AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Ellen gave a low laugh. “No, I do not think there is anything anyone can do.” She sat on the bed, closing her eyes as she drew a ragged breath. “What time is it?”
“It is eight o’clock, my lady. Will you still be attending church?”
“Of course. I cannot miss the Christmas service.”
Ellen thought that Simon could not afford to miss it either. As one of the leading gentlemen in the community, his father would expect him to be present. Perhaps he would return in time for her to speak with him. “The emerald silk, I think,” she said, pointing to the wardrobe. “The gown will go beautifully with the white fur overcoat and gloves,” she said.
However, she drew no joy from preparing to go to God’s house. She would much rather have hidden under the covers than come out again.
“Yes, my lady. A wonderful choice,” Ambers said and went to the wardrobe. She took out the lovely dark green dress and laid it out on the end of the bed. Ellen sat down at the vanity and started to brush out her long curls. What if Simon did come home, but he would not hear her out? Her heart thudded rapidly at the thought. She had to think of something to say to allow her to make amends. She paused her brushing, looking at her reflection.
It would be better to say nothing. To admit you were wrong and give no excuses. You have always given excuses for your poor behaviour, and now look where it has gotten you.
Ellen let her hands fall to her sides, and when she looked back up at the mirror, Ambers was standing behind her. “What is it, my lady?”
She sighed. “It is nothing, Ambers. I have made my bed, and now must lie in it, as the old saying goes.”
Ambers’ face darkened even more. “But it is Christmas, Ma’am. I hate to see you so unhappy on such a day.”
Ellen hung her head.
“I hate to be upset, too. But I have spent too much of my life thinking only of myself. I should have spent more time thinking about—” she was about to say Simon’s name, but she did not want to talk openly about her marriage with her maid, “—about the people closest to me, instead of being absorbed in my own insecurities and fears. I fear now that I have ruined everything, Ambers.”
Her little speech was doing little to comfort her maid. She stood up and took her maid’s hands. “Do not worry about me,” she said, giving a small smile. “Perhaps things will work out for the better. You are right about one thing: it is Christmas, and we should be celebrating our Saviour’s birth, not worrying about ourselves.”
Ambers returned her smile, albeit hesitantly. “I wish you would allow me to help,” she said.
“There is nothing you can do that you have not already done,” Ellen said. “You have been a good friend to me, and not just a maid. I want you to know how much I cherish that friendship.” Ellen let go of her hands. “Here. I was going to save this for later, but I would like you to have it now.”
She walked over to her bedside table and took up a small package wrapped in a beautiful piece of light pink chiffon fabric and tied with a white silk ribbon. Ambers looked at it as if it were a snake. “For me?” she asked.
“Of course. Please, open it,” Ellen said and handed the package to her. Ambers set it on the round table a few feet away and undid the ribbon. She felt the exquisitely soft fabric, catching her breath slightly. The material alone had cost more than what Ambers made in a year.
“My lady, this is too much,” Ambers protested. However, Ellen encouraged her to open the rest of the gift.
“Please, go on,” Ellen said. “I had it under good authority that you were looking at this in the village bookshop window.”
Ambers did as she was told and uncovered the gift wrapped inside the yards of fabric. Her eyes lit up as soon as she read the title. “The Lady of the Lake.”Ambers looked up at her, and there were tears in her eyes. “My lady, you did not have to do this,” she said.
“I wanted to. It is not such an extravagant gift, is it? However, I know that books are precious to you, so I wanted to make sure to get you something that you would enjoy. I read through a few of the pages, and I think it will be just right.” Ellen smiled at the look of pleasure and excitement on Ambers’ face.
“Well, it certainly is generous, my lady. I thank you,” she said. Ambers ran the soft chiffon fabric through her fingers again. “I do not know when I will have occasion to wear something so fine, but it will certainly be pleasant to look at.”
“Nonsense. I have already commissioned a seamstress to make you a dress out of the chiffon. You may wear it on outings during your day off. It will be perfect for when the fair comes to town next summer.”
“I could never—” Ambers said, shaking her head.
“You can. And you will, if I have anything to say about it,” Ellen said with a wink.
Ellen sighed, looking up at the clock that now read half-past nine. “Well, I suppose I should head down so we can go to church.” Simon evidently would not be coming back in time to ride with them.
When she arrived downstairs, her in-laws asked her where Simon was, and she told them truthfully that she did not know. They waited for a few more minutes but then were forced to depart so they would make it to the church on time. Ellen could only hope that wherever Simon was, he was all right. And that he would come home long enough for her to beg his forgiveness.
Chapter 40
Simon raced back toward the house, doing his best to meet his parents and Ellen before they headed off to church. A stable boy met him at the front door, and Simon swung himself down, handing the reins to the boy in one swift movement. “Has the family left for the church yet?” he asked, slightly out of breath from the vigorous ride and the cold.
“Yes, my lord. They departed not ten minutes ago,” he replied. He took the horse and started toward the stable.
