Josephine's Lists

Chapter 2- Cousin confrontation

Josephine accompanied her father to dine at Sir Hadley's request. Elise had insisted on staying in, as she often did, citing the days stress as sufficient reason. They were accustomed to and accepting of Elise's reclusive nature. Josephine, unlike her sister, scarcely declined an invitation. She found enjoyment in even the dullest of places. And as they entered the home of Josephine's latest acceptance, the Yorke's late arrival went unnoticed in lieu of her beautifully diverting countenance and intricately trimmed silk gown. Her dark curls were delicately secured with a sparrow pin made of silver and her cerulean eyes had regained the vibrancy that prior anxiety had diminished. Although dark hair was not considered fashionable, the contrast with her light eyes made for a striking appearance. Her father's stoic face was made harsher against the softness of hers.

She and her father were greeted by the evening's host. Josephine loved Sir Hadley with genuine ardor. They shared the same optimistic spirit, a welcomed quality which her own household sorely lacked. She never understood the relationship between Sir Hadley and her contradictory father, always thinking them an odd pair. She and Constance were similar in many ways, as Josephine expected most friends to be.

"Good evening Miss Josephine, enchanting as always. I trust you will not leave my acquaintance as eagerly as before," Sir Hadley teased, both hands folded behind his back.

"Thank you Sir. Please accept my sincerest apologies for the earlier impatience as well as our late arrival this evening. Father cannot seem to do anything with haste, no matter how much provoked," Josephine said grinning toward her father. It was always one thing or another. Tonight Mr. Yorke had forgotten to write a letter which had to be post. Several days before, his cravat had become stained with tea, needing a fresh one. That had set them late by nearly a half hour, leaving one of Mr. Yorke's poor tenants waiting in the blistering sun. Sans her father, Josephine was always on time.

Sir Hadley responded with a slow grin, "Dear child, your time would be more wisely spent schooling a dog in latin, rather than trying to hasten your father. There are certain inevitabilities in life each one must come to accept. Death, taxes, and your father's lack of punctuality to name a few."

"I am fond of Latin, though you are right. Will I ever be so wise as you?"

"Heavens girl I hope not...I desire your optimism preserved." Sir Hadley rocked back onto his heels, grabbing his lapels, and shot Mr. Yorke a conspiratorial smirk.

"Then for now, I shall treasure my ignorance...I am eager to hear of your time in Dover," she replied in earnest.

"I will not permit myself to bore you, other than new acquaintances there is not much to entertain."

Mr. Yorke joined, "I take sufficient pleasure in your dull excursions, promise you will bore me in great detail."

Sir Hadley smiled at his long-time friend. "Yes, that should make for a fine evening."

Across the room, Josephine caught the guilty eyes of her unaccompanied cousin, Mr. John Morley. He walked over, silently took her hand, and led them into the dining room. I guess she had no choice in the matter of dinner companion. Josephine took no offense but rather amusement in her cousin's forthrightness. The other dinner guests had filed in before them, taking their seats.

Mr. Morley's thin face was clothed in an overtly abashed expression as he turned to his cousin and quietly began, "Please, do not glare at me with such disdain. You look at me as if a traitor slated for the gallows. It is unlike you to be so harsh."

Josephine squelched the urge to bounce her leg beneath the table. Her father would never let that sort of impropriety go unnoticed. She swiftly whispered a reply to Morley. "Well cousin, am I not owed an acutely detailed explanation? It was not but a few days ago I held you in the highest regard as a trusted companion, yet now I find myself deprived of the very foundation for which we became close. Namely honesty. I hear from my father, not you, my father that you are engaged to someone whom I was unaware existed! What possible justification can you offer?"