Chapter Sixteen: Alexander

I couldn't put poor Ellie—or should I think of her as Elinor, which somehow suited her better—as I walked away from Meadowbrooke Cottage. What hold did Mrs. Burke have on the girl, and what did she know? I'd thought the girl would confide in me, but something had held her back.

Again.

"Mr. Turner!"

A sigh of relief might have left me if I didn't immediately tense at Mrs. Burke's shrill call. She was the last person I wanted to speak to right then. Not when I'd just heard how strict she was being with Elinor. At least I was enough of a distance from the cottage that she couldn't accuse me of having visited her cottage when she was gone.

"Good day, Mrs. Burke," I said, forcing myself to be polite. "Did you enjoy this morning's service?"

Her eyes were narrowed when she approached. "I didn't see you with the earl."

Odd. Why would she notice whether I was there or not? Did she suspect I had gone to the cottage? "As his steward, I am not expected to be by his side at all times. Did you wish to speak to me?"

"What? No. Why would I need to speak to you?" she asked, her tone offended.

I inclined my head to acknowledge the point. "Have you had news of Miss Burke's arrival? The rest of the earl's guests are to arrive tomorrow, and the ball is to be held in two weeks time. Miss Burke will not want to miss any of the entertainment planned."

Mrs. Burke's lips pressed into a thin line. "I'm sure she will come as soon as she can."

"Oh, does Miss Burke have more important plans that she would prefer to keep?"

"I did not get your attention to talk about my stepdaughter and her plans!"

Then, why had she stopped me? I had the feeling that she suspected the truth: that I had been concerned about Elinor. "Did you remember a message you need me to pass on to the earl, then?" I asked. "I am not the usual kind of messenger, but I am at your service."

Color rose in her cheeks. "If I'd had anything to tell the earl, I would have done so when we conversed in the churchyard."

"Then, if there is nothing pressing, I will be on my way." I lifted my hat and moved to hurry on.

"Just a moment! I want to speak to you about my maid."

"Miss Elinor? Why?"

Her eyes widened. "What did you call her?"

"Her given name is Elinor, is it not? I'm afraid I have not yet been informed of her last name. Perhaps you could enlighten me so that I offend no one when I speak of her."

For a moment, she gaped like a fish out of water. What was so strange about my request? "There is no need for you to speak to her at all!" she said, her voice rising. "She is just a maid, beneath anyone's notice."

"No one should be beneath notice." It really wasn't that strange of an opinion, was it? "My father once said you can judge a person's character by how they treat those in their household. Especially when it comes to those one might consider beneath them."

"What is that supposed to mean?" she demanded. Mrs. Burke's face flushed a deep color. "I suppose you agree with that upstart Napoleon!"

Surprised by the accusation, I paused. To show a person the minimum of respect meant I sympathized with our enemies? What did one have to do with the other? "Why would you think that?" I asked, genuinely confused.

"Just stay away from Elinor, or you will regret it."

A threat instead of an answer. Why was I not surprised? There seemed to be no point to continuing the conversation. I had the feeling I had once again done Elinor a bad turn. "Good day, Mrs Burke," I said, nodding.

"Are you going to tell tales to the earl?"

Why was it that her two concerns were that I would speak to Miss Elinor and that I would speak to my cousin. Was there some connection? What did the maid know that Mrs. Burke was afraid of?

But, if that were the case, wouldn't it be Miss Ellie lording it over her mistress?

"Tales? What tales?" I asked.

"Why else would you be so interested in a servant but to listen to her malicious lies? She is next to worthless! It should not matter what she thinks or says."

Perhaps, when I was well away from her, I would be amused by Mrs. Burke's fury. Offering a sight bow, I decided to make my escape. "Your maid did not say anything untoward, ma'am. Good day."

"Do not come back to Meadowbrooke Cottage!"

"As long as you do not make demands on the earl's time and resources, I see no reason I would be required to return." This would make it much more difficult to speak to Ellie.

Color high in her cheeks, Mrs. Burke marched on. Confused by the encounter, I turned my steps toward the manor. William may not believe me but there was more to Mrs. Burke and what was happening than we were aware of.

~*~

As soon as I stepped foot inside, I was met with my cousin. "There you are!" Olivia exclaimed, latching on to my arm. "Where have you been? One minute you were there and then you were gone! I was worried you had received bad news."

Guilt stabbed me. I hadn't thought anyone would even notice that I had gone and never would have imagined someone might think there was bad news. "Nothing of the sort," I said, patting her hand. "I decided to take a walk while it was fine. I knew the rest of you would be detained for a while. The neighbors have been eager to meet Lady Burrows and Mrs. Fenrow."

With a mock scowl, she smacked my hand away but clung tighter than ever. "You abandoned us to the mercy of Mrs. Burke!" she accused. "I never thought you would be so heartless. Now we are to have tea with her tomorrow! How am I to be polite with that woman?"

"I'm sure you will rise to the occasion."

Her blue eyes narrowed into a glare. "I should warn you, your mother was almost rude to Mrs. Burke this morning. William is annoyed."

Of course he was. After all, I hadn't obeyed his command to stop searching for information about Mrs. Burke's matters. If my mother was causing trouble... "I'll have a word with her."

Nevermind that I shared Mother's dislike.

"Are you coming up to have tea with us?"

I was in no mood to put on a polite smile and listen to them discuss the conversations they'd had with the neighbors. "I'm afraid not. I have a letter I need to write."

"Not another letter to Dunn?"

"No." I'd forgotten, for a few hours, about my sister's plight. How had I done that? Was I becoming selfish? Or was I just a terrible brother? After all, I should have made Dunn prove he would love and care for my sister.

"Good," Olivia said, much to my surprise. "It would be a waste of paper. Burrows has already commanded his London solicitor to send Dunn a strongly worded letter. He's also written to Bedlam Hospital himself."

Forcing a nod, I tried not to feel resentment. All that mattered was making sure Nerissa came home, after all. But it should have fallen to me to protect her. I should have kept her safe.

"Is it an important letter?" Olivia asked, getting my attention. "Can't it be put off for a little while?"

Since it was an entirely made up letter, it could easily be put off. But still, I wasn't in the mood for polite conversation. I forced a smile and began to refuse her. She spoke before I could say a word, "Please, Alex?"

Her wide-eyed plea reminded me all too much of Nerissa and I knew I couldn't refuse her. "There's no need to beg," I said, holding back a sigh. "If it means that much to you, and I don't know why it would, I'll have tea with you."

Olivia let out a very unladylike squeal of delight. "Wonderful!" She tugged on my arm. "Come along."

"Is there a reason my company is so important?"

"Well," she said slowly. "You know we're going to have more company this week for the party? I just think we should all spend as much time together as a family now while we can."

I narrowed my eyes at her. "The truth, Olivia, if you please."

"Oh, fine. Let's just say that Will is being so very superior and commanding, and I want someone who is on my side."

"Isn't that a role your husband should have?"

"Yes, and he is being a wonderful support. But you know more about Mrs. Burke than the rest of us. You won't force us to be polite or positive about a woman who is so....vile." Olivia shuddered as she said the last word. "You understand my feelings on the matter."

I'd never heard my cheerful cousin speak so negatively about another person. Not even when she had a rival for Burrows' attention.

"The earl wouldn't force you to do anything you didn't want to do."

Olivia wrinkled her nose. "Maybe not force, but he will make his disappointment known. He wants us to be on good terms with the woman."

That was not a surprise. "What do you expect me to do about it?"

"You don't have to do anything, really. Just point out that Mrs. Burke is the most unimportant person in this situation. Appeasing her should be the last concern of him or us." She hesitated and then added, "Not that we would be rude, mind you."

"Of course not." But I suspected she would give the cut direct to Mrs. Burke if she became too annoyed with the woman. Olivia was much like her father in that once irritated by someone, it was difficult for them to forgive or forget.

"I've spoken to William about it before and he did not appreciate my honesty," I warned her. "He has asked me not to bring it up again."

"You won't be the one bringing it up. But if someone—myself or Penelope, for example–were to mention that he is entirely too concerned about how Mrs. Burke feels about matters, you can support us."

We had reached the open doors of the sitting room, so I felt unable to respond to that. If Olivia's plan was to just annoy her brother and stir up trouble, I wanted no part of it.

My mother came straight to me as soon as I stepped through the doorway. "Where have you been?" she demanded in a low voice.

"I took a walk," I said vaguely, hoping she would not press the matter. "I'm sorry I alarmed everyone."

"How would we not be alarmed? You simply vanished!"

"No doubt he wanted to avoid Mrs. Burke, as he has not made a secret of his dislike for the lady," William said. His tone was light, but there was an edge that warned me that he was annoyed.

What had the rest of the group said to him?

With a huff, Olivia left me to sit by her husband on the settee. "You could be a little more grateful I convinced him to join us," she said, a pout on her face. "He was going to go write letters."

"More letters?" Mother asked, her tone one of astonishment. "My goodness, is that all a steward does? Write letters? It seems I just have to turn around and off you are to write another letter."

"He does seem to spend the majority of his time at the task," William remarked, accepting a cup of tea from his sister. "I don't remember Carson ever sending me a letter before he departed."

How could I not bristle at that? Half of my communication was at his behest to learn what I could of the Burkes! "Oh, I'm sure that's not true, Will," Penelope said in my defense before I could say a word. "Alex is just being diligent about his responsibilities, and you should appreciate that."

William's annoyance only seemed to increase with his sister's words. "Well, I think he would do well to put some of his letters off," Mother interjected. "They cannot be so very important."

"On the contrary, Mother," I said without looking at her. "Some of my letters have informed me of interesting facts that I otherwise would not have learned. In general, though, I believe I write as many letters as any other person. I know Lady Burrows sends at least two letters a day!"

"At least!" Olivia declared immediately. "In our day and age, I can't imagine anyone not writing letters. How else is one to keep up with friends and family?"

"You ladies may have time for such extensive letter writing, but gentlemen have more pressing concerns," William said, waving his hand dismissively. "Alex would be better off focusing on those parts of his position."

"Excuse me?" Olivia asked, her tone chilly. She sat up straight, glaring at her brother. "What do you mean by that, I want to know!"

"Indeed, William, I think you ought to reconsider your words," their mother said, her tone reproving. "You make it sound as though it is only women who are avid letter writers. Why, I know your father would write and receive letters every day, save for Sunday."

The earl's face flushed at the rebuke. "I meant no offense, Mama. Nor to you, Olivia."

The dowager countess inclined her head in acknowledgement of the poor apology. "No, you are merely annoyed that we all have an opinion you don't agree with, and are lashing out however you can," was Olivia's response.

"Olivia, dear," her husband said, putting his hand on her arm. "Perhaps you and your brother could put off your disagreement for a short time? I, for one, would like to enjoy my tea in peace."

Lord Burrow's suggestion cut through the rising tension. "Olivia huffed and then nodded. "Fine. You're right. This is not the time or place."

I breathed a sigh of relief. Olivia hadn't said she was at such odds with the earl, and I did not want to be in the middle of it. Even if I did agree with her sentiments regarding Mrs. Burke.

"Well. If I'd known you could control my sister so easily, I would have begged you to take her long ago," William remarked.

In an instant, Olivia was on her feet. Her hands were clenched into fists and, to my surprise, tears glistened in her eyes. "How dare you? You are a-a hubble-bubble fellow, William!" she said, her voice trembling as she used the slang for fool. She ran from the room.

"Oliva, wait!" Penelope set aside her tea and ran after her sister.

"If you do not apologize to my wife before the end of the day, I will call you out for that," Lord Burrows said to William, his voice tight with anger. He left in pursuit of Olivia.

There was a moment of silence. "Was it something I said?" William asked, clearly trying to strive for some levity.

"William, let's step over to the library," his mother said, putting her tea down. "And I will explain to you the offense you have so thoughtlessly caused."

Looking shame-faced, confused, and defiant, William escorted the woman out, leaving only three of us in the drawing room. Mother cleared his throat. "Well. Such a fuss over letters. Mr. Fenrow, do you think this fine weather will continue?"

As Fenrow responded, I glanced at the door to the hallway. I should have just written my letters.