Chapter 103: Edna’s Efforts
Dropping her voice to a whisper, she said, "Do you think one of the royal family is involved?"
"Edna!" Rose yelled, panic in her voice as she looked around, even though they were both alone. "You know better than to say that out loud."
"I was just asking. Martha might have some influence, but not enough to do something like that. Someone else has to be involved in this."
"We don’t even know if Martha is involved with what ’appened to me," Rose insisted.
Edna narrowed her eyes at Rose. "If it was such a coincidence that a dangerous man got into the room and kidnapped you, why was Martha the one who wasn’t kidnapped? She is the steward’s niece. She isn’t just a nobody. I think she was the one who opened the door. You said you can remember closing it. I am sure she let him in."
Rose knew all this, and she wasn’t trying to be polite, but she knew better than to say things so blatantly when there was no proof—especially someone as lowly as she was. She had already learned her lesson once from Mistress Edith. She would just let actions and other people speak for her.
"I can’t believe she would do something so cruel," Rose softly said.
Edna nodded. "Me too. It was easy to convince everyone you ran away before your clothes and everything else that belonged to you were gone—except the things you gave to me. I tried to convince anyone you would never leave without them, but they didn’t believe me. Maybe if they did, they would have found you on time, you never would have fallen ill, and this wouldn’t have happened."
Rose realized that Edna thought the reason why she was in this state was because of her earlier illness. She also realized how it had been easy for Martha to convince everyone she ran away. She was grateful she had given Edna the important things.
"Thank you," she said and grabbed Edna’s hand. She knew no one else would have stood for her except Edna.