“I believe you, Sally.”
“Oh, thank you, Miss Charlotte. God bless you.” The two women embraced. Then Sally stood back, her hands on Charlotte’s shoulders, regarding her. “Now, tell me you haven’t gone and gotten yourself sacked too.”
“Not exactly. But it is time for me to leave.”
“A fussy one is she?”
“No. Anne’s an angel.”
Sally stuck her elbow into Charlotte’s side. “I meant the missus.” Sally’s smile was back, her front teeth protruding over her bottom lip.
“Let us just say it might be best if she did not know you and I are so fond of one another.”
Sally nodded her understanding.
“I’ve told Mrs. Taylor I knewofyou at the Manor and that she would be very pleased with you.”
Thomas appeared, already bending low to pick up Sally’s two carpetbags before standing to his full height beside her. Sally’s gaze followed his upward movement with a slight opening of her mouth.
“Sally, this is my friend Thomas Cox. Thomas, this is Miss Sally Mitchell.”
Thomas gave an awkward bow, then looked at the newcomer. “A pleasure it is to meet you, Miss Sally.”
Charlotte did not miss the admiration in his expression.
Sally shook her head in wonder. “I’ll be bobbed, but you’re tall,” she said, then giggled, teeth splayed as she did so.
Thomas smiled in return. “Yes, we have that in common.” He looked back at Charlotte beside him. “As well as a dear friend.”
Charlotte pretended not to notice his blush nor the question in Sally’s eyes as she looked at them both.
When they arrived back at Lloyd Lodge, Mrs. Taylor welcomed Sally warmly. As Charlotte had predicted, the mistress seemed very pleased with her replacement. There was something about the large, simple woman that seemed to put people, perhaps especially jealous wives, at ease.
Charlotte helped Sally carry her carpetbags up to the room Charlotte had used. She moved her own packed bags off the dressing table to make room for Sally’s things.
“You’re not leaving already, Charlotte, surely?”
“Not today. Dr. Taylor said I might stay as long as I like.”
“Stay, then. I don’t mind sharing.”
“I shall stay just long enough to see you settled with the Beebes and the Taylors, and with little Anne, of course.”
“Won’t it be difficult for you, Charlotte?”
Charlotte chose to ignore the deeper implications of the question. “You have just arrived. Of course I want to spend a day or two with you before I go.”
“Will you see Thomas again ... after you leave, I mean.”
“I shouldn’t think so. Why?”
“You don’t, that is, the two of you are not ...?”
“No, Sally, we are not.”
“You don’t ... love him, then?”
Charlotte took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. She heard Anne, who had been napping, gurgling happily to herself in the next room.
