Until Forever (Complete)

Chapter Twelve

One look at herself in the mirror, and a frown immediately settled on her face. She looked horrible, she thought. Being pregnant didn't just make it impossible for Gretchen to keep her breakfast in her stomach, it made her dresses look horrid on her newly found figure.

But she didn't have the time to change into yet another ball gown. Ellie's ball already began an hour ago and with Ethan busy trying to keep Samuel out of the view of the general public and away from the ball, Gretchen was left with no choice but to be Ellie's chaperone. And she was already an hour late.

Deciding there was nothing she could do about her blossoming pregnant body, she heaved a breath and turned away from the image that stared back at her in the mirror.

She made her way down the hall and down the stairs. A part of her was hopeful that Ellie would find Frederick fascinating enough to agree to be courted by him. The truth was, Gretchen was beyond stressed out having to organize balls for her daughter and with a new baby on the way, she didn't think she'd have the energy to keep searching for a spouse for Ellie. Time was running out and Gretchen was desperate.

She easily found the ball room of their castle and began making her way inside. She had lived in the castle with Ethan for eighteen years but she still hadn't gotten over how extremely grand it was. She could almost see herself walking in through the doors of the castle in search of a job. She remembered the first time she saw Ethan; she had been sitting in the library, waiting for him. When he finally arrived, she had been so awestruck by him, she nearly messed up her opportunity to get the job.

She had come to London for a job, but she had stayed in London for love.

With a smile now creasing her face as thoughts of Ethan bombarded her mind, she began her search for Ellie who was surprisingly not in the room. The longer she stood scanning the room, the more convinced she was that Ellie wasn't there; neither was Frederick. Perhaps Frederick took Ellie for a walk?

Turning to leave the room, she continued to walk down the long hallway until she was standing on the front porch. Her gaze scanned the dark environs as the night breeze blew against her face; Ellie was nowhere in sight.

Great, she was already doing such a horrid job as a chaperone.

She scanned the environment one last time before turning and making her way back into the building.

Everywhere she turned, a household staff went about doing one thing or the other. Gretchen couldn't help but feel sorry about the fact that she was making them all to work so hard. Everybody seemed to be working hard to find the right man for Ellie. Everybody was putting in their best.

She made her way to a maid who stood with her hands clasped before her as Gretchen approached.

“Parsa,” Gretchen smiled.

“My Lady,” The maid curtsied, her gray eyes resting briefly on Gretchen before she bowed her head.

Gretchen observed the shy Asian maid before her. It had only been a year since Parsa came to work for them but it still seemed like she was uncomfortable around Gretchen and Ethan. Although, she seemed to be getting along just fine with Samuel. And, considering the fact that Samuel did nothing but get on everyone's nerves, the maid's ability to bond with the extremely active seven year old, was noteworthy.

“Have you, by any chance, seen Ellie this evening?”

“No, my Lady. I have been standing here since the ball began and I haven't seen Lady Elizabeth all evening. Although, I did notice that Miss Caitlin left only a few minutes ago.”

“Very well, thank you, Parsa.” She turned away from the maid and continued her search for Ellie.

Could Ellie have deserted the ball? Gretchen couldn't put it past Ellie to abandon the ball completely.