Sylvie Sommerfield - Noah's Woman Read Online Free PDF Page A

good-byes before Charity and Beth were safely tucked in Charles's carriage and on their way to his home.
    Charity looked around her in awe as they entered the affluent neighborhood in which they would soon be living. She had never seen such luxuries as a well-manicured garden, or the clothes the ladies in passing carriages wore.
    They carried ruffled parasols and wore elaborate hats with ostrich plumes, over hair so elegantly coifed that Charity felt dull and drab.
    She had always hated the plain blue, high-necked, long-sleeved, cotton dresses the girls at the orphanage wore. Not to mention the black stockings and

    high-laced black shoes, which might have been dependable but were certainly far from pretty.
    As they disembarked before Charles's home, both girls gazed up at it in wonder, but only Charity noticed a passing carriage. Several young women had glanced her way, then bent their heads together to whisper and laugh. Charity's cheeks flushed, and she tasted the nauseating feeling of acute embarrassment.
    She was unaware of Charles's eyes upon her and his satisfied half smile. Yes, this girl didn't like the position she was in. She wanted pretty clothes and all that went with them. She had her price and he meant to pay it.
    Once inside, Beth and Charity soon discovered that they were not to share the same room, as Charity had hoped. Beth was given a small room behind the kitchen, where her duties would be to help the cook prepare Mrs. Brentwood's meals, then to carry them to her on a tray. Unless she was sent for, she was not to go upstairs.
    Charles told Charity to follow him, and they climbed the wine-colored carpeted stairs, first to the second floor, then to the third. Here Charity was shown to the room she would occupy. To Charity it seemed she was far away from the woman she was to help care for, but she shrugged the thought away with the idea that of course Mr. and Mrs. Brentwood wanted their privacy when they settled down for evenings together. She promised herself to be smart enough to keep to her own floor unless she was needed and not to disturb the family when she was not.

    To have a whole room to herself was rare indeed, and she intended to enjoy her own privacy as well.
    Charles watched as Charity smilingly surveyed the room. She had not yet realized that it was a room whose door had no lock.

    Chapter Two
    Three Months Later
    Charity pulled the door to Jessica's room closed, carefully balancing the large tray that held teacups and service. She hummed softly to herself as she started down the hall toward the back stairs that led to the kitchen.
    She considered that, with the exception of Charles Brentwood, her life for the past few months had been both interesting and enlightening. Early on, Charity had realized she had a flair for acting. On the occasions she and Beth were able to spend some time together, she had mimicked Charles and his guests so well that Beth had been convulsed with laughter. At these times she realized that Beth had no idea of the darker side of Charles Brentwood. Of course, he had

    never looked at Beth the way Charity had discovered him looking at her.
    Even Charity had to admit he had kept his word. Both Charity and Beth had received new clothes. Not the very best, but certainly better than either of them were used to. Her room was quite comfortable, as was Beth's, and on the day and a half each week that they had off, both girls were given a few coins and the opportunity to shop or just spend the day together.
    This they did, exploring parts of London they had never seen before. They visited shops where they were smiled upon and greeted warmly. This alone was a novelty.
    Charity also liked Jessica Brentwood. She felt a deep sympathy for her. She often sat and talked to Jessica, especially in the evenings when business called Charles away. She knew one thing for certain. Charles Brentwood constituted Jessica's world. She nearly worshiped him.
    Jessica told Charity that she had come