Rosaline looked up as she finished reading the letter. He was lying! He was going to lie to get her back. She had only left with the things she had arrived with on the farm, that and the dresses she had purchased with her own meager earnings as Mrs. Voss had insisted. The dress they had purchased for her to wear while she sang had been left behind on her bed. It had been part of the life she wanted to forget.
She had no choice, she would have to tell Thomas the truth. She prayed to God that he wouldn’t hate her and send her packing for not telling him until now.How long had the letter taken to get here?she wondered, her blood turning to ice. Mr. Voss had said he was giving her a week. She probably only had a few days left to send her reply.
Her thoughts were drawn back to the present when the old lady returned with her basket. “Are you alright, dear? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“I’m fine, just feeling a little ill.” She hastily paid for the groceries, shoved the letter into the basket and hurried out of the store.
***
Rosaline quietly entered the study and gently pushed the door shut behind her.
Thomas was standing in front of his desk with his back towards the door. There were papers strewn about the desk. He turned when he heard the door shut and looked at her. “Is something the matter?” His voice was heavy with concern. “Did something happen in town?”
“Everything went fine in town,” she said quietly. “There’s something I need to tell you.” She leaned back against the door and let out a breath. “Before I start, I can only say that I didn’t keep anything from you on purpose. There wasn’t a good time to bring it up. I was going to soon, but my hand is being forced.”
Thomas frowned, crossed his arms and sat on the edge of his desk. “I think you’d better tell me then.”
“Before I let you read the letter I want you to know where I come from and how I came to be here.”
He waited patiently for her to continue.
“When I was ten my parents died from cholera. Having no relatives, I was sent to an orphanage where I was soon taken in by Mr. and Mrs. Voss.”
“So your name isn’t Berry, it’s Voss?”
“I kept my father’s name. You see the Vosses never intended for me to be their daughter. I lived in the servants quarters for eight years and served as a maid in their house. They didn’t love me, Thomas. I never knew a moment’s kindness in all those years.”
“Why didn’t you just leave when you were of age?”
She lifted her hands in front of her and stroked the scar in her palm. “Mr. Voss is a man of means. He stops at nothing to get what he wants. He would fly into rages whenever he didn't get his way.”
“Did he give you that scar?” His voice was deep and angry.
“Yes, and no. There was an accident shortly after I came there. I had spoken out of turn and there was an accident when he shouted at me. Mr. Voss never physically laid a hand on me.” She put her scared hand behind her back out of habit.
Thomas sighed. Rosaline thought she could see a look of relief on his face.
“He never needed to harm me physically, he has enough power and influence to make people’s lives as difficult as possible when he doesn’t get his way. Truthfully, I was too afraid to be without a roof over my head if I ran away. I attempted it once, but he caught me and withheld food for a week. I never attempted an escape again.” She looked up into his angry face. “Until I came to you.”
There was a vein popping in Thomas’ neck as he clenched his jaw.
Rosaline felt panicked but it was too late to turn back now. "I found your father’s advertisement by chance, and my friend Donna suggested I reply. I corresponded with him and ended up coming here.”
She looked at the floor. “I’m sorry I lied to you, Thomas. I should have been honest with you that day you proposed.”
“Is that everything you needed to tell me?” His voice was dark.
“This morning in town I received a letter from Mr. Voss. It seems that Donna has betrayed me and he knows where I am. I believe with all my heart that Donna would never have betrayed me if she had another choice. Mr. Voss must have threatened her family. I just know it.”
She looked pleadingly into his eyes. “Whatever you may think of me now Thomas, please know that what he is saying in this letter isn’t the truth.” She held the letter out for him to read. “I am not a thief. I may have snuck away because I knew he wouldn’t just let me leave, but my motives were honest.”
Thomas took the letter. He stared at the page for a moment or two before placing it on the desk behind him and turning back to her. His eyes were dark with anger, and Rosaline saw her happy future crumbling in his eyes.
“Do you promise me that you are telling the truth about him never having laid a hand on you?”
Rosaline inched away from his angry tone. “I swear, Thomas.” She waited for him to say she should pack her things and leave first thing in the morning. She had, after all, withheld important information about her past.
“Because if he did, if he hurt you...” Thomas clenched his jaw and shook his head. “It is going to take a lot of strength on my behalf not to hurt him in return.”
