Wed in Disgrace (Convenient Arrangements #3) - Rose Pearson Page 0,1
my pay, Miss Delilah,” Betty said with a shake of her head. “I cannot survive without it.”
Delilah nodded, desperation flooding her. “But a lady’s maid would be given payment, would she not?” she said, grasping Betty’s hand. “And you would have a warm bed and food. And…and...if I find that you are not given the pay expected, I will make certain that you are reimbursed in some way.” Realizing how desperate she sounded, Delilah closed her eyes, shook her head, and let go of Betty’s hand. There was no assurance for Betty in this situation. It was selfishness that wanted her to accompany her as a lady’s maid: selfishness that wanted to keep Betty by her side.
“I am sorry, Betty,” she mumbled, keeping her eyes closed as shame began to fill her. “I should not even have thought of such a thing. It is foolish of me to do so, for I cannot promise you a single thing.”
“I—I think I will come with you.”
Delilah’s eyes flew open, and she stared at Betty in shock.
“I cannot even promise you that you will be paid, Betty!” she exclaimed as though she was now trying to dissuade her. “What if—”
“I do not like working here, Miss Delilah,” Betty interrupted, putting one hand out, her palm forward to quieten her protests. “When you first asked me, I was a little taken aback, but now...” She nodded her head as though reassuring herself. “Yes, I will come with you, Miss Delilah.”
Delilah did not know what to say, warring between relief and fear. She had spoken hastily and now worried that Betty might be thrown from her uncle’s house without employment or reference.
You shall have to be strong, Delilah, she told herself as Betty began to smile. You will have to insist on keeping Betty if she is to come with you. She is now trusting you for her future employment.
“Think about it a little longer, Betty,” she said slowly rising to her feet and facing the maid. “I spoke quickly and I—”
“When do you have to leave?” Betty asked as Delilah bent down to pick up her letter. “Is it soon?”
Delilah nodded. “Within the sennight,” she said quietly. “My uncle is sending a carriage on Friday evening.”
Betty considered for a moment, then smiled. “Then I shall be waiting,” she said, a bright look in her eyes. “I am sure that the established ladies of this school will not be waiting by the carriage door to wave you away!”
Despite the sorrow that was in this statement, Delilah could not help but smile, albeit ruefully. “No, I do not think they will.”
“Then I will be ready just to steal away,” Betty said, speaking in a very matter-of-fact manner. “I do not think they will allow me just to leave, so I will have to slip past them in the darkness.”
The sadness and pain that had filled Delilah’s heart ever since she had read the letter from her uncle began to lift as Betty’s sudden excitement began to fill the room.
“You will have to be careful,” Delilah said as Betty beamed at her before glancing all around the room again in case someone was about to come in and see them. “The established ladies will not allow you to leave if they see you.”
Betty laughed and shook her head. “They do not see me even when I am very close to them,” she said, backing away towards the door. “I am certain they will not see me on Friday evening, either.”
Delilah had been quite correct in her assumptions that none of the established ladies would come to bid her farewell. The carriage was ready and waiting for her, but she had to carry her own cases to the carriage. No one came to assist her; no one came to ensure that she made her way to the transport safely. Only the driver climbed down—begrudgingly—from his perch to lift her cases onto the top.
“They didn’t even offer me anything,” he grumbled as Delilah placed the last of her things down, shivering in the cold wind. “Not even a glass of water.”
“I—I am sorry about that,” Delilah stammered, a little uncertain as to what else she could offer. “I would be glad to stop somewhere for a little refreshment if that would be of use.”
The driver said nothing, looking at her steadily in the gloom as her glance darted to the ground and then back to his face, uncertain as to whether or not he thought her foolish.