Page 43 of Loving a Noble Gentleman
With that, he dropped her as if she was nothing, and he walked back inside to be with his friends. He needed to sink a few more drinks if he was going to deal with his wife tonight. He had not realised how much trouble she was going to be when he agreed to marry her. Maybe if he had known, he would have turned Lord Roberts offer down ...
Charlotte found herself panting desperately, wishing that she could just take off. If there were anywhere else in the world that she could have gone, she would have run there at that moment. Instead, she would be forced to suffer a horrible night where her husband grew increasingly drunk and irritable, then she would have to go home to a house that she hated, to face the consequences of her actions.
It was safe to say that Charlotte did not have the best life.
***
Mary did not know what to do with herself as she waited in the dining room while the yelling went on around her. It was louder this time, much more terrifying, and it echoed through the entire house.
She had been able to tell that this was going to happen the moment her sister and Lord Jones walked through the door after their night at the theatre. The atmosphere was so thick, it could have been cut with a knife. Then, just to make it worse, Charlotte embraced her sister and whispered into her ear.“He knows about the baby. Please do not interfere tonight; you will only make it worse.”
So instead, because of her sister’s wish and Mary’s genuine fear that she would make it worse if she got involved, she waited for it all to be over.
Jennifer had been watching Mary for a while now, and as she stared at her, she realised that she was not like anyone she had known before. This Lady seemed kind, caring, and like she was very afraid for her sister. She wished that she could say something to make it alright; she searched her brain trying to find something that would make Lady Roberts feel better, but there was nothing. In all honesty, despite the fact that the house staff found her cold and standoffish, everyone was afraid for Lady Jones. No one knew where Lord Jones’ temper would eventually lead.
“Do you need anything?” she asked her instead, unable to keep the desperation from her tone. “I can fix you some tea, or ...”
Mary did not answer Jennifer. Instead, she took her hand and squeezed it as she searched for comfort. “I am going to save her, you know,” she hissed. Mary was not thinking straight; she did not consider for one second that Jennifer might betray her. “I am going to get her away from him.”
She was more determined than ever to make Charlotte leave when she did. According to a letter she recently received from Walter, there were people interested in the house so it seemed like a sale would be made soon, then both girls could go. They would have to hide; they would probably have to take on new names to ensure that Lord Jones never found them, but Mary did not mind that. Anything to get Charlotte away from him.
The pair stayed together, holding hands for what felt like forever. The shouting subsided at some point, but they still did not feel comfortable enough to let go of the reassurance they were trying to offer one another. It was not until everything fell into silence that Mary forced herself to tear away.
“I suppose we should both try to get some sleep now,” she said morosely. “Charlotte will not want to see me now until the morning.”
Jennifer nodded without speaking. She did not trust herself not to blurt out the truth. When things got really bad, people did not see Lady Jones for days. She remained in hiding until her bruises went away. Maybe the couple thought that was disguising what really went on, but everyone knew. There was just nothing that any of them could do about it.
“Goodnight,” she said quietly while bobbing into a curtsy.
“Yes, goodnight.”
Both of them knew they would not get any sleep, but they also did not want to get caught by a very enraged Lord Jones. His temper was usually only reserved for his wife, but the time might come when it was not. Nobody wanted to be on the receiving end of that.
***
Charlotte stared at the fresh red mark at the top of her leg, wondering what her father would think of her now. He was so keen for her to marry Lord Jones; he continually told her what an amazing idea it was. Would he still feel the same way now after he had hurt her yet again? And this time it was because she was carrying his child. He justified it by suggesting it was because she did not tell him, but Charlotte knew by now there did not need to be an excuse.
Mary will know for sure by now,she thought sadly.She will feel sorry for me; she might even blame me. She might not want me to leave with her now because I am such a risk.
Mary was not like that really; deep down, Charlotte knew that she would want to help her more, but she was stuck in a pit of feeling pathetic and useless. She felt that at least some of the blame needed to lie with her. As the acute pain in her thigh slowly moved into a dull ache, Charlotte tried to force the guilt away with it. She felt so awful for the life she had started to lead.
Her beautiful dress was torn, her make-up smudged from where she had been crying, and her hair that had been styled so nicely before was now a big mess. Charlotte looked on the outside as she felt on the inside.
I cannot live like this forever,she thought with a small burst of determination.Not just for me, but for my baby.
She had only ever seen her parents being happy; she did not know how it would have affected her if they were not. She could only imagine that it would have destroyed her if they were like her and Lord Jones. It was not fair. She needed to do the right thing and get out now before her child could see it. Yes, it would also be wrong to raise a baby without a father, but some people were forced to do it, just as she had grown up with no mother. That was certainly the lesser of two evils.
Or so she hoped.
