Eva didn't make any comments when she saw her Louisa arriving with swollen eyes. She blamed herself for not alerting the girl the first time she read the letters her daughter and Benjamin had secretly exchanged. The other two girls who helped in the kitchen didn't know why Louisa was crying, but they just watched without muttering a word.
"Honey, you don't look good. You better go get some rest." Eva said, as she finished cooking the goose.
"Yes, girl. Go home. We will take care of everything here." Alicia, one of the helpers, spoke up. She was a very nice and sweet woman.
"Certainly!" Clara, the other helper, said, nodding in agreement but not taking her eyes off the apple pie she was making.
Louisa didn't say a word, just smiled weakly, bowed slightly, and left the kitchen. As she walked slowly towards her house, which was about five hundred meters away from the big house, she didn't notice someone following her.
"What's a pretty girl like you doing walking around here alone at this hour?" A deep, unfamiliar voice said from behind her, startling her.
"Oh!"
"I'm not going to hurt you, don't worry." He raised his hands, as if to show he wasn't a threat. "I'm Paul." He held out his hand.
"Louisa." She said, lowering her head. She knew he was Benjamin's friend and that girl's brother.
"Louisa." Paul said, emphasizing each syllable. "Beautiful name. It suits you. A beautiful girl." Despite the charming smile and kind words, Louisa was not at all comfortable with this young man. She swallowed hard.
"Thanks. Well, now I need to go. Excuse me." She said, held the skirt of her dress in a curtsy, turned back towards where she was headed and continued walking. Paul ran to keep up with her steps and positioned himself in front of her, walking backwards.
"Louisa, I don't want to bother you, but you are very charming. I saw you the moment I entered the house and I must say I couldn't stop thinking about you. But you've been gone all day and my heart felt lonely." He said, smiling.
Paul was a tall man, approximately 6'1", green eyes that looked like emeralds and shiny blond hair. He was handsome and charming, but Louisa felt there was something wrong with him.
"I've had other things to do and I don't feel well. I need to go." She quickened her pace and arrived in front of her own house. Paul really wanted to go in and be alone with her, but he knew he had to be patient. He was aware of how good looking he was and that until that day, no woman had ever rejected him. Louisa looked harder to get than the others, but that made it all the more interesting.
"All right. I hope you recover soon." He held out his hand, palm up, for her to place her hand there. She understood and, albeit reluctantly, did what he wanted. She didn't want to get in trouble with the bosses, as she didn't know this young man and didn't know if he was the gossip type.
He smiled and brought her hand to his lips, giving her a lingering kiss, while looking into her eyes. Other girls would melt right there, but not her. He smiled even wider. Those two months there would be so much fun!
"Thank you." She replied, removing her hand from his.
"There is nothing to be thankful for. Have a good night and get well. Tomorrow, if you feel better, would you like to walk with me through the gardens?" He chose a place that was not far from the sight of the other members of the house, however, it would give them some privacy to talk more intimately.
"I'll think about it. Good night." She went inside and closed the door.
Paul was smiling, and with that smile, he walked back to the big house. Jacqueline and Benjamin had gone for a walk around the house, and saw Paul and Louisa talking.
"Paul is hopeless. He can't lay his eyes on a little maid without chasing after them. As long as he doesn't make any bastard children, that's fine." Jacqueline commented, and Benjamin, who had already frowned, turned red with anger.
"I'll talk to him about it. Our maids are not for fun." Benjamin said, and Jacqueline looked at him in disbelief.
"Are you trying to defend this servant's honor? Oh, please, they're used to it. They are not like us, ladies of the court." Jacqueline said in a jocular tone, but realized her mistake when Benjamin looked her in the eyes.
"Not the maids of this house. All of them are respectable girls. Age doesn't matter." He said and started walking towards the big house. His mood was ruined for the rest of the night.
Louisa was on her bed, staring at the ceiling, pensive. On top of everything, she would have to deal with Benjamin's annoying friend. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She hoped she wouldn't think of Benjamin in that passionate way anymore. He would probably marry the Russell girl.
Meanwhile, at dinner, Benjamin was silent and looked at Paul from time to time with some resentment. He had known him since he entered Eton. As soon as Paul turned sixteen, he began to have his affairs with the servants of the houses in the surroundings, as well as the very institution's. He was known to be a complete libertine, and from the way he approached Louisa, she was his next target. Well, only in his dreams, because Benjamin wouldn't let Paul—or any other man—get close to Louisa like that.
"Son, is the food not to your liking?" Judith questioned, noticing Benjamin's disgusted face. He raised his eyebrows, coming back to reality.
"Oh, no. The food is great. It's just a few thoughts, Mamma." He replied and brought the fork with pork to his mouth. He was sure the food was probably delicious, however he was too bitter to taste anything.
Jacqueline said nothing, but she became suspicious. Benjamin knew of her brother's reputation, and while he was not for it, he had never behaved like that. She couldn't stop wondering if it had something to do with that blonde girl or if it was, as Benjamin himself had said, a simple matter of respect for the workers in the house. She would keep an eye on him. She'd liked him since she'd first seen him four years ago, and she wouldn't allow anyone to stand between her and Benjamin.
"These thoughts must be very deep. You look awful." Paul joked and Benjamin just looked at his friend and continued eating. Paul frowned. He would question Benjamin about that later.