Chapter 1
Joseline sat on the edge of the carved wooden table, nervously twisting the ends of her shawl as Miss Carver, her former schoolteacher, closed her leather satchel.
“You’ve always been a bright girl, Joseline,” Miss Carver said gently, brushing a strand of wind-tangled hair away from her face. “Medicine is a demanding path, yes, but it’s not impossible. And I’m willing to tutor you, free of cost. You only need time to study hard.”
Joseline’s heart warmed. “I’ll work hard, Miss Carver. I swear it. I won’t waste a single lesson.”
“You never have,” her teacher smiled. “Just remember, you deserve a life outside these walls. You deserve a future.”
Joseline wanted to hug her, but footsteps thundered down the hallway, and Joseline quickly knew who was coming: Mr. Ferdinand.
Miss Carver stiffened. Her eyes flickered toward the door before she whispered, “I should leave. We will meet tomorrow.”
Joseline nodded quickly.
The moment Miss Carver stepped out into the hallway, Ferdinand’s shadow overtook the doorframe.
His gaze cut through the living room like the cold wind of approaching winter. He watched her teacher walk away with open disdain.
“What was she doing here?” Mr. Ferdinand asked sharply.
Joseline swallowed. “She…she came to talk to me about my further education. She offered to help me prepare for medical school. Without charging anything.”
Ferdinand scoffed, a bitter sound. “Without charging anything? How generous.” His lips curled. “Perhaps you should ask her to take you away from here, then. Feed you. Clothe you. Carry your weight. This will help us to ease your burden from our shoulders.”
The words struck her like a slap.
“I didn’t mean....”
“Oh, don’t act innocent,” Ferdinand cut in, waving a dismissive hand. “This house has fed you for years. And for what? For you to dream of leaving, chasing some fantasy of education?” He paced, irritation simmering under his breath. “I can’t speak of this nonsense to Rene. She’d defend you to death. But enough is enough.”
Mr. Ferdinand opened the door and shouted down the corridor, “Everyone! Come here.”
Servants and slaves gathered with lowered eyes.
“From now on,” Ferdinand announced, “Joseline is to give her full service to Rene. No one else will attend to her. Only Joseline. She is the only one I trust with my wife.”
The murmurs were quiet, but the shock was visible. Joseline felt her chest tighten painfully.
He turned his back to her. “This is high time you start paying back the family that raised you. Don’t make me repeat myself.”
Her throat burned, but she nodded, “Of course, Mr. Hoffman,”
“Good,” Ferdinand said, stepping past her. “Start now.”
The walk back to Rene’s room felt longer than usual. Every step carried the weight of a future slipping further from her fingers.
When she pushed open the door, the familiar lavender scent greeted her.
Rene lay asleep under a thin blanket, her silver hair falling around her face like strands of moonlight.
Joseline approached quietly, brushing a stray lock from her forehead.
Joseline’smind drifted to the day when her grandmother had left her with Rene before her death. Rene was her grandmother’s richest bestfriend.
Joseline’s grandmother always told her until the night she passed,“Education is your freedom, little girl… promise me you won’t give it up.”
Joseline blinked away the ache in her chest. Mr. Hoffman wanted to take her freedom away.
A soft cough made Joseline snap back to the present.
Rene stirred, slowly opening her eyes.
“Oh…you’re back,” Rene said weakly, smiling. “Come here, dear.”
Joseline quickly brightened her expression. “Of course. How are you feeling?”
“Old,” Rene laughed breathlessly. “But happier now that you’re here.”
Joseline squeezed her hand. “I will always be here.”
“That I know,” Rene said, studying her face closely. “You were thinking about your grandmother again, weren’t you?”
Joseline paused, then nodded.
Rene’s smile softened. “She raised you well. Kindness like yours isn’t common.”
Joseline lowered her gaze shyly.
After a moment, Rene asked, “Tell me, Joseline… has Irvin written to you recently?”
The change in her expression was instant, and crimson warmth bloomed on her cheeks.
A shy smile tugged at Joseline’s lips. She looked away, trying to hide it, but Rene noticed everything.
“Oh, that’s a yes,” Rene teased.
Rene treats Joseline just like a granddaughter.
“No! I mean...well…maybe,” Joseline mumbled, brushing invisible dust from the sheets, her ears turning crimson.
Rene chuckled softly. “I can’t wait for my grandchildren to return. When they do, I will sit Irvin down and ask him properly to request your hand in marriage.” She tapped Joseline’s wrist affectionately. “Then you will always stay by my side. Would you like that?”
Joseline’s heart skipped. She didn’t trust her voice, so she only nodded, cheeks burning brighter than sunset embers.
Just then, a knock came on the door.
A young slave boy peeked in. “Miss Joseline…the postman is here. He brought letters.”
Joseline’s breath hitched. She looked at Rene immediately, almost seeking permission for her own excitement.
Rene laughed. “Go, child! Before the postman thinks you’ve died inside this room.”
Joseline darted toward the door but slowed at the last second, turning to check if Rene had seen her childish impatience.
Rene’s warm, knowing smile encouraged her, “Hurry up...run...run.” Rene cherished Joseline’s and Irvin’s love story.
So Joseline ran.
Down the hallway, past the courtyard, all the way to the stone steps where the postman waited.
“Miss Joseline,” the postman greeted with a polite nod. “Two letters for the Ferdinand household.”
She took them, her heartbeat thundering.
The first envelope was addressed to Rene, written in Irvin’s elegant handwriting.
The second was for only Joseline.
Irvin only wrote to the two women whom he loved the most.
Her fingers trembled as she broke the seal.
Inside, the words spread like sunshine across a storm-darkened sky:
My dear Joseline,
My dear Joseline, every road I take, every sunrise I see, reminds me that nothing in this world feels right unless I am returning to you.
And I am coming home with a heart that has only grown fuller with your name.
I have waited long enough, held back long enough, and now all I want is to come home, take your hands in mine, and finally begin the life we were always meant to share.
Yours,Irvin Hoffman
Her breath left her body.
Irvin was coming home.
Irvin, her Irvin, was coming to take her away.
She pressed the letter to her chest and closed her eyes, letting the hope she had buried under duty and obedience bloom fiercely once more.
Joseline giggled as she allowed herself to dream again and ran back toward Rene’s room to read her the letters.
