Page 89 of The Maid's Secret

The second the Brauns left our house the day of Mrs.Mead’s funeral, I petitioned my parents for a moment of their time. “It’s urgent,” I said. “You need to hear this.”

We retired to Papa’s office, where he sat in his Capital Throne and Mama perched on his desk beside him.

I launched into my story, reminding them of how on the day of the hunt, Algernon had requested that I take him on a tour of the manor.

“I recall,” said Papa. “He complimented my office.”

“At some point, I left him to explore on his own,” I said. “He all but ordered me away.”

“Neither your father nor I am inclined to stop a man’s explorations, am I right, Reginald?” Mama prompted.

“I couldn’t have put it better myself,” Papa replied.

“You don’t understand. He went downstairs to the laundry room. He searched out Penelope. He…he—”

“Penelope? The maid-in-training?” my mother said.

“She must have called Algernon downstairs,” Papa surmised as he leaned back in his chair.

“Why would she do such a thing?” I asked. “What had she to gain from that?”

My mother laughed out loud. “What had she to gain from an illicit dalliance with one of the richest heir incumbents in the land? Reginald, why is our daughter as green as a bean?”

I hadn’t even told them what happened, but they were acting like they already knew, as if they’d seen this play out so many times they didn’t require the actual details. I told them how Penelope had once worked for the baron and baroness, how she’d seen Algernon there and how shortly thereafter, the entire staff was dismissed because some art disappeared.

“Oh, Flora. She’s protecting herself,” said Papa. “If I’ve learned anything in my years as an estate owner, it’s that the help is often to blame.”

I couldn’t believe my ears. Nothing I said seemed to matter. Next, I told them that Algernon had very likely stolen the egg and that he’d assaulted Penelope, then threatened her at Mrs.Mead’s funeral.

“That hardly sounds like a threat,” said Papa. “He was merely warning the new maid of the dangers of wandering in the woods on herown. If Mrs.Mead had heeded such a warning, maybe she’d still be alive today.”

“Mrs.Mead was running to warnall of usabout the Brauns,” I said, my voice cracking. “She was trying to save me and she was trying to get justice for Penelope. None of us have been listening. We didn’t want to accept the truth.”

My father stood then, his chair scraping loudly against the floor. “What that young maid said proves nothing,” he pronounced. “And instead of casting aspersions on Algernon, you should look closer to home. It’s clear the police suspect John shot his own aunt. Maybe it was an accident, but what if it wasn’t? Or what if his father is covering it up?”

“Uncle Willy?” I said in utter disbelief. “He has been nothing but loyal to his sister and to this family. He’s devoted his entire life to us. And that’s how you treat him?”

“I told you before, Flora. You will call the butler ‘sir’ or you will call him nothing at all. Do you understand?” My father said it quietly, but through the guise of tranquility, a storm was brewing.

“You’re such a foolish girl,” said Mama, with a woeful shake of her head. “You’re not seeing straight.”

“You’re wrong,” I said. “I’m seeing for the first time. And if you don’t want to acknowledge the truth about Algernon—and his parents, who’ll defend him no matter what he does—there’s nothing I can do about it.”

“This case is closed,” said Papa.

“You’re not a judge,” I shot back.

“Maybe not, but I am your—”

“I’m not marrying him,” I said, cutting him off. “I won’t do it. I’ve made a terrible mistake. I won’t marry Algernon.”

“Take it back,” said Mama, “quickly.” Her voice was pinched, her hands worrying the pearls at her neck. She stood, bracing herself against the back wall of Papa’s office.

Papa lunged at me, grabbing my wrist with one hand and shaking his closed fist in my face.

“I am your father,” he spat at me, his eyes like those of an angry god. “You will do as I say. And mark my words, you will wed Algernon Braun.”

—

---