Maid to Be Mine: A Regency Cinderella Story (23 page)

“
You cannot blame Cynthia for all of your problems! It isn't fair!” Edith ignored her mother's request—she did not lower her voice. She wanted them to know just how irate she was. “And I cannot believe you would throw her out of Montforth Hall! It was her father's ancestral home!”

“
And it belongs to her cousin Rolly now,” Jemima countered.

“
It was freezing last night!” Edith exclaimed. “When I awoke this morning, I had ice on my window! What if Cynthia died out there?!”

“
Then it would be a small price to pay for Georgiana's happiness,” Jemima coldly stated. “Justice would be served.”

“
Are you serious?!” Edith repeated. “You have
no
heart! I cannot believe I am related to the likes of you!”

“
Then by all means, Edith, sever your ties with us.” Jemima's cold eyes were fastened on her eldest daughter. “Do you know what I do to relatives who turn against me? I can give you a hint, if you need one.”

“
I am not afraid of you, Mother. Not anymore. And I'm going to do the right thing!” As Edith turned to the door, she flashed an infuriated look over her shoulder. “I am going to search for Cynthia.”

* * *

“
Lady Edith is here to see you, my lord,” the staunch butler announced.

Lord Charmington was sitting at his desk with a quill in his hand. He was trying to look busy, but in actuality, he had spent the better part of the morning in a daydream about Cynthia. “Edith? Really? Are you certain?”

“
Indeed, my lord, indeed,” the butler asserted. “She is waiting in the sitting room.”

James dropped his quill in the inkwell and rose from his chair. “Take me to her, Johnston. If Lady Edith has come all this way to see me, I should not keep her waiting. It must surely be a matter of importance.”

Lord Charmington followed Johnston to one of the sitting rooms, where Edith patiently awaited his arrival. When she saw him enter, she rose from the settee, ran to his side, and ardently seized his arm. At the moment, propriety was the furthest thing from her mind. “I needed to speak with you, my lord! It is a matter of dire urgency!”

“
What is it, Edith?” Her eyes were so wild, they made his heart clench. “Are you hurt?”

“
No. Not
me
, my lord.”

“
Cynthia?!” James exclaimed. “Has something happened to Cynthia?”

“
Indeed. And I am concerned for her health and well-being.” Edith saw the panic in his eyes, so she explained herself quickly. “My mother turned her away from Montforth Hall.”

“
Last night?! But it was freezing!”

Edith nodded. “I know.”

“
I knew I shouldn't have let her leave me last night!” James raked his hands through his hair, tousling his thick brown locks. “Why did you not stop your mother?!”

“
You're placing the blame on
me
, my lord?!” Edith gasped. “I was asleep when it happened. I did not find out about Cynthia until I woke the next morning.”

“
I'm sorry.” As he apologized, Lord Charmington laid his hands on Edith's shoulders. “I am sorry, Edith. None of this is your fault, I... I should not lay the blame on you.”

“
No,” Edith quietly agreed. “You shouldn't.”

“
So where is Cynthia now?”

“
That is why I came to you, my lord. I thought she might have come here,” Edith explained. “Shortly after I arrived, I realized I was mistaken.”

“
Where do you think she might have gone?”
Edith shrugged. “I haven't the slightest idea! If she isn't here, I... I don't know where she went.”

“
Don't fret, Edith. We
will
find her,” he insisted. “I will not rest until she's found. I'll assemble all of my footmen... we'll mount a search.”

“
I would like to help you search, if you don't mind,” Edith said. “May I come with you?”

“
Of course, Edith.” When he saw the tears forming in her eyes, he had to resist the temptation to pull her against his chest. Edith was distraught, and his instincts told him she could use a comforting embrace. Edith was hardly a stranger, but it wasn't as if she was family. James did not know if she would welcome the contact. “Where do you think we should begin our search?”

“
I... do not know.” A tear scurried from the corner of her eye, so he whipped a handkerchief from the pocket of his greatcoat and gently dabbed her cheek. “I feel... as if it is my fault. I should have been more vigilant. I-I should have protected her!”

“
No. It is
not
your fault!” James insisted. “I was a fool for making you feel that way!”

“
But it is! It
is
my fault!” Edith sunk into the settee and clutched her hands to her face. “
I
convinced her to go to the ball...
I
let her borrow my gown...
I
encouraged her to pursue you! If something terrible has happened to her, it will be on
my
conscience!”

As Edith sobbed into her hands, James was dying to approach her. He wanted to comfort her, but he did not know what would be appropriate. If he wrapped his arms around her—which he was tempted to do—he knew the affection would be ill-timed. “Edith... I'm glad you convinced her to go to the ball. If not for you, I might have been engaged to Georgiana by now!”

“
Really?!” As she peered at him through her fingers, Edith was sneering. “You would have proposed to
Georgiana
?!”

“
Heavens, no!” James chuckled. “I know she is your sister, and I am sorry if I offend you, but... she can be
quite
unbearable.”

“
You owe me no apology, my lord! Believe me, my sister is hardly my favorite person in the world! I am almost embarrassed to claim kinship!” Edith rose from the couch and headed for the door. If they were going to search for Cynthia, there was no time to waste. “So... what if Cynthia hadn't been there, my lord? You were going to propose to
someone
, were you not?”

“
That was my intention,” James said, “but Cynthia was always my first choice.”

“
Even though you thought she was a maid?”

“
Yes. Even then.”

“
I suppose you know her true identity, then?”

James nodded. “I do. But I proposed to her before she confessed it to me. I would have happily married her, whether she was an earl's daughter or a maid.”

Edith smiled. When she heard the passion in his voice, it made her believe in the existence of true love—even if it would never exist for her. “So... who would you have chosen, if not Cynthia and Georgiana?”

James knew the answer, but he did not know if he should tell her. Apart from being inappropriate, it was a pointless question to ponder. He wanted Cynthia—
only
Cynthia—and they were going to find her.

Nevertheless, he decided to tell her the truth, and hope it would not be too awkward.

“
You, Edith,” James said. “If you had been there, I would have proposed to
you
.”

* * *

James, Edith and a half-dozen footmen were plodding through the forest between Ridgeley Manor and Montforth Hall, searching for any sign of Cynthia. They had been at it for nearly an hour, and so far, their search had been fruitless. Along the way, James and Edith had somehow gotten separated from the footmen. They continued to search on their own, and despite the fact that her feet were sore, Edith did not want to complain. She rarely complained about anything.

However, when he saw her limping, he knew something was amiss. “Are you alright, Edith?”

“
P-pardon?”

“
I thought I saw you hobbling,” James noted. “You are usually not as ungainly as that.”

When Edith saw him grinning, she knew he was teasing her. “I am fine, my lord. However, the ground is moist... it makes walking difficult.” She held out her boot, which was encased in a shell of mud. “My foot has gotten mired a few times.”

“
We should have traveled on horseback,” James said, “we could have covered more ground, and your feet would not be injured.”

“
My feet are
not
injured!” Edith assured him, “And if we were on horseback, we might not see her. No, it is better to scour the area on foot!” The next time she stepped forward, her boot lashed across the blister on her heel, and she drew a sharp breath.

Lord Charmington's hands flew to his hips. “You really aren't hurt, Edith?”

“
No, my lord, I--”

“
You know, you should really call me
James
, seeing as we are practically family.”

“
Are we?” Edith had to mask her grimace as she walked toward him. She wanted to look strong, determined. If nothing else, she did not want him to know she was in pain. “We should keep going.”

“
You're right. We should.” As he watched her limp ahead of him, his brow was pinched with concern. “But if you need to take a rest...”

“
I am
fine
,” Edith insisted. “How large is this forest, anyway?”

“
You have lived in this area much longer than I have. I am sure you have a better idea of its size.”

“
But I do not make a habit of traipsing the woods. In fact, I am sure this is the first time I have ventured so deep within them.” Edith stopped walking and took a moment to scan her surroundings. “You do not think we'll get lost, do you?”

“
I would say anything is possible.” When he saw the worry line between her eyes, he added, “That is to say, I, uh... I am quite certain I could find my way back.”

“
What if we cannot find Cynthia?!” Edith exclaimed. “What if she is somewhere far, far away from here? She could be anywhere!”

“
Try not to be so discouraged, Edith. We have only just begun our search.”

“
What if she tries to contact me at Montforth Hall when I am not there? What if she tries to contact
you
?”

“
Perhaps our servants will inform us of her safety,” James suggested. “Your concern for your sister is touching.”

“
Is it?” When Edith glanced in his direction, her eyebrow was raised. “I hope you are referring to Cynthia and not Georgiana!”

“
Of course!” he laughed. “It is evident that she is your
true
sister.”

“
And my truest friend,” Edith added. “Perhaps my
only
friend.”

As he walked alongside her, James gave her a nudge. “And what of
me
, Lady Edith? Am I not your friend?”

“
I... suppose.”

“
You suppose?!” Her tepid response made him chuckle. “You know, I would still like to paint you. Your handsome face would capture well on canvas.”

“
Handsome.”
Edith repeated the word with a roll of her eyes. “It is not the first time someone has used that word to describe me. It is either that, or
plain
.”