My Dearest Josephine

3: Mother Knows Best

Sitting back in a chaise lounge was something Josephine sometimes did when she felt ill or weak. That chair was one she had brought over from her childhood home, and whenever she closed her eyes while resting on it, she could feel somewhat at ease. All thoughts of Derek, James, her mother, her life- even Walter- disappeared. As long as her eyes were closed on that chair, her world was whole.

"Hello, Josephine." A cold, dull voice spoke. It sounded awfully like her mother Martha, but she knew that her mind was just playing tricks on her. Josephine squeezed her eyes shut, refusing to give in to her imagination. The peace and quiet she had found was slowly fading, and Josephine was desperate to hold onto it. "Oh. I see you still haven't matured. And your husband is still with you? I don't see how he could be with a woman who won't even address her own mother."

Josephine took a deep breath and reluctantly opened her eyes. She knew that there was no use in lying to herself. Her mother Martha stood before her, as bitter as ever, and probably looking for trouble. She sat up and glared at her, filled with hate, and called, "Who's let this woman in?" as loud as she could. 

"Lovely to see you too, dear." Martha sighed.

"Why?" Josephine cried out. "Why do you keep coming back to me if you know we can't stand each other?"

"You are the one who can't stand my presence. I have nothing against my darling daughter."

She laughed, amazed. She would never know how this woman always managed to lie without shame. "Of course. That's why you're always asking if Derek has left me yet."

"I know how he's always been," Martha explained. "It truly is a surprise to me every time I discover that the two of you are still together."

Josephine stood up to face her mother. When she was very close, she could see the frown marks Martha had developed between her eyebrows, on her forehead, and by her mouth. If she actually smiled for once in her life, maybe this wouldn't have happened.

"Perhaps if you would stop suggesting he 'find pleasure elsewhere'," Josephine spat. "Then you'd see that he has absolutely no reason to 'leave' me!"

"Do you know that all of my friends have daughters who love them?"

"I can't stand when you- Ah!" She cried in frustration, and quickly headed for the door. There was nothing more to be discussed. 

Martha shook her head in shame. "She still thinks she's a child." She muttered to herself.

Josephine collided with Derek as she was exiting and he was entering. "What's wrong, love? You seem upset." Derek noticed. He looked inside the room and nodded. "Oh. I understand." He told her.

"Derek! How good to see you." Martha smiled.

Derek returned her smile. "Lovely to see you as well." Josephine gasped and scolded her husband quietly.

"One of us has to be civil towards her, otherwise she'll never leave... She'll probably follow us everywhere we go just to torment us." He whispered in her ear. 

"What of this secrecy?" Martha asked. The very sound of her voice was enough to make Josephine lose her mind.

"Fire our staff!" Josephine declared suddenly. Derek was shocked. "All of them! I want everyone gone except Amelia, Georgiana, and Polly! Now!"

Martha laughed silently while seeing her daughter throw a tantrum. Derek tried to calm Josephine down, but to no avail. She would not listen.

"No announcement? No alert? Ha! Then let the entire country in here without my knowledge!" She scanned the room to see her mother's disapproval and her husband's worry.

"I told you she was mad." Martha said to Derek. 

That remark was Josephine's breaking point. "Y-You," she stuttered. "Out of my house! I want you out now before- Just- Get out!" Josephine exclaimed. "How dare you disrespect me in my own home?"

"Josephine!" Derek gasped.

"Egad. Isn't she a dramatic one," Martha chuckled. "Tell me Derek, how is it that you're still with her?"

"I'll handle it." Derek assured his wife.

"There is-" Josephine began. He stopped her before she could say another word.

"I will handle it." He repeated. "Do whatever you were doing before she came, and pretend this never happened."

"The whispering begins again." Martha noted.

"Derek- Derek, she gets on my nerves. I can't rid her-" 

"Don't worry, love." He cut in again, caressing her face. "This won't ever be an issue again." He then turned to his mother in law and offered her his arm. "Care for a walk, Martha?"

"Certainly." She smiled, and took his arm. Before leaving, she said one last thing to her daughter. "I have news for you, and will be ready to share it as soon as you are ready to listen."

This sparked Josephine's interest, but it wasn't enough to make her want to ask Martha to stay. "Goodbye and good riddance!" Josephine spat, but was surprised that no clever remark followed. When she opened her eyes, she saw that Martha had already left.

Polly Nichols was on her hands and knees, scrubbing the floor with all her might. Every so often she would have to push her hair back and roll her sleeves up; however, that didn't slow her down in the least.

"You'll sparkle, all right. Just give me an hour or two." She said to herself, swearing that she could get the floor so clean that it would never be necessary to clean again. It was a challenge, and it was quite impossible, but that didn't stop her from trying.

The closer she got to the kitchen, the more she heard. 

"You won't tell her anything. Do you understand? This is none of your concern!" Lord Chester spoke angrily and in a hushed tone.

Polly moved farther away from the kitchen, but the sound of their voices only grew louder and their words more clearer. Where could it be coming from? She moved more to the right, then she moved back, but she could still hear them.

"The doctor told me to inform her as soon as she was ready." Lady Galding said.

"I don't care what the blasted man said!"

Polly found a spot where she couldn't hear much, and stayed there, happy to stay out of family drama. She was entangled in too many issues to fret over this one. To her dismay, the pair had moved in about five minutes' time, and she could hear them again. 

"I knew you were no good for her. I knew it! You can't fool me with this façade-"

"Martha-"

"Good day, Derek. I'm not one of your whores you keep on the side. I can't be bribed or threatened. I'm a woman who's not afraid of you."

Polly stood and left to brush carpets on the second floor. There was nothing left for her to hear.