Page 3 of A Maid's Fateful Courtship
“Oh, do not leave, Cedric,” Anthony pleaded. “This is our first night back on English soil. We have cause for celebration. Particularly, as you never wanted to leave England in the first place.”
“Anthony’s right, Cedric,” Ethan agreed. “We do have cause to celebrate,” he added.
“It is more that I am not particularly looking forward to seeing Father,” Cedric brought up the dread that was making him feel down.
“Look here," Anthony began, knowing his brother's troubles.
"I know you and Father had a falling out, but he has changed over the years we have been away. When last we corresponded, he agreed that I can study at Cambridge. If you still wish to study law, I do not see why you cannot pick it back up now that we are back. That is what you wanted all along and now it is on the table again, so cheer up, old fellow."
“I am no longer of the right age to study at Cambridge,” Cedric bemoaned. “Father will expect me to be useful in his business dealings. I fear that my opportunity to study law at Cambridge had passed me by.
“What makes you think that?” Ethan asked.
“I had a letter from Father asking me to think about going north to look at a textile factory investment,” Cedric replied.
“Hard luck on that one then, Cedric,” Anthony said, though he was not concentrating, as his attention was turned on the crowd as he searched for Ethan.
“Come on, you two," Ethan called out. "I have arranged for us to join in a game of whist. Put aside all your despondency for tonight at least, Cedric. Let us go drink some fine brandy, smoke cigars, and enjoy good company.”
Cedric followed, though reluctantly. In truth, he was not looking forward to seeing his father again. He had argued with him before they left. Cedric had more of a passion for the law than for travel, though he had managed to educate himself on the topic whilst living on the continent.
It had all been their father's doing, sending the brothers abroad for the Grand Tour. He had only been nineteen at the time. The youngest of the brothers, Anthony, had been sixteen and had no idea that he would hate sea travel.
Introductions were made to three other fellows who were seated around a card table. In the end, even Cedric enjoyed the company of his peers. It turned out that one of them was from the north. His father was a merchant of textiles, so it was an opportunity for Cedric to learn as much as he could from his new acquaintance.
The brothers finally turned in at the early hours of the morning, fully relaxed after a pleasant evening. Ethan, for one, was looking forward to the journey home on the morrow.
“Get some sleep," Ethan instructed his younger brothers. "I want us up and ready for that carriage in the morning. If anyone is not about for breakfast, then you will have to make your own way home. Father awaits me, so I am not dallying."
Chapter 3
Josephine arrived in the kitchens, where the smell of freshly made bread permeated her senses, making her feel hungry.
“Morning, Josephine,” Lettie called out to greet her amidst the loud clanking noises in the busy kitchen. “I have packed a couple of those bread rolls, so we will not go hungry.”
“Shh… do not say that too loud or Cook will hear,” Josephine whispered in an exaggerated, conspiratorial way.
“Cook already knows,” Martha’s voice boomed behind them, although it was not harsh. “Does not my daughter think I can count?”
“Mamma, I would never—”
“Be off with you both," Martha cut in through Lettie’s response. "Some of us have work to do and we cannot afford to dillydally like others.”
“I have done all my morning chores, Mamma,” Lettie complained.
“I know that, but out of the way with you,” Martha said with a cheery tone as she waved them away. “Josephine, make sure she comes back to help prep the evening meal. No one gets out of that.”
“As if I would dare,” Lettie remarked as she grabbed Josephine’s hand and dragged her out of the back kitchen door. “Come on, let us not linger in there too long, or she will find a chore for me to do.”
They headed off towards a local meadow that lay off the side of the long driveway leading to the manor house. There, Josephine hoped to collect an array of fresh-cut wildflowers. She wanted to add them to the display of garden blooms Cynthia had requested.
“It is a lovely day for it,” Josephine remarked as she inhaled deeply and savored the sweet fresh air. “We need various shades of blue if we can find it. And some green foliage to lend the floral displays a wild look.”
“Ooooh… that is a bit daring, will the Missus like that?” Lettie said, referring to Doreen, the head housekeeper, who liked everything prim and proper.
“She knows I will add my own touch to some of the displays, as I always do,” Josephine explained. “Doreen trusts me.”
“You mean she adores you.” Lettie smiled knowingly as they meandered through a field. A few grazing sheep looked up at them with curious dark eyes as they chewed their cud. The sheep had been let loose in order to keep the grass close to the estate’s manor house short and trim. “But then, we all adore you.”
