A Mightnight Dance

Confrontation

Charles prohibited us from going out. He had Jonna stay at the front door and Emily guarding the back door. Even Peter was prohibited from allowing us to use the carriage. It didn't matter as much perhaps. I had no desire to go out and we hadn't received any invitations. Unfortunately, I was sure Vivian had lost her job by now. We hadn't talked after speaking with Charles that day.

At least, I still had a job. Perhaps Charles would give me the chance to return Madam Margie's items. Otherwise, it'd be stealing.

Sighing, I settled into my chair against the window. A cloudy sky greeted me this morning and stayed like that all day. Two candles shone brightly beside me. I raised the handkerchief to the light. Margie had said to take my time but we might need the money quickly. I had written Sister Tucket about getting Mother treatment but received no response. That gave us some time to save more money for it.

A soft knock alerted me to a visitor. No one knocked like that except Elaine. I could only imagine what she wanted to see me.

"Come in," I called out.

The door opened. Elaine walked in.

"You missed lunch," she said. In her hands, she had a small plate of fruit and bread.

I placed the handkerchief in the travel bag and took the plate from her.

"Thanks."

Elaine took a seat on one of my non-messy chairs.

"Charles told me what happened," she began.

I almost groaned. Of course, he'd tell her. Then again, I would be surprised if he hadn't told her anything.

"Is that so?" I said.

But she wouldn't have gone to see me if she didn't have something to say.

"As you know, since marrying Charles, I've been managing the household business," she said. "Having you and Vivian help with expenses is good, but distributing wages to employees . . . Well, it feels as if you've undermined my role here."

I sat there in silence. She had every right to be upset. Vivian and I could have gone to her, but instead, we had lied.

"So, you're saying you don't want our money?"

We looked up at Vivian's voice from the door. She walked in and sat on my bed.

"Vivi," I scolded. "I told you to knock. Besides, this is between Elaine and I."

"No," Vivi said. "I'm involved too."

"Sorry," I told Elaine. "We're not trying to attack you on both fronts."

"No," Elaine said. "It's good that we talk." She turned to Vivian. "I trust you heard what I said?"

As Vivian replied, I took the bread and bit into it. The sweetness caught me off guard and my mouth watered. How could bread taste so sweet?

"I did," Vivian said. "I told Ava to keep it a secret from you. We didn't know if you could lie to Charles."

"What did lying accomplish?" Elaine asked. "Now, it's the two of you that can't be trusted."

I swallowed the bread.

"It's the only thing that kept our employees from filing grievances," Vivian retorted.

"Vivi," I said. "Don't speak harshly."

Vivian looked away. "My apologies."

"I should have been told," Elaine insisted. "Are we not family? Why does it feel like I've always been left out?"