Page 29 of A Maid's Fateful Courtship
It had been the special place where she and Ethan often sat on the pebbles. They make up stories of imaginary adventures about hero pirates and pretty princesses.
As she searched for the secret place, Josephine hummed a tune from a nursery rhyme called, “The Grand Old Duke of York.” It had been one of Ethan's favourites, and they had acted out the marching chorus.
How you loved for me to sing to you,she recalled, with an inner smile.
A warm wave of happiness emanated through her mind whenever she had a moment alone to think of Ethan. Her feelings for him were changing. Her love for him was forever growing. Although it was hard to imagine how she could love him any more than she already did, but somehow it was a different kind of love.
How am I to hide these feelings? How will I feel when you chose a bride - and I will be the one to organise your wedding? Oh, Ethan! What am I to do?
At last, she came across the tall pink Buddleia shrub that she had been searching for. It was now much taller and looked so beautiful in full blossom. Opposite, and helping to block the entrance to the small pebble beach, was a ruby red Weigela. The sweet aromas from the blossoms hit her senses, and she could not wait to go through the small opening and get to the safe haven.
Almost tiptoeing past the narrow opening, as if someone might hear her, she was soon standing on the small, pebbled beach. It had seemed so much bigger as a child. At least it was private and would allow her a few moments alone to contemplate her dilemma.
She threw off her shoes and dipped her toes in the water's edge. It was quite cool, but she did not care. Josephine watched the ripples in the water drift outwards, as if they would never stop. As too did the whims of her mind, as her thoughts were forever rolling out of control.
She had even considered leaving the household altogether at one point. But that would mean leaving behind all those who shared so much love with her. Martha had mothered her for as long as she could remember. Then again, she did that to everyone. But her daughter, Lettie, was her best friend. How could she ever leave them and not have them in her life?
Finding a seat on a rock that sat at the edge of the water, she drifted off into her daydream. Her bare feet splashed as she bathed them. Her only thoughts were of Ethan.
Chapter 23
Her mind preoccupied, Josephine looked upon the ground for a very special pebble, one that Ethan had always referred to as a “good skimmer.” She picked up a flat, grey one, and rubbed the smooth surface with her fingers as if that might pass good luck into it. Leaning back with the pebble in hand, she raised her arm at a certain angle.
It is all in the angle, Ethan’s advice came into her head. As her arm came forward, she let go of the smooth rock and it flew out of her grasp as it flew across the surface of the lake water.
As if the magic had touched her once again, she heard someone clapping behind her. She knew exactly who was there, and it was the very person she had been thinking about.
Should I ignore you? Or turn and run, not risking another moment alone with you?
There was never any real doubt in her mind about what her reaction would be. She turned to greet the voice, for she could not resist the temptation of looking. Just the mere sight of him was enough to make her heart race and her cheeks flush. It was the effect he had on her, ever since his return, and she had no control over it.
“I challenge you to a competition,” he said, smiling at her as he approached the water’s edge.
Josephine said nothing, and neither did she move from the rock she was perching on. It felt as if she was glued to the spot, like a frightened rabbit in the eye of a wolf, and it did not know which way to turn.
“What? Are you scared that I would beat you?” Ethan cried out, laughing at her delayed reaction. “Well, I suppose this was one of the few games where I always won. I should know, for there were not many.”
“That is only because you were soft with me,” Josephine replied with a quiet voice.
“Not true, you always climbed higher and faster than any of us when we were up in the trees,” Ethan argued. “That was not any of my doing.”
Josephine busied herself choosing another pebble. She would take up Ethan’s challenge and soon found herself standing and readying herself to throw the stone.
“Would you like to take the first throw, my lord? Perhaps it will you the advantage that you need to beat me," she teased.
She looked into his face to see his reaction. Instead, she was met with the familiar dimple on one side of his cheek; it always appeared when he gave her his lopsided grin.
There were still parts of the young boy she remembered, but now his face was more rugged with masculine features. And if it were possible, it was an even more handsome face than the young man who had left to go abroad years ago.
“How do I know that you have not practiced every day, whilst I have not thrown a skimmer since you left?” she asked, if only to prolong her time with him.
“Hmmm… let me see… did I practice skimming stones in France?” he said, teasing her. “Oh yes, I may have practiced at the lake in Italy. And every stone I threw reminded me of you back home.”
“So, you have practiced, whereas I have not,” she said. “You cannot deny that this does give you an advantage.”
“From what I have witnessed, you still have the skill. Here, take this pebble, it is a definite winner, I promise,” he said as he walked over to her and held out his offering.
She dropped the stone that she had chosen at random and went to take the one that Ethan supplied to her.
