Page 10 of Under the Seductive Ladys Charm
However, Charlotte had scarcely had time to pick the book up and only really knew how to do embroidery from her days taking lessons with Amanda. Surely seams should not be that more complicated. Charlotte smiled as she held up the garment. It was not the most beautiful seam she had ever seen but she was rather proud of herself. She had only attempted to mend her own clothing before and did not mind the odd lumpy seam. She wondered how Amanda felt about such things.
There was only one way to get an answer to that particular question and Charlotte dreaded it. She gathered up the garments and headed out into the hallway. She met a couple of the upstairs maids dusting. “Good morning,” Charlotte said.
The women did not even bother lifting their eyes from their work. One said to the other in a voice loud enough for Charlotte to hear, “Some people think they are above their station.”
Charlotte’s face went hot with embarrassment. She hurried on past the women and suffered their quiet condemnation. Once she was around the corner, she drew in a breath to settle herself. She gave Amanda’s door a soft knock.
“Enter!” Amanda’s voice sounded so cheerful that Charlotte cringed.
She had no choice but to enter and she forced a smile onto her face. “Good morning,” Charlotte said as she shouldered the stack of clothes so she could use her hands to open and close the door.
Amanda tittered with laughter. “You look like a workman in the fields hoisting crops.” Why that was as funny as Amanda found it Charlotte had no idea, but Amanda was obviously too amused to notice that Charlotte was not laughing.
“I brought your clothes,” Charlotte said hesitantly. “I must warn you that I am rather new at mending. I normally only do so for myself.”
Amanda picked up a dress off the top of the stack. “I see why,” Amanda said with disdain. “I think I may have to toss this out completely. I can see the stitching.”
“I am not seamstress,” Charlotte said flustered.
Amanda clucked her tongue at her. “Do not get so worked up. I am not the one that requested to work, but I would think with the request would come to some amount of skill. What did you do all these years?”
Charlotte closed her eyes. She took a breath to quiet herself. “I had lessons the same as you.”
“Yes, well, I do not have to know such things, but I would think a woman of your bearing would have some practical knowledge.” Amanda put down the dress and put her hands on her hips. “Where did you learn to sew?”
Charlotte admitted, “From a book. I had no mother to teach me.”
“Neither did I,” Amanda reminded her.
With a grimace, Charlotte softened her voice, “I am sorry, Amanda. Truth is that I do not know how to do some of these things you ask of me.”
“You are the one who wanted it this way. We have an arrangement.” Amanda’s voice was condescending, but her eyes held mischief. Charlotte did not like being a source of amusement for the girl.
She leaned over to pick the clothes back up, but Amanda stopped her. “Come now, let us learn from our mistakes,” Amanda chided. She picked up a coat and tugged on one of the buttons. “With all your books something as simple as a button seems beyond you.” Amanda yanked the button off the coat. “This will simply have to be sewn on again, this time properly.”
Charlotte wanted to walk out. She wanted to throw that button down and stamp on it. But she simply took the button and the coat, along with the rest of the clothes and left the room. She walked numbly back to her room, past the maids without even hearing their remarks, and straight to her bed where she collapsed down as hot tears spilled out of her eyes.
Mrs. Wilson had been wrong. This was not a great opportunity. Amanda was not the girl that Charlotte remembered. Her mischief held cruelty that had not been there before. Had it?
Charlotte rubbed her eyes and gulped down a breath. She was stuck here.
Her situation before might have seemed dire, but at least she was free to do what she saw fit. Now she was trapped at Amanda’s whim and she feared where her whims would go next. Charlotte heard the bell over her bed ring.
It would be Amanda wanting her tea. She pulled herself together, smoothed her dress and dabbed her eyes. Maids did this all the time. Surely she could.
This was only Charlotte’s first week, but it was the week of preparation for season, which apparently put the whole household on edge. The preparations seemed completely out of proportion to Charlotte. Who needed all those dresses that were being delivered? With all those new clothes, why did Amanda need the mending?
Charlotte trudged back along the hallway thankful that the whispering maids were gone this time. She opened the door. “You called?”
“You really should work on addressing me properly,” Amanda told her, then waved off her words. “Yes, I would like my tea. Tell Henrietta to put extra honey on my pastry please.”
Charlotte nodded and left the room. She was not trained as a maid and had no idea how she was supposed to behave most of the time, nor did Amanda seem willing to explain what she was doing wrong. Amanda seemed to greatly enjoy teasing Charlotte about her errors.
The walk down to the kitchen took forty-five steps. Charlotte counted them to keep herself calm. The downstairs staff seemed every bit as set against Charlotte as the upstairs staff did.
“Charlotte,” Mrs. Sullivan’s clipped voice rang out.
Charlotte forced a smile onto her face as she turned towards the housekeeper. “Yes, Mrs. Sullivan?”
