"Why is a raven like a writing-desk?"
"Have you guessed the riddle yet?" the Hatter said, turning to Alice again.
"No, I give it up," Alice replied: "What's the answer?"
"I haven't the slightest idea," said the Hatter" Â Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
---
Chapter Eleven
What an utter fool Isabella Cassidy was. Mary knew that Isabella was in complete denial. She could not handle the truth. Her husband had moved on from her. He had fallen in love with someone else; the person that had been there for him during his most vulnerable time.
It was perfectly natural for Mary's patients to develop loving feelings for her, seeing as she cared for them day and night. It just so happened that Captain Luke Cassidy had captured her heart in return.
Luke had been sad lately, but Mary had been confident that everything would have gone back to normal. Mary would have continued to care for him, and Isabella would have become more and more isolated from her husband. It was inevitable.
Even though Mary did not want any harm to come to Jamie; Luke dropping him had been the best thing that had ever happened for them. Just as soon as Luke was willing to be comforted, Mary was ready to support him, both emotionally and intimately.
Luke needed her.
Isabella was trying to clutch at any flicker of remaining light in her marriage. This was obvious as she had written to Doctor Harris when Mary had specifically advised her against this.
There was a rather specific reason as to why Mary did not want any contact between the Cassidys and the good doctor.
Mary knew that she was the most important part of Luke's recovery from the very beginning. He showed true trust in her. True faith. That was why Mary restricted all communication between Doctor Harris and Luke. She had informed the doctor that Luke preferred to communicate through her, and that was true. Mary had been his lifeline.
Mary had been truly shocked to learn that there was a possibility of Luke's sight being restored. That was so very rare. But Mary knew that it was not definite, and that the surgery was a great risk. Why would she risk the life of the man she loved?
What frightened her more was if she did tell Luke about the possible operation, and he elected to have it, that it would be successful. If he could see, he would no longer need a nurse. He would then return home to his wife because that was the honourable thing to do. Luke was an honourable man. He would never confess his true feelings for Mary if he did not have an excuse to keep her in his employ.
Mary had kept the truth from Luke for his own good. For their own good.
But that sneaky, manipulative Isabella had written to the doctor anyway. Isabella was so much more than a pretty face. She was conniving and manipulative, jealous and malicious, and that made her ugly.
She did not deserve Luke.
When Mary had seen that letter on the tray of post for the family, Mary had seen red. Nothing had ever made her angrier, or more afraid. So she had pinched it on her way to check on Luke. She had planned to throw it in the fire. Luke would have been none the wiser and Isabella would have simply assumed that her letter had been ignored.
It had been a great misfortune that Isabella had caught her with the letter. She behaved as though she were so superior. It was no secret below stairs that the Dawson sisters had been taken in by Matthew Cassidy because of their poor parents.
Isabella could not sack Mary. Not only did she not have any authority to, Mary would never give her the satisfaction of obeying her now that she knew the truth.
Luke loved Mary and Isabella had lashed out irrationally.
Mary was not going to go quietly. She needed a new plan. She needed to get to Luke. But how? She was certain that Isabella had raced off to tell her husband some sort of horrid lie about her.
Mary had to act quickly. Her check was still throbbing from where Isabella had hit her. Perhaps she could tell everyone that Isabella was insane...
As she reached the bottom of the servants' staircase, Mary overhead voices coming in from the kitchen.
"Georgiana, go and get some biscuits or something from the larder," instructed a woman. Mary recognised the voice as Julianna, Annaliese's lady's maid. She had been nice to Mary in the brief moments that they had conversed.
"Mama will be upset if we spoil our luncheon," William said precociously.
"William, are you telling me that you do not want a biscuit?" Julianna asked in disbelief.
William laughed. "No, I was only warning you that Mama will be upset. I want to eat all the biscuits."
Mary moved closer to the doorway of the kitchen. She wondered why the children were downstairs. She was also thankful that there were no other servants around aside from the kitchen staff who would not be able to see her.
"What are you all doing down here?" asked Mrs Parkinson, the cook.
"Some sort of commotion with Miss Isabella," replied Julianna. "Lady Cassidy did not say. She only asked me to take the children downstairs ... and out of earshot," she said, whispering the last part.
"Oh," said Mrs Parkinson knowingly. "Poor Miss Isabella. What that girl has had to endure these last few months ... years really. Well, children, the kitchen maids and I had prepared some jellies for pudding tonight, but what do you say to having a little treat now?"
The children cheered excitedly.
The children were all downstairs. Mary's mind began to race. That meant that Jamie was downstairs as well. Perhaps Mary could bring Jamie to or something so that he could experience what it would be like for them to be a proper family.
Yes, that was a good idea. But she would need a distraction.
Mary took a deep breath and walked into the kitchen. Mrs Parkinson and Julianna were huddled around the counter with the children while other kitchen maids tended to the simmering pots on the stovetop.
"Julianna, Lady Cassidy needs you upstairs immediately," Mary said confidently.
Jamie looked up at her with his big, blue eyes, and he smiled at her. If only Luke could see how much Jamie liked her. Jamie was sitting on the counter with his cousin, Julianna, enjoying his jelly.
Julianna furrowed her eyebrows. "But she just sent me downstairs."
"I am only the messenger," replied Mary. "She said it had something to do with Mrs Cassidy."
"But then why would she not ring the bell?" challenged Julianna, still confused.
Mary kept calm. "She sent me to relieve you so that you could go and tend to her," she said.
Julianna nodded after a moment. "Behave for Mary, alright, children? I shall be right back." Julianna subsequently left the kitchen.
Mary joined the children at the counter and Mrs Parkinson went back to her cooking. Mary did not really know any of the children aside from Jamie. Georgiana and William, the older two, were looking at her suspiciously, while the younger children, Eva, Julianna, and Jamie, absently enjoyed their treat.
"Why would you be sent to watch us? Our mother does not even like you," Georgiana said rudely.
"You should watch your mouth, Miss Georgiana. One day it might get you into trouble," muttered Mary.
Alright, she had access to Jamie, but everyone was upstairs. How could she get them away from Luke?
"Georgiana, we should go upstairs and ask Mama if she wants Mary to watch us for a long time. She really does not like her, after all," William attempted to whisper to his sister.
It did not surprise Mary in the slightest that Annaliese was protecting her jealous sister.
"Yes, let's," Georgiana agreed.
Mary's next decision was spur of the moment and perhaps a little foolish. As Georgiana went to walk past her, Mary shoved her into the counter top. Georgiana stumbled and smacked her head on the edge of the counter.
The sound the connection made was frightening and Georgiana fell to the ground unconscious. It went against Mary's training to harm anyone but at this point, she did not care. She had had enough of this family interfering in her life.
"What did you do?" bellowed William as he scrambled to the ground to check on his sister.
The sheer volume of William's voice frightened Julianna and she burst into tears. The noise had also alerted Mrs Parkinson and the kitchen maids and they came rushing over to help.
"She fell. It was an accident," lied Mary. "We need to get the family down here to take care of her. Her parents, everyone," she insisted.
"Yes, yes, of course. William, go and fetch everyone. Mary, what do we do?" Mrs Parkinson begged as William angrily sprinted from the kitchen.
"I will go and get my medical supplies," lied Mary. "I will take Jamie upstairs to Luke to keep him out of the way. One less child to be in the way."
Mrs Parkinson did not take much notices as Mary lifted Jamie into her arms. Jamie did seem a little frightened at what was going on in front of him so Mary rubbed his back comfortingly.
Mary took Jamie out of the kitchen and up the stairs to the second floor. Through the wall she could hear that William had already informed his parents that Georgiana had been hurt. She could hear what sounded like a stampede. Thankfully they continued down the main staircase. When Mary was confident the hallway was clear, she opened the door and made her way swiftly down towards Luke.
Mary knew that she would have some explaining to do. She had lied to Luke, but once he had heard her side of the story, she knew it would be alright. He would understand.
Even if he did want to get the surgery, Mary would stand by him. He would love her for it.
"We are going to go and see Papa, Jamie," cooed Mary. "He will be so excited that we are together."
"I want Mama," complained Jamie as he looked over Mary's shoulder. He had a puzzled expression on his face.
Mary frowned. "You have me, Jamie. I can be a better mother than she could ever be."
Jamie did not understand her, but Mary would prove it to him, to both of them.
---
What a busy week it's been. But I'm glad I could finally get this up for you :)
What's happened? My netball teams are 2nd and 4th on the ladder currently. Both in line to play finals - yay!
Oh, and the best thing happened! I have Sundays off now! I finally have a day off!! Yeah I should be pissed that I'll be losing a night's pay but I really couldn't care. I don't have a day off all week as I work and do netball every day so I finally have a day where I don't have to wear makeup :P I'm going to make Sundays my designated update days and any additional chapters are bonuses.
The Bachelor :( I loved Amanda. I'm voting for her to be next Bachelorette :) I'm going for Lauren B now :) I can't see him with Caila. I really can't even though she's nice. And JoJo's family are just nope. I wouldn't want them for in-laws lol.
Ugh, me and reality TV lol.
Dance Moms is my addictions at the moment. My mum and I watch it every day. The new season is on Foxtel every Thursday so I record that for us but they're currently airing season 1 on every day at 4:30 so I've recorded every episode and when mum gets home from work we watch it. I'm also obsessed with Say Yes To The Dress Atlanta. I don't like the other version, just the Atlanta version :) It's so good.
I saw Deadpool. Was not prepared but it was bloody funny. Go see it :)
I'm also seeing Pride and Prejudice and Zombies on Monday before netball. It's either going to be good or it's going to desecrate my favourite book/movie. We shall see!
Anyway, that's enough from me, my loves! Speak soon xx