The Last Eligible Bachelor - Ashtyn Newbold Page 0,83

a shaking breath into my lungs. Mr. Hill was waiting for me at the stables. I could already see what would happen next. When he realized I was never coming, he would return to the house and find the real Sophia, and me, the imposter. I couldn’t explain the truth to him now. He would see it all for himself instead. I was no longer in a place to do or say as I wanted. Sophia was here, and I was a slave to her every wish, or my employment would be taken away.

I begged Mrs. Ollerton with my eyes not to say what I feared she would.

She didn’t listen. “I believe it would be best to sever Mr. Hill’s attachment by sending your maid home at once.”

Sophia blinked.

My eyes squeezed shut.

“Attachment?” Sophia scoffed, a laugh escaping her. “Do you mean to say that Mr. Hill has fallen in love with...Sherbrooke?”

Mrs. Ollerton was silent for a long moment. I had never seen her so uncollected. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, and she began fanning herself. “Oh, dear. This is not good.”

Sophia turned to me, one eyebrow arching. “Is it true?”

I swallowed, searching for a way to placate the situation. “It is speculation, that is all. We are friends. He hasn’t expressed a wish to marry me.” The lie burned on my tongue.

Her gaze traveled to the other ladies in the room with scrutiny, as if she were searching for any reason why Mr. Hill might have favored me over them. She wouldn’t find the reason. Even I did not fully understand it.

“Well, then. I see no reason why she cannot stay.” Sophia met Mrs. Ollerton’s gaze. “Now that he knows her true identity, any thought he may have had toward marrying her will be extinguished. A man of his station would never consider a maid as a wife.”

“No, of course not.” Mrs. Ollerton’s lips pinched together. “However, if we wish to avoid a scandal of any sort, I think it is best to take precautions. I am certain your parents would agree. I will have my own carriage convey Miss Sherbrooke and the other maid from your household back to Kent first thing tomorrow.”

Sophia’s brow furrowed, as if she hadn’t considered the fact that her parents would be informed of her late arrival. If Jessie and I went back now without Sophia, they would have to be given an explanation, and then there would be no one to accompany Sophia back home in a week.

“That will not do,” Sophia said, shaking her head. “I think so long as Sherbrooke remains below stairs for the rest of the week, not even Mr. Hill should know that she is still here. Then she may still be present to accompany me back home when the time comes.” She smiled. “Unless, of course, it is expected that I stay to court Mr. Hill.”

It was refreshing not to be the recipient of all the envious glares. It seemed the other ladies were thinking the real Miss Sedgwick was far more of a threat to their success than I was. Little did they know that he had proposed to me, and I had refused. My heart ached as I thought of him, standing by the stables as he waited for me. Had he given up hope yet? I glanced at the long case clock in the corner of the room. It was fifteen minutes past four.

“I suppose that will suffice,” Mrs. Ollerton said, glancing at me briefly before turning her attention back to Sophia. “She will share a bedchamber with your other maid, and you may tell Mr. Hill she was sent home.”

“Wonderful.” Sophia clasped her hands together, as if the matter were settled and completely behind her. “Where is Mr. Hill? I should very much like to meet him.”

“I believe he is still at the stables,” Miss Benham said. “He and I went riding this afternoon.” She gave Sophia a pointed look.

Mrs. Ollerton stood, smoothing her hands over her skirts with a huffed breath. “I suspect he will return at any moment.” She turned toward me. “Please make haste. I will have your things sent down to your new room.”

My mind still raced, but I obeyed, walking toward the door. The moment I was alone, tears sprung to my eyes. I wiped angrily at them, ridding my face of the tiny droplets as I made my way toward Jessie’s room. My chance to explain myself to Mr. Hill was gone. I would never see