AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’m trying my best to remember, but without my notebook, I’ll forget.” She had a rather good memory, but the last week had overwhelmed her with new information. She’d inevitably forget something. Madame Lemoine barely tolerated her questions once. Charlotte did not want to experience the woman’s disapproving frown when she asked the same question twice.
Jane waved a hand holding a pair of gardening shears. “Don’t trouble yourself. There won’t be a test.”
The ease of Jane’s answer warmed Charlotte. It was almost friendly, and she desperately needed a friend. “You’re correct. I’ve been trying so hard to learn everything that I’m bound to forget something, and I dread asking twice.”
Jane scoffed, snipping at a plant with white blossoms. Chamomile. “That woman. Nothing is good enough for her.”
“So it’s not just me? I did wonder why she took such offense to me. Monsieur Stringer has been very helpful, though.”
“I’d take bitter Lemoine over that snake any day,” Orianne said, breaking her silence and joining the conversation.
Jane nodded in agreement. “Those two play games. You’d do well to keep yourself out of it.”
“I didn’t intend to put myself in it,” Charlotte said. After Lemoine’s rudeness, Stringer appeared friendly, but was that an act to vex Lemoine? “May I inquire what you mean when you call Monsieur Stringer a snake?”
Jane shook her head and said in a playful voice, “My, may I inquire? You’re such a lady.”
Despite the teasing tone, Charlotte felt herself blush. “Hardly.”
“True. I misspoke.” Jane shoved the shears into an apron pocket and dusted her hands on her hips. “You’ve the hands of a scholar.”
Charlotte held up a hand to the weak sunlight filtering through the snow-covered roof. Ink stained the tips, and she had a distinctive callus on the middle finger of her left hand from her pen. “I suppose that is fair, but I suspect you’re flattering me to distract me. Very clever.”
“Nah, I don’t have time to play games like that. Lemoine is unpleasant but she’s straightforward. You know exactly where you stand with her.”
“Slightly above dirt, I imagine.”
Jane laughed. “The only person she cares about is the Master. Everyone else is—”
“Dirt?”
“Exactly. But Stringer, he’ll lie to your face. Don’t trust a word out of his mouth.”
“I see.” The key hidden in her pocket suddenly felt heavier. It no longer seemed like a gift but more like a trick.
A person pushing a cart entered the greenhouse, knocking the cart into a raised garden bed.
“Careful,” Jane snapped.
“It’d be easier if I didn’t have to do it all myself,” he grumbled, loading the day’s harvest into the cart. He paused in his work, taking off his knit hat to reveal a head of coppery red locks, and swiped his hand across his forehead.
Orianne stared at the young man, clearly entranced. Now Charlotte recognized him. The young man from the mess hall who left Orianne flustered.
“Leo, isn’t it?” Charlotte asked, handing him a basket. “Orianne will help you take those to the kitchen.”
Orianne gave her an uncertain look. “I will?”
“There are too many steps for one person to navigate alone,” Charlotte said. “Imagine how upset the cook would be if all these potatoes tumbled down the stairs.”
Leo, Jane, and Orianne all visibly flinched.
“The help would be appreciated,” Leo said, causing Orianne to blush.
“I suppose, as long as you stay in the greenhouse,” she said to Charlotte. They loaded up the cart and went on their way.
Charlotte was free of her minder. Finally.
She looked down at the dirt across the front of her dress. “Oh dear, I think I’ve ruined this. I should clean this up before Lemoine has my head,” she said, trying her best to sound distressed. Acting was not in her skillset.
