Chapter Seven – Dear Clementine
“Up! Up!”
Forcing open first one eye and then the other, Beth glanced at Sally’s smiling face. Shaking her head in bewilderment, the young woman reached down and pulled Beth into a sitting position. “You sure do sleep a lot,” she chided, amusement clear in her voice. “Have you never been employed like this before?”
Beth shook her head, willing her tired limbs to cooperate as she walked over to the cupboard and retrieved her uniform. “I grew up in a small town. My mother worked as a seamstress while I mostly tended to our home, occasionally helping her and doing the odd job for neighbours here and there.” Pulling on her uniform, Beth began to pull back her hair. “Of course, it was work, too, but somehow less…exhausting. It was appreciated, not taken for granted.” She frowned, trying to put into words what displeased her most about her current line of work. “I think what truly bothers me is that people don’t see me. As long as the house is clean and the meal is served, no one cares how it’s done. I find that frustrating.”
Sally chuckled, “I’ve never looked at it that way. I grew up right here in Town, and I’ve always done this kind of work. My mother used to say that the fortunate ones−as she called them−don’t like to be reminded of the work we do. They like to believe fairies swoop in and magically clean the house and do all the chores. This way, they feel better about the differences between us. This way, there is no need to feel guilty for working us till exhaustion,” she grinned at Beth, “while they sleep in feathered beds.”
Beth shrugged, a wave of frustration washing over her. “I suppose your mother is right,” she admitted, realising that she had never truly thought about this. “I just wish I could…voice my objections.”
Sally’s eyes grew round. “What? Don’t even think about that! If you threaten to burst the illusion they live in, they will turn on you.” She shook her head vigorously. “No, no good can come from that. You’ll just lose your employment here.”
“I suppose you’re right,” Beth agreed once more. “However, it riles me that I cannot speak my mind. My mother always told me that honesty is the foundation all other virtues are based on.” A stab of pain shot through Beth as the words she spoke reminded her of her mother’s betrayal, “and I’ve never not spoken the truth when I felt compelled to do so.” She drew in a deep breath. “It is difficult and rather frustrating to be forced to act against your instincts, your better judgement.”
“You’ll get used to it,” was all Sally said before she turned to the door. However, then she stopped and looked back at Beth, a wistful smile on her lips. “I suppose honesty, too, is a luxury reserved only for those at the top.” Then she shrugged and left the room.
Beth sighed, feeling torn about what to do and think. After all, her mother had raised her to be an honest person, and up until the day of her mother’s funeral, Beth had truly believed that to be the only right way. And yet, after her mother’s betrayal, after discovering her lies, Beth could not help but doubt that which she had always taken for granted.
What was right? What was wrong?
Suddenly, these two questions seemed incredibly difficult to answer.
That afternoon, Beth was once more called to Lady Adelaide’s chamber, and although she hated the way the women of the upper class tended to look right through her, she could not help but feel a touch of excitement. Somehow, she had come to care for Lady Adelaide’s fate and found that she desperately wanted to know what would happen next. Would she be forced to marry her father’s old friend? Or would she heed her mother’s advice and try to catch the attention of a gentleman more to her liking?
Beth sighed. Oh, how she wished she could go to the masked ball and observe the proceedings herself!
Walking into Lady Adelaide’s chamber, Beth found the young woman once more up on the pedestal with another stunning gown caressing her form. Glancing at her mother, a question in her eyes, Lady Adelaide sighed, “What do you think?” she asked, a hint of doubt and nervousness in her voice. “It is rather flamboyant, is it not? I’ve never seen a more vivid violet.”
“I agree,” her mother observed, a satisfied smile on her lips as she regarded her daughter. “This could be the one. However, I suggest you try on a few more. Maybe we’ll find one that fits you even better.” Smiling, she shook her head. “Although it does bring out the colour of your eyes beautifully, my dear.”
“Thank you, Mother.” Once more looking at herself in the mirror, Lady Adelaide seemed a bit more confident. However, a moment later, Beth noticed a slight tremble in the young woman’s hands as she brushed away a stray lock of her honey brown tresses, and the determined expression in her gaze faltered the second her mother turned to the modiste.
Watching misery wash over the young woman, Beth felt the sudden need to walk over and pull her into her arms for comfort. She had already lifted her left foot when the absurdity of the situation hit her. A maid hugging the daughter of an earl! How scandalous!
“Ah! You look ravishing, my dear!”
Beth flinched as the earl strode into the room. Despite the compliment on his lips, his face seemed tense as he regarded his daughter, his eyes narrowing. “Is this the one?” he asked, turning to his wife.
The countess stepped forward, her head slightly bowed and her eyes barely meeting his. “Yes, my lord. At present, this is the dress that flatters her most. However, we thought to look at a few oth−”
“No, that won’t be necessary,” the earl cut her off, his voice gruff. “Lord Arlton is already rather determined to make her his wife. There’s no need for this extravagance. Besides, Lord Arlton prefers her to look virtuous and chaste. He desires a demure wife who will make his needs her priority.” A satisfied smile curled up his lips, putting a strangely grotesque expression on his face. “I’ve assured him that Adelaide is the perfect wife for him, and I’m certain a proposal of marriage will follow soon after the masked ball.”
Watching the exchange, Beth found her heart beat quicken as all colour drained from Lady Adelaide’s face. Although the young woman kept her head bowed−not unlike her mother−Beth could see the look of fear that had come to her emerald eyes. Her hands clenched, and a rigid tension came to her slender shoulders.
“Of course, my lord,” the countess assured her husband before he turned and without another word strode from the room.
The moment the door closed, Lady Adelaide almost sagged to the ground, big tears streaming down her cheeks as her breath came in heaving sobs.
Involuntarily, Beth stepped forward, but the countess caught her daughter and pulled her into her arms. “Calm down, my dear. Tears will serve no one. We’ve lost a battle, but not yet the war. There is still time.”
Clinging to her mother, Lady Adelaide took one deep breath after another, forcing her emotions back down until she had calmed down sufficiently to try on another dress. An impassive mask rested on her face, her cheeks pale and almost lifeless as she went through the motions, did what was expected of her while her heart ached with the threat of a future she would never agree to but could not refuse, either.
Anger boiled in Beth’s veins at the sight of such unfairness, and in that moment, all fear of the earl was forgotten. She wanted nothing more but to seek him out, speak her mind and put him in his place. Never had she witnessed such heart-breaking misery!
However, despite the upheaval of her emotions, Beth knew that no good would come from such an action. After all, the earl would never heed the words of a maid and might even place blame where it didn’t belong, on his daughter. No, confronting the earl would do no good. If only Lord Arlton wouldn’t propose!
Trembling with suppressed anger as well as the almost desperate desire to protect the miserable young woman she had never even spoken a word to, Beth did her utmost to remain calm and not allow her emotions to show on her face. And so, she continued to pull gown after gown from the dress bags, found accessories of different shapes and sizes and remained otherwise unseen as was the duty of a maid.
An hour later, the door to the bedchamber opened once again. Only this time, it was not the earl who strode in, and Beth breathed a sigh of relief. With her emotions running high, she wasn’t certain she would be able to hold herself back should he attack his daughter yet again.
An elderly woman walked toward the pedestal, her greying hair pulled back, revealing a friendly face that began to shine the moment her eyes fell on Lady Adelaide. However, upon seeing the paleness of her cheeks, a concerned frown came to the woman’s face. “My dearest Adelaide, what is the matter? You look awfully distraught!”
Stepping down from the pedestal, Lady Adelaide reached out her hands, and the mask of controlled indifference slid off her face. “Oh, Grandmother, I do not know what to do! Father insists I marry Lord Arlton.”
Grasping her granddaughter’s hands, the dowager countess glanced from mother to daughter. “Does he?” she mumbled, a hint of anger in her voice as her eyes narrowed.
“I’m afraid it’s true,” the countess answered, shaking her head, a touch of resignation on her face. “However, the masked ball is still a chance for Adelaide to charm a suitor who is−”
“− who is not an old man?” the dowager countess finished, irritation in her voice as she shook her head. Then she turned to her granddaughter, and her eyes softened. “I shall speak to your father although I doubt it shall do you any good. It has been years since he’s listened to anything I had to say.”
Lady Adelaide nodded, her lips pressed together as she put on a brave face. “Thank you, Grandmother.”
“Don’t thank me yet, my dear,” her grandmother replied before she turned to the countess. “Find her something magnificent to wear for the masked ball,” she instructed, clear determination in her voice. Then her hands tightened on her granddaughter’s, and she met her eyes openly, a promise shining in them. “If my son does not relent, I promise I shall find a way to frighten off Lord Arlton. That man will never lay a hand on you, do you hear?”
A soft smile came to Lady Adelaide’s face as she nodded her head.
“Good. Now, no more tears. We have to ready ourselves for battle,” the dowager countess said with a smirk, nodding at her granddaughter. “Get back up there and find something that will help you shine.”
As Lady Adelaide did as she was told, the dowager countess turned toward the door, anger burning in her eyes, and Beth found herself admiring the woman. Although her hands were tied as much as those of her daughter-in-law and granddaughter, she struggled against those bonds at every turn. A smile came to Beth’s face, and deep down, she was certain that the dowager countess was not among those who cowered before the earl. Without a doubt, Beth knew that she would stand tall and meet his eyes.
Unfortunately, that didn’t mean she could change his mind. However, it was inspiring nonetheless!
Walking toward the door, the dowager caught Beth staring and for an instant their eyes met.
Reminding herself of her place in this household, Beth forced her gaze to the floor, hoping the dowager would not take affront.
“Ellen?”
At the whispered voice, Beth’s head snapped up, and she found the dowager staring at her, her cheeks as white as a sheet. Then the woman swallowed and the ghost of a smile curled up her lips as she took a step forward.
Unable to move, Beth held her gaze, her thoughts tumbling through her head. Had the dowager known her mother? Had she indeed worked here? In the last few days, Beth had begun to doubt her theory and had been closed to giving up.
“Ellen?”
Beth swallowed. “Did you know my mother?”
The dowager blinked, and it was as though a trance fell from her. She quickly stepped back, her gaze shifting to her granddaughter and the countess before meeting Beth’s once more, caution resting in her blue eyes. “We shall speak later,” she whispered, then reluctantly stepped away and walked out the door, her shoulders tense.
With her pulse hammering in her veins, Beth stood rooted to the spot, unable to believe what had just happened. She had finally found someone who remembered her mother, someone who might tell her what had happened before Beth had been born, someone who might be able to shed some light on the two contradicting lives her mother seemed to have led.
Oh, she wanted nothing more but to rush out the door and speak to the dowager right away!
If only she could!