Owen Greeves seemed like a perfectly amiable man, flirtatious yes, but not scandalously so.
I need more information on the matter.
Changing course, Josephine walked to the stables in search of Mr. Tatham. When she found him, he was just emerging from one of the stalls, wiping sweat from his brow with a cloth.
“Miss Merton,” he greeted with a smile. “How can I be of assistance?”
Josephine moved forward and leaned her arms against the top of the open stall door. “What did you mean by what you said about Owen Greeves?”
Mr. Tatham’s eyebrows raised in surprise. “Did your mother never explain to you…” his voice drifted off as he studied her face. “I am not sure I feel comfortable discussing such a thing with you, Miss Merton. It is not my place.”
“If you are referring to marital relations, Mr. Tatham, then yes my mother has spoken with me on the topic. I am not about to disgrace my family name by falling prey to such before the appropriate time. Was that your only concern? That I would fall prey to Owen’s copious charms and not be able to resist his advances?”
“Well, yes and no. I have great faith in your integrity, Josephine. I know you are strong enough to resist the temptations of this world, but Mr. Greeves has not resisted said temptations. He may not respect your innocence were you to encourage his attentions. There is also the matter of your feelings for His Lordship.”
Josephine was stunned. Mr. Tatham had not called her by her given name since she was a child. To address her in such a familiar way showed just how much he cared for her wellbeing in this matter. “My feelings for Frederick are of no concern and must be extinguished at the earliest opportunity. You do not truly believe Owen capable of such barbarism?”
Mr. Tatham rubbed the back of his neck in uncertainty. “One never knows in these matters. I have seen seemingly good men and women do terrible things in my lifetime. I would be greatly sorrowed to see you fall prey to any man. As Mr. Greeves has not given me cause to think as I have by his own behaviors, you are right to question me in this, but please proceed with caution when pursuing a friendship with any man.”
“I will, Mr. Tatham. Thank you for your concern. You are a good man,” Josephine replied. “Do not worry for me.”
“I will always worry for you and His Lordship, Miss Merton. I could sooner halt the wind than I could stop worrying about the pair of you.” He smiled at her with fatherly affection and came around to place a hand on her shoulder. “I could not care for either of you more were you my flesh and blood. Please, feel free to come to me at any time, with anything. I will be here.”
“Thank you,” Josephine smiled, gave him a quick hug, and left the stables feeling better than she had all day. There was now hope where hope had not been before.
* * *
Frederick paced back and forth from his mother’s bed to the window and back again. Josephine had been right. His mother had not awakened until the next morn. When he had handed her the missives he had found in the secret compartment of her desk, she had fainted again and left him standing in the middle of the room feeling like a knave for having caused her such distress.
He had called for the maid, who had administered smelling salts. The doctor had been summoned once more, and now Frederick anxiously awaited the physician’s arrival. “Frederick, come and sit down, my son,” his mother beckoned from the bed. Her voice was weak and shaky.
“I am sorry, Mother. I did not mean to cause you further distress. I simply wish to protect you.” Frederick obeyed and came to sit next to her upon the bed.
“It is not your fault, Frederick. I am ashamed of my reaction. I never thought of myself as being a weak woman before now. The letters started some time ago. I did not wish to worry your father with what I hoped was just a foolish misunderstanding, but when I received the threat to my life, I feared I had made a mistake in keeping it secret. I would not be able to live with myself if harm befell you due to something I had done.”
“What did you do, Mother?”
“Nothing,” she denied vehemently. “I have done nothing that would warrant such threats. I am only sorry that I did not tell you about the letters sooner. That is all.”
“Whoever is responsible believes that you did. No one sends this many threatening notes without believing they have cause. I am not saying that you are guilty of anything untoward, Mother, but it is quite clear that someone does and holds you in contempt for it.”
His mother curled up beneath her blankets as if they might protect her somehow from the unknown dangers that surrounded them. “They are wrong,” she whispered, then turned away from Frederick and faced the wall.
Frederick left the room and found Greeves standing guard again. “Do you believe her?” he asked. Frederick turned and gave the footman a hard look. “Forgive me, My Lord. It was not my place to ask such a question.”
Frederick walked away, but he could not get the footman’s question out of his head.
Do I believe her? I do not know.
Frederick continued on toward the library in hopes of discussing the issue with his father. He passed Josephine on the stairs carrying a tray with food and drink enough for two people. “Is that for Mother? I doubt she will be able to eat much in the state she is in.”
“It is for Her Grace and Owen,” Josephine informed him.
She calls him by his given name?Frederick was taken aback by the level of informality between Josephine and the footman after such a short time of acquaintance.
Though Frederick paused on the stairs in hopes of conversing with her about the exchange he had with his mother, she did not. She continued up the stairs without a backward glance in his direction. Frederick sighed in frustration. It appeared she was still angry with him.
Frederick watched as she passed along the corridor to Greeves. The footman greeted her with a charming smile that caused Frederick to feel rather angry himself. He did not like the feeling. She handed Greeves a drink and plate which he set down on a nearby side table and opened the bedroom door for her to pass through. Frederick could not escape the feeling it should have been him smiling at her in such a fashion and helping her with doors.
