Winchester Abbey

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty One

  Once inside her room, she closed the door and turned the lock. Whatever. She was done with this entire thing. The people had made her more mad than anything else. She had gotten a lot of new ideas for future books and gotten to hang out with her girls. 

  There was a knocking on the door.

 "Ms. Smith? The misses request your presence in the ballroom hall." interrupted a voice.

  Charlotte glared at the door for a moment before softening. Matthew was a tool and the rest were just actors. They were only doing their job. Sighing in defeat, she took a step forward to open the door and found it locked. She attempted to turn the key and it snapped off. Her mouth dropped open before she felt the rise of anger flood her veins. As suddenly as it had come, it was overcome by a bubble of hysteria rising up in her throat. She couldn't help but laugh and when it came, it overcame her. She had to lean against the door to rescue her breathing since she was laughing so hard. 

  "I'm an idiot," she muttered, still laughing. 

  "Martha! I've locked myself in my room! Please inform the staff before I go absolutely crazy in here," she said, still chuckling against the door. Martha gave a squeak outside and then scurried down the hall. Charlotte shook her head and crossed the room to the windows. She threw one of them open while the door began shaking from the staff attempting to open the old lock. 

  "We'll get you out soon!" called out a voice that sounded remarkably like James. Charlotte rolled her eyes. Wasn't supposed to be the staff and not the gentlemen who were supposed to be saving her? From that window, she could clearly see the manor peeking above the treeline. Curiosity began to eat at her while she waited for the door to be unlocked. Now, strangely, she wanted to go back. Without the excitement of boys nagging at her, she was beginning to grow interested in other things. Firstly, the manor. What Matthew had said did not really bug her until just then. Her anger towards him had drowned out most of her other thoughts. Who had put the notes and things there? She bit her lip as the sun began to go down. She, strangely, wanted to go over to the manor. They only had a little bit longer there before they had to leave anyway. She wanted to find out what was going on. 

  Behind her, the door slammed open with a burst of men's loud cheers.

  "We have saved you, Ms. Smith!" James said gallantly. He beamed and almost seemed to open up for her right there. It took her aback slightly how happy and friendly he was towards her. She smiled in spite of herself. 

  "Saved me from what?" she asked skeptically. 

  James, who she was trying hard to ignore, was incredibly handsome without that stiff jacket holding him together and away from the rest. He seemed more open with just his vest on over his loose shirt. 

  "Your boredom," he replied cheekily. His grin was adorable and there was hope in his eyes that reminded her of a little boy. She found it frustratingly adorable. 

  "I offer you my thanks, Mr. Thomas," she replied, smiling faintly to him as she passed by him-no, glided. She felt very superior at that moment.

  Her cool was interrupted by his gentle poke on her elbow. She turned halfway surprised and realized that he had slipped her arm through his in one fluid motion as he escorted her to the ballroom for their dance lesson of the day. He kept his hand on top of her wrist while they walked and for once, she liked the idea that men couldn't take advantage of women here like they could outside. There was a certain protection with the other actors besides Matthew. She smiled.