“What shall we teach him first?” Mary asked. “Introductions?”
Constance nodded. “I believe that would be a marvelous place to begin.” She looked at the young boy. “Wait here, and we will reenter the room. I would like to see how you introduce yourself.”
Charles nodded, and Constance led Mary and Emma from the room. When she returned, Constance nearly laughed. The boy had taken a seat in one of the chairs, his hands neatly folded in his lap.
“Miss Constance, Miss Mary, Miss Emma,” he said, “you may sit, but I only have two chairs.”
Emma snickered, and Constance gave her a gentle elbow. “That was a very good start,” she said. “However, a gentleman always stands when a lady enters a room as a sign of respect. Then address and offer us a seat. Since we only have three chairs, perhaps the polite thing to do would be to offer the ladies a seat and you remain standing.”
“Oh,” Charles said as if that thought had not occurred to him. “Of course. I’m sorry.” He gave her a sad look.
“It’s all right. Now, let’s try again.”
They left again, and this time when the reentered the room, Charles stood. “Miss Constance, Miss Mary, Miss Emma, I’m happy to see you.” He bowed, and Constance smiled, for she had not asked him to do so.
“As are we,” Constance replied to his greeting. She and her sisters curtsied, which made him giggle, but he returned to his solemn face immediately. “When we received your invitation to join you for tea, we were quite pleased. It is always a pleasure to speak with dear friends.”
The boy’s grin covered his face. “Please, take my finest chairs,” he said with a wave of his arms toward the chairs. “I will stand and not complain.” She would have to talk to him about that last later.
As Constance and her sisters sat, Charles began to rock back and forth on his feet. “Charles,” Emma said, “perhaps your butler can bring us tea?”
The boy stared at her and frowned. “I don’t have a butler.”
The door opened, and Stephen stepped inside. “My lord,” he said with a bow. “Forgive me for being late. I see you have guests. Allow me to bring a tea tray.” Constance could not help but giggle as Stephen picked up the already set tea tray and replaced it on the table. “I have served Lord Charles for ten years.” He placed a cup in front of Constance and winked. “Though Lord Charles is nearly fifty years of age, I must say he looks quite young.”
Everyone laughed, even Charles, and then Stephen bowed again. “I must leave for the day, but I am grateful to have had the opportunity to serve you.”
The man left the room, and Constance let out a small sigh. Stephen was handsome, daring, arrogant…and yet he had a humorous bone in him, too. How could one man possess so many qualities, both good and bad? She added thoughtful, for what he had done for Charles just now was just that.
“Constance,” Emma whispered. “Charles asked a question.”
“Forgive me, my lord,” Constance said. “What was that?”
“Stephen told me that ladies like to hear stories about men hunting.” His eyes held such innocence, Constance wanted to laugh. “Shall I do that?”
“I believe we will talk of other matters,” she replied with a grin. She would have a stern word with Stephen about that bit of advice, that much was certain! “Now, young sir, tell me about this lovely estate in which you live.”
Chapter Fourteen
Constance had never thought the task of denying her feelings for Stephen - or at the least hiding them – would be so difficult, but that was simply not true. Since her last lesson with the man, she was finding it harder than ever. At every turn, his image appeared in her thoughts, and with it came the memory of the kiss they shared, which in turn made her body tingle.
She had been in the kitchens of Lankster Manor on one occasion when a fire flared on the cookstove after one of the undercooks left a fry pan full of grease unattended. The poor cook beat at it until it went out, berating the undercook with every swipe of her apron. That was exactly how Constance felt whenever the memory of that kiss escaped the confines of her mind.
Frustrated, Constance let out a heavy sigh, and her sisters turned in unison to look her way. They were dressing for the day’s tasks, and despite their current situation, neither offered a word of complaint about how they were forced to live. Though, she suspected that Luke and Robert had more to do with that as anything else. She just hoped her sisters continued to conduct themselves as ladies.
“I say that when we finish our chores for the day,” Constance said with a wide smile, “we go to the river for a swim.”
“I would like that,” Emma replied. Then she gave a thoughtful look. “Is it not funny that we swim in rivers now as a form of entertainment rather than attend balls?”
Constance nodded, though she did not find the fact comforting. Those feelings of whether she was doing right by her sisters bothered her still.
She was relieved when the sound of voices out in the common area had all three turn toward the door. “It appears Luke and the others have returned.”
Constance led her sisters from the hut. Indeed, Luke and Walter were handing their reins to Charles, two women Constance did not know huddled together behind them. Their worn dresses were bedraggled, their hair a tangle, and they had their arms crossed over their stomachs as their eyes darted around the camp.
“It appears we have new guests,” Mary whispered. “They look quite distressed.”
Constance nodded, and she and her sisters joined the others who had circled around the newcomers.
“We were returning from Castleberry,” Luke was saying, “when we came upon these two walking alone. Apparently, their employer chucked out all the staff after his estate went into financial ruin.”
Stephen had joined the group. “It’s the same everywhere, it seems,” he said. He turned to the two women. “What are your names? And how long since you were let go?”
“I’m Agnes,” the older of the two women said. “This here is my friend Bridget.” Both women had matted blond hair and dirty faces. Neither did more than glance up from time to time. “We’ve been traveling three weeks now. We started our journey outside Dover. We hoped to reach London, but I’m afraid we’ve gone everywhere but there.”
“I ain’t been nowhere outside Dover, my lord,” Bridget said so quietly that Constance almost could not hear her. “And Agnes ain’t been much further. When we kept to the roads, we got too much attention from some men who didn’t look none too safe, so we took the less-used roads instead. We were too afraid to ask anyone for directions, and some of the folks in the villages chased us away when we said we didn’t have any money.”
“And London?” Stephen asked. “Do you have family there? Or work?”
Agnes shook her head. “No, my lord. It’s the only place we knew to look for work. Neither Bridget nor I have any family to go to, so that’s why we decided on London.”
Louisa walked up to the group, glancing at Constance with a look of disapproval before stopping to stand beside Stephen.
“Finding work may be a possibility,” Stephen said. “However, we can discuss that later. Would you care for something to eat?”
Both women nodded and voiced their agreement.
Stephen turned to Emma and Mary. “Would you see our new guests have food?”
Mary nodded. “Of course. We would love to.”
Constance smiled with pride as her sisters led the newcomers away. It was that kindness and love they had for others that pleased her, and she knew their mother would share in her pride if she were with them. Despite all they had been through, the two young women maintained who they were, and that pleased Constance more than anything.
People began to scatter, and Constance walked toward Stephen. With Louisa, Luke, and Robert gathered around the man, she was unsure if she should join and therefore paused a few steps away.
“I do not bite,” Stephen said with a wink. “Come, join us.”
Constan
ce grinned, but when she caught Louisa’s glare, the smile fell. However, she joined the group despite the other woman’s clear disdain.
“Does their story ring true?” Stephen asked.
“It does,” Luke replied. “I asked the usual questions, and then late last night just before we bedded down for the night, I asked them again. You know how people can’t lie when they’re near exhaustion? Well, their story didn’t falter in its telling despite how tired they were.”
“I sense no ill-intentions from them as I have others,” Louisa said. Her gaze fell on Constance with disapproval, and Constance had to clench her fists at her side to keep from slapping the woman.
Stephen did not seem to take any notice, however. “Good. I must leave for town for the night. Preparations must be made for…” He clamped his mouth shut, and although he did not look at Constance, she could not help but wonder if it was she who should not hear their plans.
“I can join you,” Constance said, determined not to left out again. “We can skip my lesson for today.”
Luke and Walter walked away, but Louisa snorted.
“I believe it best you remain here for the day,” Stephen replied. “Louisa, perhaps you can take Constance into the woods today. You can evaluate her skills, for they will be needed very soon.”
Constance and Louisa both turned to stare at the man. It was Louisa who spoke first, however. “There is nothing to…”
“She will be needed,” Stephen said with a firmness that brooked no argument. “As are her sisters. I’m not making a request; I’m commanding it.”
Without another word, he turned and marched off toward the horse line, where Charles stood waiting with Stephen’s horse.
Constance closed her eyes for a moment, took a deep calming breath, and then turned to Louisa. The woman was glaring at her, her green eyes narrowed and the smile far from promising.
“Well, then,” Louisa said. “It appears I have no choice. We will leave at once.” She turned to leave, but then stopped and shot Constance a glare. “And do not think I do this for you.”
Leaving alone with Louisa was not what Constance wanted to do. However, it was about time the woman learned that she could not push Constance around. So, with clenched fists and a determined step, Constance followed Louisa deep into the woods, hoping she would return with all her limbs intact.
***
Emerging from a cluster of trees, doing her best to use the lessons Stephen had taught her on moving silently through the underbrush - and doing a fine job of it if she said so herself! - Constance smiled.
“You walk silently,” Louisa said with a begrudging nod as they came to a stop at the riverbank. “Stephen has taught you well.”
“He is a good teacher,” Constance replied. This brought another snort, which Constance decided to ignore. “What will you be teaching me today?”
Without warning, Louisa turned, placed a leg behind Constance’s, and pushed Constance into the muddy bank of the river. “To learn how to stand,” she replied with a sneer. “Which, apparently, you cannot do.”
Constance pushed aside the humiliation and anger that threatened to overtake her. If this woman felt the need to hurt her physically or emotionally, Constance would not give her the satisfaction. “What did I do wrong?”
“When someone attempts to take a hold of you,” the woman said as she reached for Constance’s arms, “press one foot back to steady yourself.”
Constance did as Louisa instructed, and when the woman went to push her, Constance did not fall. It was a good start.
“That is all. Your lesson is complete. Sadly, you did not meet my approval.”
Constance gaped at Louisa’s back. When the sun caught the woman’s red hair, it reflected Constance’s feelings toward her.
“There is no need to be nasty toward me,” Constance growled at the woman. “I have been nothing but kind to you since I arrived.”
Louisa spun about. “Kind?” the woman asked incredulously. “You have been kind? It was I who allowed you in the camp!” She took a step toward Constance. “It was I who has allowed you and your sisters to remain. Upon your arrival, I had thought you a lady. However, you are no lady. You are far worse than I thought; you are a woman who destroys lives!”
Constance gave the woman a fierce glare. “What do you mean? I have harmed no one in all my life!”
“You and your sisters,” Louisa said as if the words burned her tongue, “I have seen the way your sisters look at Luke and Robert, enticing them with their smiles. Yet, they are not my concern, for it is Stephen about whom I worry.
“I have done nothing…”
“You have ruined him!” Louisa shouted. “He was happy here with us in the camp before you came along.”
“And he remains happy.”
“Does he?” the woman asked. “He has grown enamored with you and lost focus on what we are here to do. You know this, yet you throw yourself at him like some hussy.”
“I am not like that,” Constance said, though she wondered at her own words. “He has made it clear that we have no future together.”
Louisa took a step back as though Constance had struck her. “What do you mean?”
“Stephen told me that his commitment to you and the others in the camp comes first. He values your friendship greatly, and your jealousy is destroying that friendship.”
The woman’s cheeks reddened with anger. “Do not place the blame on me,” she said in a low menacing tone. “It was not I who stirred his heart.”
“You are jealous because you care for him but he does not return your affections. I did nothing to take him from you, nor would I ever consider such a thing.”
“But you have!” Louisa shouted. “Or rather you have tried.”
Constance sighed, her anger replaced by compassion. Jealousy had consumed this woman, and Constance hoped she could help calm it. “I told him that I respected his vow to keep the needs of the camp foremost in his mind. I cannot deny it hurt, but it was the right thing to do. When you care for someone, you do what is best for them; it is not about your own needs but rather about theirs. I wish it for every person I meet.”
Louisa pursed her lips but made no comment. However, Constance could see the pain in the woman’s eyes.
“If you truly care for him,” Constance continued, “you would wish to see him happy, as I do. However, it does not matter whether you love him or if I do, for it is his heart and his desires that will one day make the decision, not us.”
The wind picked up and blew strands of their hair about. Constance’s heart hurt for the love she had for Stephen that would not be returned. And though Louisa was cruel, she did not wish to see the woman suffer.
“Do you truly care for people as you say?” Louisa asked. “That is, to see them happy?”
Constance nodded. “I do. It is a lesson my mother taught me when I was very young, one that I insist my sisters adhere to, as well.”
The smile that played at the corner of Louisa’s lips was not congenial. “Then you can do something that will please me greatly. You can leave tomorrow morning. I do not wish to have you with us any longer.”
“I must leave because you are jealous of me?” Constance asked in surprise. “That does nothing to help Stephen; it only helps you!”
Louisa gave her a mocking laugh. “You do not see it, do you? It is I who found Stephen alongside the road, dying. It was I who helped him regain his strength, who cared for him when he was near death. He helped me raise my son, and together we built this camp. Do you realize that Charles misses Stephen when he is away? He asks me where the man he deems his father has gone. So, you see, Stephen has many obligations, and none of them concern you.”
Constance could not help but feel terrible. She should have left the camp as soon as she could have; now she felt like an intruder. “I did not know.”
“Of course you did not,” Louisa replied. “You were too busy with your excursions with Stephen to bother to take notice.”
She took another step forward, her nose almost touching Constance’s. “You call yourself a lady, but a lady would not sneak into the woods and tempt a man with a kiss.”
Constance’s eyes widened. How did she know?
“Oh, yes, I saw you take his hand and kiss his cheek.”
“It was nothing more than a kind gesture,” Constance whispered, but she knew it for the lie it was. What had she done!
“I do not care. Regardless, it was no action a lady would take. Your sisters are doing the same, and their affection for Robert and Luke grow daily. If you care about them, take them to a more appropriate place. And if you care for Stephen, let him take care of others in the camp as he once did. His distraction only hurts the camp.”
Pain tore at Constance. Some of what this woman said was false, but much was no different than what she had told herself on more than one occasion. “We will leave come sunrise tomorrow,” she whispered.
With a smug smile, Louisa gave a single nod as if she had expected the words before turning and making her way back to the camp.
Constance remained to stare at the river. She knew Louisa was jealous, but she could not deny the truth of her words. So much of what Constance’s mother had taught her had been lost since her arrival at the camp, and she was setting a bad example for her sisters by her actions. If she had shared a kiss with Stephen, could she be angry if her sisters kissed Luke or Robert? It had been Constance’s decision to remain, and by doing so, she had placed them in harm’s way. Not the same harm the highwayman had threatened but one of propriety and decorum.
Though it broke her heart, Constance knew Louisa was right - it was best if she and her sisters left. Not only for the sake of Louisa and Stephen, but for that of her sisters - and herself.
Chapter Fifteen
Constance packed a burlap dress, a gift from Sally, into her sack. Rather than delaying the heartache, she told her sisters that they would leave that very day. Granted, there were only two more hours left of daylight, but she could not imagine remaining in the camp a moment longer than necessary. She may not agree with Louisa’s assessment that Constance ruined the camp, she did agree that her example to her sisters was unbecoming of a lady.
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