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Mary looked at Miss Lilly in surprise. The maid was really willing to let Mary escape, knowing that she would get in terrible trouble.
“What would happen to you?” Mary asked.
“I would be dismissed, my lady,” she replied, simply stating the fact as it was.
Mary was deeply tempted, but she knew that she could never allow this woman to lose her employment over this. Nevertheless, she was grateful, surprised that anyone would be willing to do this for her.
At last, she sighed and shook her head. “Thank you, Miss Lilly, but no. As grateful as I am, I could not let you lose your position for my sake. I would rather continue on as I am, knowing that you are here when I felt most alone. I am exceedingly grateful to you.”
“It is my pleasure, my lady. I shall be back in an hour to collect the tea.” With that, Miss Lilly left the room and locked the door behind her, just as the door had been locked every moment for two days.
Mary lifted the sugar bowl and found a piece of paper folded underneath. She opened it and started to read, surprised by the letter from Miss Anne herself.
My Dearest Mary,
Oh, how it grieved me to have to leave you! I am staying with my sister now, as I told you I would. I am well here, but it is not the same as living at the estate and spending my days helping you grow into the elegant young woman of character that I know you are.
Now that I have been dismissed, I am still working with Sarah as well as Lady Beatrice and Lord Hanbrooke to try and ensure your freedom and the clearing of your name. We all know that what has happened is wrong and unfair. We know that you are undeserving of such treatment and we are trying to get you free from the bondage under which you live.
As a part of our efforts, we are working hard to set a trap. Our goal is to aid your father in catching Lady Charlotte leave the home and make her way to see her blacksmith.
It would appear that your stepsister will not confess to the affair and her mother has given every excuse to your father as to why you have lied about it. We understand that he must see her with his own eyes.
It is my belief now, having tried to observe from afar, that your stepsister is not quite the menace I had previously believed. All of this sordid behaviour does not appear to be her doing.
I watched from behind a tree as her mother scolded her on a walk, saying that Charlotte had best keep up the ruse or pay the consequence. Charlotte argued that all of this was causing a number of difficulties and she feared the repercussions if she was found out as having lied through all of this.
As such, I do believe that your stepsister and her mother are in league to damage your reputation in order to save Charlotte’s, but I am not sure any longer that Charlotte is the one who has caused all of this to begin with. I suppose that is yet to be determined fully, but with a mother like the one she has, I cannot be surprised by her own penchant for bitter manipulation.
Now, I shall leave you with the hope that we may be so fortunate as to catch Charlotte and her gentleman. If you have any worries or if you need to communicate with me at all, the dear friend who left you this letter has promised to be our aid. You may get this friend any response you please.
Until we meet again,
A.
Mary sighed in relief, knowing that there was at least a plan afoot. She couldn’t help but wonder if it would come to fruition or what the details might be, but she at least hoped and prayed that the resolution would be swift and Charlotte would finish her dreadful business of ruining Mary’s life.
Of course, none of it would matter if Charlotte failed to be caught. And if she was, would she simply spin another lie?
Mary was curious about Miss Anne’s words regarding Charlotte not being as devious as they’d previously thought. Was it possible that Charlotte was just another victim in her mother’s attempts to have whatever she wished? Was Charlotte a pawn just as Mary had been?
It was all dreadfully confusing, but Mary knew she had only a bit of time until Miss Lilly returned, and Mary wanted to have a letter in response to Miss Anne. She sat down and quickly penned her note, thanking Miss Anne and telling her how she hoped they would truly find a way to catch Charlotte—and quickly.
There had been so many days of sadness and hopelessness for Mary of late and this little speck of possibility was enough to keep her going for just one more. What more could she do—her voice had been taken from her and her advocates had been sent away.
Perhaps, at last, they would find a way to overcome.
