Chapter Nineteen: Ellie

Shortly before dawn, the day before the ball, I was shaken awake by my stepmother. "Come along," Mrs. Burke said, her tone impatient "We have to get Harriet out before anyone might see her. We need her to arrive in such a way that everyone takes notice. The ward of the earl of Berdwell must make a memorable appearance."

Groggily, I sat up. "What am I supposed to do about it?"

"Help her get dressed, of course! You don't expect her to do that alone, do you? Now hurry up. There isn't much time and I won't have you ruining this."

I rubbed my eyes, not quite believing what I was seeing or hearing. "What?"

The next thing I knew, I was drenched in cold water. "I will not tell you again!" Mrs. Burke said, slamming the pitcher down with too much force. "No more arguing, Elinor Burke. Get yourself out of that bed and come help Harriet."

Now fully awake, I ran my hand over my face to get the water out of my eyes. With an annoyed huff, I climbed out of my narrow, hard bed. Mrs. Burke must have taken it as evidence of my submission for she marched out of the attic bedroom. Though I knew she would be angry, I took my time about changing into my day dress. The last thing I wanted was to catch an illness from going about in a wet nightdress.

It took an hour to get Harriet out of the bedroom with a small hatbox in her hand. "Who would travel with so little?" she complained as her mother hurried her to the door. Her pale blue dress swished against the floor. "I've never heard of anything so ridiculous."

"We'll say your belongings were lost somewhere on the way," her mother said soothingly. "Just think. The earl might purchase a whole new wardrobe for you once you get to London."

The wastefulness was astonishing. From what I had seen, my step-sister's dresses were new. Maybe even sewn to this year's fashion. Why would she want a whole new wardrobe when what she had was more than perfectly fine?

"Well, you've said the earl is being unhelpful," Harriet said, tying her bonnet on. "What will stop him from giving me his sister's dress or something like that? And why would I want anything made by a village seamstress?"

"We'll worry about that if it comes to that," Mrs. Burke said, her tone becoming impatient. "If you want to spend the next week inside, without seeing anyone, feel free to return to your bed, Harriet. Otherwise, you need to get to the edge of the village."

"I don't want to walk that far," Harriet complained. "My feet will hurt and it's so dark out!"

This part of the plan confused me, even though I'd heard my step-mother repeated it multiple times in ten minutes. Harriet would walk to the livery and say her friend's coach had left her in the wrong place. She would get a ride to Meadowbrooke Cottage where Mrs. Burke would make a show of welcoming her 'home'.

"If you want to waste all the planning I've done, go ahead." Mrs. Burke threw her hands up. "I won't do another thing for you and wash my hands of you. You'll have to take a position as a governess if you want a roof over your head!"

Harriet pouted but said, "I'm going, I'm going."

Just as the sun began to peek above the horizon, Harriet set off on foot. I stood at the sitting room window and watched her pick her away along the road. "There will be people out and about," I commented, not caring if my stepmother became annoyed with my opinion. "She will be seen."

"But not by anyone of consequence," Mrs. Burke said with smug satisfaction. "Bring me my breakfast. I want to have plenty of time to prepare for her arrival."

Biting my tongue, I went to the kitchen. Mrs. Haynes had water on the fire and was slicing bread on the table. "Did Miss Emerson get on her way?" the woman asked, glancing over at me. "I've never heard so much complaining out of one person in my life and I've spent hours with my sister's children!"

"Yes. She's started walking to the livery."

Mrs. Haynes shook her head. "It's a foolish plan. Mrs. Burke would have been better off if she'd never brought that girl with her in the first place. Who is going to believe that a coach traveled all night just to leave it's passenger off first thing in the morning? Who does she think she is going to fool?"

"The earl, and that is all that matters." I selected a plate for the bread and placed the slices on it.

I carried the tray up to my stepmother's bedroom. Mrs. Burke sat at the dressing table, applying cream to her face. "Today is an important day, Ellie," she said over her shoulder as I set the tray on the table beside the bed. "Harriet will be set for life."

Did she expect me to say something to that? Just to be on the safe side, I held my tongue. "Dr. Carlson will be here soon and he will bring the tincture for my nerves," Mrs. Burke continued, her tone happy. "And there will be no more hiding Harriet. All is going exactly to plan."

She sounded so content. "I am not delighted for you," I said before I could think better of it.

"There's no need to be sore, Elinor, just because I've outwitted you." Mrs. Burke let out a laugh. "As if that would be difficult to do! You're a simple girl, aren't you? I'll leave you to your simple pleasures once I've married Harriet to the earl."

"What makes you think the earl will marry her?" I asked, genuinely curious. "You've said I'm a nobody, and she is pretending to be me. What appeal would that be to someone like the earl who must know so many talented ladies in London? What makes me so special?"

The smile vanished from Mrs. Burke's face and her eyes narrowed. "Never you mind that. Leave me, I will ring when I need your help."

Relieved, I left the bedroom. My head ached from lack of sleep and I was grateful to be in the silence of the hallway. Quiet wouldn't last. When Harriet returned, making her big entrance as the earl's ward, there would be overjoyed exclamations and calls for celebration.

Though who would be there to see it? The man who drove her here? What good would that do? And when was the London doctor supposed to arrive? What would Mrs. Burke have to pay him for making such a journey? Wouldn't he have his own patients in town that he would need to see?

Instead of returning to the kitchen, I went to the garden. Dew covered the grass and hung on the tips of the rose leaves. There was a freshness in the air and a calmness that was soothing. Sitting down, I closed my eyes.

Had I played here when I was a toddler? I'd often wondered if Papa had chased me around the flowers while my mother watched on and laughed. The garden was perfect for such games, but I just couldn't remember. There were times I don't think I could remember what Papa had looked like or what his voice had sounded like.

If only I had paid attention as a child.

"Elinor Burke, what are you doing?" Mrs. Haynes' voice interrupted my moment of solitude. "Come and eat your breakfast."

Breathing out, I opened my eyes and stood up. I hurried back to the kitchen door. "Do you suppose I might find something belonging to my mother in the attic?" I asked as she joined Mrs. Haynes "Maybe letters she might have received from her family?"

"Ellie, we've searched every corner of that attic. Twice. Looking for letters and anything we might be able to repurpose," Mrs. Haynes said, her tone a mixture of sympathy and impatience. "There was nothing there. If your mother had any, she took them with her to London."

Another idea dashed before I could even try. "I wonder if Widow Miller would be able to remember my mother. She could tell everyone about her and how I am Captain Burke's daughter."

"Don't you bother the widow. A woman at her age deserves some peace."

"But she is the oldest person in the neighborhood. If anyone would remember my parents marriage and me being born, it would be her."

"She's hardly left her son's cottage in a year, and I know Mrs. Miller has often mentioned her mother-in-law's memory is not what it used to be. It would be cruel to bother her."

Sighing, I sat down to eat my breakfast. I had just finished the last bite of bread when the bell rang. With a groan, I tossed my napkin down. "I will go help her," Mrs. Haynes said, her tone resigned.

"No, you have enough work you need to do. She'll want me. She usually does. So there is no point in you going all the way up there only to come back down to send me back. I almost wish I had said yes to Mr. Turner's offer."

"What offer?" Mrs. Haynes demanded sharply.

"He said the housekeeper is always wishing for reliable maids to work in the manor," I explained, surprised by her harsh tone. "I didn't give him an answer, but if I must serve someone, it would be better to have it be anyone but Mrs. Burke."

"You say that now, but you have no idea what it is like to work in a house like the manor and you ought not to be so eager to lower yourself." Mrs. Haynes shook her head. "But you might be right about it being better for you there. Mrs. Burke seems to like humiliating you."

"Seems to? There is no 'seem' about it. She does enjoy it." With that, I held my head up high as I left the kitchen.

~*~

Mid-morning came and went with no sign of Harriet, either on foot or in a wagon. Mrs. Burke, who had demanded we wait with her, began to pace the sitting room. "Where is that girl?" she snapped. "What can be taking her so long?"

"I couldn't say." Honestly, I had no idea why her stepsister would be taking so long. Had she come to some harm between Meadowbrooke and the edge of the village? What kind of trouble could she have met? There were only a few farms between the cottage and the village.

"If my planning is for nothing..." Mrs. Burke's voice trailed off, presumably because she couldn't think of a suitable response for what she would do.

"Miss Ellie, maybe you could walk to the village and see if there is any news," Mrs. Haynes suggested, looking at me. "You might see what is keeping Miss Harriet from returning."

"Of course." I tried not to sound too eager, but the prospect of a walk was welcome.

"No!" Mrs. Burke snapped immediately. "I told you to stay indoors and I haven't changed my mind on the matter. You can go, Mrs. Haynes. I want to know where my daughter is."

Mrs. Haynes shook her head, a stubborn expression appearing in her eyes. "With all due respect, ma'am, I am not able to do so."

I was not surprised to see that my stepmother did not take that refusal well. She narrowed her eyes. "I am not accustomed to my instructions being ignored, Mrs. Haynes. I want you to go find my daughter."

But Mrs. Haynes did not acquiesce. "It will invite comments and speculation, ma'am. I do not make a habit of walking during the day. The neighbors will see and wonder why I would do something out of the ordinary."

Scowling, Mrs. Burke spun back to the window. "Fine. I suppose that would be true. Well, we will simply have to wait."

Silence filled the room. I longed to sit down, but knew that would invite my stepmother's wrath. Impatiently, I began to bounce my heel. Why wouldn't she let Mrs. Haynes and I go about the chores that needed to be done?

Because she wanted an audience for Harriet's arrival.

"So. Do you think your Miss Sharpe will come today?" Mrs. Burke asked without looking at me. "She has been absent this past week."

Uneasily, I glanced at Mrs. Haynes, who looked just as puzzled as I felt. "I couldn't say," I said again. "I do know that she is very diligent about visiting her neighbors, especially when she has heard they are unwell."

Mrs. Burke snorted. "Yes, I'm sure. She seems the type who makes a habit of sticking her nose in where it is not wanted. I wonder that Mrs. Rushman has not taken her to task for it."

"Why would she?" I found myself asking. "Miss Sharpe has been of help to many in the neighborhood. Mr. Rushman has often complimented her for her generous nature."

"Well, of course, he would. He doesn't see the real motive behind what she does."

Which made absolutely no sense. I knew Mrs. Burke disliked my friend, but her words made no sense. What could she imagine Miss Sharpe's 'real' motive to be beyond a genuine desire to help people?

"Well, whatever that spinster is plotting in her little cottage, she would do well to reconsider," Mrs. Burke continued. She leaned closer to the glass. "I will not have my plans overset. Not when we are so close to being done."

I couldn't decide whether to be glad that Mrs. Burke recognized that Miss Sharpe was clever enough to be a threat, or if I should worry what it might mean. Before the conversation could continue, Mrs. Burke gasped. "It is Harriet. At last she is here!" She spun around. "Remember. Do not give us away. Or there will be consequences."

"So you keep reminding us," Mrs Haynes commented, her tone sullen.

"Stepmama!" Harriet's voice rang out. Her toen was one of cheerfulness and unconcern. "Stepmama, I am here!"

Mrs. Burke rushed out of the sitting room and ran to the front door. "My dear Harriet!" she exclaimed as she flung open the door. "My dear girl, how well you look! Come give your stepmama a kiss."

"Mama, you would not believe it! I was left on the edge of town and I couldn't convince the driver to bring me all the way," Harriet said, dropping her hatbox. She held her arms out and embraced her mother. "I had to walk until I found this kind gentleman who brought me here."

She somehow managed to sound convincing, even to me who knew the truth. I peered past the overly dramatic greeting happening on the doorway to see Mr. Turner standing on the path.

After a week of not seeing him, my heart skipped a beat but then I saw how he was staring at me. What was he thinking? Why did he look so grim and serious?

"The journey was so awful, Stepmama!" Harriet exclaimed, her voice muffled against Mrs. Burke's shoulder. "All of my clothing has been lost. There was an accident on the road, and then the horrid driver just left me on the road. Alone!"

"There, there, my dear girl," Mrs. Burke said, patting her daughter's back. "You are here now. All will be put right, I promise."

For a brief moment, Mr. Turner's gaze met mine. He shook his head, and my cheeks heated up. I turned away, unable to watch the scene anymore.

"Oh. Mr. Turner," I heard Mrs. Burke say, as though she just realized who had delived Harriet to Meadowbrooke Cottage. Was that disappointment in her voice? "You have done me a great service. Is what she tells me true? Was she abandoned on the road?"

"That is what she said when I found her," was Mr. Turner's response.

"She said?" My stepmother repeated, her tone rising. "Do you mean to tell me that you do not believe her? How dare you!"

Her sudden change of temper was a surprise. Why was she making so much of it? "I am merely repeating what she said to me, ma'am," Mr. Turner said evenly. "I was not present when she arrived, so I can offer no explanation on the matter."

"Thank you so much for your kindness, Mr. Turner," Harriet said cheerfully. "Such a warm welcome will make me feel at home."

"I am glad I could be of service," Mr. Turner said, his tone formal. "I shall inform the earl of your arrival. He will meet you at the ball tomorrow evening."

"Oh, no!" Mrs. Burke exclaimed, her tone shifting to horror. "The earl cannot expect her to present herself without proper attire."

I rolled my eyes at that. Did she think a ball gown would be produced in less than a day? Or did she just want to complain about something and make the earl feel bad? How selfish could she be?

"I don't think the earl will mind what she looks like. He has been patient while he has been waiting for her to arrive, and I don't think he will appreciate being put off over something so trivial." Mr. Turner's tone was reasonable. What must he think of this?

"Trivial? Trivial!" Harriet cried, her tone aghast. "Mama, he says―"

"Hush, Harriet," Mrs. Burke said sharply. "Mr. Turner does not speak for the earl. I'm sure his lordship will do right by you. Mr. Turner, iff you will wait a moment, I will pen a note for the earl and you can take it to him. It is the least you can do."

"I will be happy to give your note to the earl when I return to the manor," Mr. Turner answered. Was it my imagination or did he sound amused. "While you write your note, perhaps I might beg a cup of tea from Mrs. Haynes?"

Tea? Did he really want tea or did he want to speak to me? I didn't dare to hope the latter was the reason for his request.

"Oh, very well." My stepmother's tone was disrguntled. "Do as you please. Come, Harriet. I will show you your room. Perhaps I can find some old thing in my closet that you can wear until we get this matter sorted out."

I hurried to the table and tried to keep my hands from shaking. "Ellie," Mrs. Haynes whispered. "Remember what you promised your stepmother if you say anything."

"I hope I am not interrupting," Mr. Turner said, alerting us to his presence. He offered a smile, the first I'd seen from him since he'd brought Harriet to the cottage. "Mrs. Haynes, might I have a cup of tea? Mrs. Burke wishes to write a note for the earl, so I am waiting for her to finish."

"Of course." Mrs. Haynes hurried to where the kettle was already heating up. "But you know it does not take so long to write a message."

"Perhaps not, but I was not of a mind to stand outside while I waited. You know she does not approve of me. She took her...the, uh, young lady upstairs, so I expect it might be a few minutes before she puts pen to paper since Mrs. Burke will want to reacquaint her with her home."

Mrs. Haynes murmured an agreement. Mr. Turner stepped closer and then leaned down. "Miss Burke, are you unwell?" he asked.