Josephine sat me in front of the kitchen fire wrapping several blankets around me.
"You're very interesting dear, the Judge never normally has female company" Josephine asked placing my frozen feet in a bowl of warm water "He must like you" She smiled kindly at me
"I'm not too sure about how Frollo feels about me" I said honestly. There was something in Josephine's kindly smile and warm brown eyes that made me feel like confiding in her.
"He is a very complicated man" I mumbled
"Nonsense dear, did you see the way he was looking at you?" She ringed out my hair "I've always told Frollo he should find himself a pretty wife but he constantly told me he would never find one , but here you are a very pretty thing who is obviously in love with him-"
"In love with him!" I interrupted trying to preserve some integrity. Was it really that obvious that I had been caught in Frollo's net?
"Oh yes dear the way you looked at him as we were leaving, but don't you worry it's only obvious to an old spectator like me" She rubbed my hair with the blanket, her voice reassuring and motherly.
"I don't think he would marry me" I whispered surprised that I was voicing all my concerns to Josephine.
"Don't be so sure dear, Frollo isn't as young as he used to be he needs an heir and who better to provide him with a bouncing baby boy than you"
"Childbirth has always scared me" I confessed as Josephine poured hot water into a bath tub.
"Oh it can be scary but it's worth it in the end when you hold your babe for the first time"
"Maybe you're right" I agreed as Josephine pulled me to my feet.
"Now let's get this dress off you" Josephine peeled the dress of me and I quickly pulled a blanket tight around me.
"Can you save it, it's just Frollo gave me it"
"He did?" Josephine asked startled
"Yes" I replied cautiously
"Well that speaks volumes and don't worry dear I'll be able to dry it off while you have your bath"
"Thank you"
Josephine poured more hot water into the tub. She then tested it before adding rose oil to the water. "Ok Persephone your bath is ready" She smiled at me
"Thank you Josephine and don't worry about Frollo's threat, I'll make sure he does not dismiss you"
"That's kind of you dear, now in you go" Josephine said lowering me into the tub "Now don't go all shy on me Persephone a body is a body. I have a few jobs to do but I'll be back soon"
"Ok thank you Josephine"
I leaned back and let out a long sigh. Today had certainly been eventful, what remained at the forefront of my mind was Frollo kiss. I brought my fingertips to my lips, remembering the ferocity he had kissed me with. Frollo's forwardness had certainly taken me by surprise, but at the same time I had willed him to continue, to deepen the kiss but he had pulled away. I had felt intoxicated by him and I had thought he felt the sameā¦until I saw him with the gypsy girl.
"Take one step outside and you're mine" He had growled at her. The possessiveness and dominance in his voice was frightening, but at the same time strangely alluring. There was certainly something rather thrilling about being in the Judge Claude Frollo's home taking a bath, the Archdeacon would be speechless!
My mind wandered back to Frollo and the gypsy. Did Frollo want her instead of me?
I hit my fist against the tub in frustration.
Maybe he did feel attracted to the gypsy; after all she was far more beautiful than I.
But it was me not her, who was staying with Frollo something his own servant found unusual. Maybe he did care about me more than I realised, perhaps Frollo did want me. I could not deny that my heart jumped every time I saw him; would it be so impossible for him to feel the same toward me?
I sighed and lent my head back.
Men could be so complicated.
