that. I’ve learned ever so many new things! Did you know you can pick a lock with just a couple of small, metal tools? And I’m learning my way around London. You wouldn’t believe, though, how easily I’ve got around town. It was like I was invisible and could go and do whatever I wanted.”
“I’m afraid I’ll have to curtail your freedoms now. You must stick close to the house. If Hurley suspects your true identity, he will likely send back to Broadscombe, asking about you. In the meantime, he’ll be watching for every opportunity to snatch you up.” She looked the girl over appraisingly. “The seamstresses are here. We could have them make you some simple gowns—”
“No,” Elizabeth interrupted with a shake of her head. “I can’t becomemeagain. Not yet. Don’t you see? We must think of my friend Celia, too. She’s the one touring the lakes. My aunt thinks I am with her. Celia is posting letters home from me, as she travels. I can’t suddenly turn up in London. Questions will be asked. Celia will get in trouble and I’ll be found out.”
And Elizabeth would be ruined, before her life had truly begun. Charlotte would not let that happen. “You are right, I suppose.” She gave the girl a warning look. “Still, I mean to keep you close. We can tell the household that I’m teaching Eli to read.” Squeezing the girl’s hands, she gave her a grin. “You still must have a bath, though. And everything will be easier if we have at least one person here in our confidence. Margie, perhaps?”
Elizabeth considered. “Yes,” she said slowly. “Margie is trustworthy. And she is devoted to you. She will do whatever you ask.”
“Good, then. I’ll tell her all, later.” She paused, listening. “In the meantime, prepare yourself. I hear your brother coming.”
Whiddon appeared a moment later, coming around a grouping of trees. He stopped a moment, then came forward and took his sister in his arms.
Charlotte went to scout around once more, to be sure no one lurked nearby, and to give her husband and his sister a moment of privacy.
* * *
“I am sorry,”Whiddon said softly. “I didn’t think. I was so distraught after William died. I knew Father didn’t send for you, and I didn’t question him. I suppose it comforted me, somehow, to think of you safe and far away, but I should have known you wouldn’t be untouched.”
She’d gone stiff when his arms went around her, but at his words she relaxed into his embrace. “I felt so alone. Abandoned,” she said thickly.
Pulling away, he framed her face with his hands. “Listen, very carefully, for I want you to understand something. After Mother died, Aunt Emily began to ask questions, very quietly. She spoke to the house staff, to the local vicar, to Mother’s friends, who had kept up a correspondence with her. She even questioned William and me. I was only just old enough to understand what she was doing. She did not like what she heard. And she was brave enough to confront Father with it.”
Elizabeth’s gaze widened.
“She wanted to take us all away with her to Hertfordshire.” His eyes closed. “Oh, I wanted to go, but she couldn’t take us without Father’s permission, and he refused. She was persistent, though, and she argued that you, at the very least, needed a mother’s care.
“And he relented,” his sister said bitterly. “As it didn’t matter, as I am just a girl, in any case.”
“I thanked God every day that he did,” he said solemnly. “We did miss you. You were so sweet, full of sunshine and laughter. You used to pick flowers and give them to me, and I would tuck them in my buttonhole.”
“I remember,” she whispered. “And you would pick me up and swing with me on your lap. On the old tree swing at the edge of the woods.”
“Yes. You would insist we go higher and higher and then you would laugh and laugh. God’s teeth, but I loved that sound.” He rubbed his aching temple. “And yes, I missed it. Missed you. But I was happy that you were gone, because it meant you stood a chance at keeping that sunshine and laughter.”
