9 Chapter 8

All her efforts had amounted to nothing, her struggle had been in vain in the face of Emett's authoritative adamancy. He had proved himself to be more singular in his stance than she had originally believed him to be; she found herself working in the manor's kitchen the next day, just like Emett had wished. She assisted Mrs. Louis by cutting the vegetables she required in making the breakfast for the master and his two house guests. Mrs. Louis had always been very particular about her duties in the Ernest household, she had been with the family since Ernest senior had gotten married. She had watched Emett growing up from a lonely, friendless child to a hard, embittered adult and she felt equal amounts of sympathy and affection for him. He had lost his mother when he was eleven years old, he had never tried to live his life after that point, he had become a shy and distant child, isolating himself from the rest of the society. It was not like he had never had friends, when his mother had been alive he was like every other carefree youth with life and spark, but all of it dwindled when he witnessed his mother's death. Mrs. Louis never blamed him for being stern and callous; she loved him like a son that she  never had. He felt a certain amount of affection for her as well, it had traveled through his youth into adulthood. He would never openly admitted it to anyone but he thought of her as a second mother. She was the only staff in the household whom he treated with warmth, the rest were of very little concern to him, and he didn't hesitate to exercise control and authority in their case. He believed in the servants knowing their place in the household; he never fraternized with any of them. Since working efficiently in the manor was something the servants was paid for, Emett expected them to put their heart and soul into their work, he wanted them vigilant and alert around the clock.

Francesca always wondered about the special bond the cook and the master shared, she would often see him soften a little when he conversed with her, for everyone else he was an insensitive brute. It was stranger still that Mrs. Louis feel any kind of empathy towards her master, Francesca was sure none of the other help did. Mrs. Louis didn't even mind the grinding pace of work Emett required from his kitchen staff, she told Francesca that her perfectionist master helped her perform better at her job, her meals were more scrumptious when cooked under pressure and the need for flawlessness more pronounced. Francesca listened to the sanguinity in her tone with half-hearted interest, her main concern was not crossing paths with her master, after what had transpired between the two of them she could very well imagine Emett wringing her neck at the first opportunity he got or maybe doing the opposite and trying to charm her with false hopes of sincere affection. Francesca tried to steer her thoughts clear of her problems, she asked Mrs. Louis about the history of her closeness with Lord Ernest. Mrs. Louis candidly informed Francesca that she had been very close to Emett ever since his mother's death. She was the one who took care of him when his father was away from home on business (a scenario that was all too common) and she had bathed, clothed, played with and read to the boy who felt utterly desolate without his mother. She told Francesca that during the dark period of his life, he had cried so often, always in her arms, his silent weeping had haunted the already eerie hallways of the Ernest Mansion, he had pained so much. Mrs. Louis believed that the sad demise of the mother robbed her son of his simple, untroubled childhood and brought him face to face with the cut throat realities of life at too young an age.

Francesca found her heart going out to that little boy: sad, lonely and lost, she, however, felt no compassion for the adult he now was. She believed that everyone had a choice to pave their own way in life, she wasn't very impressed with Emett's choices. He had indeed taken a turn for the worse, since she was mostly in line of his ammunition, she had a just cause for complaint and objection.

She chopped away at snail's pace, first the carrots, then the potatoes, her heart, her mind, her soul were elsewhere, away from this dungeon, this place he called home, this place she suffocated in.

Emett wasn't finding solace in his work. The mahogany table in his library was laden with documents that needed his immediate attention, his mind wandered elsewhere. The thoughts were equal parts of torment and bliss; desire and self preservation. He knew that Francesca was finally doing as she had been ordered to do, she was down in the kitchen, helping Mrs. Louis in preparing the breakfast. He wanted to get up from his desk right now, find some excuse to go down to the servant's quarters and get his hands on Francesca even though she hadn't wanted him to be near her in their last meeting. He had come to a conclusion about his behavior; he really couldn't control his reaction to her, when he would be in her presence, him touching her would be inadvertent, no fault of his own. Her being near to him was enough of an aphrodisiac for him, she didn't even have to do anything or gesture in a certain manner or stand too close- he'll still burn with an all consuming desire for her. He finally decided against paying any attention to his work, he wasn't however compelled to give in to his treacherous fantasies also. He decided he'll go find his uncle Martin and chat with him for a little while, he had to fulfill his duties as a host also and he regrettably realized that he wasn't paying his uncle and cousin any attention at all, it was as though Francesca had suddenly consumed all his days and all his time.

Emett found his uncle sunbathing in the vast grounds of the manor. He sat alone, Emett knew that Rebecca was out riding.

Emett approached Martin and gleefully inquired, "Uncle, how are you enjoying the sun?"

"I am enjoying it too much, Emett. I can't believe I hesitated  in coming here, this is the best form of vacation. Relaxing, in countryside. Nothing like it." Martin Ernest was at peace, and entirely too happy to be away from the hustle bustle of London.

"If you have time I would like to go over the contracts for the housing project with you. There are a few clauses that might require revision…" Emett didn't want his uncle to be disturb while he enjoyed his peaceful time in the country but he knew he would eventually go to Francesca if he didn't have other work related tasks to perform.

"You cannot rob me of the pleasure of sitting in the sun, my boy. Our weather gives us so few sunny days anyway and here you are…thinking that I might give all this up and shroud myself in darkness and boredom of work. Why don't you go riding, my boy? I am sure you'll catch up with Becky. And then, maybe, the both of you can keep riding in each other's company for hours and let me be."

Emett smirked at his uncle's humourous statement, "I had no idea you detested work so much!"

"Boy, I prize leisure. I don't detest my work!"

Emett decide to give up then, "Well, I suppose, I shan't disturb you then."

Martin Ernest stared at his nephew with pride and affection, "Well done, my boy. You won't disturb me and you will go out riding."

"Uncle, I will let you be and I will head back to work! You can't have all you wish for!" Emett let his uncle know that he wasn't going to follow his daughter. He knew he was going to go back in, and eventually head back to the library to work.

As Emett walked into the kitchen, the staff halted their work not knowing why their master had suddenly decided to grace them with his presence. They stared at him in silence. It took Emett a moment to gather his thoughts. Even he was at a loss to explain his presence to these people. They must think I am here because I am displeased about something, he thought, and then decided that feigning annoyance was probably the only course of action. He saw Francesca standing next to Mrs. Loius with a knife in her hands and sliced carrots on her chopping board. He decided to address Mrs. Louis first, "Mrs Louis, I am hear to express my displeasure on the second course of our dinner last night." Emett cleared his throat then and continued in a harsh, unnatural tone, "There was something amiss about the…the... Chicken!"

"Why, dear Sir! I believe you had fish in the main course last night!" Mrs. Loius replied utterly flabbergasted.

"Fish? Yes, of course, I meant Fish, Mrs. Louis." Emett made an atrocious attempt to cover up his mistake.

" But you just said Chicken!" Mrs. Louis replied horrified.

"Mrs. Loius, does it really matter whether it was chicken or fish? I am saying it wasn't cooked right. And I would very much like it if you were to work on the skills of your staff, I wouldn't want this sort of debacle to happen again!" As Emett made this entirely false speech, he gave a cursory glance in Francesca's direction who stood staring at him, very much like the rest of the kitchen staff- they had never seen their master so utterly lost and inarticulate.

Emett felt like a complete fool for chasing Francesca down to the servant quarters- he couldn't believe he was standing in his manor kitchen feeling like an utter loon. He witnessed smiles in the eyes of his kitchen staff and realized that the moment he might leave them, they may start to make fun of him.

Emett didn't know what to do in order to get out of this situation and retain his dignity at the same time. He decided to move closer to Mrs. Loius and talk to her one on one regarding a topic that didn't have anything to do with previous night's dinner.

"Mrs. Louis, I had also come here to discuss Francesca's presence in your kitchen. I hope it isn't burdensome for you to have an untrained cook on  your staff?" Emett looked at Francesca like she was an unruly child sent to the principle for her bad behavior.

Mrs. Louis stared at Francesca and then Emett, "Oh, my dear sir, it is no trouble at all. I think Franny will learn a great deal, working here with me. I will personally train her. And she is such a bright girl, she catches on rather quickly! No trouble at all!"

"Well, I am glad we have all this cleared up Mrs. Louis. That is all I wanted to know…well then, I better head up. Back to work. I hope you have a good morning. You too, Franny…I mean, Francesca." Saying so Emett slowly started to step backwards out of the kitchen, still keeping a strict eye on each person in the kitchen. His eagle vision kept  discerning his prey- lest one of them start making fun of him…and then as he reached the kitchen  door he halted and addressed Francesca in a serious tone, "Before you leave today, do come to the library to give me a report of what you have learnt. Your sister would like it if she knows of your progress. Also you need to take the magazines, they have been piling up and cluttering my work space."

Francesca couldn't believe how slyly Emett had arranged a meeting between the two of them, she could say very little to him in reply, "Yes, Lord Emett"

When Francesca looked at him she knew he was smiling inwardly. Emett left the kitchen with a smile in his heart. He knew she was going to have to come to him.

The minute hand on the clock neared twelve. It was about to be 5 in the noon. Francesca eagerly awaited the time to be off-duty. She was happy that the day had passed without a single one on one encounter with Lord Emett and she planned on avoiding their scheduled meeting as well. She wasn't going to fall into his trap. She was going to go home mentally tranquil.

Mrs. Louis emerged from the kitchen storage with a sack of rice and called to Francesca who was peeling apples for Lord Emett's snack, 'Franny, love, could you take this sack from me and place it on the shelf? At my age, carrying all this weight strains my arms."

"Of course Mrs. Louis." Francesca wiped off her hands on the apron she wore on her dress and walked in the cook's direction taking hold of the sack Mrs. Louis held in her hands.

"You are about to be off for the day, my dear." Mrs. Louis remarked as she glanced at the time.

"Yes, I am. I can't believe how thoroughly I enjoyed the day Mrs. Louis, I haven't ever found any pleasure in cooking but the way you have instructed me today has aroused in me a deep interest towards culinary arts!"

"Oh, I am glad to know that my dear. Tomorrow I will teach you different chopping techniques. You will learn the different styles one might employ cutting different fruits and vegetables which make food more presentable."

"I think I will find that interesting!"

"Of course you will!" and as she stared at the clock again she continued, "you also have to meet with Lord Emett before you go, remember? He specifically asked that you share your progress with him before you leave."

"Oh! I might see him tomorrow, Mrs. Louis. I am getting late. If it gets dark I will be petrified heading home. I will go see him first thing in the morning!"

"Oh, very well. If he sends a message asking, I will let him know, I am sure he will understand. There is significant distance between your cottage and the manor. It is not advisable for a young girl to be about in the dark, alone." Saying so she gave Francesca a reassuring smile.

Francesca exhaled a great deal of air she didn't know she had been holding in. She was safe- for today. She was going to think about tomorrow when it came.

Emett was so immersed in his work that he didn't notice time flying by. When he finished perusing the last of the documents he had on his desk he noticed that the time was close to thirty after five. He saw the time and registered confusion. He couldn't believe that Mrs. Louis still had Francesca working in the kitchen and that too on her first day. She was going to resent him even more now. She didn't even want to come work in the manor and Mrs. Louis had decided to overwork her. He was going to have earful from Franny. The idea was slightly appealing to him- Franny complaining to him, like a wife so often does to a husband. The moment the thought crossed his mind he felt this profound sensation in him; what was he thinking? Had he forgotten what she thought of him. How could he even entertain ideas that made so little sense. He shrugged away these idle thoughts and blamed it on working for too long, which again reminded him that Francesca was still working. He called for Jerome.

"Jerome, could you please let Mrs. Louis know that she should not keep Francesca in the kitchen past her working hours. Tell her to send her to me immediately, and also, that she will go directly home after seeing me."

"Certainly, my Lord."

Jerome left Emett and then returned ten minutes later. When Emett heard knocking on the door, his heart thrilled a little. And then  when Jerome's head popped out from behind the door, his spirits plummeted significantly.

Jerome walked in and stood close to his desk, "My Lord, Miss Francesca has already left."

Emett could feel fury building up inside of him, "she left… without seeing me?"

"Uh…Mrs. Loius is saying that she was afraid of heading back alone in the night and she said that she'd see you first thing in the morning."

Emett should have known that Francesca would do this. She avoided him like the plague. His day had suddenly become bleak. He knew he wasn't going to feel any pleasure in what remained of the day.