The End of Childhood

A Short Story about my five times Grandmother, set in 1809, during the Napoleonic Wars.

What if your Master began flirting with you, courting you, and talking about making you his wife? Would you be able to refuse?

"You be careful Miss, or you'll end up in trouble," remarked Martha the Cook one day, out of the blue. "I can see the master has taken a fancy to you," she continued.

Fourteen-year-0ld Susan was puzzled. Hadn't she been brought into Mr. Clayton's home as a companion for his daughter Maria? Hadn't he promised her father to look after her, so that when the time was right she would make a good marriage?

So why did he keep staring at her and making embarrassing remarks? Why had he told her she was blooming? Why had he given her a ring? And what was she to do about his repeated attentions?

It didn't seem right when his wife was upstairs, dying.