Glitter - Abbi Glines Page 0,62

I assumed he equally took care of her mother as well.

I knew my aunt and uncle shared a connection most in London society did not. They truly loved one another. My uncle didn’t keep a mistress. Did I have the luxury of waiting until I found a man that would love me and need only me? I thought of Whitney lying in her bedroom and the pain one day’s travel caused her. I knew that each day that passed made the hopes of the procedure restoring her leg completely, more slim.

What would I be willing to accept for the sake of her future?

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Emma Marie Compton- age four and five months

Glancing back toward the bedroom, I checked one more time to see if Alice was well and truly asleep. Lying still with my eyes closed had been ever so difficult, but Alice had needed a good nap it seemed. She hadn’t made me wait too long before she began to snore.

The door was quiet as I opened and closed it behind me then stood there holding my breath, almost positive she would sit right up and realize I had escaped. I had good reason for this journey. It was important that I meet Miriam Bathurst. Ashington had said she looked more lovely than a princess and I had never seen a lady that beautiful. What if he forgot to introduce me and I didn’t get the chance?

I hurried down the cobblestone walkway toward the path through the woods I had taken with Alice yesterday morning. Today Alice had refused to take me back to the kitchen. She didn’t trust me after I had freed the chicken, but the chicken had wanted to be free. I had only been helping a would-be friend. I was sure the chicken hated me after the way they had treated it. Poor chicken.

I had been very lucky indeed that jam had been sent this morning with breakfast. I was sure Ashington had sent it and I told Alice so when she threatened not to let me have some until tea. The jam here at Chatwick Hall was sweeter than that we had in London. I should ask Ashington to take it back with us. I missed being here. Our home in London didn’t have the fairy forest or rose gardens such as these. Alice promised to take me for a walk in the fairy forest today. If she woke and I was still gone that wouldn’t happen. I would also not be given jam with my afternoon tea.

I paused then, wondering if meeting Miriam Bathurst was indeed worth no jam or fairy forest. I did so miss the fairy forest. Glancing back at the cottage, I frowned. Alice would be very disappointed in me. She oft was and I didn’t mind, but I truly wanted to go on that hike today. But I did want the jam.

I turned my head and looked toward Chatwick Hall again. If I was spotted by any of the servants, they’d take me right back to Alice. My chances of getting to the house without being seen were not that good. With a sigh, I forced my feet to turn back toward the cottage. If I hurried, I’d be back before Alice knew I was ever gone.

“Hello,” a voice so soft and pretty came from behind me. Had I come upon a fairy? Spinning back around, I didn’t see a fairy at all. She was much too tall to be a fairy, but she could indeed be a princess.

“Hello,” I replied. “Are you Miriam Bathurst?” I was almost positive she was.

The lady nodded and the sunlight made her dark red hair sparkle like that of a fairy. “I am and you are?” she asked.

Straightening my shoulders the way Alice always reminded me, I stood tall and held my head high. “I am Emma Marie Compton. Lady of the manor,” I told her.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Compton,” Miriam replied then curtsied. No one had ever curtsied to me before nor had they called me lady. I believed I liked that quite a lot. I should tell Alice we were to change my name to Lady Compton. I did not believe Alice would curtsy to me, however. She was much too stubborn for such as that. I would ask though, for it was rather lovely.

“I was looking for you,” I informed her then. “Alice is taking her rest and I was to be taking mine too, but you