In Name Only by Ellen Gable Read Free Book Online Page B

flawless face. 
If every girl looked as you do in black, she would want only to wear that
color.”
    She walked closer
to David and whispered, “Why do you refuse to help the girl who carries your
child within her?”
    His face darkened.
“Oh, so that’s what’s troubling you. Well, you know, Miss Martin, with girls of
her sort, one has to. . .”
    Caroline cut him
off with a slap to his face.  Surprised, he rubbed his cheek, his frown quickly
turning to a smile.  “Oh, dear.  Would you like to slap the other side,” he
asked, then turned his other cheek toward her.
    Caroline remained
silent, her eyes narrowed with contempt.
    He leaned close
to her face, his voice quiet but firm.  “Did Selly tell you I was the only one?
Well, my dear Miss Martin, I’m certain I was not.”
    “And you know
this how?”
    “Miss Caroline?” 
Patsie’s high-pitched voice stopped Caroline from continuing. 
    She quickly
leaned her head through the kitchen doorway.
    “Patsie, what is
it?”
    “I’m havin’ ta
tell ye, Miss,” she whispered, “a colleen shoun’t be a talkin’ ‘bout such
things.”
    “I don’t care.” 
Turning back toward David, she walked close to him, the top of her head an inch
or so away from his chin.  “Mr. O’Donovan, Selly told me there was no other.”
    “And you believe a
common lower class servant?” 
    Caroline
cringed.  Common, lower class? 
    “Of course.  Why
would she lie?”
    “Well, no one
forced her.”
    “Today if ye
shall hear his voice, harden not your heart.”
    David raised his
eyebrows.  “I never took you for a Bible thumper, Miss Martin.”
    “I’m a Christian,
Mr. O’Donovan.”
    “Your naïveté is endearing and I don’t want to
destroy your obvious innocence, but the servants freely do this.”
    “Your behavior
makes me ill.”
    “Ah, you are even
more beautiful when you’re angry.  Do you realize your freckles darken? It’s
very becoming.”
    Caroline again
glared at him.
    “Aren’t you going
to slap me again?  I was hoping you would.”
    “You are. . .”
    “What?  I’m
what?”  He stepped back and eyed her up and down. “Well, Miss Martin, I’ll tell
you what I am.  I am. . .shocked!” he said, a huge smirk on his face.
    “Whatever do you
mean you are shocked?”
    “Most certainly I
am, Miss Martin.”  He leaned in close to her and whispered. “You’re. . .not 
wearing a corset, are you?”  His eyebrows were raised and now he was smiling
broadly.
    All of a sudden,
Caroline’s face became flushed, her eyes widened. Now she was embarrassed that
she had left her corset off.  David O’Donovan, of all people, had noticed.
    “Miss Caroline?”
she heard Patsie call her again.
    Caroline sighed
and hurried into the kitchen.
     
     

    Chapter 5
     
    Caroline brushed
her hair as she watched the softly falling rain outside her window. A timid
knock almost went unnoticed. She opened the door to discover Selly standing in
the hallway.  The young girl cleared her throat.  “Pardon me, Miss Caroline. 
Patsie told me to come and assist you with your dressing this morning.”
    Yesterday, after
David O’Donovan had commented about her lack of proper lady’s attire, Caroline
had admitted to the older servant that it would be necessary for her to begin
wearing a corset.  Knowing that Caroline would need assistance, Patsie had sent
Selly, and for that, she was grateful as she felt more comfortable around the
younger girl.
    “Thank you,
Selly.  Come in,” she replied, stepping back to allow Selly inside, then
closing the door.  “It would be fine for you to call for me anytime using the
ropes over there, Miss Caroline.”
    “I feel as if I’m
calling a dog when I use those.  I’d much rather just go and search for you.” 
The young servant stood before her.
    “May I begin,
Miss?”
    “Yes, of course.”
Caroline went behind the dressing screen, which thankfully had arrived late
last week. “I can manage to remove my own