Page 15 of A Maid's Fateful Courtship
“Ever the bossy one,” he said, smiling. “I will play along, for now. But know this, you might have grown into a beautiful young woman and become a servant, but you are still my friend.”
With those words, Ethan left the room, but he could see that he had left behind a confused Josephine. He hoped that she would not try to avoid him because he could not accept her new role in his life. Had he caused her feel awkward in front of him? He hoped not because he was becoming aware that he had strong feelings for her, and they would never go away, no matter how hard she might try to ignore him.
Left standing alone with his thoughts, he watched as the upstairs housemaids went into the room he had just vacated.
“Oh, we thought the bedchamber empty,” the maid said, looking surprised. “We have come to strip the bed, Missus,” he heard them say.
The title of Missus had not gone unnoticed by him. It was what they had called Doreen, and now they were referring to her as the housekeeper. This did not please him.
“Do not forget to clean out the hearth!” he heard her bark at them, and he swiftly left the corridor for he could tell that she was upset at their meeting.
He was determined that, somehow, he would make big changes for her, and he would get his aunt to help him accomplish this.
Chapter 12
After leaving Josephine, Ethan felt determined to set things right for her. He could not comprehend how one moment she was a part of the family, and the next she was not.Poor Josephine,how must you feel inside?
When he arrived to take afternoon tea with his aunt, his father and his brother Cedric were also in attendance.
“Ethan, my boy!” Marcus called out in greeting of his oldest son and heir. “It is good to see you up and about.”
“Thank you, Father.” He smiled, giving a slight bow of his head. “We can thank Josephine’s nursing skills for my speedy recovery.”
“Quite so," his father agreed, staying seated around the low table set up in the garden room. "I knew she was the perfect choice of nursemaid to care for you.”
“I thought this bright and aerated room might be better for your recovery,” his Aunt Geraldine joined in. “Tell me, nephew, how do you fare this day?”
“I am much stronger, thank you, Aunt. It is, as I said, thanks to Josephine,” Ethan replied.
He glanced around at his family members before he took the seat that Geraldine had saved for him by her side. That was when he noticed the scowl that Cedric was throwing his way.
“Are you ailing too, brother?” he asked Cedric as he took his seat.
“Not at all, but I worry that you expect things to be as they were before we left,” Cedric replied in a sharp tone.
"I am not sure what you refer to?"
"The girl you used to climb trees with is but a servant and that is her place!" Cedric snapped.
“Yes, yes. Josephine is a wonder and a credit to this household,” Marcus called out, not noticing the bitter exchange between his sons. “If it were not for her quick thinking, I fear you could have been seriously ill.”
“I would hardly say that, Father,” Cedric spat. “She is a servant and is paid to be vigilant."
“Cedric!” Geraldine called out. “Josephine is an important member of our household and I beg you not to talk of her in such a way.”
“Why not, Aunt Geraldine?” Cedric was having none of it. “This family has done more than enough for her. It is high time that she paid back all the kindness you have shown her.”
“Whatever has gotten into you?” Geraldine queried. “No matter,” she added, not waiting for an answer, “Ethan is well again and today that is cause for celebration. I will not have anyone, or anything stand in the way of that.”
“I am merely pointing out the obvious—”
“Thank you, Cedric,” Ethan intervened.
“You have indeed made your point, but our aunt is correct, I am back to full health once again. The journey home felt like a long one, and I, for one, was looking forward to getting back to Sarandale Manor. My joy at returning home was only temporarily delayed, for today I am determined to be positive.”
“Well said, boy,” Marcus agreed. “That is what I want to see in my offspring. When we Ellsworths fall, we soon spring back up again,” he said with pride and a smile on his lips.
Ethan said no more, but he could not understand why Cedric felt so bitter towards their childhood friend.
