Page 26 of The Blind Duke's Ward
Charlotte nodded.
“So, what is your right name? I cannot keep calling you Charlotte if that isn’t your name,” Gemma said kindly.
“I pray that you do, My Lady. You see, I figure that if everyone calls me Charlotte, then there’ll be less chance of me slipping up. Please, keep on calling me Charlotte. It is a lovely name and I was right honored to use it.”
Gemma put up her hands placatingly.
“As you wish. Nothing could be easier. So, you used her references and history to secure this position, far from London.”
Charlotte nodded. “I was an apprentice weaver. Charlotte…my friend gave me lessons, taught me the basics. Enough for me to pass muster. And helped me write the application letter. And it worked. I was amazed. It’s the first luck I think I’ve ever had in my life.”
“And not the last. You’re lucky to have met me. Someone who will never reveal your secret. For, you see, I am not Emily Carlisle.”
Charlotte’s eyes went huge at this revelation.
“I don’t understand, My Lady. Why? I mean, who are you then?”
“My name is Gemma. Gemma Stanford. When I arrived at this house and met you last night, I too was running away from home. Not that it was much of a home. A cold place and unfriendly. But not as bad as what you were fleeing, it sounds like.”
Part of Gemma was furiously howling that she should not be saying any of this, not be trusting a second person that she had only just met. But, the revelation that Charlotte had come here by subterfuge had given her confidence. Not that Charlotte could afford to give Gemma away, lest she herself be given away. More that it seemed like fate. Part of some unknowable grand plan.
What else but providence would bring us together? Both fleeing our past and pretending to be someone we are not in order to escape and survive. It was meant to be!
“You see,” Gemma continued, “I lived with my cousins, the sons of my father’s brother actually. I was made their ward after the death of my father. And now, I believe, they want me dead.”
Charlotte’s hands went to her mouth in shock.
“Surely not. Please tell me that you were mistaken. How could they?” Charlotte said.
“It is anathema to me too. But, I overheard them talking of how easy it would be for me to be removed as an impediment to their plans.”
“What plans?” Charlotte asked.
“To keep the inheritance that my father placed in their hands, in trust. At least that is what I believe as I had no knowledge of it until I caught them talking about it,” Gemma said.
Charlotte stared at her for a long moment, then impulsively hugged her. It was a fierce and tight hug. The hug of someone grateful to be unburdened of a great weight, relieved to be free of it. She seemed to suddenly remember who she was supposed to be, as well as who Gemma was, for she pulled back after a moment.
“I am sorry, My Lady. I should not have done that. Even I know that much about dealing with the toffs…” She abruptly went scarlet, clamping a hand across her mouth at her slip of the tongue.
Gemma giggled, delighted to be described as a toff. She reciprocated Charlotte’s hug, letting her know that she did not mind at all.
“As you are new to being a maid and I am new to having one, while it is just us, I should like you to call me Gemma, which is my name. Just take care not to use it where there is anyone else to hear,” Gemma said.
“Oh, I shan’t. I shan’t. Thank you…Gemma,” Charlotte assured her.
She seemed inordinately pleased to be able to use Gemma’s given name, her face lit up with a beaming smile that made Gemma feel glad.
“I’m afraid our newfound friendship might be short-lived, however. I expect to be evicted of my place and identity shortly when the real Emily arrives. Which must be tomorrow, as she has not arrived today.”
Charlotte’s face fell at that. “That is sad news. I hadn’t thought of that. Oh, dear. Just my luck, to find someone I can confide in and then lose them again all of a sudden.”
Gemma stood, checking her appearance in the mirror. “I cannot see any way around it. I shall be sure to correspond with you though, once I am settled somewhere. My, you have done a splendid job with my hair.”
She fully intended to keep her promise but the problem was that she did not know where she would end up. Or if she would end up anywhere at all.
The decision will be made for me soon enough. Tomorrow, Emily will arrive and my adventure at Hutton Castle will be over. Maybe I can prevail upon Nathan to provide me a carriage to take me somewhere far away. Perhaps even London. I could lose myself in London.
CHAPTERSIXTEEN