The evening brought another dinner in the grand dining room where the clinking of silverware and soft murmur of conversation filled the air. Amelie sat across from Friedrich, stealing glances as he discussed matters with the doctor who sometimes stayed at the manor. There was an ease to his gestures, a charm in his laughter that made her feel at ease.
Her desire burned to question him about his correspondence with the war front, and perhaps even about her dear brother. But she couldn't bring herself to speak in front of the doctor, suppressing her curiosity for the sake of propriety.
"Amelie, you appear distracted this evening," Friedrich remarked, his observant eyes missing nothing.
"Forgive me, Friedrich," Amelie said quickly, her cheeks warming. "I was merely admiring the new tapestry. It is quite lovely."
"Ah, yes. A fine addition indeed," the doctor nodded. But his gaze lingered on her for a moment longer than necessary before shifting to Friedrich, as if weighing his words against some unseen scale.
"But I must excuse myself. I have some rounds to make before retiring."
Friedrich bid the man farewell, and once they were alone, he turned to Amelie with a knowing gaze. "You're wondering about your brother, aren't you?"
Amelie's surprise was written across her face. "How did you know?"
"It's my duty as a servant to know what others want," he said, his voice gentle. "Rest assured, I have received no news of ill tidings. If there was cause for alarm, I would be the first to inform you.Now you must simply bide your time until he reaches out to you."
The weight of her worries eased just a bit at his words, and she offered him a grateful smile.
"Thank you, Friedrich. It means more than you know."
"I understand how difficult this must be for you, Amelie," he said softly, his voice betraying a hint of compassion. The waiting, the not knowing. It is in times like these that our fortitude is tested the most. But as I heard everything at the front is being handled quickly, so it shouldn't take long for the message that you are looking for him to reach him."
"It's kind of you to say so," she managed, her words catching in her throat. "I just... I can't help but fear the worst."
Friedrich's hand found hers, his touch warm and reassuring. "Amelie, I know that this may be of little consolation now, but I have seen my fair share of warfare. Soldiers have a way of surviving even the most dire of circumstances. Your brother is likely fine, plotting his next move as we speak."
Amelie allowed herself a weak smile at the thought. "I hope you're right."
"Trust me, I am."
The rest of the meal passed in relative quiet, but it was a comfortable silence that left room for reflection. Amelie felt comfortable and at ease around Friedrich a feeling she also had around Joseph and also felt around Edric once.
After dessert, they retired to their rooms, where the crackling fire and soft glow of candlelight cast an accommodating ambiance over the space. Amelie sipped her tea, savoring the warmth as it traveled down her chilled body. She wrote her brother full of hope. She bared her soul, pouring out her deepest thoughts onto the page. She chronicled every moment of their separation, the aching worry for his well-being, and the overwhelming longing for his presence. The words dripped with raw emotion and heartfelt yearning.
The next day, Friedrich approached Amelie at the library in the afternoon to discuss a letter that had arrived.
"I have good news," he said, a twinkle in his eye as he held out a sealed letter. "This arrived for you this morning."
Amelie's heart leaped, and she practically snatched it from him. Her trembling fingers fumbled with the wax seal, her eyes devouring the familiar scrawl. Relief flooded through her as she read the short but reassuring message.
"He's alright," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion. "Oh, Friedrich, he's alright!"
"I'm relieved to hear it," he said, genuine relief in his voice.
At that moment, Amelie realized how grateful she was for Friedrich's presence in her life. Her stay here may have been the product of duty and necessity, but it had proven to be the best option for her, her family and her child. She vowed to do her best for her situation and to let go of her reservations against her new life and give it the chance it deserved.
Anna cleared her throat pointedly from across the room, a reminder sharp as the click of a lock. Amelie felt the weight of her scrutiny and the unspoken boundaries it enforced. Without any obvious cause, Anna began to check on Amelie more often while the young master also grew more aware of her absence and became more prone to tears.
Amelie made the conscious decision to devote herself entirely to the child, in hopes of easing his inner turmoil and quelling the unease that haunted Anna.
"Perhaps we should continue this discussion tomorrow," Amelie suggested, stepping back ever so slightly.
"Of course," Friedrich agreed, though his eyes held a flicker of disappointment.
As days turned into weeks, Amelie found herself settling into her old routine. She rose with the sun to tend to the child, fed him and coaxed him back to sleep. The afternoons were spent acquainting herself with the manor's grounds, exploring secret gardens and hidden nooks.
She was constantly by Maggy's side, divulging every detail she knew about her brother. The most recent piece of information being that Joseph was still on the hunt for Edric. They had been deployed to the same unit during the war, but at some point, they lost each other amidst the chaos. Joseph had been searching tirelessly, sending letters that likely got lost in the aftermath of battle. He swore to stay in contact and never give up hope of reuniting their friend.
Maggy's words poured out like a gushing stream, overflowing with the excitement of seeing her long-lost crush return from war. Amelie sat across from her, captivated by her friend's tale of love and longing. She knew it was just a fleeting infatuation, but she couldn't help but feel swept up in the romanticism of it all. As Maggy's story unfolded before her, Amelie couldn't help but wonder about her own missed opportunities for love, now overshadowed by her unplanned pregnancy. But in this moment, listening to Maggy's words and imagining herself in that same situation, Amelie found a sense of solace and understanding. Perhaps this was her way of learning about love, through the eyes and experiences of others.
A part of Amelie was envious, but she quickly reminded herself of her duties as a wife and wet-nurse, and that her heart now belonged to the child in her she didn't even know yet and the young master.
Each night, she retired to her room with a book in hand and the faint glow of a candle for company. The days passed by in a blur of routines and responsibilities, punctuated only by the occasional letter from home. Time seemed to move both too quickly and too slowly as she awaited another letter from her brother.