Josephine's Lists

Chapter 27- Knock, knock

Josephine struggled to keep up with Henry's long stride. Having moped around for weeks, sudden shortness of breath had Josephine regretting her newfound laziness.

"Do slow down!" she chided Henry. Any faster and she would be greeting the visitors long after Henry reached them. Considering she wasn't keen on company in the first place, Josephine wanted Henry at her side. He was nearly as chatty as she, so Josephine could depend upon him to monopolize any conversation. And heaven only knows who Cousin John brought with him. In her current mental state, the idea of conversing with a stranger was enough to set her hair ablaze.

"When did you become such a weakling? You know, too much time with my sister can do that to a person," he retorted, all the while complying to her command.

Their rush now dulled to a comfortable pace, Josephine huffed, "I have seen lookout towers shorter than you, thus I think you lose all rights to determine the speed with which I should walk."

"And I have seen stumps taller than you, so let us agree we are both ill-qualified."

Minds no longer settled on walking, they simultaneously asked:

"Who do you think Morley has brought?"
"Who do you think John..."

Henry took the lead in answering. "Your guess is as good as mine."

She shrugged. "Whomever it is, I hope they do not plan on visiting long."

Josephine couldn't hide her surprised confusion when the man standing beside her cousin came into view. Off all the visitors Josephine had conjured up on the walk back to the house, he had never crossed her mind. Have they always known her cousin?

Squinting at the familiar man. "Lord Grimsby? What on earth are you doing here?" came her unfiltered response.

Grimsby grinned as cousin John cleared his throat, scolding, "Josie, is that how you greet all your guests whom have traveled a great distance to see you?"

Too see her? Her mind was reeling. Firing off question after unanswered question.

Grimsby hadn't taken offense to her greeting, but she darted a brief curtsy for appeasement's sake. Grimsby's presence was a complete mystery, and although welcome, Josephine was impatient to end pleasantries.

Once they were seated in the drawing room sipping on freshly served tea, Josephine wasted no time turning a pleading eye upon Grimsby. He grasped her meaning, and graciously asked Josephine to play a game of chess. Henry and John exchanged a curious look, while Elise and Ms. Pendy feigned interest in their tea.

Josephine didn't care what any of them thought. Or how obvious it was. Grimsby's sudden appearance had everything to do with Tennyson. Ignorant of whether he brought good news or bad, her stomach churned. Clasping shaking hands into her lap, she didn't even bother moving a pawn before diving in head first.

"Did he send you here?" No need to specify who 'he' was.

Grimsby shifted uncomfortably in his seat. The man always wore a smile but his body signaled bad news, his eyes warned bad news, and so Josephine braced herself for bad news.

"No. I sent myself."

A swift kick to her chest. Josephine glanced out the window beside them. Tennyson hadn't sent his friend. Grimsby was here of his own volition. Maybe it really was over.

Grimsby eyed her side of the board, and when Josephine made no attempt at playing, he led with his black knight.

Silence.