Bittersweet Endeavors (18 page)

“What
do you make of this rumor about her being
King Charles’ cousin
?  D
o you think there’s any truth behind
it?” 
By
the excitement in her voice, Margaret
hope
d it was
true.
As the
ir father, Margaret also dreamed
of prestige and wealth, as well as title.
A
lthough it couldn
’t
be obtained
by
their
blood lines, Margaret
could
easily find happiness by living
vicariously through
Myra
. 
And that, if only the
rumor
prove
d
true. 
Seth
assume
d
the tales
were
what brought forth
his sister’s
int
erest
in Myra
from the start
.

“
Nay, tis not true.
 
Tis
a game between
Myra
and
that servant girl to pass the time
.”  Although
,
he almost believed the rumor
himself
,
it
was
a
fabrication
. 
Lucia assured him
of it
when he questioned her about
Myra
’s past
after he heard her declaration while under the effects of the tonics
.

Margaret gave a lady-like snort and waved her hand in the air.  “Lucia?
  She’s the servant you are referring
?”

Seth nodded.  Of all his sisters who
took
harshly
to Lucia, Margaret
’s anger
surpassed
the rest
. 
Their
father's indiscretion with the servant's mother
was
a personal insult in Margaret's mind
, especially since
her and Lucia’s
births c
a
me
so close together, a mere
sennight
apart
. 
Having a darky as a blood
relative
served
polite society
a
good
reason
for dishing
their
blather
. 
It only worsen
ed
matters by Lucia’s beauty, something none of his sisters possess
ed
, particularly Margaret
.

“We should really separate those two. 
Myra
is much too kind and well-mannered to be mixed with
that girl
.”

“
M
yra
shall
be
mother’s
m
aid soon and that
’ll
shorten their time together. 
She’s not caused any trouble and
I think
f
ather
mayhap
be agreeable
now.”

“Oh, Seth,” Margaret
whispered
excitedly
when
the bell above the store
’s entrance
r
ang out
.  “There's Mister Frederickson.”  She nearly purred out his name.
She quickly smoothed out the invisible wrinkles
on
her dress and checked for any hair strands that strayed out from her mantilla.  A
blush tint
ed
his sister's cheeks and he
smiled
at her timidity.  However, his eyes narrowed when he turned and watched Zachary Frederickson sweep a long, slow
inspection of
Myra
as
he entered the front door.  He’d seen that look before in men's eyes
, but this time,
the man’s
aim was
at
Myra
…
his
Myra
.

“Good day, Mister
. Preston,” Zachary said in a cool, but respectable tone as he approached. 
Frederickson
looked at Margaret
but she
lowered
her chin
in her bashfulness.  Zachary's hand reached
for
his
Tricorne
, and in a gesture of grandeur, lowered the
hat
near
his
trim, muscular
waist.  Plumes whizzed t
hrough the air and Seth believed the
motion
was
for the purpose of
show
ing
off his new hat.  “And Margaret, you look lovely as ever.  Is that a new
frock
?  I must
say
tis
quite comely on you.”

Margaret breathed heavily
and Seth thought she might swoon.  For some foolish reason, Margaret fancied herself in love with Mister Frederickson, ever since he arrived
the previous
year.  Although much older in years than his sister,
Frederickson’s
ebony hair mixed with many gray strands came off as distinguished and not aged.  The wrinkles that creased at the side of his gray eyes displayed him
as
wise and not a man who’
d
seen at least five and fifty years.  Many women well past half his age fancied him, and Seth understood their reason
ing
, but Frederickson's reported reputation
was outweighed by more bad than good
.  Right off the reel, Seth didn’t like
him, even aside from the rumor that h
is wealth
was
due to his
liaisons
with
freebooters
.

“Mister Frederickson, it’s so good to see you again,”
Margaret
finally
said.  “
It’s been ages since we saw you last.
  You must come and pay us a visit
, and
soon. 
They’ve
completed
the construction to
our home and
tis absolutely lovely
!  You
must
view it for yourself
.
 
Tis
the grandest in Jamestown!
”

“
It’d be my pleasure
, Miss Margaret.  I’ve missed your company
as well,
and
have
eagerly
waited
to see
the new Preston
Manor
since your father showed me the
designs
.” 

“I’ll get the carriage ready,” Seth said, making
his excuses.
 

“
Please hurry with your shopping,
s
ister.” Seth walked away
and
tersely
nod
ded
to
ward
Frederickson
before he left
. “Good day
,
Mister Frederickson,” he added.

“Watch them,”
Seth warned
as
he passed
Myra
by the door
.
“I don’t trust him.”

*                    *                   *

Myra
edged her way closer toward Margaret
,
but
she
kept her distance
and tried to look more interested in the store’s wares and less in them
.

“I’ve really missed you, Zachary,” Margaret whispered
,
and
grinned mischievously at the man who stood
beside her, whom Myra recalled, was to be Margaret’s future husband.

“And I
missed
you
, Margaret dear.”

“I’ve been thinking about having a picnic out by Parker's Lake.  Just the two of us,” she murmured.

“You know we cannot do that.  Your reputation would be in ruins if an
yone should catch us.”  He nodded toward
Myra
, and lowered his voice, but
Myra
still easily heard them
.
Myra
smiled over what l
ittle care they
showed for
discretion
. 
Certainly
anyone in the
store
clearly
hear
d
them
speak
,
despite their attempt
at being
inconspicuous
.
 
“Why not bring your maid with you?
” Zachary announced.  “
Then, it’ll
be all proper like and respectful
.
”

“Oh,
that is
a splendid idea!”

She took the man by
his arm and led him to
the back of the store
.  She glanced
at
Myra
,
but
this time, her voi
ce lower
ed
considerably. 
Although with strained difficulty,
Myra
still heard
their conversation.

“What do you think of our new servant, Zachary?” Margaret asked
.  “Her name is
Myra
and the rumor is that
she’s King Charles
’s cousin
. 
Certainly
she’s shamming it, though,
”
she added.

“The King's cousin is your maid?” he asked incredulously.  “I think not, my dearest.”

“The Lady of Brunningham, Brunninglor
e
, Brunnington or something or other,” she continued as she
waved her hand.  “Of course,
tis
unlikely
true, but one never knows in these times
since the crown’s restoration
, do we?” 

It felt like someone
hit
Myra
in the pit of her stomach. 
Myra
forced the bile b
ack as it rose into her throat.  She felt
queasy and faint from Margaret’s declaration.  How did Margaret learn her secret?

“I wonder, Zachary
.  Perhaps
tis
true and
she’s not
aware t
he crown
has
been restored?”

Zachary stiffened.  His face
turned
grim and he
nervously
fidget
ed
with his cravat
.  “
Political affairs
are not a lady’s concern, Margaret,” he said
,
as if correcting a child.

“Of course
, you’re right.
”
Margaret
lowered
her lashes and chin
simultaneously
in submission.  “
I’ve overstepped
,
and
I do
apologize.”

“Now, what about that picnic?”
The smile returned
once he realized
that Margaret felt duly regrettable after his reprimand
.

“Why not
later today
?
”
  Whether at the prospect of having a picnic with him, or Frederickson’s forgiveness, Margaret’s excitement was quickly restored. 
“
I’ll have
a meal
prepare
d
once I return home and I’ll meet you posthaste.
”

“
Splendid!
”

“
Perhaps
then
we
shall
discuss about you asking my father for my hand,” she shyly added. 

He didn’t respond and Margaret
attempted a
smile
, but it didn’t quite hit its mark
.
She then
fluttered her lashes
and M
yra winced at
the
poor display she
made in
an attempt to beguile
him
.