Chapter 15

Jackeline almost spit out her tea when Benjamin walked into her room.

"What happened?" she asked and almost stood up, not remembering her ankle, but Emily grabbed her daughter's shoulder and gave her a meaningful look.

"Calm down, sweetheart. Your ankle." The mother knew full well that Jackeline was exaggerating the pain in her ankle. Earlier, the maid had helped the girl change and Emily noticed that there was no swelling in the area. And Jackeline seemed to move without any problems. The doctor probably didn't want to embarrass young Miss Russell in front of everyone, for which Emily was grateful.

"Oh," Jackeline muttered and went back to leaning back against the headboard.

"It was just a minor mishap, Miss Russell. Nothing for you to worry about." Benjamin gave a polite but cold smile. "I came to check on your ankle and, of course, the burns." Jackeline almost asked what burns he was talking about, until she remembered the incident with the tea.

Jackeline made a suffering face before speaking.

"I'm better, I suppose. But yesterday I felt really bad about your absence, Ben. And now, seeing your state," she did as if holding back tears, "I am heartbroken."

Benjamin didn't find it difficult to ignore Paul's sister's childish, immature, tantrums. Before. Now, he needed all the concentration he could muster, and willpower, not to roll his eyes, especially when she was clearly faking a cry. The pout was just another test to his patience. He could only remember that if it hadn't been for Jackeline, he probably wouldn't have fought Louisa twice, besides giving Paul the chance to get close to the girl he liked.

"I already told you there is nothing to worry about. If you'll excuse me, I have some business to attend to. I wish you a fast recovery." He bowed and left the room, leaving a very upset Jaqueline behind.

He went downstairs and into the dining room to have breakfast, only to find Paul at the table.

Benjamin was going to ask where everyone was, but he held his tongue and preferred not to speak to Paul.

"They're on the porch." Paul said, anyway. Benjamin, whose back was already turned, pretended not to hear and continued to walk out of the room.

Paul's voice was still active in Benjamin's mind, but speaking oaths of love to Louisa, promising to fight for her, to always be ready for her, no matter what. Benjamin had terrible bags under his eyes, as he could only dream of scenes of Paul and Louisa together, talking, kissing. Getting married.

Paul finished eating and went to visit Louisa. As he passed one of the last trees before reaching his destination, he saw Benjamin, standing there, looking at the building that was the golden-haired girl's home.

"Darnation!" Paul heard Benjamin curse. Apparently, he was training to talk to Louisa.

"You just need to apologize." Paul knew that Louisa loved Benjamin and was therefore more likely to excuse Ben's blunders.

Benjamin saw Paul coming out from behind a tree and leaning against it, arms crossed.

"I don't owe anyone an apology!" Benjamin replied irritably and stomped off, towards the mansion.

"Coward!" Paul said louder for Benjamin to hear. The latter pretended not to hear and continued walking. He couldn't and would lower himself to fighting Paul again.

When he got to his own room, Benjamin almost slammed the door, but he caught himself and closed it hard, but not too loudly. He grabbed the pillow off the bed and buried his face in order to stifle the scream of anger and frustration. 'Perhaps I really am a coward'. With that thought, Benjamin threw the pillow away and himself onto the bed, face up.

He knew he owed Louisa an apology. Really. Also, he wanted to know how she was, but Paul got in the way, once again, and Benjamin let his temper get the better of him.

"I want to be with her." He said soflty, closing his eyes. But what could he do? His mother would end up punishing Louisa if, due to his approach to the girl, someone complained about something. Especially Jackeline. That name became bitter and hard to swallow, for Benjamin.

Depressed, he spent the rest of the day in his room, going down only for lunch and, later, dinner. Judith and Harry were too busy trying to talk about Jackeline and how soon Benjamin should marry a young lady.

While Benjamin was lost in thought in his room that morning, Paul went with Louisa to the beach, as they had agreed the night before.

"I think we better stop hanging out together." Louisa said. She had thought long and hard about what her mother had said and had come to the conclusion that she should not befriend, or have any rapport, with young gentlemen such as Benjamin and/or Paul.

"What? Why?" Paul asked. They were both sitting on the gravel by the water. Paul had always hated quiet places, without music and parties, or even with too much... nature. But at that moment, he couldn't be happier, as he was with Louisa. She soothed his heart and soul. Standing still, looking at the sea, in silence, just enjoying each other's company with the sound of the sea in the background, it was like being in paradise. That is, until she blurted out that sentence.

"You are the son of a noble man. And I'm just a peasant girl." Louisa said and turned to Paul. "Our friendship is frowned upon by society and, what worries me most, by my parents' employers. If Mrs. Judith thinks I shouldn't talk to you, she can dismiss my parents from here, just like she already did to me."

Paul got up immediately.

"What are you talking about, Louisa? Did she dismiss you?" He was completely surprised. He knew that Benjamin's mother was a difficult woman and that wasn't hard to notice, but asking Louisa to go? As the girl didn't answer anything, just looked down, he had confirmation. Paul threw his arms up and started pacing back and forth. "This is absurd!"

"It does not matter."

"Of course it matters! I'll talk to her an-"

"No!" The way Louisa spoke made Paul shut up. He bent down almost facing her. If you speak up, and I stay, Mrs. Judith will make our lives a living hell. I know Mr. Dankworth would never be cruel, but I can't say the same for Benjamin's mother anymore."

Paul sighed and sat down next to Louisa, putting his arm over her shoulder and pulling her closer to him. With his free hand, he reached for her hand that rested in her lap. Louisa leaned her head on his shoulder and he smiled faintly.

"I do not want to lose you." He said. "I will give you our address and you can write to me once you are settled in your new destination." The possibility that Louisa would be sent to a location closer to Paul made him feel a slight happiness, but that soon passed, as he knew that Louisa was very sad. Iontach was her home.

"Thank you, Paul." Louisa said.

"You know I like you. Much more than just a friend. And I know you don't see me as more than that, but I just want a chance to show you that I can make you happy."

"I wish I could reciprocate your feelings, Paul. Really. I'm not saying it would be easy, because you're still in a much higher class than I am, but at least being reciprocated would hurt less, I guess." She moaned, sighing. Paul knew that Benjamin liked Louisa, but he was too cowardly and, in Paul's eyes, didn't deserve her. So, Paul kept silent.

"I want to belong to the same class as yours. I want to be with you always." He said and kissed Louisa's temple. "One day everything will be settled, you will see."

The two looked at each other and smiled. They stood there, not saying anything else, until it was close to lunchtime. Eva had said that Louisa didn't need to help with anything in the kitchen, so the girl can enjoy the morning with Paul without any problems.

They both got up and walked back to the big house.