Mary sighed with relief. Daisy was actually a welcome sight. She was probably the only person in the world that she actually did not mind being in her bedroom at such a horrible moment of her life. “Oh no, it is fine. I shall just sit here.”
Mary watched Daisy work ... or so it seemed. She was not actually watching what Daisy was doing; she was examining her closely trying to work out just how much she could tell her. The young girl had given her no clue that she was not to be trusted, but Mary still felt anxious about letting anyone in. It was not common for a Lady to confide in a maid; it blurred the lines between the classes a little too much, but since her sister was not around, she found herself with little choice. It was Daisy or no one, and she did not think she could suffer in silence.
“Is there something you wish to discuss?” Daisy asked breezily as she worked. “You look like you have something on your mind.”
“Only the same as before.” Mary chuckled mirthlessly. “I am trying to work out the right thing to do with regards to this marriage.” She sighed deeply. “I thought that I had made up my mind, and I was all ready to sort things out with Walter, but things did not go to plan.”
Now that Mary was away from it all, she was starting to think that maybe Walter had manipulated her a little. He did not seem to answer any of her questions directly which was utterly infuriating. Maybe Mary was brave enough to speak out a little more, but she did not feel confident about yelling at the man.
“Has something changed?” Daisy did not want to sound too eager being embarrassed that she so desperately needed to know if her household position was safe. The last thing she wanted was for Mary to think that she was being callous and uncaring about her situation.
Daisy’s problem might have been different to Mary’s, on a completely different scale, but she felt that both their issues needed to be treated with equal severity.
“I think that there is not much option for me,” Mary admitted. “I believe I must marry the Duke. I do not see another way out.”
Daisy took a seat on the edge of the bed and stared at the Lady of the house, Guilt racked through her as she realised that she had probably impacted on this decision a little too much. “I am sorry, do you feel this way because of me and what I said about my job? Because I am sure we will all find work elsewhere if it comes to it ...”
“It is not just you; it is everything,” Mary admitted. “I am starting to feel like I am being backed into a corner.”
Daisy wished that she had some better advice to give Mary, but this was not something that she had any experience in. Nor could she be biased, which meant it was safer to say nothing.
“Maybe meeting with the Duke a second time will be a positive experience,” she offered hopefully. “It is always challenging to get to know a person based purely on first impressions. He could have been showing off, or maybe he was a little stiff from shyness.” Daisy hoped that she was not stepping out of line with this remark, but she felt it essential to say to get her point across. “Maybe you were not the best version of yourself either.”
“Hmm, maybe not,” Mary agreed with surprise. She had not been the best version of herself in an attempt to appear undesirable. Maybe if she acted differently the next time, then the results would be different too. “Maybe it will all work out alright.”
This time she really hoped that she could develop some true feelings for the Duke. If there were to be even a glimmer of hope that she could fall for him, it would be fine. She needed to love him now, even more so than before.
“Thank you for your advice, Daisy.” She smiled, a little happier now. “You have made me feel a whole lot better about everything.”
Daisy reached forward to hold onto Mary’s hand. “That is what friends are for.”
She did not know it when she said it, nor did she mean for it to happen, but Mary felt the pressure intensify. The heavy blocks on her shoulders were growing by the second; any minute now she would be unable to move under the pressure of it all. If Daisy was her friend, then she owed her the opportunity to keep her job and her life.
“I see you as a friend now too,” she whispered. “You have been very kind to me, and I hope that I do not let you down.”
Chapter 7
An orangey glow clung to the air as the candles flickered in the light breeze that raced through the ball hall. Men in their finest suits danced with ladies in their fanciest dresses to the music being played by the band situated in the corner of the room. The entire room had a magical feel to it, and there was a sense that anything could happen. It was an atmosphere that everyone was getting swept up in.
Well, almost everyone.
Duke Edmund Smith felt stiff and uncomfortable as he stood in the corner of the room, hiding out of sight as much as he could. His back was so straight it was almost as if he had a rod implanted into it. He knew that he should not have come to this silly event; he knew that it would not go as his mother hoped and could not quite believe that he had been tricked into this. It was like a meat market; everyone was on display. How could anyone enjoy such a thing?
“There are some incredibly beautiful women here,” the much older gentleman commented to Edmund. “I suppose it might be time to find myself a wife.”
Edmund’s eyes opened wider in shock. “You do not already have a wife?” He struggled to believe that a man who had at least a decade on him did not have a young wife at home.
“I was betrothed once, but I did not like the girl.” The man shrugged in a blasé manner. “I did not see there would be any issue. I have always been terribly busy with my business anyway, so I have hardly had time to notice my lack of wife. It is only my mother’s passing that has made me consider this more seriously.”
Edmund scanned his eyes over the crowd, wondering just how lonely he would become if he were to lose his mother. He adored his mother; she was the closest person to him. How lonely would he be when she was no longer around? He could not be so na?ve as to believe that she would be around forever, however much he wanted that to be the case. Plus, his mother had made it very clear that she wanted him to find a wife. He did not want to be a disappointment to her.
Lady Mary Roberts had never had her mother; she must have been very lonely ...
Not that he was thinking about Mary. He shook his head to rid his brain of any thoughts of her. Edmund was quite sure what it was, but the more he tried to stop thinking about Lady Mary Roberts, the more she crept up into his brain when he was unaware. He did not know why; as far as he was concerned, he was done with her. He did not ever have to think of her again. Once he sent off his letter, cutting all ties, he could move forward with his life in whatever way he desired.
“What about you?” The gentleman interrupted his thoughts. “Do you have anyone in particular that you wish to be your wife?”