Page 2 of A Maid's Fateful Courtship
It was Lettie, her best friend, and someone she enjoyed being with.
“Oh, I was wondering if the brothers will remember me, is all,” Josephine admitted.
“Hmm, of course they will remember you! You were all pretty close when you were growing up from what my ma tells me. I am going in the meadow to gather herbs for drying, you want to join me?”
“Yes. But first, help me find Bill. I need to organize lots of freshly cut flowers for the displays Lady Cynthia has requested. Then I will come with you,” Josephine offered.
“I can do that, but Cook will complain if I dally too long,” Lettie replied.
“Oh no, she will not,” Josephine chided. “Your mother lets you get away with everything.”
The two young women chuckled at this as they headed off together towards the gardeners to locate Bill.
Chapter 2
“I still have my sea legs!” Anthony called out, not admitting it was more from the ale than their crossing on the English Channel.
“Nay, you spent most of your time skulking away in your cabin,” Ethan jested. “You should have been on the deck with me. I was observing the work of the sailors with great interest. Plus, there was a fine view of the rough ocean waves crashing over the decks.”
“Oh, do not remind me of the rolling waves," Anthony remarked, for he hated sea travel and was not embarrassed to admit it. "It ails me to even thinking of those breaking waves.”
“Nonsense.” Cedric smirked at both his brothers. “The winds were in our favour and the crossing was fair and fast.”
“Forget it, Anthony, it is over and done with,” Ethan intervened. He often tired of all the bickering between his two younger brothers.
“My stomach cramped, and I had green spots before my eyes,” Anthony wailed, determined to get it all out in the open. “With every huge crash of a wave, I felt my room rise and fall and my stomach churn. That is when I felt the sickness. Never again do I wish to travel overseas.”
“You will, brother. Trust me, you will soon forget the inconvenience and want more of the adventure,” Cedric sneered. Ethan knew that Cedric was always impatient with Anthony, never understanding Anthony’s weaknesses, such as with sea travel.
“The more you travel, the sooner you will conquer it. Then you can take control of your stomach contents.”
“Those very words make me ill, Cedric.” Anthony was having none it. “I have had my share of travel to last a lifetime. Now I am home, that is where I shall remain. What say you, Ethan?”
“I say we put aside the bad memories and savour the good ones,” Ethan replied. As he did, he raised his ale tankard and Anthony followed suit. Though not Cedric, for he rarely drank ales. He argued that it could not compare to the quality wines the French and Italians had mastered. Instead, he raised a glass of brandy to join the toast.
The brothers had made their way from the Dover port by coach. Then, they had headed straight into the heart of London to visit the gentleman’s club that their father always favoured, Brooks on St James’ Street. It was only because of their father’s standing that they were admitted. None were members before they had gone overseas for three years.
They now sat comfortably in the large subscription room. it was good to be surrounded by the buzz of English-speaking male voices. Many stood around chatting, others were seated around large, mahogany, circular tables. Some gambled and every one of them drank—all without the distraction of women.
“Shall we make our way to the card room and play whist?” Ethan asked his brothers. Not that he enjoyed gambling, but they were here to celebrate their homecoming.
“I find gambling is the Devil making work for idle hands,” Cedric remarked.
“Quite so, brother,” a cheerier Anthony agreed. “Which is why we are here for amusement only. We can play for smaller stakes whilst we catch up on English politics. I am with Ethan on this one. That is, once I have a brandy to line my stomach.”
As they moved through the smoke-filled rooms, they could hear the low murmur of men talking.
“Personally, I would prefer the company of females,” Cedric offered. “But needs must, so I will join you, if not only to introduce myself to some of the more prominent leaders.”
“Ah!" Ethan smiled, knowing it always took Cedric a whilst to settle in new places. "Our brother wants to reintroduce himself back into British society.”
Anthony, once over his seasickness, would throw himself in at the deep end. Being of a cheerful nature, he was the most popular of the brothers. Most found his personality charming. Ethan, on the other hand, showed restraint when it came to socialising. It was his responsibility, as the eldest brother, to uphold the family's reputation.
“We should have gone to White’s," Cedric mumbled under his breath. "I hear it is more elite.”
“Why?" Anthony chaffed. "Are you afraid someone will throw a black ball at your membership application?”
“I will not be applying here,” Cedric said with seriousness to his tone. “Too much gambling for my liking. A sign of weakness, if you ask me. I will see you both back at the hotel.”
