Amelia

Chapter Nine

Well, if it made Alexander happy, I was spending most of my confinement in the library.

I just wasn't reading books on etiquette.

Try as I might, however, I couldn't get my mind to focus on the story in my hand. Just as Mrs. Bennett was reprimanding her child, I felt the sense of my own mother creeping up the back of my neck. Ah, that explains the lack of concentration.

Mother was here.

Just as that thought entered my mind, there were three knocks on the heavy wooden door. I waiting to hear Sarah answer it, then emerged from my hiding spot among the stacks of books. It wouldn't end well if mother found me in here. She had already "cleansed" my wardrobe; I didn't dare think of what she would do to my precious sanctuary.

"Mother, how nice of you to stop by." I spoke to her as I descended the stairs, arriving just before Sarah could inform my mother of my previous whereabouts. "Could I offer you some tea?"

"That won't be necessary. I won't be staying long. I simply came to drop this off." Mother handed me a thick manila envelope with the words "Community Committee" neatly scrawled on the front. "They are the ledgers from last evening's meeting and must be delivered to Mrs. Greenwell's house. When you deliver these, you can apologize for your wretched behavior to your gracious host."

I held the package in my hands carefully, as if it could bite me. Not sure how to tell my mother I couldn't leave the house, I felt my jaw open and close a few times with a few squeaks managing to surface.

"Mother, I-I mean th-this is...I would love to give this...I ca-can't really...What I mean is-"

"Oh, stop blubbering child! I've already addressed this with Alexander. He thinks it is an excellent idea for you to apologize, and perhaps try to save face. Just don't screw this one up!"

Mother turned in a flourish and headed for the door. I watched Sarah scramble to reach it in time to open it for Mother's exit, then stand there awkwardly to see if I too would leave.

"Let me get my coat." My answer was a little breathy, but I pushed that off.

I was so confused that I barely took time to fix my hair and apply makeup, simply going through the basic motions and hoping it looked decent enough. The simple silk pantsuit would have to suffice -I didn't want to deal with the mess in my closet.

The Greenwell House wasn't too far a walk from my own house, but I felt that after yesterday I had better take the car. The driver, of course, was with Alexander at his office, so I simply opted to take one of the spare cars myself. It wasn't "proper," but it was the best I could manage.

Pulling up to the large brick estate, I heard to faint sound of lawnmowers in the back yard. They had recently done the front, and the walkway was neatly swept and clear of debris for any travelers, such as myself. Still, the scent of freshly cut grass hung in the air, and I took a moment to breathe it in, composing myself.

I knocked lightly on the door. Gladys herself answered.

"Oh, Amelia! I-I thought you were one of those lawnmen. Do come in, child." Gladys was not much older than me, but I didn't point this out.

"Gladys, I just came over to give you these. They're the ledgers from yesterday. Also," I swallowed past the sudden bile that rose in my throat. "I wanted to formally apologize for my terrible manners at the meeting. You were such a gracious host and I- "

"Did you like the sandwiches?"

I paused for a moment, taken aback. Was this a test?

"Uh, yeah. Yes, I mean. They were delicious."