Page 58 of Awakening a Lord's Desires
“I know.” Oliver looked around and Charles put his hands on his face, trying to think.
And then it came to him. “The cook,” he said abruptly and raced around to the servant’s entrance to the house with Oliver at his heels.
“What are you doing?” Oliver called, but he didn’t stop until he knocked on the door that led to the kitchen.
It opened, and an older woman was wiping her hands on her apron with a confused look. “My Lords? How can I help you?”
“Are you Mrs Winters, the cook?”
“Yes, that is me.”
“I would like your help. May we come in?”
She looked about her but then she backed inside, and they walked in. She shut the door and faced them.
Charles spoke quickly. “Caroline has told me much of you and how kind you are to her. She is in trouble now and needs your help. You must have heard she is to be wed to Max.”
“Oh yes, we have heard,” Mrs Winters said darkly, returning to the table in the centre of the kitchen where she’d been cutting potatoes.
“Then, you must help me to get her out of it. I love her, Mrs Winters, and I want to marry her. She wants to marry me, and you know that she does not want Max. Please, will you help me find a way?”
Mrs Winters paled a little and looked around at the other young maids who had turned their heads at the men’s arrival. “Go against the mistress?” one of them asked, and Charles nodded.
“Yes. It is the only way to save her from this terrible fate.”
Mrs Winters bit her lip, looking at the other girls, and then she nodded. “Yes, we will help you.”
“Excellent!” Charles smiled, hope alive in his heart again. “Then we need to think of a plan.”
Chapter 58
Caroline sat in her room, her clothing strewn about, half-packed in her bag. This was going to be her fate unless Charles helped her. Unless he believed in her love for him and came after her as she truly hoped he would.
A soft knock at the door had her turning, and when Lara entered, Caroline noticed that her eyes were wide. She shut the door quickly and then hurried to Caroline’s side.
“I have this for you, miss.”
Caroline took it, her eye half on the door, hoping to escape, but then she saw the letter was from Charles. She tore it open in a half-mad state, and she read:
My love,
I came for you, but I was stopped at the door. I have asked Mrs Winters and the maids to help us get you out. Tonight, you will meet me. We will go away together and marry, forgetting whatever the baroness and Max want. Please say you will come.
Charles
Caroline looked up at Lara, tears in her eyes. Lara smiled.
“All is well in hand, miss. I will unlock the door once everyone is asleep. Pack your bags and be ready at midnight. We will go, and he will be waiting for you in the kitchens.”
“Oh, Lara, thank you,” she said, rising to her feet and embracing her lady’s maid. “But what of my stepmother? She may try to have us marry today if she can arrange it.”
“I know it, but I do not think so. Nothing has been yet arranged, no servant has been asked to do anything.”
“Thank you, Lara.” Caroline gripped the envelope to her chest. “I will hope that all will be well.”
Lara smiled at her and then left quickly, locking the door behind her. Minutes later, Penelope entered without knocking, and Caroline stuffed the letter into her bodice.
“What is it, Penelope?” she asked with fatigue, staring at the flames in the hearth.
