Page 49 of A Maid's Fateful Courtship
“Yes, Cynthia," he nodded his head at her. "I love Josephine with all my heart.”
Cynthia stood up, looking as if she was in discomfort at his words.
“But you are the rightful heir to the estate. You cannot behave in this way,” she warned.
“And do not I know it,” Ethan stated with vehemence on his tongue.
“Then, it is a good thing, brother, that you are to marry a lady of good standing,” Lacy Cynthia stated. “Does Lady Matilda know of this?”
“As far as I am aware there are only three people who know of my love for Josephine,” Ethan discerned. “That is, myself, Josephine, and now you.”
“I wish you had not told me, Ethan.”
“I ask only that you keep my secret, for it changes nothing,” Ethan sighed. He sat down and leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees so he could bury his face in his hands. It was a posture of defeat. “I will marry Lady Matilda, but my heart will never be hers.”
“You need to consider sending Josephine away,” Lady Cynthia suggested. “Find her another position in a different household, I will help find her a good life.”
“I could not bear for her to leave me,” Ethan disclosed.
“But you must send her away, or it would not be fair to your wife, nor to Josephine for that matter.”
“I know, I know… and I will consider it. I need to this wretched wedding behind me first,” Ethan pleaded, but the idea of sending Josephine away was a most distressing thought.
“Very well,” Lady Cynthia agreed, her voice taking on a softer tone.
“I love you very dearly, brother. I am most disheartened by your unfortunate situation. I too am fond of Josephine, as we all are. When I married, I offered her the position as my personal maid, so that we could remain together. But she did not wish to leave Sarandale Manor. There is nothing I can say or do to console you, I wish there was.”
“The heartache is mine and mine alone, sister, but I ask you to keep my secret to yourself, that is all.”
“I can do that,” she said, looking back at him with an aching sadness in her heart.
"I have many good memories of Josephine, and even looked upon her as a sister once. You know, when I married my husband, Father was furious because he was below my station. I mention this because I know how you feel. Not that it will ease your burdens, nothing can do that."
Lady Cynthia turned and walked out of the parlour, saying no more.
Chapter 39
“Does your mother know that you keep visiting me on my sickbed?” Josephine asked her friend, Lettie, as she had popped in for the hundredth time.
“There is very little that Mother does not know, and you know that to be true,” Lettie answered. “I am so pleased to see you feeling better though. I do miss you when you are not around. I have no one to moan at and have to put up with Mother's bossy ways.”
“Your mother is the best cook around and do not you forget it. But yes, after resting I have a clearer idea of what I am going to do. My mind feels much refreshed,” Josephine informed her friend. Though she still suffered a dread in the pit of her stomach at Ethan’s betrayal towards her.
“Eat the breakfast on that tray then, or Mother will be up to visit you too and then you will know what I mean. She will most likely spoon-feed you if you do not make some effort!” Lettie warned.
“Do not worry, because I am sure that my appetite is returning,” Josephine assured her friend as she took a small bite from a piece of bread. “Have I missed anything important?”
“Only that Henry has asked if he can court me,” Lettie announced, holding her breath at sharing her secret.
Josephine put a hand up to her mouth in surprise, “Oh, my, have you told your mother?”
“Harry did everything proper, he asked Mother's permission first,” Lettie said with pride. “He is such a fine man, Josephine, and I cannot believe how happy it makes me feel to know that he feels the same way about me too.”
Josephine opened up her arms and Lettie leaned over the bed to accept her friend’s embrace.
“I was not sure I should tell you, what with all that is happened to your own broken heart,” Lettie admitted as she pulled out of the hug.
“It is wonderful news, Lettie. It raises my spirits to know that you are so happy,” Josephine said, sharing her thoughts. “I do not expect life to stop for everyone just because my heart has been broken.”
