Page 42 of The Baroness of Sin
“Did what, Martha?” her sister asked.
“I found a gentleman who will love me and take care of me,” Martha said with a smile.
“Of course, I believe it,” Emma practically scoffed.
“You do?” Martha blinked up at her older sister.
“You are a wonderful lady; any gentleman would be lucky to marry you. It doesn’t surprise me that you ended up with one of the good ones, even if it took you a couple of tries.” Emma gave her sister a warm hug, and she finished tucking her in.
Before Emma could take a seat next to the bed, Martha waved her sister away sleepily. “I may not be healed, but I am well enough to sleep in my chambers alone.”
Emma was about to argue, but her sister waved her off more instantly, so Emma left her to sleep, preferring Martha was calm and rested over everything else.
Chapter Thirty
“Vickers, correct me if I am wrong, but am I not the one who is usually late for dinner?” James asked while glancing at the tall clock that marked meals in the dining room.
“That is a far more common trend,” Vickers remarked with a nod.
“Would you please check on my daughter and governess and see what delays them?” the Earl asked his valet.
“Of course,” Vickers replied with a nod and followed with a brisk step. He returned but a moment later looking concerned. “It would appear that neither Miss Blake nor Lady Amanda is in the classroom.”
James was unsure whether to be more concerned or confused. “Perhaps Amanda wandered off? Though if that's the case, it is unusual for Miss Blake not to mention it and to slip off on her own.”
Vickers started to ask other house attendants if they had spotted either the young girl or the governess, but not much luck could be had, and James grew increasingly uncomfortable sitting and waiting at the table. Finally, he stood.
“Vickers organize a search. I’ll begin looking for them myself.” His voice betrayed more concern than indignation as he set out to search the house and grounds.
* * *
Martha awakened rather abruptly. At first, she thought it was extremely dark, the kind of dark that only comes during the deepest parts of the night, but it quickly became clear that something was wrong, especially as she struggled to draw breath and found her mouth and nose blocked. The panic cleared the sleep from her mind and revealed to her the truth. Someone was covering her face and holding her down.
Martha flailed and fought, struggling to free herself from her attacker, but her weakened state made it all but impossible. The arms that held her down were strong but not terribly large. Suddenly light and air came to her all at once and with it a shriek of rage and pain.
Martha tried to orient herself but could barely comprehend what she saw in front of her. The room was dark, not pitch black as before, but the sun had recently set and robbed the room of most of its light.
A taller figure, clad in a close tight dress struggled with a smaller figure that clung to her back, lashing out at the taller one. Eventually, the taller person grabbed the smaller off their back and hurled them at Martha. Martha caught the smaller person with her good arm, recognizing her now that she was up close.
“Amanda?!”
The little girl’s face was scared and angry, and she pointed an accusing finger at the person in the dark.
“You were going to hurt Martha!” she cried. “You can’t hurt my new mama!”
Martha looked at the shadow, baffled at who would want to hurt her or little Amanda. A shaking hand lit a candle in front of their face, revealing Amanda’s governess, Miss Blake. Her face was stained with tears, and her hair had pulled free in the struggle and now flew long and wild behind her. She stared daggers at both of them.
“This is the thanks I get from you, is it?” she half hissed and half sobbed at the child. “Rearing you like I would one of my very own for nearly a decade and you protect this... this harlot?”
“Miss Blake, I…” Martha began, more surprised than anything at this point.
“I think you have had enough of a chance to speak. Now it’s my turn,” Miss Blake snarled at her, and Martha quieted. “I have stood by My Lord’s side for ten years, loving him, raising his child, and doing everything I could for him. Then you show up and spread your legs and…”
“Excuse me!” Martha moved to put herself between Amanda and Miss Blake. “I don’t know who you think you are, but you cannot talk to me like that no matter what issue you have with me.”
Miss Blake nodded. “No, you are right. The time for talking has passed. James doesn’t know how to make good choices; you are clearly evidence of that. I can’t just wait around for him to understand that anymore. I need to show him the error of his ways.”
She crossed the lady’s bedroom towards the door. Martha stood to pursue her, and she snapped around. “You will be staying right here, Lady Carrington.” The governess grabbed a nearby curtain, yanking it from the window and piling it in front of the door. She dropped the candle into the pile of expensive fabric, which caught quickly and engulfed the doorway in a bright hot flame.
