The maids stared at the item in shock.
âMy lady, this is a maidâs uniform⦠Why would you bring something so filthy?â
âTo wear it.â
ââ¦Pardon? Donât tell meââ
âIâm going to disguise myself as a maid and stay behind. One of you will wear my dress and leave. If you pull the hat low enough, no one will get a good look at your face.â
Their jaws dropped.
âI-I canât wear such an expensive dress! And if we get caughtââ
âItâs only until you reach the bottom of the mountain. Change back into a maidâs uniform inside the carriage, then inform my parents at the marquisâs estate that Iâve decided to stay. Iâll compensate you for keeping quiet.â@@novelbin@@
I pulled out some gold coins from my pocketâone for the coachman, and one for each maid.
âYou two keep these, and give this one to the coachman.â
âMy ladyâ¦â
One of the maids, her hands trembling, shut her eyes tightly and pushed her coin back at me.
âI-I donât need this! Youâre doing this to protect Lady Natalie, arenât you? Weâll just help you!â
âSheâs my sister, not yours. And if things go wrong, youâll be fired.â
âWhich is exactly why we canât take the money!â