by Rose Pearson
Mrs. Banks drew in a long breath, her shoulders settling as she came to a decision. “As have I,” she said, with a great deal more firmness. “Then I shall tell you the truth about your dowry. If you do not marry before you are twenty-one years of age, then the dowry, in all its entirety, goes to you.”
Elsbeth gaped at her, her world slowly beginning to spin around her.
“Just think of it, Elsbeth,” Mrs. Banks continued softly, her voice warm. “You need only be a governess for three or four years before you will be truly free. If you are careful, I believe you will have enough to live on for the rest of your days.”
Elsbeth could not breathe, her chest constricting. She could hardly believe it, could hardly take it all in, and yet she knew that what Mrs. Banks was saying was the truth. She would not lie to her.
“Why has Miss Skelton never spoken to me about this?” she asked hoarsely, as Mrs. Banks squeezed her hand. “I could have stayed here until….”
“You have answered your own question,” Mrs. Banks replied, sadly. “Miss Skelton wants you gone from her establishment and she thought that, in telling you the truth, you would be filled with the urge to remain. There will be funds aplenty until you reach the age of twenty-one, for I am certain that Miss Skelton told me that whoever it is that pays for your board here would do so until either you are wed, or you are twenty-one.”
Elsbeth shook her head, fervently. “That cannot be the case. Miss Skelton told me that I must find a place soon as the money that pays for me will soon cease.”
“Another lie, I’m afraid,” Mrs. Banks said softly, as Elsbeth felt her heart break all over again. “For whatever reason, Miss Skelton is desperate to have you gone from this place. She forbade me to speak of it to you but I knew I could not keep the truth from you. It is too great a truth to have hidden away. It would have been wrong of me to keep it to myself.”
Elsbeth drew in breath after breath, her mind whirling as she tried her best to think calmly and clearly about all that had been revealed to her. Miss Skelton had always disliked her but to hide such an enormous truth from her cut Elsbeth to the bone.
“You will have your freedom one day soon,” Mrs. Banks promised, putting her arm around her as Elsbeth leaned into her shoulder, just as she might have done with her mother. “Just a few more years.”
Trying not to cry, Elsbeth buried her face into Mrs. Banks shoulder. “I do not think I can endure any more time here.”
“Then be a governess,” Mrs. Banks replied, with a small shrug. “Do whatever you wish, whatever you can until you reach twenty-one. And do not marry a gentleman, whatever you do. I know Miss Skelton is hopeful, but I would encourage you to find a way not to attend the ball tomorrow evening or, at the very least, make yourself as inconspicuous as possible.”
Caught by a sudden thought, Elsbeth lifted her head. “You will not get yourself into trouble with Miss Skelton over this? I would hate for you to lose your position.”
Mrs. Banks smiled softly, patting Elsbeth’s cheek. “You are so caring, my dear. And no, so long as you do not reveal it to her then I think all will be well. Besides which, I do not think that Miss Skelton would dare fire me from this position – for who would she find to replace me? Her reputation as a hard woman, with little care or consideration for anyone but herself is well known.” She tipped her head, her eyes alive with mirth. “Do you truly think that she would be able to find another worker with any kind of ease?”
Elsbeth had to laugh, despite her confusion and astonishment. “No, I do not think she would.”
“Then you need not worry,” Mrs. Banks replied, with a broad smile. “Now, off with you. Go and see if there are any letters that need to be posted so that you might take a turn about the London streets. It might help you think a little more clearly.”
“I am rather overwhelmed,” Elsbeth admitted, shaking her head. “Thank you for telling me so much, Mrs. Banks. I am indebted to you.”
Mrs. Banks smiled again, her eyes suddenly filling with tears. “I shall miss you, when it comes time for you to leave, Elsbeth,” she said quietly. “You will promise to write to me, whatever happens?”
Bending down to kiss Mrs. Banks’ cheeks, Elsbeth pressed her hands for a moment. “Of course I will, Mrs. Banks. You have made my life so much better here and I will always be grateful for your love and your care for me. Thank you.”
Chapter Two
Whilst there were no letters to be sent, there was, according to the housekeeper who did the bidding of Miss Skelton, a need for Elsbeth to adorn the front of the House for Girls with flowers. Apparently, it was a reminder to all the gentlemen who had been invited that the ball was to happen tomorrow evening. Elsbeth did not quite understand given that so many of them had already sent their replies to confirm that, yes, they were to attend tomorrow evening’s festivities.
Regardless, Elsbeth did as the housekeeper directed without making even a murmur of protest, thinking that to be outside instead of kept within the House would possibly give her the time she needed to think about all that Mrs. Banks had said. She was in no doubt that Miss Skelton had not said as much to her as regards her dowry and the wonderful age of twenty-one when she would attain her freedom, simply because she did not want Elsbeth to remain in the House for Girls. There had always been something about Elsbeth that Miss Skelton disliked, and now she was making it even more apparent that she did not care for her in the slightest. Whilst Elsbeth knew that she was, as Mrs. Banks had said, a free spirit flying in the face of Miss Skelton’s harsh and firmly aligned ways, there had never been any other explanation as to why the lady had taken such a dislike to her. From her earliest memories, Elsbeth could recall Miss Skelton being dismissive and disinterested in her whilst being a little more jovial to the other girls. That had only bred anger and resentment in Elsbeth, who had grown more than a little frustrated with the lady’s continued dislike of her; so, in her own way, she had done all she could to battle against the lady’s hostility, to the point that she knew exactly what to say and do t0 bring her the most frustration.
Perhaps it was a little childish, Elsbeth reflected, as she picked up the basket which held the brightly colored flowers and the string with which she could tie bunches to the railings that surrounded the House for Girls. Then again, she had been a child for a very long time and only in the last few years had begun the journey towards adulthood. Miss Skelton had never changed, and Elsbeth had felt herself shrinking away from her more and more. She often sought the friendship and understanding of Mrs. Banks, a mother figure to all the orphan girls, and did not think she would have survived life here without her.
But now she had to consider what path to take. She could remain here until she was twenty-one, in order to come into her fortune, but that would mean over three years of Miss Skelton’s dark looks and embittered words. To continue her quest to become a governess seemed the most likely path to take, for then she could simply give up that life when the time came. What would she do then? Where would she go? It was all so unexpected and yet Elsbeth was filled with a delicious excitement. To finally be free, to finally be able to build her own life….it was so near and yet so very far away.
Walking outside, Elsbeth paused for a moment as she took in the bustling market, the laughter and conversations washing over her like a wave of warmth. It was something she longed for but could never have within the House for Girls. Miss Skelton did not even like them to be near to the market, as though afraid they would smile too much for her liking.
Sighing, Elsbeth turned her back to the busy Smithfield Market and focused on her task, hoping she might be able to linger for a little while after she’d finished her task.
“Are you selling these?”
Jerked from her thoughts, Elsbeth turned to see a young man standing a short distance away from her, his eyes bright and a lazy smile on his face. Schooling her features into one of nothing more than general amiableness, she shook her head.
“No, I’m afraid not,
sir. I am to place these around the railings.” She did not say why, not wanting to encourage the young man to come to the Smithfield House for the ball, not when he clearly knew this was where she was from.
“I see.” He moved closer to her, his smile still lingering – and Elsbeth felt herself shrink back within herself. He was clearly something of a rake, for with his fine cut of clothes and his highly polished boots, there was no doubt that he was a gentleman – and gentlemen, from what she knew, often thought they could get whatever they wished.
He was still watching her intently, his dark brown eyes warm as they lingered on her. His dark hair was swept back, revealing his strong jaw. With his strong back and broad shoulders, Elsbeth was sure that he sent many young ladies hearts beating wildly with hopes of passion, but she had never felt more intimidated.
“Do excuse me,” she murmured, making to turn away from him but only for him to catch her elbow.
“Do let me buy one from you,” he said, his breath brushing across her cheek. “To remember you by, my fair flower.”
Elsbeth felt a curl of fear in her stomach but chose to stand tall, her chin lifted. “No, I thank you, but I cannot sell one to you. I have a job to do. Do excuse me.”
She wrenched her elbow from his hand and turned away again, telling herself to remain strong in the face of his oozing self-importance. She did not like him at all, despite his handsome features, for it was clear that he expected a simple compliment to overwhelm her to the point that she would do just as he wished.
“Well, if you will not sell one to me then perhaps you might converse with me for a time,” the gentleman continued, his smile a little faded from his expression. “I am greatly inclined to know who you are.”
Like what you are reading? Check out the full story of a Rogue’s Flower in the Kindle Store or you can get the box set of The Smithfield Market Regency Romances!
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