“I am fine,” she snapped, only to sigh and throw her friend an apologetic look at the hurt on Aggy’s face. “I am sorry. I will help you hang the washing out.”
She didn’t wait for Aggy to follow. She hefted the heavy basket and carried it into the kitchen garden. Minutes later, Aggy appeared by her side.
“What is it? You look as though you are about to cry.”
Petal was, but she couldn’t admit it to her friend. “I am fine. I have just had a bit of a morning.”
When Aggy sneezed, Petal lifted her brows at her. “Are you alright?”
She realised then that her friend sounded more nasal than usual.
“I just feel a little chill coming on. I shall be okay after a good night’s sleep.”
“Are all of your chores done yet?” Petal asked.
“Petal?”
She turned and looked at Rollo.
“The master wants to see you.”
Petal hesitated. The last thing she wanted to do was go back upstairs and see him again. She needed a bit of time to herself to gather her thoughts and emotions. She had no idea what she was going to do or say when she saw him. At first, she wanted to come up with a reason not to but then realised it was her job to answer to Aidan’s demands. That made her even more despondent and, once again, seemed to reinforce her position in the household.
Reluctantly, she handed a peg to Aggy and hurried into the house. Once inside, Rollo stopped her.
“Don’t mention to anybody what you saw this morning.”
“If they want to be together that is up to them,” she replied stoically.
“You know what the master has said about her. I don’t think it was what it appeared,” he reasoned with a scowl.
“I know what it looked like. How many other ways can you interpret a passionate embrace like that?” she whispered.
She willed him to come up with a credible explanation. With each second that passed, and he didn’t, her heart broke just that bit more.
“I don’t know, but she keeps giving him Laudanum without his permission. He is clearly not well. She cannot be allowed to take advantage of him. We need to help as much as possible. In that case, if he calls for you, don’t waste time getting up there,” Rollo suggested.
“We are servants in the house, Rollo,” Petal reminded him. “It isn’t our place to object to whatever goes on in his bedchamber. You heard the dowager. Edwards is connected to a Lord, something or other. It isn’t for us to find an argument if they wish to be together. She is suitable for him, or the dowager wouldn’t have chosen her to be here.”
Rollo had to admit that she was right. Although, from the forceful way Petal spoke, and the heartbreak in her eyes, there was more going on between her and the master than he realised, and that disturbed him.
“Do you want me to send Aggy up inst
ead?”
Petal nodded. She didn’t even have to think about it. Right now, she didn’t even want to see the man who had come to mean so much to her.
“One thing we do have to be careful of is Edwards now,” Rollo sighed. “After that little debacle, she is going to be impossible to share the house with.”
“She hates me,” Petal sighed morosely.
“So, I think it would be best for you to swap places with Aggy. I know Edwards can be awkward, but Aggy is no threat to anyone, and Edwards knows it.”
“I am no threat to anyone,” Petal countered, wondering what he was hinting at.
Rollo looked at her and realised then that the young maid had absolutely no idea how the master looked at her. Having spent time in the army he had travelled to many far off distant lands and had experienced a lot of life and its foibles. The way Aidan looked at Petal went far beyond curiosity; or that of a master observing his staff. There was an undeniable attraction in his adoring gaze. It was so obvious that he was positive Edwards had noticed as well. He began to wonder if that was why Edwards didn’t like Petal being in the room. Although he hated the woman, he couldn’t help but wonder if she might be right.
The master was dancing with fire. Someone was going to get seriously burned. In this case, he rather suspected it would be Petal. One thing was for certain, there was trouble ahead. As the butler of the household, it was down to him to protect the servants as best he could, and that included Petal. That meant, for the time being, he had to incur the master’s wrath and keep Petal out of the way.