Gemma looked at the way he treated the woman who’s hand he still held.
Wait! Who she is? She isthe dowager baroness Whitcombe!It was true what Mrs. Baker had said about his heart belonging to another.Gemma thought as she watched her and Lothar together.
How could he be so familiar with the baroness when he had spoken to my father to start a courtship not even a week ago?Gemma thought. Her previous decision to not speak to him was dissipating at an alarming rate.
‘Are you feeling unwell, My Lady?” Ashley asked suddenly by her side. Gemma had not noticed she had returned from the front of the store.
“I am fine, thank you, Ashley. Did you hand in this week’s writing?” Gemma asked before Ashley would notice who she had been spying on and why. Ashley was a quiet, friendly young woman whom Gemma considered a friend of sorts. What Gemma did not do was hand Ashley any cause to spread rumors The girl had a habit of not keeping a secret from the rumor mill.
Ashley was only three years younger than Gemma, at twenty years of age. Yet she at times acted beyond her years and at other times seemed purely childish. She could not dismiss Ashley as she did her duties well and she could not force Ashley to return to her old life.
Ashley’s parents had not wanted children at all. When they had been unsuccessful in finding a rich husband for her who would elevate their low standing, they had all but thrown her into the streets.
Gemma’s family had taken her in to help her onto her feet. She had insisted from the beginning to be of assistance and not to be a burden. Her help here and there had turned into a full-time position, and she had quickly become a close friend.
“Yes, My Lady,” Ashley answered Gemma’s question about her writing. She has almost not written a submission fornext week’s publication. She had found it nearly impossible to concentrate when all she had thought about had been Lothar.
What a complete waste of time thinking of him. His heart seems to genuinely belong to this woman after all.Gemma thought as she glanced over to see him still fawning over the baroness
Gemma decided in that moment that she had enough. She walked closer to where Lothar was. Close enough for him to see her yet not have to speak directly to him yet make her presence known.
He should know that I have seen what he had probably hoped to keep a secret for one reason. For another she did not enjoy watching other people. Gemma spoke to Ashley but looked directly at Lothar. The moment he saw her he let go of the baroness’ hand and his face went as white as ash. The baroness gave her a sour look and she returned it. Gemma knew then that she and this woman were now enemies.
She would have lied to herself if she tried to convince herself that it was not because of Lothar and that she and this woman have found an obvious dislike in each other. Closer to the truth would be that perhaps they could have been friends if not for Lothar.
She looked again to Lothar who at least had the decency to look sheepish. She had little choice but to introduce herself.
“Good morning, Your Grace,” Gemma said as she tried to muster a smile.
“Good morning, My Lady,” Lothar said and straightened himself. “Allow me to introduce the Dowager Baroness Whitcombe, Henrietta Briggs. Henny this is…”
“I know who she is,” the baroness said in a tone that made her feel as though she had done something wrong. “You are the woman who is going to help Lothar save his little estate.”
Gemma looked at the woman for a moment and wondered what he could possibly see in this woman. She had spoken only a few words and Gemma already found her to be abrasive.
“And how am I to do that?” Gemma asked skipping past the small talk as she had. The baroness looked at Gemma, her amber eyes and sharp nose reminded her of the description of witches in the books she had read as a child. For a woman who had just fainted, she seemed miraculously recovered.
“Well seeing as he intends on marrying you. He stands to inherit quite the sum of money from doing so. That level of financial aid should do wonders for the place,” the baroness said unmoved by the anger Gemma knew was evident in her tone.
“A means to an end? More like something that is at its end. Why marry me when he could have someone he cares for escapes me,” Gemma retorted.
“It is a long, boring story,” the baroness said.
“I am sure we finally agree, sadly you will have to excuse me. I have much shopping to do before town closes,” Gemma retorted, and turned to leave without waiting for a reply.
She had no real concept of what their relationship really was. But then if she took into consideration that Mrs. Baker had stated that he still loved a woman who did not love him back and added to that the scene she had just witnessed, it was difficult to come to any other conclusion then he was spending time alone with the woman he loved.
There would be nothing wrong with it if only he had not wanted to marry her… and if it just did not hurt so much to see.
Gemma quickened her step as tears stung her eyes. The very last thing she needed right now was for Lothar to see how much it had hurt her to see him with another woman, several in fact. She had wanted him to believe she did not care about him, had wanted him to rather marry someone else if all he wanted from her was her money. Now at least she had seen her wishes in the flesh, she knew it was not what she wanted.
Then again do I want a man who would easily go from one woman to the next? A man who is looking to marry you and cannot let go of a past love? What do you think you will catch them doing the next time? A kiss? What will it take to let him go? It would be better if I were strong and encouraged him to be with the baroness.
Since the plan to put him off had worked quicker than anticipated, Gemma tried to see it as a win.
Then why do I feel like I have lost it all?Gemma thought as her chest grew tight. Gemma could barely see where she was going. If not for Ashley, she would have wondered blindly into town instead of going to the store that was next on their list and right next door to the haberdasheries.
The dry goods store was busy already. Ashley waited in the long queue while Gemma gathered the smaller items on their list. Ashley had brought a large basket for their goods. Gemma was relieved when she could pack them into the basket. Though the spices, small bag of coffee and sugar were not that heavy, their combined weight did threaten to fall from her arms.
