“There is no need for you to apologize either,” she told him kindly.
“How have you been?” he asked, steering the conversation away from apologies and to more neutral ground, feeling more awkward than he thought he would be. However, he also felt relieved seeing her again and in such a good mood.
“Good, thank you,” she replied with a smile.
“Is your head all right?” he asked with much concern and tenderness, unable to conceal it. “Does it hurt?”
“No, no,” she assured him. “My aunt has been taking very good care of me.”
“I can see that,” he smiled.
She smiled back, inhaling deeply, her eyes widening as if she were mustering the courage to say what would come next. “Your Grace,” she continued, carefully selecting her words, “the reason I have come to you this morning is to tell you that I would like to take you up on your offer of employment.”
He stifled a gasp, swallowing it back inside of himself, as his eyes widened for only a brief moment. When she noticed that he wasn’t extending any response, she quickly added.
“Of course, if your offer is still available,” she told him.
“Yes, yes,” he nodded, swallowing heavily. “It is.”
“Well then, I would be happy to work here, at Montford Manor,” she said a little awkwardly, her hands resting in her lap.
“Yes,” he repeated, feeling ridiculous, but his mind could not conjure up a proper sentence for the next couple of seconds. Finally, he regained his composure and continued. “That is splendid news, I must say. It makes me happy knowing that you won’t be roaming the woods on your own.”
“Lest you might need to save me again?” she asked playfully, catching him off guard with her question.
When he locked eyes with her, he could see a slight blush on her cheeks. She looked absolutely ravishing when she was slightly shy and endeavored to be bold.
“Exactly,” he chuckled, unable to resist the temptation to do so.
It was then that her smile faded away, as she turned grave, almost as if she remembered someone else who needed saving. “There is something else I wanted to ask, Your Grace.”
“What is it?” he wondered.
“My brother, Henry,” she started, faltering only a little. “He is only fourteen, but he is a good boy, very capable and hardworking. Would it be possible for him to also work here at the manor?”
William was taken aback by her request. The idea of having someone else, some stranger from the village, in his home unsettled him. His manor had become a sanctuary, a place where he could retreat from the world and its harsh, judgmental eyes. Having Rose there was somehow different. There was something about her kindness of spirit and her perspective on the world that calmed him. But extending that trust to someone he had never met was a daunting prospect.
He also remembered the incident from several days ago, when a group of boys from the village broke his window, and he accidentally hit one of them. Was her brother one of those boys? Even worse, was he the one William had struck by accident?
He studied Rose’s face, seeing the earnestness in her eyes. This wasn’t just a casual request. It was important to her. He immediately felt a conflict within himself, his instinct to keep his world closed off, clashing with his desire to help Rose.
“Rose,” he began slowly, choosing his words very cautiously, “I must admit, I’m not used to having new people in my home. It has been a private place for me since… well, since I returned from the war.”
Rose nodded; her expression full of sympathy. “I can understand that, Your Grace. But I assure you that my brother is a good boy. He is respectful and diligent. I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t believe that he could be of help around the mansion.”
William sighed, feeling the weight of the decision. “I cannot promise you that, Rose,” he admitted. “But I can promise you that I will think about it.”
“That is all I ask,” she replied, her face softening with gratitude. “I can come back tomorrow, if that is suitable.”
“Absolutely,” he nodded. “I can send a carriage to fetch you.”
“Oh, that’s fine, I can walk,” she smiled.
“No, I insist,” he told her, getting up. “I won’t have you walking all the way here every day.”
“I am used to walking,” she smiled sweetly.
“Still,” he assured her. “Please allow me to make you as comfortable as I can from your first day of employment here.”
