Day 2 of Stolen Identity. If you haven’t read part one, you’ll find the link at the bottom of this post. Thank you to everyone who messaged saying they’d read and loved part one. If you want to make sure you don’t miss out on any of the instalments, you can subscribe to my blog and get each post in your email. This can be done by ticking the box in the comments below the post.

Stolen Identity Part 2

Read part 1 here:

At six, we met, and Clara explained everything as she helped me dress. I’d never worn anything like the turquoise silk gown that covered my curves and I couldn’t help but run my hands over the soft material. The puffed sleeves ended in lace embroidery and the bodice sat snugly, but not too tight. The skirt hung delicately to the floor, the back trailing. I felt like a princess. I twirled in front of the mirror, a new me smiled back.

“Makeup next,” Clara giggled as she sat me in front of an elaborate dresser. “Don’t peek. Promise you won’t peek until I’m finished.”

“I won’t.” My hands wriggled in my lap as I struggled to keep my eyes closed. I desperately wanted to see what she was doing, but I’d given my word.

Soft brushes fluttered across my cheeks and eyelids as Clara hummed a soft tune. “All done. You can open your eyes now.”

I gasped. “That’s…” I couldn’t believe the reflection looking back at me.

“Didn’t I say you could pass for me?” Clara beamed with pride as I sat with my mouth hung open. I looked exactly like her.

“How is this even possible?”

“Prayer.”

“Huh?”

“I prayed for help. I prayed for something, anything, to help me be with my Henry, and God sent me you. Oh, Emily, you are my angel.”

I shook my head. I was no angel.

“You know what to do?” Clara asked.

“Yes. Go downstairs to the dining room, second door to the left, and I sit on the chair to the right of your mother. I don’t need to say anything because you two aren’t speaking…What if this goes wrong, Clara?”

“It won’t. Remember all you have to do is lift your head and nod at father and mother. That’s it. You don’t have to do anything else but eat and once the meal is finished you leave and come back up here. I’ll be back by nine.”

Clara clenched my hands in hers, tears in her eyes. “I can’t tell you how much this means to me, Emily. You’ve saved my life.”

On trembling legs, I descended the stairs. Second door to the left, sit don’t speak. The door to the dining room was ajar and I sucked in a deep breath to steady my nerves before entering. Lady Florence and Lord William were already seated. Lady Florence glanced up and scowled and my heart stopped when her lips pursed. Please don’t say anything. She lowered her gaze and her gloved hands rearranged and inspected the silver cutlery. Lord William had his nose buried in some papers and didn’t even react to my entrance. I took my seat in haste, and Lady Florence rang a little silver bell positioned beside her on the table. Within seconds a small, round, lady entered the room followed by a slight girl carrying a tray. I looked down at my hands. What if they noticed I wasn’t Clara?

A bowl of steaming soup filled the space in front of me and I inhaled the delicious aroma. It was then my eyes took in the assortment of cutlery. I’d never seen so many different knives or forks before. There were three different spoons as well. My hand hovered over them as a basket filled with freshly baked bread was placed on the table. Lady Florence huffed beside me. Her stare was hostile. She knows. She turned her head as soon as I looked up, grabbed the largest spoon and sank it into the soup. My fingers curled around my spoon as I followed her lead.

It felt strange sitting at a silent dinner table. I missed the incessant chatter from the boys and mother asking about my day. I missed the clatter of plates and forks, and the giggles, as James kicked Robert and joked about the trouble they’d caused that day. I wanted nothing more than to shove my chair back and flee. But I couldn’t. I was doing this for Clara.

Halfway through dinner, Lady Florence interrupted the silence. My heart rate tripled as I pleaded internally that she wouldn’t ask me something.

“Lord and Lady Nelson arrive tomorrow so I need you on your best behaviour, Clara. It’s important that you make a good impression. George will be with them and if everything goes accordingly, you shall be wed in the spring.”

I nearly choked on the succulent beef and swallowed quickly whilst raising my head.

“I know you don’t want this, but life isn’t all roses. George will make a fine husband.”

I nodded and returned to eating.

“Well, now. Wasn’t that better than creating a fuss? Honestly, Clara, I don’t know what got into you this morning, but we shall put it behind us now. I’ll have Mary freshen your blue gown for tomorrow. It makes your eyes sparkle and …”

She didn’t finish her sentence, merely smiled to herself and pushed the food around her plate. The amount of waste I’d witnessed so far would have fed mother and the boys for a week.

Dessert arrived and the selection of tarts and cakes looked delicious. I didn’t get a chance to taste anything before two men barged into the room.

“Jonathan, Dr Bailey,” Lady Florence said, wiping her mouth with her napkin. “We weren’t expecting you.”

“I’m afraid we’re here on quite a serious matter, Lady Florence,” the gentleman, doctor I presumed, stated as he removed his hat and placed a document on the table.

“Jonathan, what is the meaning of this?” Lady Florence turned her attention to the other gentleman.

“Listen to what the doctor has to say, Florence. He’s here to help Clara,” Jonathan said.

Me?

His attention turned to me. “I’m sorry to do this to you Clara, but it’s for your own good. Winifred came to me. She’s quite concerned. She told me about your…how can I put this lightly?” He turned to Lady Florence. “Clara’s having delusions.”

Lord William stood abruptly. “What nonsense is this you speak of Jonathan?”

“William, perhaps we should speak in private. Doctor Bailey will explain everything,” Jonathan said.

“Clara, you’re excused. Wait in the parlour while we discuss this.” Lord William waved his hand towards the door.

I staggered out of the room, my heart pounding against my rib cage. The grandfather clock in the hall boomed startling me. Only seven. Clara wouldn’t be back yet and I had no idea where the parlour room was.

#

That’s it for day 2. What’s going to happen to Emily? Be sure to tune in tomorrow for the next part of the story. To subscribe to my blog by email on PC you can do it at the top of the sidebar on the left. If you’re on a mobile device, the easiest way to do it is in the comments box below. When you click to leave a comment, you’ll get the option to subscribe as you can see in the image below.

Until next time,

Keep reading and writing,

Amanda