SheLuvsMusic
Senior Member
Josephine didn't really have much understanding of how things operated below her station. She was brought up on certain principles, and although she was more flexible with the rules than others, it was still those principles that guided her understanding of how things should be. She wasn't suggesting they act like strangers, but she did think it would be more gratifying to wait until the end to kiss. Besides, it was the proper thing, and she always had people watching her. She was ready and willing to accept the rumors and the lower status that would come whenever she did marry Alec, but she wasn't ready to accept the nasty rumors that were bound to start once people figured out why she'd always been so cold and distant with other men. If they saw her and Alec kissing in the market on their first public appearance together when she barely bothered to hold hands with the other men she'd been seen with? It wouldn't take long. She just smiled softly at Alec. He wouldn't get it because he'd never been an upper class woman before. "I know. But I'll make it worth your while. I promise."
Peter had been pretty confident that Ella could get in. The only obstacle he really foresaw was her being a woman. Men didn't always give women the credit they deserved, but it seemed like her father's influence and her hard work had come together nicely for her. He was happy for Ella, and excited to see her make some history. "Well, I can. And you're going to show up all your male classmates, I'm sure of it," he grinned, kissing her back.
When it came to Josephine, Peter could only hope that Ella was right. He didn't regret anything they'd done together, but he also worried in the back of his mind that somehow this would come back to bite him. At least if Josephine could be with Alec, then she wouldn't have as much energy to criticize him. She would also no longer have any reason to be jealous or resentful of him for getting things that should have also been given to the stable boy. He brushed some hair away at Ella's temple and placed a kiss on her forehead. "I hope so," he said. The power her sister had in her hands to destroy their relationship was something that still terrified him to the core, but he didn't want it to stop him from loving Ella. He'd already let his own fear and insecurity get in the way a couple of times, and it was awful. Sometimes it was just better not to question anything.
Peter could tell that Ella was trying to hide some worry behind her eyes. It was understandable. They'd never been apart before, and they both knew they had a few insecurities surrounding the inevitability of that. At the same time, traveling was something that came with the job. This was something they would both have to get used to if they wanted any sort of future together. He'd promised he would find a way to take her with him whenever he could, but for this first expedition, it wasn't likely that Mr. Lawrence would approve. "Yes. Just a short one. A couple of weeks, up north, and then I'll be back. If Mr. Lawrence approves, I mean. And if you're okay with it, of course." He didn't want to go without talking to her first. "The ship would leave mid next week."
Peter had been pretty confident that Ella could get in. The only obstacle he really foresaw was her being a woman. Men didn't always give women the credit they deserved, but it seemed like her father's influence and her hard work had come together nicely for her. He was happy for Ella, and excited to see her make some history. "Well, I can. And you're going to show up all your male classmates, I'm sure of it," he grinned, kissing her back.
When it came to Josephine, Peter could only hope that Ella was right. He didn't regret anything they'd done together, but he also worried in the back of his mind that somehow this would come back to bite him. At least if Josephine could be with Alec, then she wouldn't have as much energy to criticize him. She would also no longer have any reason to be jealous or resentful of him for getting things that should have also been given to the stable boy. He brushed some hair away at Ella's temple and placed a kiss on her forehead. "I hope so," he said. The power her sister had in her hands to destroy their relationship was something that still terrified him to the core, but he didn't want it to stop him from loving Ella. He'd already let his own fear and insecurity get in the way a couple of times, and it was awful. Sometimes it was just better not to question anything.
Peter could tell that Ella was trying to hide some worry behind her eyes. It was understandable. They'd never been apart before, and they both knew they had a few insecurities surrounding the inevitability of that. At the same time, traveling was something that came with the job. This was something they would both have to get used to if they wanted any sort of future together. He'd promised he would find a way to take her with him whenever he could, but for this first expedition, it wasn't likely that Mr. Lawrence would approve. "Yes. Just a short one. A couple of weeks, up north, and then I'll be back. If Mr. Lawrence approves, I mean. And if you're okay with it, of course." He didn't want to go without talking to her first. "The ship would leave mid next week."