This was going to be difficult, this much Elizabeth knew. Emett was her employer after all, it would be a thorough indiscretion if she were to plead on her sister's behalf but there were worst things one could do in life- example murdering someone, or stealing. This was not going to be so hard, this was going to take only a little time, interceding would release her sister from her righteous misery.
"Jerome, I am looking for Lord Emett, would you happen to know where he is?" Elizabeth questioned the stately butler who had posted himself in front of the library door.
"Why yes, I do. He is inside," saying so he pointed to the library door. "You mustn't disturb him though, he said he wished to be alone."
"But it is a matter of grave importance!" Elizabeth cried out desperately. Her sister was to start with her kitchen duties the next morning, she had to confront Lord Emett with this issue before tomorrow; she was resolute.
Jerome gave her an exasperated look, followed by one that said, you have brought this on yourself and I'll bear no blame, none whatsoever, if there are any repercussions.
Elizabeth thanked him with a gracious nod and Gerome opened the library door with utmost care. There was no noise heard. He entered it and shut it with as much expertise as had been employed in opening it.
Elizabeth waited outside the door in agitation. She didn't know how her master would react, given her precarious position, she certainly didn't want him thinking she was insinuating anything. She just wanted him to be sympathetic towards her cause; she had raised her sister to believe that her life would be different from her own, since Francesca had been educated (the Senior Ernest had generously paid for her tuition) she felt the kitchen duty to be an uncomfortable circumstance. Elizabeth planned on being very passive throughout the whole conversation so that her master would not consider her appeal a revolt. She had to trudge the distance with prudence. As Elizabeth was assimilating her thoughts she saw the Jerome walk out. He took meticulous care in handling the door, as always.
"He says he will see you," satisfied Elizabeth started reaching for the door knob but paused when he conspiratorially added, "but he isn't very happy about it."
Elizabeth mustered up a weak smile in his direction and strode through the door.
Inside she saw her master sitting behind his imposing mahogany desk. Seeing him like this, deeply immersed in his work, made Elizabeth realize that she had chosen the wrong time to discuss the crucial matter with him.
Emett was engrossed in legal paperwork for a property he had recently purchased, he unaware of all that was around him but the diminishing light brought everything back to focus, someone was hindering the the path of light which illuminated his desk space. This was frustrating to him, it truly was. He really was to have no peace, first it had been Jerome, he had said something, someone had wanted something from him…who was that someone? He hadn't paid any attention, and now that someone was here; blocking his light. The light that was vital, necessary. He had to get some work done, the women in his life had been huge distractions lately. Now was time for work, he wasn't thinking about Rebecca and he would definitely (for the next two hours) not devote a single thought to Franny. She had to be removed from the 'concious' mind and placed in some deep, dark, dormant corner of it. This was the solution, but the diminishing light…Emett had to look up, he realized with piercing anger that the papers on his desk would have to wait again.
"Yes? Why are you blocking my light and why do you choose not to speak?" Emett sounded like an aged, groggy old man to his own ears.
It was stimulating, standing in his presence, Elizabeth imagined he had this impression on nearly everyone who ever met or even saw him, a man with such potent magnetism, was life easy or hard? She concluded it was easier, he clearly could have any woman he wanted and yet he chose to make her little sister's life miserable. Rich, handsome but no heart, no generosity of spirit…being the Manor's head of staff meant that she saw her master everyday but it was somehow very hard, very strange to get used to his extraordinary appearance. She still felt a slight jolt whenever she saw him or on the rare occasions he conversed with her (he passed his orders to her through Jerome). She was only a year younger than him, she had been a young widow, she appreciated her master's beauty like most women and she never truly understood how it was that her own little sister didn't feel even the slightest bit of attraction towards this man. This was no time to think of all this though he had made inappropriate advances towards her sister, Franny needed to be protected.
"My Lord! It is I, Elizabeth," she introduced herself and went silent again.
The dormant parts of his brain chose to stir up at this moment, as much as he wanted to immerse himself in his work, someone related to Francesca had walked into his room. His mind wasn't very focused anymore, "I see. And how long pray will it take for you to move away from where you are positioned?"
Emett's complaint finally registered on Elizabeth, she was standing in front of the only uncovered window of the library which had been casting direct natural light on to Emett's desk. "Oh pardon me my Lord! I did not realize."
"No you certainly didn't" saying so he waited for a few seconds, "you are not going to continue? Why are you here, Elizabeth?"
"Oh! Yes! My Lord! I apologize for the intrusion…"
"And…" Emett was known to have a short temper, it didn't take much to make him angry, the present situation had him seething, "am I to wait till eternity for you to come up with what it was that you wanted to talk to me about!"
Oh she had definitely chosen the wrong time, "Pardon me, my Lord. I'll come directly to the point. It is –er- about my…my sister."
Why was he not surprised, it didn't take them much time, the thoughts of Francesca could crawl their way back into his mind in mere seconds, he dangerously inquired, "What about her?"
"It is regarding her employ…ment. Could you maybe consider forgiving her foolish behavior?"
He began to understand where this conversation was heading, it most certainly had been Francesca's request. She had gone to her sister after all, he had thought her so different, so capable of love and affection. He had even tried giving her time, and she had gone to her sister. She had done the one thing he had not expected of her, she could not learn to love him or be close to him, her sister was here to get her out of this punishment. Well, since he was now in a mad rage, no allowances were going to be made. He didn't care if Elizabeth knew what had passed between him and her sister, she could damn well go and tell the entire world and he would still not dissuade from his decision, " If you are here to talk about the fact that I recently employed her as kitchen help, I'll let you know that the punishment is irrevocable. You cannot come in here and disturb me on these petty matters. It was my decision. The only consolation I can make for you is to determine a period for the employment, one month?" Elizabeth who was staring at Emett open mouthed and flabbergasted, moved her lips and was about to say something when Emett interjected, "Never mind, one month is more than reasonable. You can leave now and when you do, please take care to close the door gently…Jerome is an excellent example to follow."
"But…" this was all that Elizabeth could say before she saw the cold fury in her master's eyes, he had tried to be civil in the discourse but his eyes told her that any more argument from her side and he will not be sorry to terminate her employment.
Elizabeth walked out of the door positively nerve wracked. She had never seen her master like this before, he had been a caged beast, ready to unleash rage on least provocation. He had been so disturbed, was the matter this upsetting for him? He had been so abrasive and explosive; Elizabeth had never been more scared of anything in her life. She left his library, petrified and alarmed.
When Elizabeth left him alone, Emett considered his actions. It wasn't in his nature to question his judgments, and yet he felt the need to recap whatever had passed between him and his head of staff. Maybe, he shouldn't have been so stern with her, she was here for her sister after all, it wasn't her fault that the woman he loved did not reciprocate the feelings…strange, it was all so strange and novel to him; Francesca not loving him. He was not blindly egotistical about his persona, in fact he had never thought much about his extremely apparent 'sex appeal'. Whatever one has, he takes for granted. Neither rejoicing in it, nor feeling alleviated by the circumstance. He was selfish because of his need for a particular woman, not vain because he considered himself a higher mortal in any way. Whatever he was and whatever had occurred, none of it was erasable; he believed in minimal post-event regret. Circumstances would hardly ever alter him again, this much he knew for certain. He had gone through moments of weakness, they were all embedded in his childhood, he was, however, a strong, resilient adult; a woman would never change that and surely, her relatives will never find crevices in a hardly built protective cloak. His meeting with Elizabeth, he now felt, had gone smoothly, he had conducted himself with decorum.
Now he was going to go back to his work. Emett's work in the London housing projects was a matter of deep concern for him, he was planning to invest a hefty amount of money in the houses that were being built for the labor class of the city. His investment had been a business decision, the philanthropic aspect of it was an added perk. He was going to built houses for the poor, earn a great deal of interest when they returned loans on their holdings and he was also going to be talked of as a humanitarian in the process. He didn't cherish the prospect of being hailed as a charitable, compassionate man, especially when he did not care much about the deplorable conditions of the working class of England. The housing project was just one of the many investments which helped Emett in escaping from his father's haunting shadow. His father's business only extended to selling the produce of the fertile and vast estate of his. He was essentially a landlord cum trader. His father had not considered any other form of business, he was very successful because of the massive land holdings he had inherited from his late father. It was a vicious circle, Emett thought irritably. One day all of this wealth was going to be his, he, however didn't want any part of it, none at all. He had made enough money from capitalizing on his own business ventures. At Oxford, he studied to become a lawyer but he knew his father was not going to let him practice it, studies had not been a way to explore his career path, the career had already been decided; he was supposed to step in his father's shoes. Law was suppose to polish him, maybe (according to his father) be a helpful tool in the successful agricultural business he already had. Emett was to be his father's right had man after he had finished with his studies, but on his return to his countryside home, he explained to his father his need for a life entirely separate from his legacy. His declaration had been the beginning of a cold war, both his father and Emett held their ground but it had been the father who won in the end. He had made Emett realize that fact that the livelihood of hundreds of people depended on the Ernest mansion and its ground. It was impossible for him to turn himself away from what was as much a part of him as the blood flowing in his veins. Emett had given in, a fragile truce had been reached. He, however, was still unable to give himself wholly to the 'legacy of his forefathers' and continued to maintain and flourish in his side business as a venture capitalist and thus far he was being acclaimed as one of the finest in his field by his peers. A friend had once asked him why he had ever felt the need to work at all when he had possessions of treasures that far exceeded even the wealthiest of English folks and he had carelessly replied, " The world will have me do nothing, for it is what is expected of me. I, however, feel a certain pleasure in doing a bit of everything. It relieves me from the tedium of life." It had been true, all of it. He could not imagine himself idle, his life would be morbid that way. A healthy activity of mind and its stimulation gave him innate satisfaction, it made him realize that he wasn't without purpose, that he was not in the league with those royals who spent their lives in frivolity and aimless play. It was not the way to live and though there were numerous examples in the aforementioned category he felt a sense of relief knowing that he was nowhere on that list.
He went through that papers that carried the investment details for the housing projects, he examined them thoroughly for discrepancies. Everything was seemingly in order, his investment was going to bear fruit if he was careful and tactical in his strategy.
And then there was another knock on the door.
"My Lord! I am deeply apologetic. It is Miss Rebecca, she says must talk to you at once." Jerome didn't raise his eyes from above the ground level, he did not want to see his master's face as he delivered the news of another distraction in his busy day.
Emett had been staring at Jerome with a slight frown, he assured himself that he was not as angry as his butler had expected him to be and that it was too early in the day to lose his temper twice. If Rebecca wanted to discuss a matter of urgency, he'll give her his time. It was the least he could do after she had given herself to him so generously the other day. Favors had to be repaid. "Jerome, don't look so distressed. I am not going to yell at you, my faithful servant. Send her in, let's see what this one wants!"
Jerome stepped out to ask Rebecca to come in. From his position on the desk Emett could see the signs of relief on his butler's face. Since Emett had rewarded him with kindness today, he was going to be twice as strict tomorrow, otherwise there was a definite possibility of Jerome becoming lax and negligent.
Rebecca walked into his library in her dull pink satin frock. She looked lovely to him, her cheeks were high with color. She looked as ripe as fresh strawberries.
"You look wonderful!" Emmett admitted truthfully.
Rebecca who had come in for a serious discussion started feeling very giddy and joyous, "Emett, I believe this is the nicest compliment you have ever paid me."
"You have a glorious color on you this morning, I am merely stating the obvious!"
Rebecca's eyes gleamed with loved and she replied, "Well, if you must know, I was riding most morning. And since I now know I appeal to you more after I have gotten off a horse I'll try repeating a similar routine everyday!"
Emett gave a roar of laughter, "You needn't worry yourself over my account. You are adequate without your horse-riding also."
"You are being remarkably generous today Emett. To what do I owe this sudden change in disposition?"
"Women! They are never satisfied, are they? If you are kind and caring they'll ask you why the display of affection, if you are not, they'll still wonder what is wrong. There is no winning with you women!"
Exasperated, Rebecca uttered, "Fine then I'll ask you no questions."
"Then I'll tell you no lies" Emett quipped.
Rebecca gave a low chuckle and sat on a chair placed in front of Emett, directly across the desk. They stared at one another in eloquent silence for a few seconds. Rebecca's eyes searched his with curious inquisition. He could feel her eyes going down the checkered path that would eventually lead to his soul's deepest, darkest secrets. He realized it was time to break the eye contact. "You had something important you wanted to talk to me about?"
Rebecca was jolted out of her deep reverie, "Oh? Ah…yes I did! Thank you for reminding me! You see I have been wanting to discuss this with you from a few days now but we always get distracted," she followed her statement with a mischievous glint in her eyes, "but today we should remain focused for a little while because this really is important."
"You have in me a sympathetic listener. No distractions. Make it concise though. I have a lot of work that needs to be done…"
"Yes, ofcourse. Have I ever been anything but?"
"Let us not go into this right now. The problem, if you will?"
"Alright. I am here to plead Francesca's case…" Rebecca didn't realize how or why it happened but the moment Emett heard Francesca's name he stood up from the chair on which he had been lounging back in complete relaxation. The force with which he stood up rocked the heavy chair, displacing it from its resting place. He walked round the desk and positioned himself close to Rebecca's chair, he chose to lean his tall, athletic frame against the edge of the table.
"Why?" Emett's expletive was filled with unveiled rage.
"Excuse me?" Rebecca asked feeling more than a little terrified of him. She could not think why this topic would make him so furious.
"Why are you here to plead on her behalf? Did she tell you to do this too?" Emett gaze was accusatory.
Rebecca felt as though she had committed some heinous crime and was being interrogated for it, she felt the need to defend herself valiantly, "Too? What is that suppose to mean? Was somebody else here also? Why are you getting so angry over so small an issue? And why should it matter if it was Francesca who requested this from me?"
Rebecca had matched Emett's tone and manner. Seeing her in an equal fit of rage made him hold back a little, just a little, "It isn't your duty nor your place to go on fraternizing with the help. Why was she even discussing this with you? And why were you even conversing with her. This is my estate, this is my staff. I'll deal with them in whatever way that I deem right. You are not supposed to ever interfere in my matters. I have never allowed you any of this so try and behave accordingly. If I ever find you taking any of my help's side against my own, you'll be very sorry."
Rebecca could not believe all that she was hearing, Emett was being crude and barbaric with her, if this was his idea of putting her in her place he ought to be reminded of the fact that she was not his help, she was his cousin, his lover, his future wife. She was not going to tolerate being treated this way, "how dare you talk to me like that? I said two words of kindness to that poor girl and you are ready to throw me in the gallows! What is wrong with you? And why can't I intercede on her behalf? It is certainly not a crime. You also need to be reminded that Francesca is not a part of your staff, her sister is. Try to realize the difference. Just because she lives on your land doesn't mean she owes her existence to you!"
Emett felt his insides boil, this was going too far there was no use upsetting Rebecca over something which was entirely Francesca's doing. "This conversation is over, Rebecca. I don't wish to discuss this any further with you. As long as you are on my property I'd like for you to live by my rules. Franny's punishment will not be lessened in any case and I don't want you conversing with her anymore."
"Punishment? What is her crime? What did she do that you have to reduce her status to being your slave? Why should she satisfy your vanity?"
"I am not answerable to you. This discussion is over. Get out!" Emett was point blank and insufferably arrogant and rude with his replies. He did not realize how much his crudeness hurt Rebecca, she could feel hot tears forming at the back of her eyes, she didn't even have the restraint to hold them. This man had driven her to tears.
"I think I will go then," Rebecca replied with desolate resignation. Her tone registered on Emett and he looked up at her just in time to see tears rolling down her cheeks, he started to extend her hand but she ran away from him and out of the library.
Rebecca found herself crying her heart out in the shade of a sickly, old mulberry tree deep in the deserted grounds of the Ernest Mansion. She could not believe how severe Emett had been, and how stern and resolute in his stance. He had told her it was not her place to question his judgement; she imagined a life with him, a cold-hearted authoritarian. He would never let her do anything by her choice, she would always have to follow his commands, obey his orders. Sadly, she was ready to risk her freedom to be with him because no matter what he did, no matter how he acted she still loved the cold, distant man with all her heart and soul.
Her love for him was anything but fickle. It would take a lot more than a heated argument for her to ever reconsider her decision to give him all her heart. She could still cry though, let her frustration out when no one was watching, when she was all alone. Loneliness is a place of complete honesty, complete surrender.
"Oh! Miss?!" the expletive was laced with surprised and embarrassment.
Rebecca dabbed the tears from underneath her eyes with her frock sleeve and looked up with cheeks that burned hot-partially due to the overflow of emotion and partially due to shame of having been discovered in a state of vulnerability.
Rebecca recognized the face, "Franny, I am caught?"
"Oh Miss! I shouldn't have intruded…is something amiss?" Francesca's question was a heartfelt concern.
"Amiss? Well, since most of it is related to you…" Rebecca saw Francesca's head jerk up, her face resembled that of a felon who was unsure of his crime, "don't get all riled up about it! I am not suggesting that any of it is your fault merely trying to explain that the reason I cry is because I was discussing your 'situation' with Lord Ernest."
"Oh?" was all Francesca could muster up. She had just been discussion her 'situation' with her own sister not too long ago, she had arrived from the Ernest Mansion, defeated. She had told Francesca that Lord Ernest had been in one of his moods and that there was no way out for her, she was going to have to work for him for an entire month. Elizabeth had only hopedthat Emett would try to keep considerable distance between himself and her sister during that period of time, if not, so help her God, she'll raise hell in the Manor and forget and discard the years of honorable service she and her family had provided to the Ernests.
Francesca was secretly hoping that maybe Rebecca had had better success with Emett, that maybe she might have won where Elizabeth had failed but looking at her grim demeanor it wasn't difficult to assume that she couldn't do anything for her either, Francesca waited for the declaration of doom; it didn't take long to come, "He didn't agree to it, Franny. My request, nothing! He didn't like the idea of me interfering in the household matters. He didn't put his disapproval very kindly either. Hence, the tears." Saying so, Rebecca gave Francesca a rueful smile.
Francesca's was a straight-lipped, frozen smile. She arrived to the conclusion that others had suffered enough on her account and that whatever had to be done was going to be done by her. She wasn't going to cower in front of Emett. She decided to resolutely march to the enemy fortress and declare defiance, war. Emett had already brought a woman to tears and had petrified the other into taming numbness. She wouldn't let others suffer because of her. Since this was between herself and him, it might as well be just the both of them resolving their issues. The moment's requirement was that she be brave and steadfast. She was going to go to him.
"Miss Rebecca, it is my fault. Had I not asked you to go there on my behalf, you might have escaped all this bitterness. I am so sorry!"
"Don't you dare say that! It was my own choice. I could have been more tactical but I wasn't. Don't you worry, when he is in a better mood, I'll got to him again and then we'll discuss this issue rationally."
"Oh! Please, no! I would never forgive myself if you end up having another altercation with Lord Ernest. This is my problem and it is only right that I resolve it myself."
"What do you plan to do?" Rebecca asked apprehensively.
Francesca did not want to give anything away to Rebecca, she was worried about being suggested to not to follow the course of action she had already decided on, "I plan to do nothing, Miss! The duty is only for one month. I am trying not to make this into a bigger issue than it is. I think it is in everyone's interest that I complete this one month duty."
"But…"
"Miss, I have decided." Francesca's voice rang with a note of finality. "Now if you will excuse me, I have to visit a friend. Can I walk with you to the Manor and see you comfortably settled in before I leave?"
"I want to remain out her for a while. Besides, you are younger than me, I should be concerned about your safety, not the other way around."
"Miss, I am used to this wilderness. I know my way around. You, on the other hand, hail from the hustle and bustle of London, I am sure your safety is of prime importance to the residents of the Ernest Manor."
"It is kind of you to care but I'll remain here for sometime. Besides, I have to finish crying, you interrupted me midway!"
Francesca gave a low chuckle and bid her farewell. Since Rebecca had not joined her, Francesca set her mind on one destination only, she kept rehearsing the confrontation over and over again in her head, she was going to put the invincible Lord Ernest in his place.