Victorian Romance: The Ragged Maid (#1, The Winds of Misery Family Sagas)

Chapter 05

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Business was the only subject occupying Mr. John Huntley's mind on this visit to Linwood Manor. He had known that it was of the utmost import to have William agree with him regarding the new build in White Chapel.

However, it had escaped William's mind to inform Huntley that his sisters would be undergoing a project of their own during his visit to Linwood Manor. For he knew that the sisters often took on placing young women of dire circumstances as governesses, or from time to time, as a maid. It had never been of any consequence to Huntley, until now.

He found it rather odd that a young orphan woman of lowborn status would have any effect on him at all. She was young, only about nineteen years of age, but she was courageous. He admired that she had planted herself firmly in front of his sister's door when she thought he was Mr. Ashford and was ready to defend Jane at all costs. That was a virtue indeed on her part, so he felt he owed her something. That debt was quickly paid when he rescued her from Mr. Ashford, a few minutes later. But it was that vision of the young woman, thrown belly down on the floor with tears in her amber eyes, that haunted Huntley. In that moment, he could have killed Ashford, for this woman's sake, and that struck him to his very core. For he had never given a second thought to those decidedly below his own station.

'Mr. Huntley?' The soft voice pulled his gaze up from the letter he was writing in the library. He was stunned to see Miss Sutterfield, the very young woman he had just been having thoughts of, standing before him.

'Miss Sutterfield? What are you doing in this part of the house? It is not proper.' Even after having her on his mind, he still could not put the rules of society aside. It was improper for her to approach him alone in the library like this, even in broad daylight.

'I apologize, sir. I was just walking past, and the door was open.'

'Then be quick. What is it?'

'The thing is, I am glad to find you alone, sir.'

Huntley was astonished. Was this young woman not as pious as he thought? Perhaps she had encouraged Mr. Ashford to come to her room that night, and then changed her mind due to his ill manner of kissing or another trivial matter. One thing was for certain, a pious woman did not tell a man that she sought him out alone.

'What is it, Miss Sutterfield?' Now he was curious. If she were to offer him an invitation to her bed, he was not sure if he could refuse. He was not one to take the lowborn to his bed, but he had never come across a woman of low station who stirred him the way Charlotte Sutterfield had.

'I wanted to catch you alone, because I wanted to thank you, sir. I am very grateful for your aid that night. If you had not come...'

'No need to apologize. I did what any gentleman would have done. Is that all?' Huntley wanted to get back to the ink and parchment before him, since her words were not as interesting as he thought they might be.

'No, that is not all. I also wish to apologize. For when I thought you were Mr. Ashford.'

'No need to apologize.' Huntley looked back to his work.

'Yet, I am apologizing just the same.'

Huntley stopped once more and looked back to Charlotte. Now her stance was stubborn. She wanted to be acknowledged, that much he knew. The corner of his mouth curved slightly upwards, almost a smile, but not quite.

'And so, you have. Apology accepted and you are most welcome. Now, will that be all, Miss Sutterfield?'

'Yes.' A quick dip of a curtsy was all that she gave before turning to leave the room. But Huntley did not look away. His attention was now fully on the young woman, the curves of her backside and full hips. She was well endowed for a young woman of her age, and he knew she must be dodging the looks of Mr. Ashford even still. Though Huntley himself had warned him not to lay a hand on Miss Sutterfield again, or he would have to answer to him.