Chapter 11
***
"Well, I suppose so," said Mr. Smith, "and I suppose in such a great family the servants are so well dressed?"
Thinking of Verena, the maid, Mr. Smith's story made sense. Louise nodded slowly.
"I suppose so."
But what could a hired hand of such high status be doing in the marketplace of Melk, if not in Burg, then in Helden, which was even closer.
As she was thinking this, Mr. Smith broke in.
"By the way, from what I heard at the mill yesterday, there must have been a misunderstanding about the Engel brewery."
Louise placed her hand on her chest.
"Really?"
"Yes, some scoundrels spiked the wine, and they say the lord will be released in a few days, and then we'll all be there with a basket of fresh eggs to cheer him up."
He patted the back of Louise's hand as she held the urn.
"Don't worry too much, either. If the lord comes looking for you, I'll give him the news. If he finds out you've found a better job in the meantime, he'll be happy to congratulate you."
The viscount understood better than anyone the plight of the commoners, who could barely keep their mouths dry after a week off work. Thankfully, Louise’s greeting was more lighthearted.
"Thank you for everything, uncle. Please tell your wife I apologize for not saying goodbye, and Vanessa, too."
"Take care, Louise, and if you ever write to her, I'll try to get Vanessa to read it. I don't know how many words she can read."
Louise smiled at Mr. Smith's generosity and left Melk. It was a good thing she hadn't met Mrs. Smith, or she might have burst into tears like a fool.
***
That same evening.
Caius looked down at the carriage that had just pulled into the garden, his cigar clutched in familiarity.
His foster sister's new governess was still dressed in her old robes. The sight of the coachman escorting her as if she were a noblewoman made his mouth curl in mockery.
How it reflected in the old butler's eyes, he said in a low voice.
"I heard the tutor promise the lady this morning that she would be back soon."
Caius replied disinterestedly.
"Not at this late hour."
It was a deceitful act, one she performed with the help of an extra person to help her find another place to sleep.
Soon, alone, Caius dropped his unlit cigar into the ashtray. Then he resumed his work for a while.
The arrival of young Ermoli had been a big enough event to distract him, and he was uncharacteristically behind on his work.
He had to fulfill the duties of a Margrave to perfection. It was part of the deal he made with Ferdinand when he stepped down from the front line.
Soon there was a knock on the door. It was Michael, his henchman, who opened the door.
"I'm back, Your Excellency."
Caius had first met Michael as a child in the workhouse.
"You'll never regret picking me up."
The boy was skinny, his fists tight, his eyes piercing.
Caius picked him up and raised him like a hunting dog, but it didn't take long for Michael to prove himself.
The boy who had nothing grew up to be clever and cruel, and the only thing he shared with the hound was loyalty.
He was so thin that he had inherited Caius's clothes at some point.
It made him look like a hired hand, unkempt and wild. Though it didn't hide the ferocity in his eyes.
Caius didn't look up from the papers he was studying, but Michael began his report with familiarity.
"Miss Ermoli only stopped by next door for a few minutes, but returned immediately. She has met no one but her neighbors. Her luggage is light, but she has brought her mother's urn."
Caius' eyebrows twitched briefly at the mention of an urn, but that was all.
"That's good, then. The rest of the work is on schedule."
The master's orders were simple, but this time Michael hesitated.
Hesitation did not suit him well. Caius asked.
"Is there anything else you wish to say?"
Michael hesitated a moment longer, but eventually opened his mouth to ask.
"Really, are you getting married?"
Caius laughed, a low, throaty laugh.
"Why? Do you think I’m going to get married and I don't want you in my house?"
Michael easily read the exasperation in his master's voice. He bowed his head in apology.
"I was presumptuous, Your Excellency, but I will do as you command."
Caius shook his head wordlessly.
Michael bowed once more, deeply, and slipped out of the room without a sound. Unfortunately for his soon-to-be hostess, he had to return to Melk.
****
"I'm back, my lady. I brought the newspaper I promised."
Louise stood before Miriam's door after two days. In her hand she held the crumpled newspaper she had brought from Melk.
The door opened faster than she expected, perhaps because of the newspaper.
Miriam held out her hand in greeting. She took it and read it slowly.
"Live-in tutor wanted in Burg’s Margrave................... Top-notch treatment promised, aristocratic background preferred."
Then she asked.
"What's the treatment..................?"
Louise smirked.
"It means you'll treat me very well, because I'll be treated to the highest standards."
Miriam nodded in understanding, then asked again in a slower voice.
"What about 'preferential'?"
"It means I'll be treated even better."
"So what if you were, say, from a noble family?"
Louise nodded in approval.
"Exactly, and this teacher is not as noble as she seems. Or rather, her parents were."
Miriam muttered.
"A nobleman's daughter is a noblewoman................That's why Miriam is so slow and stupid."
Louise asked, her heart sinking.
"Who said that?"
"The other day.................. Ms. Zara told me..................."
Louise was stunned, but she defended the former teacher for hurting Miriam.
"Oh my gosh, was that your former teacher? You said she was sick? Maybe she was so sick that she slipped up and said something. Everyone makes mistakes, especially when they're sick."
Looking at Miriam, she didn't seem to believe her. In a way, she didn't seem to be listening. Louise clapped her hands together to get Miriam's attention.
"Look at me, Miriam. My parents were noble, but nobility is not forever, after all, and maybe I am more important than my status."
Miriam repeated after her.
"Myself..................."
"Yes. Lady Miriam herself, not the daughter or sister of Burg's Margrave.”
"But..................."
Miriam whined, wanting to retort. Louise waited a long time for the next words that didn't come easily.
"My father said..................that Burg’s name, not mine, was the most important thing..................."
Unfortunately, Miriam's emotional abuse didn't start with her brother. Louise shrugged her shoulders, intentionally nonchalant.
"Actually, my mother used to say that too, but I don't think so. What does Miriam think?"
"......I don't know."
But Miriam quickly added
"But if..... If Miriam is also an important person......"
"What if?"
"Miriam will.................. be a good person. She won't say bad things, and she won't hurt anyone."
"Miriam is already a good person. She doesn't say bad things, and she doesn't hurt anyone."
Louise smiled softly, but Miriam whispered faintly.
"But even a few days ago...... you said you didn't like my brother......."
Louise let out a small laugh.
"Did I? I don't remember?"
Miriam looked puzzled. Louise asked again.
"Besides being nice, is there anything else you want to do better? How about foreign languages?"
Miriam opened her mouth cautiously after a long time.
"Just.................. piano, drawing..."
She still had no desire to read books or expand her knowledge, but Louise was satisfied.
"That's an excellent idea, then we'll work on it together from today, and I'll do my best, even for a teacher who is 'treated' to the highest standards."
She went straight to her desk and inspected the textbooks.
The bookshelves were lined with boring, dull books, and she wondered if that was why Miriam was so disinterested in her studies.
Maybe it would be better to get some children's books.
***
That same evening, Louise nervously knocked on Caius's door.
"Come in."
***
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