Reaching up, I wiped the tears that had decided to roll down my cheeks, be as unwanted as they were. I would not let this get to me. I had been blinded by all the flash that came with Lord Ashington and missed the other signs. I had allowed myself to trust and I hadn’t even realized it. My guard had slipped so easily. That would not happen again. I was sure of it. I was smarter now and I had learned a lesson.
The fact remained, I needed to marry well for my family’s sake and I would do so, but I wasn’t sure I could accept a secret family. Lord Ashington clearly loved the child and I respected that. He hadn’t ignored his daughter, if that was indeed who she was, and he took care of her. I assumed he equally took care of her mother as well.
I knew my aunt and uncle shared a connection most in London society did not. They truly loved one another. My uncle didn’t keep a mistress. Did I have the luxury of waiting until I found a man that would love me and need only me? I thought of Whitney lying in her bedroom and the pain one day’s travel caused her. I knew that each day that passed made the hopes of the procedure restoring her leg completely, more slim.
What would I be willing to accept for the sake of her future?
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Emma Marie Compton- age four and five months
Glancing back toward the bedroom, I checked one more time to see if Alice was well and truly asleep. Lying still with my eyes closed had been ever so difficult, but Alice had needed a good nap it seemed. She hadn’t made me wait too long before she began to snore.
The door was quiet as I opened and closed it behind me then stood there holding my breath, almost positive she would sit right up and realize I had escaped. I had good reason for this journey. It was important that I meet Miriam Bathurst. Ashington had said she looked more lovely than a princess and I had never seen a lady that beautiful. What if he forgot to introduce me and I didn’t get the chance?
I hurried down the cobblestone walkway toward the path through the woods I had taken with Alice yesterday morning. Today Alice had refused to take me back to the kitchen. She didn’t trust me after I had freed the chicken, but the chicken had wanted to be free. I had only been helping a would-be friend. I was sure the chicken hated me after the way they had treated it. Poor chicken.
I had been very lucky indeed that jam had been sent this morning with breakfast. I was sure Ashington had sent it and I told Alice so when she threatened not to let me have some until tea. The jam here at Chatwick Hall was sweeter than that we had in London. I should ask Ashington to take it back with us. I missed being here. Our home in London didn’t have the fairy forest or rose gardens such as these. Alice promised to take me for a walk in the fairy forest today. If she woke and I was still gone that wouldn’t happen. I would also not be given jam with my afternoon tea.
I paused then, wondering if meeting Miriam Bathurst was indeed worth no jam or fairy forest. I did so miss the fairy forest. Glancing back at the cottage, I frowned. Alice would be very disappointed in me. She oft was and I didn’t mind, but I truly wanted to go on that hike today. But I did want the jam.
I turned my head and looked toward Chatwick Hall again. If I was spotted by any of the servants, they’d take me right back to Alice. My chances of getting to the house without being seen were not that good. With a sigh, I forced my feet to turn back toward the cottage. If I hurried, I’d be back before Alice knew I was ever gone.
“Hello,” a voice so soft and pretty came from behind me. Had I come upon a fairy? Spinning back around, I didn’t see a fairy at all. She was much too tall to be a fairy, but she could indeed be a princess.
“Hello,” I replied. “Are you Miriam Bathurst?” I was almost positive she was.
The lady nodded and the sunlight made her dark red hair sparkle like that of a fairy. “I am and you are?” she asked.
Straightening my shoulders the way Alice always reminded me, I stood tall and held my head high. “I am Emma Marie Compton. Lady of the manor,” I told her.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Compton,” Miriam replied then curtsied. No one had ever curtsied to me before nor had they called me lady. I believed I liked that quite a lot. I should tell Alice we were to change my name to Lady Compton. I did not believe Alice would curtsy to me, however. She was much too stubborn for such as that. I would ask though, for it was rather lovely.
“I was looking for you,” I informed her then. “Alice is taking her rest and I was to be taking mine too, but you see I didn’t know if Ashington would truly introduce us and I was curious. Alice says I am much too curious. I don’t think there is such a thing. Do you?”
Miriam Bathurst smiled at me and shook her head. “No, I don’t think there is. One can learn a lot with curiosity, I suppose.”
I liked her. “Do you want to go for a walk in the fairy forest? We have one you know. It is just over there and Alice is to take me, but if she awakens to find me gone, I am positive we won’t go on the walk nor will I get jam with my tea.”
Miriam pursed her lips together as if the idea of no jam was as terrible as I thought it to be. “No jam sounds awful,” she replied. “However, seeing as you and I just met and no one other than me knows where you are, it might not be wise for us to go for a walk. I would love to see the fairy forest, but I do think it would be wise if Alice knew where you were.”
That wasn’t what I wanted her to say. Adults rarely said what I wanted them to say. It was truly frustrating. “I could leave Alice a note.” Although my handwriting wasn’t excellent and I wasn’t sure how to spell very many words.
Miriam nodded as if thinking this idea over. If she agreed, I could have her write the note. Alice would likely be able to read it then. “Yes, well, that is a good idea, but what of your mother? Wouldn’t she be worried if you went walking with a stranger in the forest?”
I shook my head. “Not at all. My mother is dead. I have very little memory of her. She was blonde and spoke with a lovely accent. My father said she was French.”
The smile left Miriam’s face and I remembered that talking about dead people often bothered adults. I wasn’t sure as to why, but it always made them frown. Alice said it makes them sad to think of someone no longer living. “Don’t be sad. It is alright. I have Ashington. Alice said I am very lucky indeed.”
“Yes, I believe Alice is right,” Miriam agreed with a smile not as bright as her other one. I did wish I hadn’t mentioned my dead mother. I liked her other smile.
“Alice is often right, I am afraid,” I told her. “Ashington said that was what made her an excellent governess.”
“I will have to agree with Lord Ashington,” Miriam replied.
It was then that Alice’s voice rang out, calling my name. Miriam heard it too and she lifted her gaze from me to the path that led back to the cottage. If Alice caught me talking to Miriam, I would be in trouble. Possibly punished with no jam for many days.
“That’s Alice. She’s awake,” I told Miriam, staring toward the cottage, hoping Alice didn’t come walking out of it.
“Perhaps it might be wise if you hurried back before she decides not to take you to the fairy forest. Would be a shame to miss such a lovely adventure,” Miriam said.