Page 8 of The Heiress in Disguise
“I do,” Jane agreed. “The truth is that I rather hoped you might come back with an amusing story about what happened out there.”
“Nothing particularly amusing today,” Angelique said. “The only thing that happened of note was that Aunt Wilhelmina let me know that I’m not to leave the grounds for the rest of the time we’re in London. After all, there’s to be a masquerade.”
“Another of their parties,” Jane said. “It’s cruel that they force you to travel with them and won’t allow you to attend.”
“No, I’m perfectly happy to do it,” Angelique assured her. “Think of it—if not for their travels, I would never leave Somerset Manor. It’s a beautiful place, but I like having the opportunity to see more of the world. And I’ll get to see the lords and ladies who are attending the party as well.”
“But doesn’t that make you feel sad?” Jane asked. “The life you’re witnessing is the life that should have been yours. Don’t you feel, every time you look at your cousin Gwyneth, that you should have all the fine things she has?
“There’s no benefit to my thinking like that,” Angelique said. “I was sad about it, and angry, too, for a long time, but why would I want to feel sad and angry? My life is what it is.”
“I don’t believe you really feel that way,” Jane challenged her. “I think there’s a part of you that still resents what they did, when they came in and kicked you out of your own life.”
“I suppose that might be true,” Angelique sighed. “You have a point. I don’t like to admit it because it always makes me feel worse. But yes, thereisa part of me that is still angry with them for putting me in this position. It’s a shame there’s nothing I can do about it.”
“Well, that’s true,” Jane agreed. “There really isn’t. I suppose it makes sense for you to try to keep a level head about the situation, but I don’t know if I would be as strong in your position as you are. I think I would try to find a way to take my revenge!”
Angelique laughed. “That’s a fun fantasy,” she said. “I think the best way to take revenge is by refusing to be subdued. They want me to forget that I’m my father’s daughter. They want me to beEllainstead of Angelique. And that will never happen. I’ll always be myself, no matter how much they wish I would forget.”
“That’s a fine philosophy,” Jane said admiringly. “I’ve always said that you handled all the twists and turns in your life with remarkable grace, Angelique.”
“Besides,” Angelique said, “It’s not as if there isn’t anything fun in my life. Why, just now, I met the handsome stable hand from the estate next door.
“What do you mean? I thought you weren’t allowed to leave the property.”
“No, and I didn’t. But one of the horses got loose and he came over here to track it down.”
“And he was handsome, you say?”
“Quite handsome. It was a delight to meet him—I almost wish you could have been there, Jane. I don’t know when I’ve seen a servant who was so handsome.”
“What did he look like?”
“He’s got long, dark, curly hair—he tied it back with a leather cord.
“In that case, perhaps you’ll be able to enjoy your time in London more than you expected to!”
“No, I doubt that. I think the ball will be lovely, and that I’ll enjoy seeing it. I think it will be nice to experience London. But no matter how nice it all is, I’ll still be here with my aunt and my cousins. I could be with them in the most beautiful place on Earth and I’m sure they would find a way to ruin it for me somehow. They’re thieves of joy.”
“Now that’s a bit more like it,” Jane said with a laugh. “Sometimes you’re so calm about them that I wonder if you’re even human!”
“Oh, they bother me as much as they do you,” Angelique said. “But I try to remember my parents and the things they taught me before they died. They would have wanted me to make the bestof every situation, no matter how difficult. So that’s what I have to try to do.”
“Well, see if you can make the best of these potatoes,” Jane suggested. “We’ve got to have them ready to serve for lunch, and they’re not even peeled yet. And you know what will happen if there’s so much as a bit of skin in your aunt’s potatoes.”
“Oh, I know all too well,” Angelique agreed. “We can’t let Aunt Wilhelmina find anything to complain about, and she’ll certainly be looking. If we aren’t careful, she’ll force us to remake the entire dish for her, and lunch will occupy the rest of the day.”
“Exactly.” Jane sighed. “I’ll never understand why she insists on being the way she is! It’s not as if it does her any good, as it only makes the meal take that much longer to reach its completion. If she didn’t worry about every single thing the way she does, she could enjoy hot, fresh meals all the time. It wouldn’t kill her to eat a bit of potato skin along the way!”
“Oh, the potato skin has nothing to do with anything,” Angelique said. “Aunt Wilhelmina doesn’treallycare what kind of potatoes she’s served—at least, I don’t believe she does. What she cares about ispower.
She wants us to know that she’s in charge and that she can do anything she wants to do, no matter how senseless it may seem. In fact, I’m sure she feels that the more senseless her actions arethe more they assert her dominance over us—you, me, and the rest of the household staff.”
“You aren’t exactly household staff,” Jane pointed out.
“But I might as well be. The only difference between me and you, Jane, is that you’re paid for your work.”
“Have you ever thought of striking out on your own?” Jane asked gently. “I know that the life of a servant isn’t appealing, but it’s the life you have now. If you go off on your own and seek real employment instead of staying here and following your aunt’s orders, you’ll have a life of your own. Perhaps we could even find work together. Then we could both leave this place behind.”
