Margaret grabbed a money purse and smiled, remembering the scolding she’d gotten from her father when she’d sewn her pockets shut to avoid carrying money. She’d ripped the stitches from her pockets after he left for Dorcia, knowing it would make him happy upon his return to hear she’d been doing as he’d like.
“Mama?” Margaret called into the drawing room.
“What is it, Margaret?”
Margaret stepped into the room, grabbing a fan off one of the side tables. “I’m going to the market to get some flowers. Do you want any in particular?”
“Why don’t you let one of the servants do that?” her mother asked. “Isn’t that why we pay them?”
“I like doing it. Papa used to go with me as often as he could when he was here, because it reminded him of home,” Margaret said. “It helps me miss him less.”
Her mother sighed. “Take someone with you, at least. I’m sure one of the servants can be dragged away.”
“I can take the groom. He doesn’t have any duties today since we aren’t going to the palace.”
“All right. Hurry along, then. Wear a hat; no man wants a woman who looks like she works in the fields.”
Margaret sighed. “Yes, Mama.”
When she left the drawing room, she went to the back of the house, where the stables were. “Hanson?”
Hanson stood at attention when he saw her. “Yes, my lady?”
“If it isn’t inconvenient, would you escort me to the flower market?”
“Of course, my lady. Would you like to take the carriage or walk as your father did?” Hanson asked.
Margaret smiled. “It’s a nice enough day out; would you mind walking?”
“Not at all, my lady.” He grabbed his hat from the wall and placed it on his head before offering an arm to Margaret. “Would you do me the honor of taking my arm?”
Margaret smiled again, taking his arm. “Of course, thank you, Hanson.”
He led them forward, keeping a slow pace she could easily keep up with. They made idle chatter as they walked. Hanson pointed out places he would visit with his family as a child before he came to work for Margaret’s family.
Margaret was fascinated. She had very few memories of the city before Hanson worked for them, and she couldn’t imagine anything different. She was glad to have his company. It was a long walk to the flower market from her home, and it was nice to have the time occupied.
The market was crowded when they reached it, and Hanson moved in front of Margaret to make a break in the crowd. “We’re almost there, my lady,” he called over his shoulder.
“Thank you, Hanson.” Margaret inhaled deeply and briefly closed her eyes. The Amonat breeze picked up tendrils of her hair, blowing them across her face. The flower market was not as crowded as the other sections, which Margaret was happy about. “To the left, please, Hanson. That’s where my favorite flowers are.”
Margaret browsed the flowers until she came to what she wanted: the hydrangea. It was her and her father’s favorite. She smiled, inhaling deeply. She began pulling several stems from the groups of colors. “Oh, frog nuggets! I forgot to bring my basket. Will you hold them for me?” she asked Hanson.
Hanson laughed. “Of course, my lady.”
Margaret piled several colors into his outstretched arms, holding some in her own when his grew too full. “I think this should be enough.”
She walked toward the vendor, barely able to see over the pile of blooms. Margaret turned the corner, nearly dropping the flowers when she ran into someone. “Oh, I’m sorry!”
“Lady Margaret?”
Margaret lowered her arms to clear her view. “Mr. Luther?” She hadn’t seen him in ages with her father in Dorcia. He looked just as good as the last time—better even.
Charles bowed his head to her. “What are you doing here?”
She lifted her arms briefly with all the flowers. “Getting flowers for Cerule House. Papa would be disappointed if we stopped putting out flowers just because he’s gone.”
A woman came to stand at Charles’s side. She cleared her throat, looking up at him.
“My apologies, Lady Margaret, may I present Miss Charlotte Lebrack? Charlotte, this is the Lady Margaret. I work for her father, the Count of Dorcia, with his business.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lady Margaret.” Charlotte curtsied to her.
Margaret examined her. She had blonde hair that shone in the sun, glowing wherever the light hit it. “The pleasure is all mine, Miss Lebrack. How do you know Charles?”
Charlotte blushed. “We’re courting, my lady.”
“Oh!” Margaret plastered a smile on her face, though she felt like dropping the flowers and clawing the golden woman’s eyes out. “How wonderful for you both.”
Charles looked pleased. “Thank you, my lady. I was hoping to introduce her to your father, but I fear it would be too dangerous to travel with a lady during the war.”
Margaret’s face fell at the mention. “Yes, of course. It’s easy to forget there’s a war happening when there’s no trace of it here.”
“All too true, my lady,” Charlotte agreed. “I was the one to suggest traveling to your father; Charles just adores him.”
Color crept up Charles’s pale neck. “Charlotte—”
“My father feels the same about you, but he would want you to stay where it’s safe.” Margaret nodded as she spoke. Margaret thought if she nodded any faster, she would nod her head right off. She had to leave; she wasn’t far from making a fool of herself.
“We should let you go about your business,” Charles said. “It was wonderful to see you, my lady.”
“It was a pleasure to meet you.” Charlotte bowed her head respectfully.
It certainly was not a pleasure. Margaret kept a tight smile on her face. “I hope to see you both again someday soon.”
Once the couple had left, Margaret turned to Hanson. “I think I would like to take a carriage back, if you would be so kind as to fetch one for us?”
“Of course, my lady. Are you not feeling well?”
“No, I’m not.”
Hanson hurried away, and Margaret sighed when he left. She knew it was inevitable that Charles would find a woman he would be interested in, but she had hoped it would be her. Margaret paid for the flowers as fast as she could. She wanted to be home, away from here. She didn’t want to be anywhere she could run into Charlotte again. Now she wished they had taken the carriage initially; they never would have met the couple, and Margaret would be blissfully unaware of Charles’s new relationship.
Now her happy day was ruined irreparably.