Free Forbidden Love (Sapphic Historical) by Anna Rose Page A

looks.
     
    Aunt Sophia looked uncomfortable at the emotional display, patting my mother on the back, her gesture of comfort stiff and awkward, and the contrast the two women made was quite fascinating, my mother in her finest cloak and her finest bonnet, nearing forty years but still looking the picture of indulged youth with her well cared for appearance…and then there was Aunt Sophia in her plain, serviceable clothing, her skin sallow looking, a harassed expression etched onto her face.
     
    “It was all so sudden – Richard died so suddenly !” my mother’s wails rose. “The houses have all been taken; my jewels – everything! How could he leave us destitute?” she implored of her step-sister. “He mortgaged every last thing we owned to feed his gambling habit, curse his hide!”
     
    “Well, you’re here now,” Aunt Sophia nodded, “You’re here,” she repeated on a weary sigh before turning at last to my brother and I. “Hello, dears,” she smiled thinly before pinning me with a  grave look. “You must not remember me – I was at young William’s christening.”
     
    “I’m afraid not…” I trailed off, lifting my shoulders. “But thank you so much for having us.”
    My aunt nodded, saying rather briskly, “Well, it was some time ago. Come along, I’ll put on a pot of tea.”
     
    We followed her through the stale smelling hallway into a tiny kitchen which was full to bursting with what I assumed were my cousins – and there were a lot of them.
    Aunt Sophia introduced her brood; her four sons, her daughter, and I nodded vaguely at them all, overwhelmed and a little shy, not the best around new people – especially not those I was a burden on.
     
    “You’ll be bedding with me,” my cousin Helen said by way of greeting, looking up briefly from her task of diligently peeling and chopping vegetables. “We were supposed to be getting in a pallet for you but it hasn’t come yet,” she shrugged, and then my aunt was saying:
     
    “I have managed to secure employment for you all,” she gestured towards my mother and I.
    “Oh?” my mother enquired, seating herself at the table, and I shook my head at her grimace of distaste. I could not picture my pampered, beautiful mother working - could not picture dirtying her soft, well-cared for hands. But work she would have to – we would all have to.
     
    “Yes. I’m afraid all positions are for below-stairs work. You’ll come along with me to the Jones’ – they’re in need of a new maid since the last one got herself with child. Out of wedlock,” Aunt Sophia’s lips thinned even more, were it possible, as she placed three mismatched cups on the table, pushing my brother and I into seats around the kitchen’s table so that I was practically sitting on Helen’s lap.
     
    “And Lara will accompany my Helen. She works at the Moreland residence a few miles away. She’ll only be a kitchen maid for the time being but it will be a wage.”
     
    “How – how thoughtful of you, Sophia,” my mother murmured, her expression quite vacant – that was, before she took a sip of Aunt Sophia’s tea. She blanched, her lips twisting in distaste.
     
    Say goodbye to cream-teas, mama! I thought, shooting her a sardonic look.
     
    “Now, get that tea down you – I’m afraid I can’t join you. I’ve got a dozen and one things to do before the day ends,” my aunt sighed, slipping out of the kitchen.
     
    “I’m off too,” declared my quiet, older male cousin who’d yet to even greet us all, and he rose from the table and slipped away without further ado.
     
    “Don’t mind Roland – he’s always surly,” Helen lifted her shoulders, not looking up from her work.
     
    “Roland said you’re not mum’s blood - so you’re not my aunt,” one of the younger boys said then from across the table.
     
    “You mind your tongue, Simon,” Helen said sharply, and the boy shrugged.
     
    “Our parents met and wed late in life,” my mother