“What do you mean, Miss Anne? Is it possible? Would she really do that?” Mary asked.
“Of course, she would, Mary. She cares far more about herself than she does anyone else. And you need to find out what is going on because there is much more to this than her simple jealousy.
I know that it seems she has an interest in Lord Hanbrooke, but I think Lady Charlotte is actually hoping to find respectability as a cover for her relationship with this other gentleman,” Miss Anne said.
“So that once she is married, she does not have to fear that anyone might find out? You think that she knows she would have more freedom once married?” Mary asked.
“Indeed. There are many women who find that an affair within marriage is safer than one outside. She could still protect her reputation. For instance, if she found herself with child, everyone would assume the father to be the Duke or whomever she had chosen for a husband,” Miss Anne said, considering the most shocking possibility.
Mary really couldn’t believe it, and, for a moment, she thought that all of this was just a matter of confusion and lies that had been shared. But she also knew that Miss Anne was an honest woman, and she was not one to gossip senselessly.
She was someone who cared about the dignity of others, and she wouldn’t make up a lie just to try and protect Mary. She would only be saying this if she had a reason to believe it.
“How long has this been going on for?” Mary asked.
“I first saw her sneaking out three months ago. I confronted her and stopped her at the door, and she told me that I was confused and that there was nothing strange about what she was doing. She merely wanted a midnight stroll,” Miss Anne said.
“And you believed her?” Mary asked.
“No, of course not. But if I had approached her mother, who would Lady Rachel have believed? My duty as a governess is to ensure that mothers and fathers know all the infractions of their children, but that woman refuses to hear them. She is convinced that any word against her daughter only turns Charlotte into the victim of another’s jealousy or cruelty,” she said.
“There was nothing you could do,” Mary noted.
Miss Anne nodded. “After the fourth time I caught her, I told Lady Charlotte that I would speak with her mother about the evening walks, and she reminded me of this very thing. She said that her mother would defend her right to go out and walk and that Lady Charlotte would insist to her mother that I was simply trying to stir up trouble and suggest improper things to ruin her reputation.
She said that if I spoke with your father, she would claim that she caught me in a dalliance and I was trying to get out of trouble by telling lies.”
“And she would have. Undoubtedly,” Mary agreed.
“Precisely. Thus, Lady Charlotte has had an opportunity to go out as often as she likes. And she does, quite often,” she said.
Mary was intrigued to learn the truth. She knew that she deserved justice, but she wasn’t sure what to do about it. After all, she didn’t want to ruin Charlotte’s reputation. It could have caused such a mess for the whole family and Charlotte would never be invited to anything again. She would be considered unmarriageable. It would be a terrible thing for everyone if that happened.
Mary was at a loss. The only way to rescue herself was to throw Charlotte to the wolves. But what would happen then? And wouldn’t Lady Rachel only say that Mary had made it up as retaliation against Charlotte for exposing her own secret?
“What do you say, Mary? Shall we deal with this matter? Shall we ensure that Charlotte is held accountable for her actions?” Miss Anne asked.
Mary still didn’t know. She looked at her governess and paused, trying to think it through. “I am not sure yet. It could absolutely ruin her.”
“And it could absolve you,” Miss Anne reminded her.
“I know, but I want to ensure that I am doing the right thing. I feel that it is very important to have all the facts before simply making these accusations. I was not afforded such a gift, but I would like to do so for Charlotte,” Mary said.
“Very well,” Miss Anne conceded. “I have heard that there is a blacksmith who either knows something or he is the gentleman in question. These are just rumours, mind you, but I think it would make the most sense.”
“A blacksmith?” Mary asked, surprised. She had never imagined Charlotte caring for a man without wealth and a title. If the blacksmith was the man she had fallen in love with, it was quite a shock.
“I know, it seems very different from what one might expect, but Lady Charlotte is a wild woman. She may enjoy having an interest in someone different from whom we all might anticipate,” Miss Anne noted.
And Mary knew that she was right. Perhaps it was the very fact that he was nothing like Lady Rachel would want for Charlotte that drew Charlotte to this man. And if so, Mary knew more than ever that she must tread carefully. After all, this, too, could cause greater problems. There was nothing about this that boded well for the family.
But Mary wanted the truth. Only then could she decide what to do with it.