Take Emily aside straight away

You watched Emily disappear down the corridor, the bundle of linen still clutched tightly against her chest.

Without giving it much thought, you followed.

She kept her composure until she reached one of the quieter passageways near the old servants' staircase. Only then did she stop.

For a moment, she simply stood with her back to you, taking a slow breath.

"Miss Carter?"

She turned quickly.

"Oh... Mr. Thomas."

She offered a faint smile.

The slight redness around her eyes betrayed her.

"I only wished to make certain you were all right."

Emily looked down at the folded linen in her arms.

"I will be."

There was a long silence.

Then she sighed.

"I've never liked drawing attention to myself."

She searched for the words.

"...perhaps I was overreacting."

"You weren't."

"He never said anything improper."

"No."

"He never touched me."

"No."

"But he made you uncomfortable."

Emily slowly nodded.

"I dreaded seeming impolite. My mother always taught me that a lady—or a maid—must never appear rude to a gentleman."

She laughed quietly, though there was little humour in it.

"I've spent so much of my life trying not to offend anyone that I hardly know how to say no."

"You need to."

She looked up.

"I suppose so."

For another moment neither of you spoke.

Finally, Emily began crying.

"You knew I was going to cry.", she sobbed.

"I did."

"And you came anyway."

She held your gaze for a few seconds before speaking again.

"May I ask something of you?"

"Anything."

"I don't want the others to know. If word spreads through the household..."

Her voice grew quieter.

"...people will whisper."

"They'll wonder what I did to make him stop. They'll say I gave in and gave him what he wanted."

"You have my word."

Emily visibly relaxed.

"Thank you. I trust you."

The words carried more weight than she perhaps realised.

She adjusted the linen in her arms before letting out a small, embarrassed laugh.

She smiled properly for the first time since you had found her.

Emily drew a steadying breath.

"I suppose we'd better return before someone starts looking for us."

"I suppose we should."

The two of you walked back together.

Neither of you spoke much.