“Thank you, Lady Helen.”
“I have another matter to discuss with you.”
Mrs. Chance pushed her ledger away. “Yes?”
“It concerns your quarrel with Bart.”
The housekeeper’s dark brows rose sharply. “It was more a slight disagreement than a quarrel.”
“I have difficulty equating his behavior with the Bart I knew.”
“I thought the same at the time.” Mrs. Chance sighed heavily. “I realized afterward that he was defensive because he couldn’t do his work.”
“I sent Bart on several errands the week before he took to his bed. He seemed to manage well.”
The housekeeper nodded. “He would do his best for the family, poor fellow.”
“Why did he say to you,you must think me a fool?”
Mrs. Chance blinked. “I don’t recall Bart saying any such thing.”
“He was overheard by one of the staff.”
“Was it one of the maids? She must have misunderstood.”
“They seemed quite certain.”
“My goodness what nonsense. If it was Eloise, her English is not very reliable.”
When Helen didn’t answer, she gave a bemused shake of her head. “Bart would have no reason to say it. I wouldn’t treat him in such a cavalier fashion. He was no fool, as you know, Lady Helen. I was cross with him at the time, but as soon as I realized what lay behind it, I deeply regretted my attitude. No one should suffer the way he did. I felt for him and tried my best to make him comfortable.”
“Yes, I know you did, Mrs. Chance, for which we are most grateful.” Helen studied the housekeeper’s stony countenance. She had never seen her as the motherly sort.
“Whoever said such a thing must have misheard.” She frowned. “Or lied. Alice causes nothing but trouble. She’d set her cap at Bart and knew I disapproved. Bart flirted with her, but he also favored Eloise. I could foresee trouble ahead if it was allowed to continue.”
“Very sensible, Mrs. Chance.” Helen stood. “Thank you for explaining the situation. And please come to me, if there’s anything else.”
Helen located Alice in one of the guest bedchambers on her knees cleaning the grate. She clambered to her feet and wiped a sooty hand over her cheek, her honey-colored curls peeping from her cap. “You wished to see me, milady?”
A pretty, fresh-faced country girl of eighteen, when Alice had first been employed at Cherrywood before coming to Kinsey House, Helen had feared she’d be homesick for the country, but she seemed happy here. “I have a question, Alice. You won’t get into any trouble, I promise you, but please answer me honestly.”
She clutched the cleaning cloth in nervous fingers. “Yes, milady?”
“Was there anything more than friendship between you and Bart?”
Her blue eyes filled with tears. “Yes, milady. We hoped to marry one day.”
“Mrs. Chance disapproved?”
Alice nibbled her lower lip. “She did. She said it wasn’t done for staff to marry each other, and if that was the case, I should seek other employment.”
“What did Bart say to that?”
“He was angry. Said she had no such authority. He planned to have a word with you. But then he got sick.” She flushed. “I don’t have to leave now, do I, Lady Helen? I like working here, and me ma would be so upset.”
“No, of course not, Alice. You can visit with your family when we return to Cherrywood in October.”
“Me ma will be so pleased to see me, Lady Helen.”
