Maid to Be Mine: A Regency Cinderella Story (16 page)

* * *

When he saw someone heading in his direction, Robert's eyes bulged. Then he realized it was Edith, and a portion of fear subsided. Being a servant, he wasn't too familiar with the ladies of the house, but he knew enough about them to know that Lady Edith was the lesser of two evils. Nevertheless, Cynthia had entrusted him with a task, and he needed to complete it to the best of his ability.

“
Good morning,” Edith greeted him. She eyed the door behind him, but he didn't move.

“
Good morning,” Robert parroted. “Although... it's more like afternoon, is it not?”

“
I am not sure. These days, time alludes me. The older I get, the faster the time seems to fly. Is it just me, or does that not seem to be a sad fact of life?”

“
Aye,” he agreed. “That does seem to be the case.”

Edith stared at the door for several seconds, but it was becoming obvious that he wasn't going to move. So she said, “Can I go in there?”

“
In here?” Robert thrust a thumb over his shoulder, in the direction of the door he was guarding. “
This
room? This one?!
Really
??”

“
Yes.
This
room.”

“
But this sitting room is... it is... dreadfully boring. Are you sure you don't want a different one? There isn't enough sunlight in there!”

“
Really?” Edith raised a skeptical eyebrow. “I seem to remember a particularly large bay window in this room.”

“
It's those dark curtains. They're drowning out the sunlight!”

“
Curtains!? I don't remember any curtains.”

“
They're... new?” Robert winced. He didn't think he would be so terrible at telling spontaneous lies.

Edith tried to reach behind Robert. When she grasped the doorknob, he gently pushed her hand away. Exasperated, she exclaimed, “Please, I need to go in there! I left my book, and I need to retrieve it!”

“
And what book are we talking about? Is it that important? Think about it. There are loads of books in the library, just waiting to be read!”

Edith's ire wasn't easily raised, but the servant boy was testing her patience. “
Please
step aside.”

“
You don't want to go in there!” Robert yelped.

“
And why not?”

“
I... I cast up my accounts! All over the floor! I kept retching and retching, and then I retched some more. Trust me, it isn't a pretty sight.”

“
So you're... unwell?” Her tone was rife with incredulity; she did not believe him.

“
It's a mess in there! You don't want to soil your pretty slippers, do you? As soon as Solomon comes with the necessary cleaning supplies, I'll--”

“
You're hiding something,” Edith accused him.

“
I'm
what
?!”

“
You're
hiding something
,” she repeated. “You couldn't possibly make it any more obvious. The only question is...
what
are you hiding?”

“
Reams of noxious bodily discharge?” he suggested hopefully.

“
Step aside, please. I'm going in there!” Edith gave Robert a gentle nudge, then she pushed open the door. When she saw Cynthia sitting on the settee, shoulder bared, Edith's mouth fell open. Then her gaze traveled to Lord Charmington, who was halfway finished with a portrait of her stepsister.

Robert peered at Cynthia over Edith's head. When their eyes met, he gave her a sympathetic shrug. Having failed at his task, there was nothing left for him to do. Robert shoved his hands into his pockets, whistled a merry tune, and headed down the hallway.

“
Cynthia...” Edith went inside and closed the door. “What is going on here!?”

“
I...” She thought about covering her shoulder, but she didn't want to ruin Lord Charmington's painting. “I can... explain.”

“
No, allow
me
to explain,” James cut in. “Several days ago, I encountered this pretty maid in the hallway... and once again in the library. I am hardly the world's most skilled painter, but I thought she would be a delightful subject. My apologies, Lady Edith, if you feel I have been surreptitious.”

Edith's eyes never moved from Cynthia. She was surprised—and perhaps a bit disappointed—that her stepsister would keep such a secret from her. Were they not friends? “It is really none of my business, my lord.”

“
I would say it
is
your business, at least to some extent. I am in your house... with your maid. If I am unwelcome, you have every right to toss me out!”

Edith shook her head as she finally turned her gaze on James. “I would do nothing of the sort, my lord. As uncommon as it may be, Cynthia is my...”

Cynthia cleared her throat, fearing her stepsister would reveal too much. She was not ready to take that risk with James.

“
My friend,” Edith finished. “She is as beautiful as she is kind. I am sure she would be a delightful subject to paint.”

“
As would you, I am sure,” James said. “Perhaps I should paint you as well, Lady Edith?”

“
I really think you
shouldn't
,” Edith laughed. “I have no doubt I would pale in comparison to Cynthia.”

“
Nonsense,” the earl objected. “You're a handsome woman, and you should have your face captured on canvas.”

“
While I appreciate your offer, I will politely decline.” Edith went to the bay window, where she collected her book. “However, for propriety's sake, I hope you don't mind if I stay. I do not think Cynthia should be alone with you, my lord.”

Cynthia opened her mouth to protest, but she didn't say a word. James was puzzled, and while his confusion was written all over his face, he held his tongue. Why would Edith be so concerned about the reputation of a maid?
A maid who could read. A maid who spoke so eloquently. A maid with petal-soft hands, as if she had never worked a day in her life.

The more he learned about Cynthia, the more suspicious he became.

Chapter Seventeen

“
I'm sorry I failed you.”

Robert's apology was surprisingly sincere, coming from someone who rarely took anything seriously.

“
I tried to stand my ground. Really, I did!” Robert slung his bag over his shoulder; he had finished his work, and was leaving Montforth Hall for the day. “That woman was ridiculously persistent!”

“
You needn't keep apologizing, Robert. It was only Edith... the damage was minimal,” Cynthia said. “In fact,
I
am the one who owes
you
an apology!”

Robert, who was about to leave the servants' quarters, paused in the doorway. “Oh, really? You're apologizing to
me
? Now this is something I
must
hear!”

“
I haven't... well... as of late, I'm afraid I haven't...” Cynthia heaved a sigh before continuing. “As of late, I haven't been providing you much assistance. I've been ignoring my work... I've been focusing too much on my own interests. And for that, I apologize.”

“
To be honest,” Robert winked at her, “you don't really provide much assistance even when you're
not
napping through the afternoon.”

Cynthia gasped sharply. “Robert! How unkind!”

“
Oh, don't be angry. I don't mean it!”

Though he rescinded his words, his laughter was hardly encouraging. “You're so cruel!”

“
No, I'm not! Didn't you listen to Tess? She said I'm a
sweet boy
!” As soon as his chuckles subsided, Robert collected himself and said, “Well, I'm going to head out. I'll be back tomorrow morning, bright n' early.”

“
You're leaving early,” she noted.

“
Well, I finished my work for the day, and Tess said I could go. Besides, my poor Gram's hands are in bad shape. She needs me to cook for her.”

Without thinking, Cynthia sprang from her chair. “Let me go with you!”

“
To where? To Gram's?!” When he saw her nod, Robert winced. “I... don't know. I know I said you should meet her, but the more I think about it, I'm not sure I want my work mixing with my life.”

Cynthia joined him in the doorway, as if she was leaving him no choice. “What do you mean by that? Am I not a part of your life?”

“
I... suppose.”

“
Then let me go with you. Come on.” Cynthia linked arms with Robert and led him into the hallway. “You'll have to lead the way, of course, since I have no idea where we're going.”

“
Hopefully you realize what an inconvenience this will be? By the time we get to Gram's, it'll be dark... which means I'll have to escort you back, I'll have to go out of my way...”

“
Don't complain!”

By the time they left Montforth Hall, Robert had ceded to his fate. He kept his arm around Cynthia's as he led her away from the estate, toward a narrow woodland path.

“
We're not riding on horseback?” When Cynthia glanced over her shoulder and realized Montforth Hall had disappeared, her stomach quaked. She rarely ventured far from the estate, especially on foot.

“
Alas, I have no horses at my disposal... but fear not!” Robert exclaimed. “It's only a twenty- minute walk into town.”

The trees blocked out the sun; only a shred of light illuminated their path. Robert clung to her arm, leading her in the right direction. Along the way, they passed a wooden signpost. If the sign was to be believed, the nearest town was two miles away.

“
Robert!” Cynthia pointed at the sign as they walked by. “This will be more than a twenty minute walk!”

“
Not really. We'll reach Gram's cottage before we reach the town.”

“
Well, I hope you're right!” She thought she heard the howl of a woodland critter, which made her body lurch. “These woods are unbelievable... like something out of a fairy tale!”

“
Don't worry, Princess. There aren't any big, bad wolves in the forest. And my Gram isn't a wicked witch who will toss you into a boiling kettle... at least, I don't
think
she is. She may yet surprise me.”

Cynthia rolled her eyes at his attempt at humor. She would have commented on his bland joke, except they had turned a corner and arrived at their destination. His grandmother's house was a tiny thatched cottage nestled between the trees. One side of the cottage was engulfed in a tangle of vines, from which wild roses were sprouting. When they entered, Cynthia could feel all of her senses springing to life. She could hear the soft crackling of a log in the fireplace, the smell of burnt wood and onions.

Onions?

“
Ohhhhh...” Robert shook his head with disbelief. “Do you smell that? Gram must be cooking!”

“
Robert?”
a woman's voice called from the next room. “
Robert is that you?”

Robert winked at Cynthia. Of course, he couldn't possibly resist. “Actually, my name is Daniel David Robertson, and I'm here to steal your atrocious green and yellow shawl!” He grabbed the aforementioned shawl from a chair and wrapped it around his shoulders. “I got what I came for... so... it's much appreciated! We'll be leaving now!”