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It was a mistake. Mary nearly smiled to herself. It was one thing for Charlotte to put on the entire display of denial, but this statement was something different. It was a sign of her pride. She was gleeful about what she had done and was ready to push Mary into a position where she couldn’t escape it.
But that meant Mary had found a weak spot in Charlotte’s plan, a place where her stepsister was so intent upon proving her cleverness that she might make a grievous error.
And that was where Mary could find a way in.
Mary turned back to Charlotte and crossed her arms over her chest, finding a stance of power. She looked at Charlotte with a confidence she had rarely found against her stepsister. And when Charlotte looked back at Mary, it was clear that this took her by surprise.
“And what do you look so happy about?” Charlotte snapped.
“I am not happy, Charlotte. On the contrary, I am appalled that a beautiful young lady could be so full of venom and hate as you are. I am stunned that you could find such pleasure in trying to ruin another woman. But I know that I should not be shocked by it. I know that you are doing all that you can to protect yourself,” Mary said.
Charlotte scoffed again and shook her head. “Protect myself? Against what, Mary? That is nonsense. I have nothing to be protected from. I am simply trying to ensure that you and your wicked ways do not harm our family.”
“Ah, yes, wickedness. The wickedness of a young woman falling in love with someone who is not of noble birth? Is that what you mean? The wickedness of a match unapproved by my father and your mother? That sort of wickedness?” Mary asked.
Charlotte swallowed and shifted in her chair before returning her focus to the looking glass before her and resuming her brushing.
“Indeed. That is most certainly wickedness,” she said.
“Well, I see that you believe a young lady in such a position must be punished. I, however, believe she ought to have a chance to state her case. But if you believe that such a young woman ought to be punished, so be it,” Mary said.
“And what do you mean by that?” Charlotte asked, turning to her in a panic.
“Only that we have choices in this life. There are choices which may help us and harm others, or choices which may be exceedingly painful but will ultimately help us all. You have already made your choice, but now it is up to me to make mine,” Mary said.
“You have no choice, Mary. You went against society. You are a wicked girl,” Charlotte said.
“Am I? Well, that is a shame,” Mary said, turning away and making for the door. She opened it and then glanced over her shoulder. “Although I do feel bad for another in all of this. While you are determined to tear me from Lord Hanbrooke so that you may be with him, what will happen to the blacksmith?”
With that, Mary quickly shut the door behind herself and hurried down the hall so that her sister could not come after her. She didn’t know if she had just terrified Charlotte or put herself in further jeopardy, but Mary at least needed Charlotte to know that Mary was aware. She knew about that man and now Charlotte would have more choices to make.
It was the first time that Mary felt she finally had the upper hand and—although she never would have wanted things to go this way—she was incredibly relieved that Charlotte would now have no choice but to do something about the matter. If Mary was lucky, Charlotte would try to sneak out and see the blacksmith.
Maybe she would get caught this time. Maybe Miss Anne would have put Mary’s father on alert about watching Charlotte’s activities.
Or maybe it had all been for nothing and Charlotte would only find a way to retaliate much worse than this. It was possible that Mary hadn’t won this battle at all. Maybe she had only made things worse, and Charlotte would find yet another way to break her down.
