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“We’ve heard nothing of his passing,” Peggy would remind her. “That must mean that he has disappeared just as you have hoped.”
“I made a momentary decision that may result in our being trapped here for however many more years,” Marilee had argued. “Without consulting you. What of your son, Peggy? What was I thinking?”
“You had no time to speak with me,” Peggy had pointed out, for they both knew it to be true. “Even if you had, I would have counseled you to the same end. Nikolas would have as well, though he may not understand it at present.
“He shall never forgive me,” Marilee had said with a groan as she threw a pile of nightgowns into the vat, careless of their splashing.
“At least he is alive so that when the time comes, he can make that decision for himself.” Peggy had replied with vigor to match. She would not allow Marilee to regret her choice for it had been the only one to be made.
“If we ever get free of here,” Marilee said with determination, “I shall make it my purpose to search him out and make him understand. Whatever it may take. I was certain that Lord Edward would be his end, Peggy, but no, it wasme. Me!” A sob caught in her throat.
* * *
Peggy had madeher vow to help her friend with her mission whenever that time might come and was eventually able to convince Marilee that dwelling on the matter would only cause more anguish. “First and foremost, we must survive,” she instructed, and so that was what they were determined to do.
* * *
Lady Lydia was sopleased with the prospect of the solicitor’s demise that she did not even notice when the plant at the small parlor mysteriously died and had to be dumped into the garden compost. She strutted about the townhouse and made plans for her future as the Duchess of Manchester while cavorting with Edward. Marilee did not remind her that Edward had an elder brother who was actually the duke. There must have been other happenings that led her to think that her goals were well in hand for it was not long in coming that her newly monogrammed handkerchiefs made their way down to Peggy and Marilee in the washroom.
“She isn’t the duchess yet,” Peggy scoffed.
“Let her dream,” Marilee replied with a shrug and a deep roll of her eyes. “It keeps her distracted and the more distracted she is, the less attention she pays to us.”
“Oh! Look at that,” Peggy called.
“What?” Marilee wondered as Peggy stared out of the recently opened window.
“If she was not distracted before that ought to do it,” Peggy said with a nod to the window that looked out towards the stables. “It appears that Lord Edward has gotten her another early wedding present.” Marilee raced over to join Peggy at the window and could hardly believe what she saw. Lord Edward was standing a short distance away upon the cobbled pavement holding the reins to none other than Miss Caroline’s prized mare, Bella. Marilee had often wondered what had happened to the beast and was glad to see that she had not come to harm. Her coat was gleaming, and she appeared to be in good health, better in fact than Marilee. Seeing the mare made her wonder once again what had happened to Miss Caroline. She gaped in amazement.
The fact that Lady Lydia was clearly unaware of the animal’s link to the murder of the late duke, the father to both her lover and her betrothed, meant that Miss Caroline and Marilee’s link continued to be safe. Lady Lydia was admiring the beautiful stepper and exclaiming loudly for anyone to hear at how shocked she was by such a generous and unexpected gift.
“It’s a beautiful horse,” Peggy said and then scoffing as she realized it was probably stolen, she added. “No doubt someone is missing it.”
“Good heavens,” Marilee had cried. “That’s Bella, my… my cousin’s horse.”
“That is a fine horse for your cousin,” Peggy said with surprise.
“It was a gift,” Marilee said in an attempt to cover her blunder. “From the lady she served. They were quite close and often rode together.”
“You cousin was an abigail?” Peggy pressed for it was a rare occasion indeed that Marilee shared any detail of her past, particularly pertaining to her missing cousin.
“She was,” Marilee said with a firm nod. “To a lady in Northwick.”
“Then that is how you knew Nick’s brother, the doctor?” Anne asked.
“Yes, I knew of him,” Marilee lied. She still hated every moment of mendacities that she had been forced to supply Peggy, particularly when the laundress had been so open about her own secrets. Marilee still felt it necessary to protect her friend from any potential harm that possession of that knowledge might bring upon her. She could not risk Peggy being silenced when there was a little boy out there somewhere in need of his mother.
* * *
“I’mglad you could finally tell me,” Peggy said with the sweet smile of someone who felt that they had been granted a gift. Marilee felt her heart crumble. How could she be so callous? How could she deny Peggy truths when her friend had told her so many of her deepest, most important secrets and yet Marilee had withheld her own. Of course, Marilee had done it to protect Peggy, but was that really fair? Peggy would not betray her. She was certain of it now. So then why was she keeping her in the dark? Now, that she had kept the lie for so long, it was hard to tell the truth.
“Oh Peggy,” Marilee groaned. “It is so much worse than that… I haven’t been completely honest.”
“What is it, Kate?” Peggy wrapped her friend in her comforting arms. “You do not have to tell me, but you know I would always keep your truths close to my heart. You can trust me. If you are not ready, I promise not to be hurt. These are trying times for us all.”
With that, Marilee cracked. She threw caution to the wind and told Peggy everything. Her name, the harrowing story of how she had come to be here, about Miss Caroline who had become the Duchess of Manchester, a lady she loved dearly. “She was my friend,” Marilee sobbed.
“She is still your friend,” Peggy said. “True friendship is not marred by simple things like murder and captivity.”
