Chapter Twenty-Four: Alexander

While the servants had spent the day making the last minute preparations for the masquerade, I did my best to stay out of their way. Was this kind of flurry of activity normal for an event? In the past, I'd only been a guest for a ball and had no idea it took so many servants to keep things in motion.

I'd secluded myself in the office to resist the temptation to join my cousins on their visit to the cottage. I wanted their unbiased opinion when they returned. However, it seemed all of their attention was required for the other guests and overseeing the arrangements.

There had been no response from London. I had no idea if the message had made it to the intended recipient or if it had been a futile gesture. There was also never a moment where I could speak privately to either Penelope or Olivia to ask how the visit had gone and what they thought of Mrs. Burke's 'stepdaughter'.

With my work to occupy me, I had given no thought to a costume for the ball. I had settled for the only evening wear I possessed and a mask that Penelope had insisted I needed to wear.

My cousins, on the other hand, had thrown themselves into the prospect of wearing a costume for the evening. When we gathered right before the ball was to begin, I had my first glimpse of my family in all their creative finery.

My aunt was dressed in a deep red gown with a white collar that stood up and a gold tiara on her head. I thought she might have been Queen Elizabeth. My mother was arrayed in a rich green gown in the same style of full skirt and sleeves. Perhaps she was meant to be a queen's lady in waiting?

Olivia was dressed in white and gold. If I had to guess, she was supposed to be a Grecian lady such as the Elgin marbles depicted. Or was she one of the Greek goddesses? Penelope was dressed in a simple gown with a white cap on her head, and I had no idea what or who she was supposed to be.

William was dressed as a soldier, a mask ready to hide his face. Fenrows and Burrows were both attired as I was: evening wear, dominos, and black half masks. Dull in comparison to the ladies, but I, for one, was relieved not to be dressed up in some ridiculous outfit I would never wear again.

"There you are," Olivia exclaimed as soon as her eyes landed on me. "Where have you been, Alex?"

"Where have I been?" I repeated, keeping my tone light. The rest of the family was within earshot as were our other guests. "I've been in my office. Where have you been?"

"Now, now," William spoke up. "I don't want you two sharing your opinions of Miss Burke. The young lady will be arriving soon and we will all have the chance to form our own opinions."

"Did either Alex or myself say anything about Miss Burke?" Olivia demanded, her temper flaring immediately. "And even if I did ask for Alex's opinion, what of it? I can ask what he thinks if I want!"

"I think Alex has given his opinion freely enough and it was never asked for."

"Since when have any of us waited to be asked before offering our opinion?" Penelope spoke up. She stood on the other side of the room, checking that her curls were arranged correctly in a small mirror. "He had the chance to speak to the young lady without her mother hanging over her. I'd wager she was more herself with him than she could be when we visited."

"Why is everyone so eager to think the worst of my ward?" William asked, his tone frustrated. "What happened to being generous and caring?"

"I'm sure no one means to be cruel," my aunt said gently. "We are simply cautious as we don't know much about the young lady. You cannot blame us for having concerns given how the stepmother has behaved since you met her."

"You've been listening to Alex."

The accusation stung. Whatever I had thought the previous evening, my cousin had not forgiven me. How I wanted to blurt out the truth: that my suspicions about the woman were correct. Mrs. Burke intended to take advantage of my cousin and get whatever advantage she could.

As it was, I made a stiff bow. "I can promise you that I have kept my opinions to myself, my lord."

William made a sound of frustration. "Don't start with that again, Alex."

"Can we please not argue?" My mother asked. "The chit will be here at any moment. I think she has caused enough discord in this family."

"She has a name," William told her sharply. "You don't have to call her a chit."

The door of the sitting room opened. Stevens stepped in. "Mrs. Burke and Miss Burke, my lord," he announced. Was it because I had become attuned to tension that I thought I heard it in his voice?

I didn't have time to think about it as Mrs. Burke was pushing her way into the room. "My lord," she exclaimed, dropping into a dramatic curtsy. "She is finally here! This is my dear stepdaughter, Miss Harriet Burke."

Miss Harriet Emerson was beaming in her gold colored gown. She sank into a deep curtsy and stayed low as though she were in front of the king or queen. "I am delighted to meet you, my lord."

Olivia rolled her eyes as her brother stepped forward. "Miss Burke," he said, reaching out to take her hand. He pulled her to her feet, but kept her hand in his. "I am pleased to finally make your acquaintance."

Mrs. Burke beamed with pride. "Well worth the wait, was it not?"

"William, I am sure our other guests have not only come down from their rooms but they have arrived," Olivia said, stepping forward. "If you will excuse us, I wish my husband and Alex to escort me down."

William's head came around and he narrowed his eyes. "Surely one escort is enough for you," he said. "Let Alex escort his mother."

"If my wife desires her cousin's arm as well as my own, I will not begrudge her if Alex is agreeable as well," Lord Burrows said, his tone unusually sharp. "Your attention will be well occupied with the young lady before you."

My mother eyed me with some suspicion as I went to my cousin's side. Olivia looped one arm with mine and then the other with her husband. "We shall see you later on when the clock strikes midnight and we all are unmasked."

She pulled me along with her as she marched to the door. "Insufferable and idiotic brother!" she grumbled. "Is he really so blind to the truth that he could be so rude?"

"In his defense, he is not aware that the truth could be anything other than what he has been told," her husband said, patting her hand.

"No. Alex has warned him and so have we! I believe that even if she wasn't dressed up so finely he could see that she is the younger version of Mrs. Burke!"

A thrill of relief shot through me. "Do you mean you agree with me? The young lady she has presented—"

"Is her own daughter, yes," Olivia interrupted, her eyes flashing with anger. "She knew nothing of Captain Burke's first wife. What girl wouldn't know her own mother's name?"

"You cannot make such bold accusations without proof," Lord Burrows cautioned her. "The young lady's mother died when she was young. It may hurt Miss Burke to know she does not have many memories of her mother. She had a stepmother who may have been jealous and convinced her it was better to forget."

"Be that as it may, it does not excuse the fact that this Miss Burke looks like Mrs. Burke. Not just a passing similarity. She has the same hair, eyes, and shape of the face! They must be related!"

Lord Burrows glanced at me. "And you agree?"

Without hesitation, I nodded. "From what I have learned, I know Mrs. Burke is perpetuating a fraud. I just have not found the proof I need."

The man looked over his shoulder as the sound of chattering voices could be heard. "And this is why Berdwell has been so annoyed with you both? Because you have tried to warn him?"

"We must find the real Miss Burke," Olivia declared without answering his question. "Do you think she died? Is that why Mrs. Burke has concocted this scheme?"

"I don't know why she has done it, but—" I was interrupted by a trio of laughing young ladies rounding the corner.

The time for confidences was done, and I hadn't worked out a way to ask if Olivia had seen Elinor while she was at the cottage. Would it be better to tell the truth or wait until I had the proof of Elinor's identity.

Olivia's hand slipped away from my arm and she walked toward the ladies. I paused to steel myself. All I had to do was get through this evening. If my invitation went unanswered, I would have to think of some other way to discompose Mrs. Burke and reveal the truth.

Elinor had suffered enough under her stepmother's cruelty and I would not stand for it to continue.

~*~

Berdwell Manor contained a ballroom that served as the epicenter of the evening's festivities. Musicians were at the far end of the room, doing their best to be heard over the sound of conversation. Colorful costumes were everywhere I turned.

I kept to the edge of the room. I'd attended a few balls and parties when I had been in London, and had found them to be rather tedious to endure. As the son of a second son, I was considered unimportant and rarely found a friend among the other guests.

Granted the masks made it easier to move about the room. I could smile and nod before continuing on my way. A few times, I had to dodge to avoid my mother. She would be trying to persuade me to dance or converse with a beautiful young lady.

The only young lady I truly wished to see was not there and I didn't know when I could safely see her.

So I set myself the task of keeping an eye on my cousin and the young lady he thought was his ward. They danced and then he escorted her around the room. As far as I could tell, the young lady did most of the talking.

It was even easier to keep track of Mrs. Burke. When she first entered, she was in the company of my mother and my aunt. Then, she could be seen talking to as many people as she could. No doubt she was spreading the tale of how her 'dear stepdaughter Harriet' looked so fine and didn't she look well with the earl?

My stomach growled, signalling that it had been too long since I had eaten. No wonder I had a headache and felt so grumpy. Once I'd eaten, I would feel more myself.

As I turned to make my way to the buffet that had been set up in, I saw her.

She stood in the doorway leading to the ballroom. Her dress was a rich blue trimmed with gold. As many other gowns I'd seen, it clearly belonged to the previous generation, but on her, it looked fit for a queen.

Her hair shone like gold in the candlelight. Her hands were gloved and clasped together as though she were anxious. The upper half of her face was covered with a mask that matched the trim of her gown. She turned her head as though she were searching the crowd, oblivious to the glances and stares that were directed at her.

There could be no denying it was a far cry from what I had seen her wear from day to day, but I would have known her anywhere. All thoughts of food fled as I wove my way through the crowd.

"You're here," was all I could think to say as I approached her.

Her blue-eyed gaze met mine and she bit her lip for a moment. She didn't recognize that it was me under the mask and domino. "Excuse me. I don't mean to be rude but I am looking for a friend."

I vaguely heard a waltz announced. A scandal, no doubt, for the more local guests, but one I knew Olivia would have insisted on. And it was just what I wanted.

"May I have this dance, Miss Burke?" I asked, holding out my hand.

Elinor's eyes widened behind her mask. "Mr. Turner?"

"Indeed."

My heart skipped a beat as she put her hand in mine. "I was looking for you," she said, her gaze not wavering.

"Well. You found me," was my rather unintelligent reply. With a start, I realized that the dancers were moving to take their places. "Come."

To my surprise, Elinor hesitated. "I don't... I wasn't taught how to dance," she confessed in a low voice.

If I hadn't known it would make her feel bad, I might have laughed. I was not overly fond of the exercise myself, but I was accounted to be relatively good at it. "Don't worry. Just follow my lead. I'll guide you."

Which was perhaps an overestimation of my own skills.

Elinor took a deep breath and nodded. "Alright. I trust you."

My own breath stuttered at the simple statement. Given how much my own cousin had not trusted me as of late, I think I can be forgiven for my reaction. She trusted me so completely? When had anyone ever done that?

I led her onto the dance floor just as the first notes were being played. We barely had time for her to curtsey and me to bow before we had to step together. The first few steps of the dance were such that conversation was impossible.

Though she may not have danced before, Elinor caught on quickly. Though a bit hesitant, she moved with a grace that would put to shame any practiced debutante. A smile brightened her face as she twirled under my arm. Impatiently, I waited for when I could make the "closed step" and spin her away from the other couples who may listen.

"In case I haven't said it already, you look beautiful tonight, Miss Elinor," I said, holding her closer than I'd ever held a young lady before. "That color blue matches your eyes."

Her cheeks flushed under the edges of her mask. From my comment or the fact that she was in my arms? "Miss Sharpe has excellent taste," she managed to say. "She worked so hard on it."

Given how beautiful Elinor looked, I had to agree. Wait. Why had Miss Sharpe made her a gown? "I didn't know you intended to sneak into the ball," I said, my curiosity caught. "I would have been looking for you."

"I didn't think it was a good idea," she answered, but she broke off from whatever she was going to say as we met the couple for the next movement of the waltz. It was as few minutes before we were spinning away and free to talk.

"What changed your mind about coming?" Had she wanted to see what she was missing? She didn't seem like the kind of girl who would torture herself like that. At the same time, she didn't seem like the kind who would come to cause a scene just to thwart her stepmother.

"I didn't have any other choice but to come, Mr. Turner."

Concern overrode the pleasure I had been feeling. "What happened?" Maybe the right question would have been, what had her stepmother done?

"My stepmother did exactly what she threatened she would do."

My steps hesitated for just a moment, but I managed to recover. The next movement brought us to the next couple to partner with so I was unable to reply. The only threat Mrs. Burke had made was to send her to Bedlam if she spoke up. How could the woman have learned Elinor had spoken to me?

Was this my fault?