Page 61 of Unchaining the Heart of the Marquess
“Yes, of course. I will go to London and see what aid I can offer.”
“Thank you, Mr. Tatham. I greatly appreciate your help in this matter. Father is not himself at the moment, and I do not wish to leave him alone when he has requested that I remain with him.”
“I understand, My Lord. I am all too happy to help. I will leave immediately.” He moved toward the barn and returned the foal to its stall. Frederick followed and gave him all of the details he would need to know in order to be of the most aid to Buckworth’s efforts. “What are you going to do about our dear Miss Merton?”
“I do not know that there is anything I can do, Mr. Tatham. She has agreed to wed the footman, Owen Greeves. It would be dishonorable to do anything that might jeopardize her happiness.”
“Ah, but will she be happy?”
“I do not know. Only she can truly say.”
“You are a good man, My Lord. I have no doubt that your father has much to be proud of.”
“Thank you, Mr. Tatham, but I cannot say that I agree. Can one be proud of having spawned a fool?”
“You are not a fool, My Lord. You only wished to do that which you deemed honorable. A father could not ask for more than that his son follow his conscience.”
“You would have made a wonderful father, Mr. Tatham. I thank you for your kind words.”
The stableman nodded in acknowledgement then went on to pack for his journey to London. Frederick returned to the manor house to ensure that his father had followed through on their agreement to take better care of himself. He could not help but feel angry at his mother for leaving her husband in such a state. He had never thought her to be a selfish woman, but recent events had made him reexamine his thoughts on the matter.
He found his father in the dining room eating breakfast. Frederick joined him, and they made a plan to go over the estate books once the Duke had gotten some much-needed sleep. After finishing breakfast, the Duke retired to his bedchamber, and Frederick went back out to the stables to ensure that the grooms would maintain the proper level of care during Mr. Tatham’s absence.
When he was done relaying instructions, Frederick returned to the house through the servant’s entrance and climbed the stairs to the servant’s quarters. He sought out Josephine’s room and opened the door. He walked over to the farthest bed and sat down. Josephine’s scent wafted up from the blankets, smelling of roses and honey. He looked all around him, feeling guilty for invading her space but needing to be near her in whatever way he could, while at the same time trying to let her go.
Josephine had taken all of her few possessions with her, leaving nothing but her scent and his memories. He moved the pillow from the head of her head and found the letters they had carved there as children.‘FH’and‘JM’stood out boldly from the whitewashed walls. He traced the initials with his finger and smiled at the bittersweet memory. Lying down upon her pillow he fell back to sleep, this time dreaming of their carefree childhood days together.
* * *
Josephine awoke to find herself alone. The sun streamed through the window pane, glowing warm upon her face. She rolled over, looking through the glass at the bright day outside. Her head ached and her eyes burned from crying, so she closed them once more.
I do not want to get up and face anyone today. Can I remain in bed and not cause concern?
She opened her eyes once more knowing the answer already. There was no possible way for her to spend the entirety of the day in bed without every member of the Greeves family, including her mother, coming in to question her. Frederick’s voice echoed through her mind,‘I love you, Josephine.’
Her heart had cried out,‘I love you too,’but instead of saying that she had lashed out, her hurt overtaking her joy.What am I to do?Groaning, she covered her face with her hands.I cannot face this day.Rolling away from the window’s light she pulled the blankets back up over her head and allowed herself to return to sleep.
When she awoke a second time, she found her mother sitting on the edge of the bed. “Mother?”
“There you are. Did you intend to join the living this day?” her mother asked in jest.
“No, I do not believe I will,” Josephine protested and pulled the blankets back up over her head.
Her mother sighed and removed the blankets so that she might see her daughter’s face. “You cannot hide from the realities of your situation, Josephine.”
“You heard?”
“Yes, we all did. It was hard not to with your screeching like a banshee at His Lordship. I did not raise you to exhibit such behavior.”
“No, Mother. You did not. I am sorry.” Josephine sat up wrapping her arms about her knees. “What am I going to do?”
“You are going to wed Mr. Owen Greeves, produce many children, and live an honorable life as a wife and mother here on his family farm. You will never have to return to Chescrown, and therefore all temptation toward foolish behavior will be removed from your path. Your life will be good here, Josephine, with people of your own station. Nothing but heartbreak comes from reaching above your station.”
“He said that he loves me, Mother.”
“He will bring you nothing but heartbreak. Remember that, Josephine. It will save you much regret.”
“What if I cannot let him go?”
