Page 58 of Under the Seductive Ladys Charm
Amanda straightened her shoulders and clasped her hands in front of her. “He did. I, however, do not wholly believe that Lord Stanhope would be so callous towards me. I must speak with him myself.”
Charlotte set the kettle on the stove and turned toward Amanda. “Your brother doesn’t know you are here, does he?”
“He may or may not,” Amanda said with a shrug. “Will you aid me, or have I truly lost you as a friend?”
Charlotte crossed her arms and there was something in her eyes that made Amanda worry that perhaps she had injured Charlotte’s pride a bit too much. Charlotte sighed. “Friend or not, I never turn someone away if I can help them. It would be an insult to my father’s teachings if I did.”
“So, you will help me?” Amanda did not know if she liked that Charlotte did not consider her a friend, but as she was willing to help her it did not truly matter. Or did it?
Charlotte gave Amanda the slightest of smiles. “Of course I will help. However, I do not see what help I could be.”
“Well, you could hide me,” Amanda suggested with a pleading look on her face. “I do not know where Lord Stanhope is, but if my brother finds me before I find Lord Stanhope then all of this will be for nothing.”
Charlotte’s faint smile vanished. “I do not like the idea of lying to Lord Easterly.”
“There is no lying,” Amanda assured her. “He would not think of me coming here. I am sure of that. And as soon as we find Lord Stanhope it will be over. So it should be a small imposition at best.”
There was a moment where Amanda thought that perhaps Charlotte might show her the door, but true to her nature, Charlotte accepted Amanda’s words with a dip of her head. “I do not know where he is, to be truthful, but I feel he must be staying at the inn in town if he is not at your estate. There are very few places a gentleman would pass the night in our small town.”
“That is true,” Amanda whispered. Charlotte turned her attention back to the kettle that had begun to sing. Amanda watched Charlotte set the kettle on a tray, which she brought over to a table set to one side of the kitchen. “Are we to sit here then?”
Charlotte laughed lightly. “I do not think you would like the dining room. It is likely to be filled with children doing schoolwork.” Charlotte came around and pulled a chair out for Amanda and waved for her to sit.
Amanda crinkled her nose. “Yes. Well, it is a quaint little spot,” Amanda said as she made the best of things. She eyed the chair distrustfully before she sat down.
“I know you think that running off is accomplishing much,” Charlotte said as she poured the tea. “However, all you are likely to do is convince Lord Easterly that his view of your nature is true.”
Amanda frowned. “All the same, I do not think I can face him.”
“Perhaps not just now,” Charlotte agreed with a smile. “He is your brother, though, and he does love you.” She held a cup of tea out to Amanda. “Stay here for a while if you like, but eventually you have to face your brother.”
Amanda took the tea and sipped. It felt heavenly on her throat. “I shall consider what you say.”
Charlotte accepted her words with another dip of her head. They sat and finished their tea in silence after that. Amanda felt odd sitting in this house, asking her former friend for a favour.
Yet, were friends not allowed to ask favours of each other? She had done Charlotte a favour, after all. It was only fair that Charlotte returned her kind gesture.
“Charlotte,” a woman’s voice called. “Oh.” The woman came in and stopped short when she saw Amanda. She was a tall, slender sort with overly sensible clothes that made Amanda cringe at how horribly out of fashion it all was. “Forgive me. I did not know we had an esteemed guest.”
Charlotte waved her hand toward Amanda. “This is Miss Easterly. I do not think you two have been formally introduced. Miss Easterly, this is Mrs. Wilson, my employer.”
Amanda extended her hand towards the woman in what she was hoping was an inclusive gesture. “It is nice to finally meet you, Mrs. Wilson. Charlotte has spoken of you.”
“And she has spoken of you, as well,” Mrs. Wilson returned as she shook Amanda’s hand.
Amanda could not help but wonder if Charlotte had spoken favourably of her or not. She could glean nothing from the face of Mrs. Wilson. She folded her hands on the table. “I apologise for dropping in like this, but it was a spur of the moment visit.”
“Yes, Amanda has come to spend the day,” Charlotte said to Mrs. Wilson.
Mrs. Wilson’s face lit up. “That sounds lovely.” The woman turned to Charlotte more fully. “Do you need the afternoon off from your duties?”
“Certainly not,” Charlotte said. “Amanda can visit with me while I attend to my chores.”
Amanda did not like the sound of that, but good manners made her nod her head in agreement. “Yes. I suppose I could.”
“Well then, I shall get about my own work then,” Mrs. Wilson said. The woman was swiftly out of the room, leaving Amanda to ponder what she had just agreed to.
Charlotte set down her tea. Amanda assumed that their respite was at an end. Charlotte washed and put away the dishes. “Forgive me, but I must get the children outside for a bit while I check on the washing.”
