Chapter Sixteen: Blood Moon by Rosaline Saul
SINCE THEIR ENCOUNTER at the top of the stairs, Joseph had been as good as his word. Their paths had hardly crossed at all. Not once since then was she alone in the same room as him, not even by accident. When they were in the same room, he treated Maggie with chilling politeness. Even though she knew it was for the best, she could do nothing to dull the pain in her chest.
She longed for a love that will forever be denied to her.
Repeatedly she tried to convince herself what she felt for Joseph was pure infatuation. She lashed herself with ridicule. How could she be such a fool to believe she loved him? Joseph Burke was an expert in seduction and with her inexperienced view of love, she fell for it. That was all.
She missed the gleam of laughter in his eyes when he used to look at her, instead of the hard glare he now gave her. She even longed to hear the way he said her name.
“There.” Beatrice tossed her lesson book across the table. “I am finished.”
Maggie smiled at her. “You are doing very well. The Count will be pleased with your progress.”
Beatrice tossed her head. “Perhaps. It does not matter anyway because I shall not be forced into marriage with someone against my will. I do not believe he wishes for me to get married anymore either. He is always locked away in his laboratory these days.”
“I do not think there has been any change of plan, Beatrice.”
Physically, Joseph was not imposing any pressure on Beatrice at all, but Maggie did notice how attentive he was to her. If she did not know better, Maggie would have regarded their playful banter and childish arguments as a happy relationship between two people who grew up together. However, if he did try to make love to Beatrice, Maggie believed Beatrice would not be able to maintain her resistance against him. Maggie could only hope she would be long gone by that time. She would not be able to watch it happening.
Beatrice moved away from the table. “I am going up to my room now, I have a headache.”
“Again?” Maggie looked at her concerned. “You have had a headache every day this week. If it is not a ploy to get out of your lessons, then maybe we should call for the doctor.”
“I do not need a doctor.” Her tone was irritable.
Maggie sighed and gathered the books on the table. Every day she tried to win Beatrice over to the charms of the manor and the advantages of being a rich Countess. Maybe if she really wanted to convince Beatrice, she could, but she did not want to. Not really. At least, Beatrice had stopped singing the praises of James, with her every breath. Maybe her undying love for James had faded? This did not mean Beatrice would automatically turn to Joseph, especially if he was spending days and nights pursuing his own interests in the old church where his laboratory was.
The was a movement at the door of the room and Maggie looked up.
Mark was standing in the doorway, looking around the room. “I was looking for Beatrice,” he explained.
“She has gone to her room with a headache,” Maggie explained.
“I was only wondering if she wanted to go for a walk.” He turned away. “Thank you, Maggie.”
Maggie stopped him from leaving when she asked, “Have you known Beatrice for a long time?”
“I have.” There was a hint of desolation in his voice.
Maggie felt sorry for him. “I do not think she is in a very easy position. She feels trapped as her life is being planned for her and she does not like it here.”
“She used to love it here.” There was an abundance of sadness in his voice. “I thought she could be happy here again, but now I am not so sure.”
Carefully Maggie said, “I think marrying the right man will make all the difference to her happiness.”
Angry he replied, “Then there should be no problem, all she has to do is agree and the wedding will take place tomorrow.”
“Unfortunately, it is not that simple, and I think you know that. She is not convinced he is the right man for her, and it would help if the Count spent less time working.”
He shook his head. “At the moment, the Joseph has no choice to work day and night. He is on the brink of a breakthrough.” He suddenly looked uncomfortable. “Forgive me, this is not something I can discuss.”
“You are very loyal,” Maggie said, looking at him pensively.
Mark nodded his head. “As he is himself and something you will realise one day.” He smiled awkwardly and turned away from Maggie.
She had seen a good deal of Mark during the course of the past weeks and he had infinite patience with Beatrice, even when she was at her worst. At the same time, she was surprised Joseph would allow them to spend so much time in each other's company. At seventeen, he was at a much closer age with Beatrice, than Joseph. Maybe Joseph was just making sure Beatrice did not get bored and try to run away again.
Maggie walked up the staircase and decided to look in on Beatrice. Softly she knocked on the door to Beatrice's room and then listened for a reply. She heard a faint sobbing sound.
Maggie pushed against the door and it swung open. “Is something wrong, Beatrice? Is your headache worse?”
The girl was spread across her bed and her face was wet with tears.
“I am sorry to intrude,” Maggie said as she took a step backwards, pulling the door with her.
“No. Wait. I wish to ask you something.” Beatrice paused. “Maggie is it possible to think you are in love with someone and then to suddenly realise it is not true. Is it normal to realise you really care for someone else entirely and have done for a long time, only that you have been too blind to see or too stubborn to admit? Can that happen?”
Maggie said slowly, “I think it can happen very easily.”
Beatrice sighed. “I was afraid of that. I have realised who I genuinely love, and it is not James. I have fought against it for so long, but I have seen he is the only man who can make me truly happy.”
Maggie swallowed past the sudden tightness in her throat. “Then you must tell Joseph.”
Beatrice shook her head. “I cannot. Not when there is so much I need forgiveness for. You do not know about all the mean and horrible things I have said to him.”
“I am sure it will be fine.” She sat down on the edge of the bed as the pain in the pit of her stomach intensified. “You worry too much.”
Beatrice was crying again. “You are so kind, Maggie. It was because of you I started doubting my love for James in the first place, even though I did not want to.” She reached for Maggie's hand. “You will stay, will you? For my wedding?”
“I will try, but it might be difficult,” Maggie said huskily, fighting back her own tears. “I am going to have to find another position now. You will not need me to chaperone or tutor you anymore.”
Beatrice sat up on the bed, and unexpectedly she threw her arms around Maggie's shoulders. “You must stay. You must. If it was not for you, I might never have realised that the one I love was right in front of me all this time.” Beatrice pulled away from her and smiled excitedly. “Tonight, will be a time of celebration, I must find something beautiful to wear.”
When Maggie returned to her room, she considered there would be a festive atmosphere in the dining room tonight and she did not feel like wearing her functional black uniform for the occasion.
She pulled the dress Cathy had bought for her from the cupboard, the dress she was supposed to wear that night they were invited to the manor.
In a way, she had her own reasons for celebration.
Her job was complete, and she could give Joseph her resignation. She could leave Manor Burke and put her plan to forget Joseph into action. Living in the same house as him, was not helping her to stop thinking about him.
First, she had to get through this evening, which promised to be the most challenging experience of her life to date.
SLOWLY MAGGIE WALKED down the stairs, and stood at the bottom, listening to the hum of voices coming from the dining room.
The excitement in the air was as real as her broken heart.
She noticed Joseph's study door was standing open and drew in a deep breath. There would never be a better time to give him her resignation. The way things were between them, he would only be relieved.
She reached the doorway and looked into the room.
Joseph was there with Beatrice. She was in his arms and her face was buried against his broad shoulders while his hand stroked her hair with obvious tenderness.
Maggie stood motionless; she could not move a muscle even though she wanted to run. Run as fast as she could. Run as far away as her legs could carry her.
Joseph lifted his head sharply and looked at her. He looked tired and grim, almost haggard. Most probably from the long hours he spent working in his laboratory.
For a long moment, they looked at each other with a kind of unbearable sadness and loss.
Then Maggie turned away and hurried up the stairs, back to her room.
Continue reading Chapter 17/17
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