But God was clearly not listening to her.
Despite that, Ophelia turned around and continued to limp towards the manor, making sure to keep away all pressure from her right foot where the blister was ever-growing. She was not going to stop at the side of the street like a damsel and wait for Edward to help her like a handsome knight in his riding gear. It was more than her pride could handle.
Her heartbeat only accelerated as the horse grew closer, and she could sense the exact moment his eyes fell on her back, but Ophelia was determined not to turn around. Something about his gaze made her burn from head to toe, and electricity coursed through her as he looked, his horse slowing down beside her within seconds.
Please, please let him pass by without noticing me.
Although, it was impossible. He recognized her strawberry blonde hair all too well, especially since Ophelia had felt him staring one too many times. She was certain he either loved blonde or long hair since he seemed to have a liking towards it.
“Miss Jennings?” his smooth, honeyed voice called out to her from behind, and she had no choice but to turn around and answer. Even if she were still a lady from the ton in front of his eyes, she would have to answer him out of respect, and right now, she was under his employment, forcing her to be even more amiable.
“My Lord,” she curtsied as well as she could on her foot and turned to look at him.
Edward’s face was etched in deep concern, and he jumped down from his horse immediately, his focus entirely on Ophelia’s foot, which she rested a little above the ground, unable to keep it down fully. He must have noticed her limping even though Ophelia had magically wanted him to ignore it completely. Clearly, some things were too much to ask for her.
And God was refusing to listen.
“I cannot help noticing that you are walking differently. Are you hurt?” he asked, taking off his riding gloves as his beautiful chestnut stallion stood patiently, “What is the matter with your foot.”
Oh God, why?
“The sole of my boot tore apart, but I continued walking on it, hoping it would not be much of an issue. But the constant touch on gravel and uneven ground has caused a blister on my right foot. It is rather painful,” she replied honestly, her pain not allowing her to make up another excuse for it.
Even if she had wanted to hide the truth from him, she knew it was going to be entirely pointless.
“Miss Jennings, how long have you been walking on that foot, might I ask?”
“I was just returning from the village market,” she replied guiltily, suddenly feeling like a little girl being scolded by her father.
“You have walked all the way from the village market till here on a blistered foot!? You are remarkably thick-headed for someone so smart,” he scolded yet again, the concern in his eyes still evident.
“I was not left with much of a choice, My Lord.”
Edward sighed, making Ophelia wonder why he looked so deeply upset about her wounded foot. She wanted to ask him the exact question but could not go ahead at the risk of sounding too interrogative or personal. She needed to remember their respective positions and the fact that he was simply her employer and nothing else.
“May I take a look at your foot if you do not mind? I must survey the extent of damage already caused.”
“Take a look at my foot?”
Ophelia could not help being a little stunned at the question, feeling scandalized. She could not possibly take off her shoe and expose her foot in front of a man, for if someone found out she had gone to such lengths, it would be chaotic. Although, who was ever going to find out?
I am just a servant to him. Nothing more.
The idea would have been unfathomable if she were a lady, but she knew that for maids to show parts of their skin was completely normal. The strict idea of modesty that had been drilled into her mind since she was just a little girl emerged from her noble bearing, but she was no longer burdened by it.
“Yes,” Edward nodded, “if you are comfortable, of course.”
He must have sensed her hesitation.
“You can.”
“Can you sit down right here?” He motioned towards the ledge running by the edge of the entire street, separating the uneven forest ground from the gravelled pathway.
Ophelia backed away carefully, taking a few careful steps towards the ledge as she winced in pain. She could notice how Edward’s eyes scrunched up at her winces, the pain she was in making him uncomfortable as well. She still could not understand why he appeared so affected by it, but it felt heartwarming to have such concern.
“Should I take off my boots?” Ophelia asked, sitting down as Edward walked towards her.
“No, no, please do not bother yourself; you are already in such agony,” he quickly replied, moving towards her. “I can take them off for you if that is alright?”
