CHAPTER 172: DANGER LURKING (2)

"I will ask one last time. Is it my lady that you are questioning if she has bled? These oak doors are lovely only when they are completely closed. Your voice travelled outside the room," Matilda said, closing the door behind her just as the two maids should have. "Speak."

"We have work to do," said Lizzie, one of the two maids.

Lizzie picked up the bucket of water and the rag she was wiping down the shelves and the windows with. She walked toward the door, only to have Matilda’s hand outstretched to stop her from leaving.

"I don’t recall telling you to leave. I asked you both a question. Is it the lady you speak of?" Matilda asked.

Lizzie gulped.

Matilda was the worst person to be found by.

"Take one step toward the door and I will drag you from it," Matilda warned Lizzie.

Matilda looked at Hettie, the second maid.

Hettie seemed on the verge of speaking. She also looked like she would pee herself at any moment.

"Speak. I will have the lady or his grace go easy on the one who speaks first," Matilda said, but she didn’t intend to keep the promise.

"I am not the one who brought it up," Hettie said.

"Hettie!" Lizze explained.

Hettie looked at Lizzie.

What was she to do when her job was at risk and maybe her life along with it?

How was she to stay silent at a time like this?

"I already said that I don’t know what the lady’s covers looked like because I wasn’t the one to wash them. I only want to work," Hettie said, avoiding Lizzie’s gaze.

Hettie knew she had lost a friend, but it was more important that she kept her life.

"Then you may go to work," Matilda said, allowing Hettie to leave.

Hettie hesitated at first, believing Matilda was jesting, but her feet started to move so she could get out of the room, which seemed to be closing in on her.

Matilda made way for Hettie to leave, but closed the door after since she wasn’t finished with Lizzie.

"It was only a question," said Lizzie.

"You are only a maid. You are not to have questions concerning the affairs of your lady. You were out of place, and you’re scared now because you know it. What were you going to do with what you found out about the covers?" Matilda asked, stepping forward.

Lizzie stepped back as Matilda came toward her. She had always heard from the other maids how Matilda acted like a madwoman over anything concerning the lady. Others whispered that Matilda might be in love with Penelope.

"I was not going to do anything," Lizzie replied.

"I do not believe you. Why pry if you are not going to share it? It couldn’t be that you are always so curious about what happens on wedding nights. You were hoping a maid would say no so you could add to the rumours that she was bedded before the wedding," Matilda said, knowing she was right based on Lizze’s reaction.

"Who were you hoping to run to? I said you are not to leave," Matilda said, grabbing Lizzie’s arm. "You were employed to keep your head down and do your work. Not walk around looking for news to spoil her good name."

"I wasn’t doing anything. I swear," Lizzie cried. She was only curious. "Forgive me. I won’t be curious about her again."

"No, you won’t be," Matilda said, letting go of Lizzie. "Your tongue got you in trouble. I think you would be better off without it."

Matilda wished a knife were present so she could personally do it, but she would pass it on to the prince’s knights for them to be the ones to punish Lizzie.

"You will go back to work, and you will keep your head down. If you look at Lady Penelope far too long, I will personally cut your tongue off. Do we understand each other?" Matilda asked.

Lizzie nodded her head. "I-I understand."

"Go," Matilda said, moving out of the way so Lizzie could pass.

Lizzie didn’t take a second to think about leaving. She ran to the door.

’Penelope needs her food and to tell the knights about the maids,’ Matilda added to her list in her mind.

Matilda was the last to leave the room, with two tasks she needed to complete quickly. She would succeed with both.

Meanwhile, in town, Harper travelled with her mother early in the morning to search for dresses and other garments she would need.

Whilst her peers were able to start their days at home, Harper wanted to be up early so no one could see where she shopped with her mother.

Harper no longer had the luxury to send for a dress or shoemakers to her home since her father couldn’t afford it. Her family was counting on her to find a husband who wasn’t aware of her current predicament and have a child before it was too late to end the marriage.

Harper was trying her best to get married quickly, but it was easier said than done. She hadn’t seen Zane around, which led her to believe he had found another lady to fall in love with.

"Will you come with me?" The sound of her mother’s voice interrupted her thoughts.

"No, I do not want to be seen there. You must be quick. If the other ladies spot you, they will speak of this. Why couldn’t we get a maid to do this?" Harper questioned, looking around for any of her peers’ maids

Harper didn’t receive an answer from her mother since she had been told why they couldn’t send anyone else to do their business. It was an unnecessary expense which they couldn’t afford to have.

Harper remained outside to look around at her shops she frequented before this. There were many lovely dresses she wished to have at the start of the season.

’How am I to find a husband with dresses from last season?" Harper muttered.

Amelie and Octavia were already looking down on her since news of her father’s decline in wealth had reached their ears.

"I think your beauty is enough to find you a husband."

Harper turned around, horrified that one of the men she had been courting spotted her, but it was a stranger.

"I was right about your beauty," the stranger said, taking off his hat to be a gentleman. "I am sorry for intruding on your time looking at the dresses. I have seen you before and finally spotted the chance to speak with you. Forgive me if I am disturbing you."

Harper was at a loss for words for a moment, but soon snapped out of it. She couldn’t let this moment pass. "No, you are not disturbing me. Would you be so kind as to share your name?"

"I am Cassius," Cassius introduced himself. "Cassius Monroe."