Page 32 of A Maid's Fateful Courtship
“These are all very distinguished guests,” he responded. “We must have hot food at hand.”
“Lady Cynthia requested I produce nothing but cold supper items and sweet delicacies," Martha huffed. "And that is who I am listening to, and not a hoity-toity butler getting above his station.”
Josephine was doing all she could not to laugh at Martha's insult. When she noted a menu on the table, she picked it up as an excuse to hide her face. She knew better than to take sides, Doreen had taught her that one good tip.
“I see nothing wrong with this menu, Ronald,” she remarked, looking only at him. “Roast fowl and chicken, ornamented hams in baskets. Along with pastries and jellies, amongst many other fine dishes, even lobster.”
“Harrumph!” Ronald coughed. “So long as the baskets are fancy and there are plenty of choices,” he said, knowing it was time for him to step back and give in.
“The stewards are setting up high tables so the guests can eat the light supper as they stand?” Josephine said. She knew he was aware of it, but it was more to make a point.
“I want large pies aplenty, filled with tasty ingredients,” he grumbled.
“Martha will produce nothing but the best, you know that.” Josephine stepped in to reply before Cook had a chance. “Talking of which, we must all be getting on. There is much clatter upstairs and the stewards could do with your guidance.”
Ronald turned to leave and was soon marching off at speed. Martha picked up a rolling pin, looking as if she may beat him with it if he overstayed his welcome in her domain much longer.
“As if my kitchen is not hot enough without the likes of him poking his nose around,” Martha muttered. “I have been preparing this for days and he comes up with his whimsical ideas. What cheek! You had better put him in his place before I do it.”
“His place is by our sides,” Josephine said with a half-smile, for she knew Martha was as fond of the butler as she was. “You know he can get stressed when we have guests for a long period of time.”
“Aye, I do, but so do the rest of us,” Martha wailed, and then she seemed to calm down in an instant as she looked around at her nervous kitchen staff. “Look lively, everyone, we have work to do.”
“I will leave you to it then,” Josephine said, thankful this little tiff was over with.
“Yes, I have got edible sugar plates to create, out of my kitchen with you.”
Normality had returned and Josephine scarpered whilst she could, glad to escape the heat of the kitchen. As she climbed the servant’s stairway to return to the busy hall, the argument she had just witnessed caused a stir in her memory.
As a child, Cedric had often bullied her, picking fights over nothing. Even with Anthony too, though never with Ethan.
She stopped on the stairway, recalling such times. Her mind harkened back on how Ethan had always been the one to rescue them. He had a way with Cedric and knew how to get him to see reason when he got out of control.
In return, Cedric had learnt to look up to his older brother. In fact, they had all of them looked up to Ethan, as the oldest and wisest amongst them.
Footsteps warned her that someone was coming down the stairs. She shook her head to rid herself of the memory and continued to climb upwards. If only I could stop reminiscing so much. It does me no good to keep remembering better times.
Moving up the steps, she braced herself for her return to the busy hall. Time to take on her role as a servant and stop expecting other things in her life.
Chapter 25
The next day, Josephine was never far from Ethan's mind. They had shared a game of pebble skimming, and it was so good to see her laughing once again. If only they had not been interrupted by his brothers.
It was good that she had stayed on; it had felt as if the whole group had been taken back in time. Until Josephine had stopped and brought an abrupt ending to it all.
Not that he blamed her. He could see she had become aware of the reality of the situation. They were no longer children playing games on a beach. They were now adults with certain rules of decorum to follow.
But for a fleeting moment, those had been all but forgotten. It saddened him greatly that Josephine was no longer in the bosom of the family she had grown up with.
Sitting in the parlour, he had been enjoying a moment alone with his thoughts when his father entered and took a seat opposite him. They smiled at one another in acknowledgement, but no words passed between them. That was, until his father broke the silence.
“I have long awaited your return home,” Marcus began, looking as if he had a purpose.
“It was your idea that we embarked on the Grand Tour, Father.”
“Yes, I do not deny that, and I stand by my decision,” he conceded. “It was a good way for you all to gain experience of life.”
“And do you still believe that we have gained that from our time abroad?”
