Page 24 of A Maid's Fateful Courtship
“I… I must go attend to my duties.” It was all she could think to say but it was not what she wanted to do. A wanton heat burnt in her soul as she had been on the cusp of quenching an endless thirst.
“Josephine, I—”
She heard him say her name, but his voice faded as she ran.
* * *
Ethan watched her speed away like a frightened fawn escaping a predator. If only he had felt that kiss, the one he had hankered for, day and night. A sweet aroma from the rose petals permeated the air and he took a deep breath to clear his troubled mind. On the floor, he noticed a single daisy.
Leaning over, he picked it up and placed it in his jacket pocket. The closest he could get to the woman he loved was to carry her favourite flower around with him. He felt a stinging disappointment at what had happened. Yet, the feel of the tiny flower in his fingers served as a reminder of the delicate flower he wished to love forever.
He continued his walk in the garden, inhaling the essence of the floral delights. It served to remind him of what he had almost gained, a kiss from the sweetest of creatures that had ever entered his life.
Chapter 19
As Ethan returned to the manor house, he headed towards the dining hall. The sound of buzzing chatter greeted him as the guests took their places at the long table. He was of a mind to turn and leave, heading towards his chambers instead. Not in the mood to bother with dinner, he half turned and was met by a steward.
“May I lead you to your seat, my lord?” the steward asked, and Ethan nodded pertly, annoyed that he had not made his escape in time.
“It seems we are to be brought together once again, my lord,” Matilda remarked as he took his appointed seat next to her.
His mind had been filled with thoughts of Josephine, and he had not taken much notice of who was sitting next to him. Looking to his left, he could see the fresh face of the pretty Matilda, and he greeted her with an unenthusiastic half-smile.
“Did you enjoy your stroll?” she asked, not allowing him the peace that he sought.
“It was refreshing and very pleasant,” he replied with another stiff smile. Whilst his mouth uttered the words, his mind was on other things as he recalled the kiss that had almost taken place. The very vision of Josephine's lips caused his smile to soften.
“I must declare that I enjoyed a short nap whilst the ladies gossiped all around me,” Matilda continued on with the conversation, determined to engage him in dinnertime pleasantries.
“I see no harm in avoiding the gossip of ladies,” he replied, thinking her commendable for not joining in the babble of idle talk.
“I will wager that you men do exactly the same thing.” She was quick to pick up on the flow of his comment. “Only it will be on the lines of who said what in parliament, or who owns which business, no doubt. Am I right?”
“I would not know, I was not there to listen in. But it seems to me that you have a wise head on your shoulders,” Ethan praised her, glancing to his side, and noticing her delicate, pink lips.
It stirred no desire in him, towards Lady Matilda, and instead reminded him of Josephine’s ruby red lips. The soft lips he had almost touched with his own.
“…do you not think?” Lady Matilda’s laughing voice assaulted his ears and he had no idea what she had asked him.
“I am of the opinion that the beef is deliciously tender," he replied. Ethan had no interest in knowing the question that Lady Matilda had put to him. "I must send word to Martha to congratulate her in producing such a marvellous feast.”
“Goodness me, you are attentive to your household staff,” Lady Matilda replied, looking surprised at his swift change in topic.
“I have not known the names of the cooks in our kitchen since I was a child. They come and they go and it is not worth the effort of remembering them all. Whenever I do notice them, they seem to have changed as we go through so many.”
“Martha is a keeper," Ethan said, and his words were genuine for he had a great fondness for the head cook.
"Because of her, the meals at Sarandale Manor are legendary. All thanks to her magical skills.” He had nothing but good memories of Martha, who had always seemed to smell of sugar cakes and bread. “I missed her English dishes whilst we lived abroad.”
“I am rather partial to Italian cuisine,” Lady Matilda implied. “Not that I get to travel much these days. My brother insists it is time I learnt to run the household. He says any good wife should know all that goes on around her.”
“I am sure that you will pick up the skills quickly, Lady Matilda,” Ethan said, wishing he could get away from the table without offending her. At least the food was good, but the lady at his side kept interrupting his dreamy thoughts of Josephine.
The dinnertime chatter drawled on around him. Occasionally, he would catch a word or two of Lady Matilda’s exchanges, and he would reply accordingly. For the most part, though, his mind focused on his rendezvous in the rose garden. Although he felt pleased that he had almost enjoyed a first kiss with Josephine, he was also disappointed that it had not come about.
“Are you coming, Ethan?” Anthony’s voice echoed in Ethan’s head. He looked behind his chair to see his brother standing there staring at him. “We are going into the billiard’s room. Has the Lady Matilda captivated you so much that you are lost in her spellbound beauty?”
“You flatter me, Lord Anthony,” Lady Matilda chuckled. “Although we have enjoyed one another’s company over dinner, have we not, Lord Ethan?”
