Page 14 of A Maid's Fateful Courtship
“Answer my question.”
“I have this very day informed Lord Ethan that I shall be returning to my normal duties,” she replied, annoyed at herself for trembling.
“Then why do you carry a tray of food to his bedchamber?”
“It was given to me by the kitchen and, as I am gathering the household maids to check on their duties, it meant I could—”
“I do not want to listen to your excuses, maid,” he rumbled. “Get about your normal duties and stop fussing over my brother. What's more, in the future, watch where you are stepping.”
With those harshly spoken words, Cedric stood aside and watched as she lifted the tray and went on her way. Not wanting to linger with him a moment longer than she needed to, she would make this the last tray of food that she would deliver to Ethan. Arriving at his bedchamber, she knocked at his door before opening it, awaiting his permission to enter.
Chapter 11
Ethan had decided that today he would return to something like normal. Not that he knew what normal was in his life anymore, such as what his father expected of him. He was keen to find out what else had changed whilst he had been away. The very thought of Josephine being a servant had shocked him, she deserved better.
His new valet, Russel, was doing the finishing touches to his attire when there was a knock on the bedroom door. He called out for whoever it was to come in. Ethan half expected it to be a member of his family, as Josephine had told him that each of them had called in to check on his progress daily. Josephine filled his thoughts and it surprised him to find that she was the one to step through the door.
He was pleased to see her, though he could not help but frown as she was in a dull servant's dress, carrying a tray like a servant. It was not right, but he knew now was not the time to say anything.
One benefit from their Grand Tour was how he had matured. He would question the reason for Josephine’s reduced status later. What's more, he would have his way and alter that status, but he must bide his time.
As he stood fixated on Josephine’s beauty, he realised he had caused her some embarrassment as her cheeks flushed. It was so endearing, but he could not pull his gaze away as he stared into her shimmering green eyes. He noted how she wore her hair in a tight bun, yet unruly curls still escaped the pins and hairband keeping it in place. She had always hated to wear her hair long as a girl, begging their nanny to cut it short.
“I apologise, Lord Ethan." Her voice broke the spell. "Your soup may have gone cold as I was delayed in its delivery.”
Ethan heard Russel cough as if he might be warning him that staring at a servant in such a way might be deemed as quite scandalous. Yet, even Russel’s warning was not enough to deter him as he stared on.
A voice in the back of his mind was calling out for him to dismiss her, but when he noticed the tips of her ears redden, it was like going back in time. As a boy, he had often referred to her as his “little elf” because of how her ears would redden.
Forgetting his place, he moved towards her and took the tray from her hands. Placing it on the unmade bed, he turned to take her hands in his. All thoughts of the valet had gone from his mind, his only concern was for the woman before him.
“Oh, Josephine, how has it come to this?” he said to her, just as she tugged her hands out of his.
“My Lord,” Josephine gasped. “You are getting over a terrible fever, and are not quite yourself,” she told him, and he noted that her eyes shifted to the other person in the room.
“Quite right,” Ethan agreed, moving away from her. “Thank you, Russel. Inform Aunt Geraldine that I am on my way to take afternoon tea with her.”
“Yes, m’lord,” Russel said as he brushed past Josephine to leave the room.
“Josephine. I thank you for your expert skills in nursing,” Ethan said, louder than necessary. He hoped Russel would hear what he was meant to hear and stem any gossip.
“T’was my duty, Lord Ethan,” she replied, performing a slight curtsy as she did so.
“I am quite disappointed that my need for your tender care has come to an end,” he said in a low voice as Russel disappeared.
“Please, Lord Ethan, you must be careful with your words and actions,” she warned him.
For the second time that day, he noticed that she was trembling. As a girl she had feared only one of his brothers, and that had been Cedric. He hoped that she did not feel that way about himself, he wanted her to feel only pleasure in his presence was. Things were most certainly different from when he had left, and they were both having difficulty adjusting.
“Hmmm …I will not wish to cause you any further discomfort Josephine," he said, with obvious puzzlement in his eyes. "But no one informed me that you were to become a servant of the house.”
“I have been very privileged, Lord Ethan, being offered the chance to take up a respectable role in the manor. I am very thankful for it,” she said.
“I know, but I expected things to be different for you. I had hoped your life would be better, but I have said my piece, for now.”
He could not help but question her position in the house because to him it did not seem right. But if he questioned it, he worried it might only lead to trouble for her.
“Your homecoming is important to your family, Lord Ethan. You should not linger and keep them waiting much longer,” she reminded him.
