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Authors: Rosemary Smith
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him. Redcliffe Manor seemed to cast a spell over me and I realised I had not been the same since entering its doors. I smiled at my employer just as the gloves reached my elbow and I realised that Verity had intercepted our glances.
I was surprised that evening to see Jonathon and Georgina at the dining table. Jonathon was quiet as he acknowledged me whereas Georgina in her overbearing manner greeted me with the words, “Darling, how lovely to see you. I was at the dressmakers when you called by today. My dress is ready for the coming out ball.”
Georgina’s words surprised me as I had not thought she was attending the ball this week, but I kept my surprise a secret and showed an interest I did not feel.
“May I ask what you are to wear?” I enquired kindly.
“You may indeed, Charlotte,” proceeded Georgina. “I am to wear a green gown of silk with flounces of lace on the bodice and skirt and, of all things, a tiara.”
“You will look delightful, I am sure.” Richard’s words surprised me for normally he would not enlist himself in Georgina’s conversations. In fact, all at the table looked at him with disbelief and he proceeded, “But none will match my daughter Lina’s beauty on Friday.”
“Thank you, Papa,” said Lina proudly.
“I agree with your Father, Lina,” added George who rarely spoke unless spoken to. A silence ensued for a couple of minutes when Richard suddenly said out of the blue, “Charlotte had a stroke of good fortune last week,” he said, raising his glass of red wine to his lips. My cheeks grew hot at his words. Although I had said it wasn’t a secret, I wished heartily that Richard hadn’t mentioned my inheritance at the dining table.
“Come, tell us your news,” Georgina said loudly and all eyes looked at me waiting expectantly.
“I have had the good fortune to gain a small inheritance,” I said meekly, looking at Jonathon for support.
“Hardly small, Charlotte, come on, tell them, my dear.” Richard’s words were like a dagger through my heart.
“Say nothing if you don’t wish to,” Jonathon uttered quietly and I looked at him gratefully.
“That is true, my dear, keep quiet for it is no-one’s business but yours,” agreed George.
“For goodness sake tell us, Charlotte,” laughed Georgina, “or none of us will sleep in our beds this night. Have you inherited some trinket which will pay for your gown?” Georgina’s words enraged me and I wished to wipe the smile off her face. I disliked her so much before, but now I loathed her. I got to my feet.
“If you must know, I have inherited a gold watch…”
“What did I tell you?” sneered Georgina interrupting me…
“ … and the princely sum of five thousand pounds.” There was suddenly a deathly silence but Richard broke it. Richard, who I’d admired all these months from afar.
“So, she’s a good catch eh Jonathon?” he said looking at Georgina’s brother. “Well, let the best man win”. After these words, Richard staggered to his feet as he raised a toast to me and I realised with some disdain and disappointment that my employer was drunk.
That night, lying in my bed in the dark, tears trickling down my cheeks, I thought of the eventful day’s happenings. Miss Curtis, and her parting words were not such a mystery now, for things in this household weren’t as I thought. Redcliffe Manor came to mind, as did Jonathon’s words: “I shall live for our next meeting”. But above all, I could not forget Richard Roseby’s drunken words at the dining table when I’d wished the ground would swallow me up; I prayed this wasn’t the state of things to come. Suddenly I realised that Verity Hawksworth had said absolutely nothing, which led me to believe that she already knew of my good fortune and only one person could have told her.
Chapter Seven
The following morning, I drew back the curtains and, to my delight, I could see sunshine instead of rain. I dressed in my most
I was surprised that evening to see Jonathon and Georgina at the dining table. Jonathon was quiet as he acknowledged me whereas Georgina in her overbearing manner greeted me with the words, “Darling, how lovely to see you. I was at the dressmakers when you called by today. My dress is ready for the coming out ball.”
Georgina’s words surprised me as I had not thought she was attending the ball this week, but I kept my surprise a secret and showed an interest I did not feel.
“May I ask what you are to wear?” I enquired kindly.
“You may indeed, Charlotte,” proceeded Georgina. “I am to wear a green gown of silk with flounces of lace on the bodice and skirt and, of all things, a tiara.”
“You will look delightful, I am sure.” Richard’s words surprised me for normally he would not enlist himself in Georgina’s conversations. In fact, all at the table looked at him with disbelief and he proceeded, “But none will match my daughter Lina’s beauty on Friday.”
“Thank you, Papa,” said Lina proudly.
“I agree with your Father, Lina,” added George who rarely spoke unless spoken to. A silence ensued for a couple of minutes when Richard suddenly said out of the blue, “Charlotte had a stroke of good fortune last week,” he said, raising his glass of red wine to his lips. My cheeks grew hot at his words. Although I had said it wasn’t a secret, I wished heartily that Richard hadn’t mentioned my inheritance at the dining table.
“Come, tell us your news,” Georgina said loudly and all eyes looked at me waiting expectantly.
“I have had the good fortune to gain a small inheritance,” I said meekly, looking at Jonathon for support.
“Hardly small, Charlotte, come on, tell them, my dear.” Richard’s words were like a dagger through my heart.
“Say nothing if you don’t wish to,” Jonathon uttered quietly and I looked at him gratefully.
“That is true, my dear, keep quiet for it is no-one’s business but yours,” agreed George.
“For goodness sake tell us, Charlotte,” laughed Georgina, “or none of us will sleep in our beds this night. Have you inherited some trinket which will pay for your gown?” Georgina’s words enraged me and I wished to wipe the smile off her face. I disliked her so much before, but now I loathed her. I got to my feet.
“If you must know, I have inherited a gold watch…”
“What did I tell you?” sneered Georgina interrupting me…
“ … and the princely sum of five thousand pounds.” There was suddenly a deathly silence but Richard broke it. Richard, who I’d admired all these months from afar.
“So, she’s a good catch eh Jonathon?” he said looking at Georgina’s brother. “Well, let the best man win”. After these words, Richard staggered to his feet as he raised a toast to me and I realised with some disdain and disappointment that my employer was drunk.
That night, lying in my bed in the dark, tears trickling down my cheeks, I thought of the eventful day’s happenings. Miss Curtis, and her parting words were not such a mystery now, for things in this household weren’t as I thought. Redcliffe Manor came to mind, as did Jonathon’s words: “I shall live for our next meeting”. But above all, I could not forget Richard Roseby’s drunken words at the dining table when I’d wished the ground would swallow me up; I prayed this wasn’t the state of things to come. Suddenly I realised that Verity Hawksworth had said absolutely nothing, which led me to believe that she already knew of my good fortune and only one person could have told her.
Chapter Seven
The following morning, I drew back the curtains and, to my delight, I could see sunshine instead of rain. I dressed in my most
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