Sometimes in "children's" films you have to take some things for granted. Evangeline probably worked for the family for a long time. Victorian scullery maids usually started quite young, even 12 or 13, especially in such a small household, and now she looks about 19 or 20. She obviously knows the children very well (better even than their own father) and it is likely she was fond of the whole family, especially if Mrs. Brown was the kind and loving woman she seems to have been. Mrs. Brown probably died shortly after giving birth (many did in those days) and Evangeline would have gone through this time of lose with the whole family, which would have drawn them all closer together. Her compassion for them all, especially the hapless Mr. Brown, would likely have made her feel protective of him, and want to take care of him. And her care and love for his sick wife and motherless children could have made her very attractive to him, even while the idea of remarrying was far from his wishes. They both obviously began to rely on and even care for each other, while maintaining their "proper" stations. (remember their dialogue over Mr. Brown's breakfast tray, and regarding the "secret toast") In fact, the very forced nature of his remarrying would make Evangiline the last person he would have thought of, because of his real regard for her. And after all, he is a man, and a somewhat distracted one at that, not to mentioned his feelings of bereavement. Their romance is a perfect conterpoint to Nanny McPhee's "when you no longer need me, I must go," because they will always need each other.
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