Sylvie Sommerfield - Noah's Woman (3 page)

"Charity." Beth bent to shake her. "Charity, come on. Everyone else is almost dressed. You'll be late for breakfast."

"I'm not hungry. Go to breakfast without me," she mumbled from beneath her pillow.

"You know Mrs. Gilbert will just send someone back for you. You'd better get up."

With a disgusted grunt, Charity pushed the pillow away and contemplated her friend. Beth knew her too well to be alarmed at the scowl. She smiled, and after

a while Charity smiled too, swung her legs over the narrow cot she slept on, and stood up.

Before either Charity or Beth had time to speak again, one of the younger girls came running toward them.

"Charity! Charity!" The girl was breathless by the time she stopped beside them. She was a girl of about ten, who had been deposited at the orphanage at two by parents who simply could not afford another mouth to feed. Charity had been kind to her, and Elise had never forgotten it. She smiled now as if she were more than pleased to carry messages to Charity. "Mrs. Gilbert says for you to come to her office right away. There's something important she has to talk to you about."

"Something to talk to me about? Elise, are you sure you heard right? Maybe it was something important she wanted me to do."

"No," Elise said firmly. "She said she wanted to talk to you and would I fetch you right away."

Beth and Charity exchanged bewildered looks. Then Elise grinned. "I'll bet I know what it is."

"What?" Charity asked.

"Well, maybe I don't 'zactly know, but I'll bet it has something to do with that Mr. Brentwood. He was in her office and he talked to Mrs. Gilbert for a long time."

"He comes almost every month. He gives the orphanage a lot of money. Why would he have anything to do with me?" Charity asked the question more to herself than to Beth or Elise.

"Well, you'd better go and find out what she wants," Beth said.

"Yes, I guess I'd better. Beth, do you want to come with me? You could wait outside her office."

"All right." Beth was surprised, for, for the first time in Charity's life, there was a flicker of fear in her eyes. This was so uncharacteristic that she could not refuse. As far as she knew, Charity had never been afraid of anything and certainly not of Mrs. Gilbert, who had always been more than kind to her. In fact, so kind that she had given Charity her own surname.

Charity dressed quickly and tied her wayward hair back with a ribbon. Then she and Beth started toward Mrs. Gilbert's office.

Charity walked slowly, which was unusual in itself, and she could not seem to stop her nerves from growing tense. She could feel an inner trembling. She had never felt this way before, and it frightened her. Beth walked beside her until they reached Mrs. Gilbert's door. They exchanged glances, then Charity raised her closed hand to knock on the door.

"Come in," Josine called out. Charity straightened her shoulders, opened the door, and went inside, closing the door softly behind her.

Charity stood with her back against the closed door for a minute, reluctant to go any further. Josine looked up from the papers she had just signed, and smiled at Charity.

"Charity, my dear child, come in and sit down. I have some very good news, both for you and all your friends here at Safe Home."

For a moment, relief made Charity's legs weak and

she paused. Then she walked across the room and sat in a chair before Josine's desk.

"Charity, you know that you will soon be nineteen."

"Yes, ma'am."

"And you know that we have an apprentice method to help teach our girls to be useful and productive in some form of work."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Well, I have found an excellent position for you. I call it a position because it can hardly be called work. You will be caring for an invalid. Bringing her meals, running errands, and reading to her. It will give you wonderful opportunities, for you will live in a very fine home and be given some new clothes and even a bit of money." Josine stood up and walked around the desk to smile down at Charity. "Do not be frightened, child. I wouldn't allow any harm to come to you. You know that. I want to see you protected, and this is an opportunity. You will work there until you are twenty-one. Then you can decide if you choose to stay or not . . . if she's even still alive by then."

"Still alive," Charity repeated.

"The lady is very delicate and very ill. No one knows if she will live long. But her dear husband wants her last years . . . or what time she has, to be as comfortable as he can make them. He is so kind. He has been married for twenty years, but within the past five years his wife has been bed-ridden. Still, he remains a diligent husband and caretaker."

"What is her name?"

"Jessica Brentwood. I think you know of her husband. He has given this orphanage a great deal of

money. He is very generous. Without his monthly donations, I don't believe we could go on. All these girls would be in the streets. His request that you care for his wife seems little to ask of us.''

"I . . . I suppose you're right." Charity could not seem to banish the tingle of fear that swirled through her. "When must I go?"

"You may pack your things this morning. Right after lunch Mr. Brentwood will come for you. Be of good heart, child. You are young and the job will be easy. The days will pass quickly, and in three years' time you will have some money and clothes of your own and good references for your future. It is a golden opportunity, Charity."

"I don't want to sound ungrateful, Mrs. Gilbert, truly. I . . . I've only known you and this place. It will be hard to go. And . . . what about Beth?"

"I will find a suitable place for Beth. Until I do, she will remain in my care. After all, Charity, you will not work every day. You can visit when you have free time." Josine rested her hand on Charity's shoulder. "I will even see to it myself that you two remain in contact. Now, I think it best you have your breakfast and begin to gather your belongings. I expect you back in my office at one o'clock."

"Yes, ma'am." Charity rose. There was no logical reason for her resistance, and she had always known this day would come. Still, she was unprepared.

When Charity left Josine's office Beth fairly leapt to her feet.

"What did she want?"

"It seems you were quite right, Beth. Mrs. Gilbert has already found a place for me."

"You're leaving!" Beth gasped, and her face grew pale. "You're leaving," she repeated with a half sob. ''Where are you going . . . and when?"

Charity turned to look at Beth and realized her friend was very close to panic.

"Don't be upset. You and I knew it had to happen one day." She went on to explain what her duties would be and who she would be working for. "We'll just have to make plans to see each other as often as we can. Mrs. Gilbert said she'd try as hard as she could to get you a place somewhere close by Mr. Brentwood's home."

"He's rich and must have a wonderful house. I . . . I guess he's just trying to be generous," Beth suggested.

"I suppose. He's the one who gives Mrs. Gilbert so much money. I suspect we've been eating food and wearing clothes he's provided for quite some time."

"Then, if he's rich maybe he can find room for both of us," Beth said hopefully. "I can work hard, and together we can make certain his wife is comfortable. I could help in the house and"

"You needn't convince me what a hard worker you are. I already know. I wonder . . . if we both came back this afternoon, maybe we could convince him to take us both. At least we could try."

"Oh, Charity, I'll pray ever so hard. I don't think I can stand it here by myself, and to go to a strange place alone, I just couldn't bear it."

"Well, don't give up. From what Mrs. Gilbert says,

he is a very kind-hearted man." Charity smiled reassuringly. "We'll both cry and beg and hope he really is soft-hearted."

"Who could resist you if you cry?" Beth tried to laugh.

"Not Mr. Brentwood . . . I hope. Come on, let's go pack our meager belongings. We have to be back here by one."

Meager had been the proper word for their possessions. When they returned to Josine's office, each girl carried just one cloth-wrapped bundle. Neither had any luxuries such as jewelry.

They paused before the door, hearing the murmur of voices within. One was definitely male and could only be the very generous Mr. Brentwood.

"Are you ready?" Charity whispered.

"Yes. What should I do?"

"Just be ready to jump to your feet if I open the door. It might be nice if you could manage a few tears . . . just in case."

"If it will melt his heart, I'll cry my eyes out."

"If he refuses," Charity muttered, "we both will. All right, here I go." She inhaled, then knocked quickly before she lost her nerve. She gave Beth a quick, encouraging smile when Josine called for her to come in. Then she opened the door and stepped inside.

Charles stood up as she entered and turned to face her. He took in her fragile beauty and knew in an instant that his judgment had been correct. She was the most beautiful creature he'd seen in a long, long time.

"Charity, come in, my dear," Josine said. "I want

you to meet your benefactor. Mr. Brentwood, this is one of my favorite girls. Charity has been with me since she was a baby."

Charity walked closer, trying to match Charles's smile. She wasn't quite successful.

"Hello, Miss Gilbert," Charles said. "It is a pleasure to meet you. You have no idea what a welcome addition you will be to my household. Do you have any questions you might care to ask me?"

"Yes, sir. If you don't mind."

"Ask away."

"Is your house very large?"

"Yes, very."

"Do you have many servants?"

"Actually not many. Mrs. Devere is head of housekeeping. She has two maids that come in daily, and a fabulous cook. There are no servants that stay all night. I have been taking care of my wife at night so I had no use for them. Of course, you will have your own room and live with us, so you will not have to go back and forth from here. As I said, you will be a welcome addition."

"I realize that I don't know you very well, Mr. Brentwood," Charity said earnestly as she came to stand close to Charles. "But I want to promise you that I'll try to be as good to your wife as I can. I'll do everything required."

"I'm sure you will, my dear," Charles replied. He was smiling, and fighting the urge to reach out and touch her.

"Could I . . . could I ask you for one favor?"

"Charity" Josine began.

"Please, Mrs. Gilbert. This is so important and I have to ask."

"A favor, Charity?" Charles said calmly. He was willing to grant her just about anything she wanted if it would keep her grateful . . . and docile. "What is this favor?"

"I have a friend . . . a very dear friend"

"Charity! Really, now"

"What is it you want for this friend?"

Charity swallowed heavily. She had not expected such warmth in his eyes, or the smile to remain on his lips. Again a shiver of unnamed fear touched her. But she was fighting for Beth, and there was no way she could back away now, much as she wanted to.

"I . . . I want you to take her too." It came out in a rush of words she could not stop. She put a hand on Charles's arm. "She's a good worker and she'll work for practically nothing. She hardly eats anything! She's polite and an excellent reader. She can run errands and she'll be quiet! You'll hardly know she's around. I'd be so grateful! I'd work without being paid. I'll do anything"

"Charity, Charity." Charles's voice finally brought her to a breathless stop. He could feel her slender fingers on his arm, and the clean scent of her filled his senses. He also heard her last words, "I'll do anything . . ." It seemed clear to him that Charity's friend would provide a hold over her that he couldn't afford to pass up. ''What is her name?"

"Beth . . . Beth Knight," Charity said, her eyes wide and filled with hope.

"She is the same age as yourself?"

"Yes, actually we were born on the same day."

"Well . . . for your benefit . . . perhaps I can find a place for her. She can come with you for the time being, and if I find something more suitable, then we'll proceed from there."

Charity's eyes filled with tears of gratitude, and Charles was well pleased with himself.

"You'll never regret it, I swear," Charity said softly, fighting the tears.

"I hope not." Charles smiled. He planned on not regretting it.

Charity left his side and raced to the door and threw it open. Neither she nor Charles paid any attention to the now silent Josine. Charity drew a very nervous Beth inside and watched her eyes light up with happiness when she was told she'd be going with them.

There was excitement, confusion, and repeated good-byes before Charity and Beth were safely tucked in Charles's carriage and on their way to his home.

Charity looked around her in awe as they entered the affluent neighborhood in which they would soon be living. She had never seen such luxuries as a well-manicured garden, or the clothes the ladies in passing carriages wore.

They carried ruffled parasols and wore elaborate hats with ostrich plumes, over hair so elegantly coifed that Charity felt dull and drab.

She had always hated the plain blue, high-necked, long-sleeved, cotton dresses the girls at the orphanage wore. Not to mention the black stockings and

high-laced black shoes, which might have been dependable but were certainly far from pretty.

As they disembarked before Charles's home, both girls gazed up at it in wonder, but only Charity noticed a passing carriage. Several young women had glanced her way, then bent their heads together to whisper and laugh. Charity's cheeks flushed, and she tasted the nauseating feeling of acute embarrassment.

She was unaware of Charles's eyes upon her and his satisfied half smile. Yes, this girl didn't like the position she was in. She wanted pretty clothes and all that went with them. She had her price and he meant to pay it.

Once inside, Beth and Charity soon discovered that they were not to share the same room, as Charity had hoped. Beth was given a small room behind the kitchen, where her duties would be to help the cook prepare Mrs. Brentwood's meals, then to carry them to her on a tray. Unless she was sent for, she was not to go upstairs.