If You're Going to Sell Yourself, Sell It to Me - Chapter 64

The moment Georgiana’s shoulder was grabbed, it felt as if all the blood drained from her body.

She could picture herself tied up in the square, facing a firing squad. Her body shrank, trembling, unable even to think of looking back. Her breath grew tighter with each passing moment.

Then, unexpectedly, a familiar voice whispered in her ear.

“Miss, it’s me. Jerry.”

“Mr. Jerry?”

She quickly turned around to see Mr. Jerry, the cloth merchant, wearing his fedora low over his forehead, looking at her with a pitying expression.

“Your hair changed, so I wasn’t sure, but it really is you.”

“Where’s Mrs. Rebecca?”

Georgiana glanced around, expecting to see his wife, but the alley was empty except for Mr. Jerry.

“Rebecca couldn’t come. Our daughter was in labor since morning, so I came alone.”

“Why are you here?”

“I’m here to help, of course.”

Mr. Jerry handed her today’s newspaper. Her own face stared back at her from the front page.

“This is you, isn’t it?”

Georgiana was at a loss for words, her mouth opening and closing soundlessly.

Mr. Jerry knew she had come from the ship, and he also knew her real hair was blonde. It meant he must have recognized her from the picture.

“I… I’m not…”

Finally, Georgiana shook her head violently, stepping back. The idea that he was there to help her seemed impossible, especially given the bounty on her head.

She scanned her surroundings, searching for an escape. There were paths she could take, but police officers were everywhere. Running without a plan would be an invitation for them to chase her.

She had an escape route, but she was stuck, trembling, her lips tightly pressed together.

“Don’t worry. I’m not planning to turn you in,” said Mr. Jerry with a sympathetic look. But even his reassurance didn’t calm her trembling.

He quickly added more, “My brother’s in the independence forces. I’m here to help you, not harm you.”

“Really… are you telling the truth?”

“Of course. Whether you believe me or not, we need to leave here first.”

In a daze, Georgiana followed him. At the end of the alley, where thick vegetation grew, Mr. Jerry’s carriage was waiting.

Even as she climbed into the carriage, taking Mr. Jerry’s hand, she found it hard to believe. No matter if his brother was an independence fighter, it seemed strange that he would be this kind to someone he barely knew.

But there was no other choice. If she stayed alone, it was only a matter of time before she got caught. At least if Mr. Jerry caught her, he might treat her better, perhaps even use the bounty to become rich.

“Just in case someone asks to look inside, hide in the cloth rolls in the back. I bought them in advance to sell at the market.”

“Okay.”

It wasn’t easy to crawl into the tightly rolled-up cloth, but Georgiana curled her small frame, squeezing herself as far inside as possible.

If he wasn’t handing her over to the authorities, then getting caught would also bring punishment to Mr. Jerry. She pressed her body tightly against the inside wall, hoping not to be discovered.

Just as Mr. Jerry had warned, they faced two inspections. Every time the officers poked the cloth with their batons, Georgiana felt like her life was being shortened. She barely even breathed during those moments.

Thankfully, since it was a cargo wagon, the officers didn’t thoroughly check inside.

The carriage carrying Georgiana eventually left the city center without incident.

On an isolated roadside, where no one else passed, Mr. Jerry stopped the wagon and handed her a water bottle.

Still tense, Georgiana hurriedly drank, but ended up choking, coughing loudly.

“We should be out of the dangerous area now, so take your time and drink slowly.”

“Thank you.”

Georgiana belatedly bowed her head in gratitude.

“Do you have somewhere to go? Meeting a sick grandfather was just a cover, wasn’t it?”

His eyes questioned her, making her lower her head even more apologetically.

“I’m sorry for lying.”

“You had your reasons, so it’s alright.”

“Aren’t you afraid of me? They say I’m a spy who shot someone.”

“You must have had a reason to shoot. Even if people don’t say it, everyone here wishes that man would die. The slavery system, the taxes… He’s scum who deserved to die.”

Mr. Jerry clicked his tongue repeatedly, saying many shared her sentiment.

“Anyway, when my grandchild is born, I’m planning to visit Norfolk while my wife takes care of the baby. My younger brother, who joined the independence forces, lives there. I came here to see him since I was already nearby. He never visits me, but what can I do? He’s my only brother, so I worry.”

Seeing Georgiana’s puzzled expression at the sudden mention of Norfolk and his brother, Mr. Jerry asked, “If you have nowhere to go, would you like to come with me? I can take you there if you want.”

Norfolk was at least a week’s journey by carriage from the Northwest. She remembered reading that it was a rural village centered around plantationing, with plains as vast as those in the Northwest.

She had briefly considered working on a plantation if she couldn’t find work here. Mr. Jerry’s offer brightened her face.

The security there had to be less strict than here.

No one would know her there.

Perhaps there would be more job opportunities.

Even though she was now a wanted fugitive, she began to see a glimmer of hope.

Georgiana clutched her skirt and bowed politely. “I’m sorry to impose, but I would appreciate it if you could help me a little longer.”

***

Traveling for a week by carriage, she realized that the farther they moved from the city, the greener the scenery became.

Her eyes, which had seen nothing but the blue sea for a month, were now filled with shades of green. It was a sight she could never have imagined seeing back at the monochrome Humblelum.

It was late summer, and the fields were heavy with ripened crops and fruits. Even with the windows wide open, there was no heat or humidity.

The weather was temperate, and the land bountiful. The travelers wore bright expressions, and she could easily see why wealthy families chose to settle there.

Mr. Jerry finally stopped the carriage in a quiet neighborhood, a bit removed from Norfolk’s center.

He thought the busy parts of town might be risky.

Even so, there were a few employment agencies visible along the roadside, and a couple of inns that looked like they catered to travelers.

The first priority, however, was new clothes. She had nothing but the clothes she was wearing and had worn the same outfit for a week without washing.

“How about staying with my brother? I’ll talk to him. Since he’s involved in the same cause, he’ll take good care of you.”

As she leaped lightly from the carriage with only her small handbag, Mr. Jerry looked worried and suggested it again.

It was clear that leaving a young woman alone didn’t sit well with him. Still, she couldn’t impose any further. What she had already received was more than she could repay in a lifetime.

Georgiana smiled brightly on purpose. “I was planning to live alone in the Northwest anyway. Though things turned out differently, it seems like there’s plenty of work here. If things don’t work out, I’ll find your brother’s place.”

“I’ll tell him in advance. If anything happens, go there.”

Georgiana waved until Mr. Jerry’s carriage disappeared into the distance.

She had refused his money, and waving goodbye was the only way she could repay his kindness at that moment.

As the carriage became a mere dot and vanished, her smiling face gradually hardened. She began to tremble at the realization that she was now truly alone in this vast land.

She had to survive here, where everything was unfamiliar, using only her own strength. All without revealing her name or her status.

For a moment, she thought of Lockwood, who was in a situation similar to her own.

Despite her anger and resentment, her heart still ached whenever she thought of him. Even though her future was uncertain, she prayed that he wouldn’t be caught.

Resolving herself, she walked briskly to a tailor shop. Ready-made clothes were becoming more common even in the Empire, and thankfully, they were available here too, making them affordable.

The fabric was rough, and the colors were uneven, as they were meant for commoners who couldn’t afford custom clothing. But considering her financial situation, she was grateful for what she could get.

Georgiana opened her handbag and sighed at the sight of her money, now less than half of what it had been.

***

“Really, there’s no work suitable for a young lady. All the plantations around here need strong laborers. With those delicate wrists, what work could you possibly do? I’d just get blamed if I recommended you.”

The man at the employment agency clicked his tongue, eyeing Georgiana’s frail figure.

She had been coming for several days, asking for work. Though he found her persistence bothersome, her beautiful face—a stark contrast to her shabby clothes—made him at least respond.

“I’ll do anything. Even as a maid. I once served a noblewoman, so I’m capable.”

“I told you, for work like that, you need a recommendation letter. If you’re that eager to work, try that inn. The owner seemed to like you.”

Hearing this, Georgiana thought of the innkeeper who had been eyeing her with a lewd look. He had initially kept his distance for a couple of days, but once he realized she was alone and searching for a job, he started openly making advances.

She had been avoiding him, not wanting any trouble, but she wasn’t sure how much longer she could keep it up. The fear of him coming into her room at night was becoming unbearable.

With a gloomy expression, she left the employment agency and slumped onto a tree stump nearby.

If she couldn’t find work today, she might have to leave. Her funds were dwindling, and she needed to make a decision.

“Where should I go next?”

The more she thought about it, the more hopeless it seemed. She had nowhere to go. A familiar despair began to gnaw at her spirit.

Just then, as her face lay buried in her knees, a small sound of footsteps stopped right in front of her.

“Are you lost?”

She looked up at the sweet, innocent voice and found herself face-to-face with a child smiling like an angel.