Where Love Takes You (7 page)

Georgina’s
words surprised me as I had not thought she was attending the ball this week, but I kept my surprise a secret and showed an interest I did not feel.

“May
I ask what you are to wear?” I enquired kindly.

“You
may indeed, Charlotte,” proceeded Georgina. “I am to wear a green gown of silk with flounces of lace on the bodice and skirt and, of all things, a tiara.”

“You
will look delightful, I am sure.” Richard’s words surprised me for normally he would not enlist himself in Georgina’s conversations. In fact, all at the table looked at him with disbelief and he proceeded, “But none will match my daughter Lina’s beauty on Friday.”

“Thank
you, Papa,” said Lina proudly.

“I
agree with your Father, Lina,” added George who rarely spoke unless spoken to. A silence ensued for a couple of minutes when Richard suddenly said out of the blue, “Charlotte had a stroke of good fortune last week,” he said, raising his glass of red wine to his lips. My cheeks grew hot at his words. Although I had said it wasn’t a secret, I wished heartily that Richard hadn’t mentioned my inheritance at the dining table.

“Come,
tell us your news,” Georgina said loudly and all eyes looked at me waiting expectantly.

“I
have had the good fortune to gain a small inheritance,” I said meekly, looking at Jonathon for support.

“Hardly
small, Charlotte, come on, tell them, my dear.” Richard’s words were like a dagger through my heart.

“Say
nothing if you don’t wish to,” Jonathon uttered quietly and I looked at him gratefully.

“That
is true, my dear, keep quiet for it is no-one’s business but yours,” agreed George.

“For
goodness sake tell us, Charlotte,” laughed Georgina, “or none of us will sleep in our beds this night. Have you inherited some trinket which will pay for your gown?” Georgina’s words enraged me and I wished to wipe the smile off her face. I disliked her so much before, but now I loathed her. I got to my feet.

“If
you must know, I have inherited a gold watch…”

“What
did I tell you?” sneered Georgina interrupting me…

“
…
and
the princely sum of five thousand pounds.” There was suddenly a deathly silence but Richard broke it. Richard, who I’d admired all these months from afar.

“So,
she’s a good catch eh Jonathon?” he said looking at Georgina’s brother. “Well, let the best man win”. After these words, Richard staggered to his feet as he raised a toast to me and I realised with some disdain and disappointment that my employer was drunk.

That
night, lying in my bed in the dark, tears trickling down my cheeks, I thought of the eventful day’s happenings. Miss Curtis, and her parting words were not such a mystery now, for things in this household weren’t as I thought. Redcliffe Manor came to mind, as did Jonathon’s words: “I shall live for our next meeting”. But above all, I could not forget Richard Roseby’s drunken words at the dining table when I’d wished the ground would swallow me up; I prayed this wasn’t the state of things to come. Suddenly I realised that Verity Hawksworth had said absolutely nothing, which led me to believe that she already knew of my good fortune and only one person could have told her.

Chapter Seven

The following morning, I drew back the curtains and, to my delight, I could see sunshine instead of rain. I dressed in my most becoming pale blue day dress with a high neckline which was adorned by a pretty cream lace collar. Feeling well dressed would give me the confidence to face Richard and show him how displeased I was, even though he was my employer. As things were to turn out, I need not have worried.

Lina
and I were making our way down to breakfast and on the first landing we met Richard.

“Good
morning, daughter,” he said to Lina, planting a kiss on her cheek, “and good good morning to you, Miss Trent,” he uttered quietly, hardly able to look me in the eye. “Would you kindly come to my study for a moment, for there is something I wish to say to you.”

“I
don’t know that I have time, Mr Roseby,” I replied, for the last thing I wanted was to be alone with him when only yesterday morning it would have been everything I wanted.

“Please,
Miss Trent, I will only keep you for a moment or two,” he pleaded.

“Will
you be alright, Lina, to go on down to breakfast without me?” I asked my charge who was silently watching the scene between her father and I and I set to wondering what she had made of last night’s charade.

“It
is alright, Charlotte,” Lina agreed in a very grown up fashion, “You take as long as you like, I’ll go on ahead of you.”

“Don’t
forget Mrs Rivers is due at ten,” I reminded her, as she started walking down the stairs. I followed Richard into his study and sat down on the chair he indicated which reminded me of how all this began. Richard, however, did not sit down. He paced backwards and forwards from my chair to the window, his hands clenched behind his back. He eventually stopped his pacing and stood before me.

“I
would like to apologise profusely for my behaviour at the dinner table last night,” he began, “and I trust, Miss Trent, that you can forgive me.”

So,
I thought, we are back on formal terms. I really didn’t know if I could forgive him. “Lina is continuing her dancing lessons today,” he said walking over to the widow. At his words, I realised that the apology was forgotten and obviously of little consequence for I had not even spoken of it, nor had the chance. He must have assumed that I was ready to forgive his behaviour so I chose to ignore it as well saying, “If this is the case, could I please have the rest of the day off after Mrs Rivers has gone? I desire to purchase a couple of items in town, Mr Roseby and I may not get another chance before the ball?” I spoke with a tremble in my voice for I could not believe that the rapport we had built up over the past few months had trickled away overnight.

“Do
you dance, Miss Trent?” His question took me by surprise.

“Yes,
I do,” I answered quietly, “although not expertly, but I can get by.”

“Splendid
,” Richard replied coming back to his desk and seating himself on the chair behind it. “You may take the afternoon off, Miss Trent and I trust you will find the articles you need in town.” At which words he perused a letter in front of him and I guessed the meeting was over.

I greeted Mrs Rivers and her two seamstresses who arrived promptly at ten o’clock. As they laid the completed gowns on Lina’s bed, she practically jumped up and down with excitement, but I did not reprimand her on this occasion, as I felt an anticipation myself at seeing my completed gown. I wasn’t to be disappointed at the finished result as I tried it on, the blue skirt swirling around my ankles as I turned to look in the mirror.

“I
am more than delighted at the finished result,” I told Mrs Rivers honestly. I glanced across to see Lina twirling around in her ball gown and I smiled for she looked every inch the young lady in a pink silk gown of sophisticated lines with little to adorn it other than deep pink flowers at the hem line, waist and shoulder.

“You
look charming, Lina,” I enthused, my own dress forgotten as I walked across to stand before my charge, feeling quite elated at the change in her since I had arrived at Middlepark. Lina’s eyes sparkled and she clapped her hands together.

“Oh,
Charlotte,” she whispered, “I can hardly believe it is me and I can’t wait to show father.”

“Your
father will be very proud of you.”

“If
you are happy with your gowns, Miss Trent, could we please be excused as I have another establishment to visit this morning before lunch?” Mrs Rivers’ words cut across our revelry.

“Why
of course, Mrs Rivers, we must not delay you, but before you go, there is something I would like to ask you.” As I spoke, I turned away from Lina and steered Mrs Rivers towards the dressing table, where on my arrival I had placed my sketch pad. I could see Lina and one of Mrs Rivers’ assistants divesting Lina of her beautiful gown, so I picked up my sketch pad and continued.

“I
know there are only a few days, but would it be possible, please, to make me a gown for the ball?”

“I
don’t know if that will be possible in the time allotted to me,” the dressmaker began.

“I
will pay you well, Mrs Rivers; it is a simple style.” I showed her the sketch I had drawn.

“Well,
I could do my best, Miss Trent, but you will need to try it on and collect the gown from my premises in town for I shall not have the time to come here again.”

“Thank
you so much. If it is not ready, I will understand for I realise you are very busy.” My words were true for I had been told that she was very much in demand by the gentry here about.

“What
colour would you like the gown to be stitched in, Miss, bearing in mind you will have to rely on my judgement?” As she spoke Mrs Rivers took the sketch from me.

“A
pale green silk with a cream inset please, Mrs Rivers, and may I say that I trust you completely,” I assured her.

“Very
well, Miss Trent, I shall do my best. If you could call by Thursday afternoon, that would suit me and hopefully give me time. It is fortunate I have your measurements. If there is nothing else, I really must be on my way.” As she spoke, Mrs Rivers beckoned to her girls and, as they made their way from Lina’s room, the dressmaker turned to me and said, “Your sketch is very informative. You have a rare talent for drawing.” With these words she closed the door behind her, leaving Lina and I in a state of happy confusion.

Lina
ran across to me and hugged me. “I can hardly wait for the ball, Charlotte,” she said with enthusiasm, twirling me around the room in the steps of a waltz.

“I
can understand your impatience, Lina,” I said laughing breathlessly, as I brought her to a halt, and led her by the hand over to the wardrobe to admire the beautiful pink ball gown. The silk shimmered in the light and small pearls sewn painstakingly to the bodice and edges of the short puffed sleeves, set the gown off perfectly. Small dark pink roses, which looked as if they had just been picked from the garden, adorned the full hemline, one side of the tiny waistline and one shoulder. Gently, I ran my hands across the material and marvelled at its perfection.

“You
will be the belle of the ball,” I said gently to Lina, “and imagine the long white silk gloves and your pretty white slippers. You will captivate all the young men there.”

“You
will too, dear Charlotte. I guess Mrs Rivers is to make you a gown too?” Lina queried quietly.

“You
are correct in that assumption, but please don’t tell anyone. Not that it’s a secret,” I assured her, “more a surprise.”

“I
shall speak of it to no one, all I ask is that I can accompany you on Thursday.” As she spoke, Lina giggled quietly and took my hand. So the minx had overheard my conversation with Mrs Rivers, but what did it matter.

“There
is no other person I would wish to see my new gown with than you,” I assured her.

“Then
so be it,” Lina said with a sigh and I once again realised that this lovely girl had become a young woman overnight.

I
set off for the town of Budleigh Salterton just after one thirty that afternoon. I wore my light brown serge suit to keep me warm. The skirts around my ankles were warm as I walked, and my beige bonnet decorated with red flowers bobbed up and down as I went on my way, enjoying the freedom and fresh air and thinking of recent events. I didn’t know how I felt about my employer after yesterday evening’s scene at the dining table. He had certainly gone down in my estimation and yet I still felt a warm glow when I thought of him and realised that his rudeness yesterday could be an isolated incident.

I
stepped onto the path which led along by the sea, stopping for a few minutes to breathe in the salty air. The sun still shone casting a pale golden light across the water. Lobster pots lay in the sunshine across parts of the pebbled beach and young boys sat on pieces of wood listening to an old mariner’s stories. I walked on along the path watching the waves gently lapping the shoreline, causing the large grey pebbles to glint in the sunlight as the water splashed upon them. I observed the large hotel on my right, the beautifully landscaped lawns stretching nearly down to the road with pink walls bathed in watery sunlight. Stepping across the small white wooden bridge which spanned a gurgling brook beneath, I marvelled at the beauty of it all and wished at that moment in time to never leave either Middlepark or this area, but I knew that Lina would not need me much longer, except maybe for friendship. I knew in my heart I was daydreaming again having no notion then, what the not too distant future had in store for me.