Her breath caught. The gaunt, pale woman couldn’t be Lady Mary, the daughter of the Earl of Teck.
“I’ll be right back,” Lawson said before heading upstairs.
Isabella walked over to the woman. “Mary. Is it you?”
The woman lowered her gaze. “I am she, my lady.”
“You can call me Isabella, as always.”
“It wouldn’t be appropriate.” Mary shook her head. “You’d better not let anyone see us together.”
Isabella rubbed her forehead. “What happened to you? I haven’t seen you. You disappeared. Your parents said you’d left London.”
“I had a child.” Mary swallowed hard. “My parents asked me to leave their house, and I’ve been on my own ever since. They…don’t want to see me again, and the father of my child refuses to see me as well.”
“Oh.” She didn’t ask for further questions. Mary wasn’t married. Now her absence and tattered clothes made sense. “I’m sorry.”
“I’m not. About being a mother, I mean.” Mary showed her the basket filled with clothes. “I work as a seamstress now. Thank goodness I learnt how to sew when I lived with my parents.”
Isabella put a hand on her chest. She wasn’t as brave and skilled as Mary. In her place, she would be dead in a week. “And your child?”
“Struggling. He’s only a baby, and he’s already learning how difficult life is. That’s why I asked Lawson…” Mary cleared her throat. “I need help.”
Lawson rushed back to the hallways. “Here.” She handed a small pouch to Mary. “I hope it helps.”
Mary accepted the pouch with a trembling hand. “Thank you,” she whispered. “I’ll repay you. I’m sorry to have come here. If I weren’t desperate…”
“Do not worry, my lady,” Lawson said.
A sickening lump crawled in Isabella’s throat. “Wait. Please.”
“There’s no need.” Mary flushed red.
“Yes, there is. Please wait.”
She went upstairs and emptied her purse. Ten pounds, but she could do more. She stuffed a warm scarf, coat, and hat from her armoire in a satchel and added a gold brooch her maid hadn’t put away yet.
She returned to the rear entrance, hoping not to meet Mother along the way. Mary was about to leave.
“Mary, wait. Take it.”
Mary held the basket in front of her. “I can’t.”
“Yes, you can. And I’ll give you more. I promise.”
Mary didn’t take the satchel. “If your parents know you helped me, they’ll be displeased.”
Not her father. “I take full responsibility for helping you, and if you need more, please come back.”
Lawson gave Mary an encouraging nod. “We’ll help you.”
Mary accepted the bag, her eyes shining. “Thank you.” She spun on her heels and left in a hurry.
Lawson shut the door. “You must be careful. Lady Mary isn’t welcome in society, and being associated with her will cause you problems.”
“Just because I helped her? I’m sure Father will agree with me.” And she would prove that now.
Lady Mary had been the most popular débutante during the last Season. She’d collected a long queue of suitors, not only thanks to her beauty but also to her witty conversations. Everyone had loved her until she’d broken the rules.
