AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He did not answer at once, as if weighing his options.
“Crowley’s was next door. We became friends. Perhaps he was even somewhat of a mentor. Old Mr. Crowley and his father were partners for nearly four decades. His eyesight was failing. On occasion I helped him with the ledgers…” His voice trailed off, and he began again. “My father had helped with the delivery of all of my predecessor’s nine children: seven girls and two sons.”
“Lawd,” Marilee exclaimed.
“Both sons were killed in the war.”
“Oh no!”
“The Crowleys handled the Blackwell account,” Nikolas said. “I met Lady Lydia there,” he said.
“I do not want to talk about that woman,” Marilee said emphatically. “This is a time away.”
She became silent, but after a short while, she spoke again.
“Look at the stars,” she urged, and he took her hand in his. To her amazement, a star fell as they looked at the sky.
“Make a wish,” she urged.
“You are everything I’ve wished for,” he said making her heart soar.
“You know, if you tell your wish, it won’t come true,” she said softly.
“I know.”
She had long pondered Who was this man. She wondered what his working conditions were like. The man seemed to be constantly on the move and from what little he had shared with Marilee and Peggy, he worked longer hours than most, always going home after his visit to Blackwell house to return to his ledgers; and then, now she learned he made the potions and poultices. Did he even want a wife? She shoved the thought from her mind. It was not her place to think such things, much less say them.
She blushed and then said. “When this is all over, you could use the time that you have spent here each night for yourself. I’m sure you will be glad of that.”
It was the first time that she had considered what might happen when this truly was all in the past. Would they all go their separate ways? Would she never see the lovely Peggy or kind Mr. Crowley again? She hoped that would not be the way and yet… they all had their own lives to return to. This was but a temporary arrangement. Strangely, that thought saddened her.
She hoped to never lay eyes on Lady Lydia or Mrs. Cavendish for the rest of her days, even the odious Lord Edward could disappear for all she cared. Yet, the others… she would miss them. She would miss Nikolas most of all.
Nikolas seemed not to have noticed her musings or, if he did, he did not comment on them.
“I could,” he agreed, “but a few spare hours in the evening is not enough. One day I will need more than that if I want a wife or a family of my own.”
He would make for a good husband, a good father, she thought. She could see it already in the way that he had cared for servants here at Blackwell House, although he had not needed to do so.
“I wish the same for myself… someday,” Marilee whispered as if speaking the words at full volume held too much power. She had spent the majority of her adult life as a lady’s maid and, although she was still young enough, the prospect of giving up her position for a family had always seemed unthinkable. The life of a lady’s maid was not conducive to the needs of a husband and children. A lady’s maid was at the beck and call of her mistress. She had teased Miss Caroline about wanting a husband, but only ever in jest. Only in an attempt to convince the lady to search for a happiness of her own.
She had never really considered it for herself, but now she realized that the prospect held some appeal. More than a little, if she were to be honest with herself. It would be healing, in its own way, if she could but allow it… if she ever found a man who could accept her for the damaged person she believed she was in this moment. Her eyes rested on the man beside her. Could she consider such a life? More, did he consider it?
Yet, she would have to abandon her lady to secure such a life and that thought saddened her beyond words. Miss Caroline was her dearest friend, and had been her companion for years. Besides, who would want her now, tragic as she was? Would Miss Caroline even take her back?
She noted that Mr. Crowley was watching the emotions play across her features but he did not speak. For that she was grateful. This conversation was stepping well into the ring of too personal by far.
“Tell me about yourself,” he said. “I know next to nothing about you. At least, tell me your surname. I swear it is safe with me.”
It did feel safe. “Pelletier,” she said.
“Pelletier,” he repeated. “I know that name,” he said.
Marilee froze. She could not very well admit that she was lady’s maid to Miss Caroline Graves, daughter of the Baron Wickham. Now a duchess, she reminded herself. If her captors had even a hint that she was a maid and not a lady, her lies would be known. She was not sure it mattered now, but in the beginning she and her mistress had quickly decided that she should pose as gentry. Gentry would have a hope of being ransomed. A maid was nothing more than a liability with little value compared to one of noble birth. Now, she was not sure her birth mattered to anyone. There did not seem to be a ransom, but her change in status might mean trouble for Miss Caroline, and she had kept the lie for so long. How could she reveal the lie now to Mr. Crowley?
“I…” she stammered. She had no idea what to say.
“It is alright,” he sighed. “You don’t quite trust me yet. I understand. I really do.” He was not lying, but she still saw regret in his eyes for having put her on the spot.
