Free Love on Assignment by Cara Lynn James Page A

My husband is Chef Jacques.” She lifted her chin up, as if she expected the utmost respect for her exalted position.
    â€œI’m pleased to meet you,” Charlotte said. “How is the chef feeling this morning? I hope he’s better.”
    Simone shrugged one sloping shoulder. “He’ll recover, but right now he fears he’ll be gone by nightfall. He’s not used to feeling poorly and he’s taking it like a man.” The maid twitched her first hint of a smile.
    â€œDo you need my help with breakfast?” Charlotte asked, ignoring Fiona and Ellie’s snickering.
    The little woman shook her head. “That’s not necessary. With Mrs. Wilmont in the hospital, I have little to do. So I’ll cook in place of my husband. But Miss Hale, you need not fill in for another member of the staff. We each have our own duties. They are not interchangeable.”
    Charlotte blushed. “Of course.” She hadn’t known.
    Simone waved Charlotte away. “You go off now and eat in the nursery with the children. They’ll be waiting for you.”
    Charlotte nodded before she climbed the steep backstairs to the second floor.
    At the top of the staircase she nearly collided with a plump, chestnut-haired maid she instantly recognized. “Grace Thompson! I never expected to find you here. How nice to see you again.” But Charlotte feared her voice held more trepidation than pleasure.
    Childhood friends and neighbors, a few years back Grace had suddenly stopped speaking to her for no reason. And then Grace’s parents had died from diphtheria. She had gone to live with her aunt and uncle on their farm in Portsmouth, several miles from Newport and on the opposite end of Aquidneck Island. Charlotte hadn’t seen her since her move.
    â€œYou’re not still angry with me, are you? I’m not exactly sure what I did to offend you, but I am sorry our friendship ended so abruptly.” Charlotte stared into a pair of bright hazel eyes that added sparkle to her small, even features.
    Grace grasped Charlotte’s hands in her own and squeezed. “I apologize to you for getting mad before I learned the truth. I do hope you’ll forgive me.”
    â€œForgive you for what? I really don’t know what you’re talking about, Grace.”
    The pretty girl glanced down the staircase. “I need to get back to work, but maybe we can talk later tonight and I’ll explain.”
    â€œYes, I’d like that. My bedroom is directly off the children’s playroom.”
    Grace smiled. “I’ll come by after I’m finished for the day.”
    She hurried away leaving Charlotte to wonder if her old friend knew she worked for the Rhode Island Reporter . She’d have to find out and beg her not to tell. But what if she gossiped to the other maids first? Charlotte sighed then pushed worry to the back of her mind. What she couldn’t control she wouldn’t dwell upon, at least not right now.
    Charlotte found Tim and Ruthie in the playroom. The children sat at the table as the dumbwaiter delivered their breakfast. Charlotte served the oatmeal, eggs, and toast.
    â€œWould you two enjoy a bicycle ride this morning?” Charlotte asked. She nibbled cinnamon toast and sipped strong coffee doctored with a generous dose of cream and two spoons of sugar.
    Tim’s eyes sparked. “You mean we won’t have lessons?”
    She’d forgotten about their schoolwork. “We’ll read later today. But let’s have a bit of fun first.”
    Ruthie clapped her hands with delight. “Thank you, Miss Hale.”
    Mrs. Finnegan located a split skirt for Charlotte to wear, and with a belt to tighten the waist, it fit fine. For most of the morning Charlotte and the children rode bicycles on the Ocean Drive. Spectacular views of the rugged coast and cottages as big as palaces appeared as they rounded bends and conquered gentle inclines.