Chapter Twenty-Two: Alexander

The evening meal that day was pushed back to London hours, which shouldn't have surprised me. All of my cousin's guests came from the city, and it only made sense that we would accommodate them.

I barely listened to the conversation that happened over the meal as much of it centered on the latest gossip from Town. Halfway through, though, a glare from my mother reminded me of my duty, and I forced myself to pay some attention to the lady beside me. I couldn't even remember her name. In fact, there were only a few names I actually knew among the guests, and even then, the acquaintance I had with them was passing at best.

After the tedious meal, I remained with the gentlemen as they drank port and discussed the recent capture of Napoleon. A few times, William tried to catch my eye, as though he wanted me to agree with him or add something to the conversation. What did he expect from me?

Since the argument with the earl, I had done my best to remain out of sight. I wasn't sure what I would say to him. He had made his feelings clear, and I knew he wouldn't appreciate the action I had taken if he were to find out too soon.

Though I knew it might not reach the man, I sent a message by messenger to London. It was an expense, but I owed it to Elinor—propriety may demand I think of her as Miss Burke, but that seemed an impossibility—I owed it to her to do all I could. And if the recipient received it in time, would he act?

When we all stood up to join the ladies in the drawing room, I was careful to keep my distance from him. I wasn't ready to accept an apology, if he intended to give one.

Olivia grabbed my arm as soon as I stepped into the room. "You have been keeping secrets from me, Cousin," she said, keeping a smile on her face. She steered me towards the wall, away from the seated ladies.

How had she found out about Elinor? "It wasn't my–" I began to say..

"You know how important Miss Burke's arrival is to us," she continued, interrupting me. "And now you have met her! What is she like? Is she as insufferable as her stepmother?"

Of course. She knew about the false 'Miss Burke' who had arrived. I ought to have known that. How would she have learned about the real Elinor Burke? Now. Could I trust her with the truth of the matter? She would be more likely to accept it without more proof.

But her reaction... I didn't doubt she would make a scene. She and William had butted heads already and I was reluctant to make matters worse between them.

"You're hesitating!" Olivia exclaimed, though she did keep her voice low. "What are you trying to decide not to tell me?"

"I believe that Mrs. Burke is planning to introduce a false Miss Burke to William tomorrow night," I said, choosing my words with care.

Olivia's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"

Maybe I could reason it out and let her come to her own conclusion. "Tell me. Have you ever met her daughter? I know you told me she had one."

She paused, clearly thinking. "No, I can't say that I have." Her eyes widened. "Do you think she will try to pass her own daughter off as Miss Burke? No! Even she would not be so bold!"

"Wouldn't she? Wouldn't you agree that Mrs. Burke has much to gain from the association with your brother? Does it not strike you as odd that she hasn't brought her own daughter here to benefit from her good fortune? Has she even mentioned she has a daughter?"

My cousin bit her lip before answering, "When you put it like that, I can see how you might think something strange about it."

"There has been nothing about this matter that has had even a resemblance to normal. It would actually be very easy to substitute one girl for another when we have never met Miss Burke or Miss Emerson."

After a quick glance over her shoulder, Olivia asked, "But why do you have this sudden suspicion?"

"Because the parish records are missing Miss Burke''s baptism record, which would contain her full name. The page has been torn from Mr. Rushman's book. Why would someone do that unless they were trying to hide something?"

Olivia wrinkled her nose. "Is that it? Anyone could have done that. Miss Burke's baptism would not be the only one on the page."

Her skepticism was only normal, and this was why I hesitated to broach the topic with William without further proof. "Well, I have also met the young lady Mrs. Burke says is her stepdaughter. I tell you there is a resemblance between them."

That claimed my cousin's attention. "You are certain?"

"Go tomorrow morning and see for yourself," I urged.

"But if it is true, where is the real Miss Burke?"

I was on the verge of telling her all, when my mother's voice rang out, "You two have your heads together like you are sharing secrets." She approached us, her expression disapproving even if her tone was light. "What are you discussing?"

When Olivia's eye caught mine, I gave a slight shake of my head. I did not want Mother to know my suspicions. Who knew what she would do with that information? I feared she would only cause trouble and ruin everything.

"He was telling me that he met Miss Burke this morning," she said, turning to face her. "We should go to meet her tomorrow morning, Aunt."

Mother let out a slight laugh. "Isn't she to be at the masquerade tomorrow? We shall meet her there and have time enough to learn what we can of her. You cannot ignore the rest of your guests for the sake of one girl."

"I think it will be just the thing to meet her at her stepmother's home," Olivia insisted, her expression becoming stubborn. "But if you think it will be too much for you, there is no need for you to come with me. I'm sure Penny and I will do well enough on our own. Or Mother may want to join us."

"If you mother intends to go, I will do my duty," Mother said, raising her chin. "I'm surprised William isn't going himself."

"My brother makes his own plans. Excuse me. I am going to speak to my mother about what she would like to do."

Offering me a quick, apologetic smile, Olivia left us. Mother linked her arm with mine. "You should have told me about Miss Burke's arrival," she chided. ""I had to hear it from your aunt right before dinner."

"I was busy today, Mother. The rain we just had caused some damage and flooding. It was my responsibility to oversee repairs. I didn't even tell William until I returned."

She raised an eyebrow. "But not too busy you could not meet Miss Burke. What is she like? Is she pretty? Will she catch William's eye?"

"She is pretty in her own way, like every other young lady I have ever met." And this Harriet had been pretty with black curls and dark eyes. But her beauty paled next to Ellie's. "I cannot say whether she will interest my cousin or not."

With a huff, Mother shook her head. "I suppose Olivia is right. We will be able to better assess the situation if we go ourselves. You are useless."

The words stung more than they should. I'd been working hard to prove myself and to be called useles by my own mother? Oh, I knew she meant it in regard to telling her what she wanted to know and hadn't given a thought to my position as the steward.

"But I suppose you showed some intelligence by not rushing to William immediately with the news," she continued, looking oer to where William was listening to something his mother was saying. "How embarrassing would have been to have him leave all of our guests to meet the chit."

I refrained from commenting that it would have been understood. It wasn't as if a host had to spend every minute with his guests. And... "'Our guests,' Mother?" I repeated. "I don't recall either of us being involved in the guest list."

"I can think of a half a dozen families I would have invited if my opinion had been asked." Mother tugged on my arm. "Tell me. What did you think of Miss Willis? Is she not the dearest girl?"

I was on the verge of asking who she meant, but thought perhaps it was the name of the girl who had sat next to me. "She did not have much to say about the weather," I said, unable to recall any specific details of our conversation.

"Surely you talked of something other than the weather!"

Holding back a sigh of relief that I had guessed correctly, I added, "She had strong opinions on the current fashions of the season. Something about Vandyke lace being popular?"

"Oh, be serious, Alexander!" Mother said, lowering her voice. "I think she is a lovely girl. She is to have a modest dowry when she marries. Her father has excellent connections. You should make sure to converse with her while she is here."

It took all my self-control not to laugh. "I'm sure she is here to meet and get to know William. He is the earl after all, and I am a mere steward. I'm sure her father would not be pleased if I were to turn her head."

"Because I have assured him that William has no interest in marrying, and probably never will."

An ache had formed between my eyes. This conversation was going from bad to worse. "Why would you say something like that? You don't know any such thing!" My voice unintentionally rose. With everything else I had been trying to manage, I did not need this too.

"Oh, hush, Alex," Mother scolded, ignoring the glances that came our way. "If William intended to marry, why hasn't he done so already? There have been any number of ladies who have tried to catch him in London. He had no interest."

"Perhaps because he has been trying to acquaint himself with the responsibilities that come from being an earl. And, as I'm sure you have not forgotten, it has only been two years since his father died. Marriage may be the last thing he wants to think about right now. That doesn't mean he will not ever marry."

That didn't even include the possibility that he wasn't interested in a lady who was chasing him. She might be more interested in his position and wealth than in him. That was a sentiment I could well understand.

"Alex, come now. There's no need to be dramatic. Look, Miss Willis is going to play for us. Why don't you turn the pages for her?"

Before I could come up with a polite but firm refusal to that ridiculous suggestion, I saw William go to the pianoforte. "No need. William has the matter in hand."

Mother gave a huff. "You must show some initiative, Alex. If I must always be on hand to push you forward, you will never get ahead in this world."

I pulled my arm from her grasp. "I am exactly where I am content to be, Mother."

"Katherine, we are going to play whist. Will you join us for a hand or two?" My aunt called out, much to my relief.

"We will continue this discussion later," was Mother's warning before she left me.

With any luck, she would be well occupied with the final preparations for the masquerade to put off a continuation of this conversation. Standing against the wall, I found myself wishing for something stronger to drink and I would not have described myself as one given to constant drinking.

"Never fear, Turner," Fenrow said as he joined me. He spoke just loudly enough to be heard over the pianoforte. "Soon your mother will return to London and you will be free to do as you please without her comments."

"Is it that obvious?"

He chuckled before answering. "I've had friends with—how can I put this delicately?—overly ambitious mothers. You have the same expression of a man wishing for a drink they always seem to have."

"And did any of your friends find a way to escape their mothers?" I almost added 'without losing their sanity' but that would have hit a little too close to home. There was no call to make light of Nerissa's suffering or that of anyone who was taken away from home against their will.

Fenrow laughed lightly, not so much that anyone else could hear. "They developed a great deal of patience and set boundaries with their mother as soon as they were under their own roof. Either she listened to the rules he set for his house, or she had to go on her way."

Words that sounded good when you said them outloud, but I knew would be hard to put into practice. "Well, perhaps I shall simply disappoint her enough that she will give up on me."

Was it too early to bid the room goodnight? No one would miss me. In fact, I would have been certain no one would miss me if I were to leave without a word. I had just decided I would risk the scolding from Mother, when Fenrow said, "I hear you met the elusive Miss Burke today. Was she everything her mother claimed her to be?"

Of course he would have an interest. It had been the main topic of conversation since he'd arrived, and had been the source of most of the tension among us all. Would it do any good to tell him the whole of the matter, or should I take pity on him and not involve him.

"The young lady seemed a nice enough girl," I said honestly. "Of course it is difficult to tell much in such a short time. All she wished to tell me of how she had come to be sitting by the road."

"Ah, yes. Her arrival. It does seem unlikely that a driver would just leave her by the side of the road at such an early hour, but why would she lie?"

I might have thought the same if I hadn't worked out the truth. After a moment's hesitation, I decided to continue. "As I was just telling Lady Burrows, I think there is something underhand going on."

Fenrow tilted his head. "Underhand? In what way?"

In as few words as I could, I told him what I had found in the parish records, how 'Harriet Burke' looked remarkably like Mrs. Burke, and even added how the girl had called the woman 'Mama.' "It is not much, but given how reluctant Mrs. Burke has been to produce her stepdaughter, I believe something is not as it should be."

"You're right. It isn't much, but the evidence does seem to indicate you might be onto something." Fenrow shook his head. "Have you told the earl?"

I raised an eyebrow at him and he flinched. "Ah. Right. I thought I detected some animosity from him earlier today. So you have hinted at it, but he didn't want to hear anything against Mrs. Burke."

"My opinion is not wanted. He's ordered me to leave the matter alone." I knew my tone was verging on being complaining. "But I don't feel like I can."

To do so would be to let Mrs. Burke get away with this fraud. It would condemn Ellie to a life of servitude, her reputation ruined because of her stepmother's lies. A gentleman couldn't let that happen if it was in his power to do something.

"If there is any way I can help, I stand ready, my friend."

It had been a long time since anyone had assured me they were on my side. There had been a group of us in school who had been inseparable and we would support each other. It had been some time since I had spoken to Harper. Sinclair's death had shaken us all.

Since then, Harper had kept busy doing...well, I wasn't quite sure what he did. Whatever it was kept him traveling from place to place. Perhaps I ought to reach out and ask how he was.

"There may be a guest tomorrow evening that I will need you to keep from being spotted by Mrs. Burke," I said, shaking off my despondent thoughts.

"Oh? How intriguing. Is it someone I know?"

"Have you ever met a man by the name of Patchman?"

He paused to consider and then shook his head. "I can honestly say I have never heard that name before. Should I know him?"

"No. But Mrs. Burke does know him. It seems she does not approve the interest he has in her daughter, Miss Emerson. She will not like it if he comes tomorrow."

Fenrow raised an eyebrow. "I assume you have a plan."

It might be rather vague and I couldn't guarantee the outcome, but it was a plan. Of sorts. I could only hope nothing went terribly wrong.