Chapter Ten #3
“How so?” Audrey demanded. “Am I not comely enough to attract a handsome man? I realize I am not the beauty you are…”
“Nonsense,” Caroline said with a tut of disapproval. “You are equal to me in every way. I just wondered why he would show an interest in you while Lady Theodora was on his arm.”
“Actually, at the ball, Lady Theodora was on another gentleman’s arm and, in the park, originally on the Sardinian count’s arm,” Audrey corrected.
She wondered if Caroline’s “slip” had been purposeful to catch Audrey in a lie.
When Caroline did not respond, just rolled her eyes in apparent disapproval, Audrey continued, “Perhaps the lady expects more of his lordship than he is willing to give. In my brief encounter with her, I did not judge her worthy to be Marksman’s countess.
They were raised together, however, for the lady’s father served as Marksman’s guardian when the previous earl passed.
We have both known women who believe themselves to have speaking rights to a man simply because she has held a longer acquaintance with the gentleman than has another lady.
No matter Lady Theodora’s opinions, I have performed as your father has asked of me.
My loyalty is always to family,” she stated.
Such was true. Audrey was loyal to her family, not Moreau’s.
Realizing her comments would become fodder for Moreau to use against her, she purposely shrugged her indifference.
“Come. I shall assist you with your unpacking,” she said as she headed towards the door.
“Mathild will do the task,” Caroline corrected. “She is to serve as my lady’s maid.”
“I thought Mathild meant not to return to England.” Audrey knew she had caught Caroline and Moreau in yet another lie, but Audrey pretended to be ignorant of the situation.
“My father can be very persuasive when he wishes to be,” Caroline said with an odd expression on her face, one Audrey could not quite read.
“Then I will assist you in settling into your rooms. Your father has presented me with a new role in this family, and I must become accustomed to it sooner, rather than later.”
Annalise swung a flat-faced bat in order to knock the dust from the rug from the small sitting room, which was draped across a line in the rear garden.
Mrs. Sable had suggested the rug required a good cleaning.
Annalise thought the woman enjoyed ordering her about, but, for the time being, there was little she could do about the various chores she had been presented unless she chose to betray her one true living relation, which she did not.
She swung the bat again so hard it sent the rug swinging on the rope, which was strung between the back of the house and the rear wall marking the property.
The rug shuddered on the line, providing her a sense of accomplishment, of sorts.
At least beating the rug was proving to be a productive outlet for the anger churning about in her stomach.
“I am strong,” she repeated with each dust-filled puff of air. “I shall not be defeated,” she added.
“You be the sister of an earl,” a voice from the other side of the wall declared, “and Axe will not be happy to view you covered in dust.”
“Lionel?” she questioned in a softer voice. “Is that you?”
“It be me, my lady. Your brother sent me to discover how your days are. You’ve not spoken since Honfleur returned to England. Axe be worried for you.”
Annalise shot a quick glance towards the house to know with confidence no one watched her. “Stay down so they cannot view you from the upper windows,” she warned.
“Be you in danger, my lady?” he asked in obvious concern, which did her poor heart well, for, of late, she had regretted her promise to stay at Amgen Place. “If such be so, leave the bat and come with me now. I’ll see you safely to Marksman’s side.”
Annalise tasted the temptation rushing to her lips, for it had been almost two weeks since she had last spoken either to her brother or Lord Beaufort, but she slapped the bat against the hand-woven rug instead.
Without turning to look where Lionel hid himself, she said, “Warn Alexander something is afoot.” She slapped the rug again.
“Honfleur has been meeting with a number of members of Parliament.” Slap.
“I’ve been listening at servant doors as I go about my duties.
” Slap. “There was quite the argument yesterday. Loud voices. Accusations.”
“Marksman wouldn’t be pleased to know you’ve placed yourself in danger.”
In a very feminine protest, she struck the rug twice in succession.
“I have been instructed to assist the maids. Tell my brother I am Annalise Dutton now. Audrey Moreau no longer exists. He will understand. I shall use the signal he provided me if his assistance is required immediately. Otherwise, I beg him to bring Jacobi Moreau to justice soon, for I wish to spend the remainder of my days as Alexander’s sister, and I do not wish constantly to be looking over my shoulder, fearing Moreau’s revenge. ”
She could hear the scuff of Lionel’s boot in the alley. “Axe shan’t approve of your remaining inside, but I’ll give him the message. Use the light in the window to signal if there is a written message behind the loose brick. Be careful, though. If things turn bad, cut tail and run.”
She half-heartedly slapped the rug again. “Remind Alexander I am strong and not so easily broken. A bit of work shall not destroy me, but not successfully preventing the disaster ahead might. And, Lionel—”
“Yes, me lady?”
“Inform Marksman I wish to live in a peaceful England. I am fighting for peace, and I am expecting him to perform likewise.”
Caroline waltzed into Annalise’s room. “I thought you might join me in the attic. It has been ages since I took a turn with a sword or the bow.”
Annalise realized what was occurring at Amgen Place was not Caroline’s fault, but she could not quite shake the idea Caroline could do more to ease Annalise’s troubles.
“I must beg off,” she said as she washed her hands in the bowl on her nightstand.
“I am exhausted from the work I have performed today. Moreover, I cut my hand on a broken glass flute on the library’s chandelier.
I planned to rest until after supper. Mrs. Sable says she will have no need of me until then. ”
“You no longer spend time with me,” Caroline declared with a frown.
“I do apologize, my lady,” she said and felt some satisfaction when Caroline’s frown deepened. “Yet I must perform as is necessary in order to earn my food and the luxury of this room.”
Caroline stomped her foot in frustration. “This is ridiculous! I demand you join me for exercise and companionship.”
Annalise’s back stiffened in anger, but she prayed she had concealed the emotion from Caroline.
“Naturally, my lady.” She began to braid her hair again.
“Permit me a moment to secure my hair properly. You are well aware how it often falls into my eyes if I do not do otherwise.” She ignored how Caroline huffed her displeasure.
“If you hold no objections, might we begin with the bow? I fear my hand might bleed and dirty the sword’s handle if I do not take precautions.
It is still quite tender. I would not wish my injury to cause any inconvenience to you. ”
Caroline’s features turned hard. “Enough! I understand your choler with my father’s edict, but you have no reason to tarnish our relationship with your pettiness!”
Annalise purposely dropped her eyes in an act of submission. “It was not my purpose to appear spiteful, my lady. I beg for your forgiveness.”
“Do not ‘my lady’ me again,” Caroline ordered. “I am your cousin.”
Annalise asked softly, “Are you truly? I know I was very young when my mother passed, but I do not recall her ever mentioning a brother and his family. She spoke of my father. Often, in fact. She cried when he did not come for us. She made me promise to one day discover a means for us to return to England. I have not considered her words for a long time, but, with my current change in status in your father’s household, I must wonder what will become of me if I displease either you or your father.
Could there be someone in England who would take me in?
Do I have relations in England? Did she possess other siblings?
Has my uncle ever spoken of my mother’s family?
Does he know if any of my mother’s family remain alive?
Do you think he would provide me with such information if he chooses to leave me behind? ”
“Do not continue to be a fool, Audrey,” Caroline instructed.
“You are only acting as a maid for the time being, just as we have all played our roles previously. Father does not intend to leave you behind to an uncertain future.” Caroline’s features softened.
“You are simply being whimsical again. Thinking yourself of the nature of the Cinder Maid. You have always believed in those tales of a handsome man who would rescue you and return you to your mother’s side, even though you know such is not possible.
Your mother filled your pretty head with such tales.
No husband or father came for her. Only my father chose to rescue her, and, unfortunately, he was too late to serve her properly. ”
Annalise wished to shout to the heavens something of the lies she had been fed over the years.
Instead, she said, “I truly do not wish to sound as if I feel betrayed, for I do not. I am eternally grateful for your father’s intervention.
The alternative is not to be entertained.
I am attempting, even with my poor bungling manners, to prove myself worthy of your father’s continued notice and the presentation of your friendship.
I owe each of you much. I have been asked to perform as a servant in this household.
Therefore, it is difficult for me to know how to respond when you request I move yet again from that realm and into yours. ”
A soft knock at the door brought Clara. “Audrey, Mrs. Sable wishes you to assist me in the master’s study.”
“You are to address my cousin as ‘Miss Moreau,’” Caroline ordered.
“I beg your pardon, my lady. I thought—”
“Thank you, Clara,” Annalise overrode Caroline’s objection. “Tell Mrs. Sable I shall be there momentarily.”
The maid disappeared quickly. “You must ignore Clara. She only responds as Mrs. Sable has directed her and the others to act. In truth, I do not mind being ‘Audrey,’ for Audrey has a purpose in this household.” She would not say “Audrey’s purpose” was to assist in seeing Jacobi Moreau to justice.
“Now, if you will pardon me, I have a few more debts to repay.”