[Eleanor]: 668.Amelia.Chapter XI

XI.

The next morning Amelia found the master and mistress together in one of the parlours and gave her notice. She expressed her gratitude to them for all they had done for her, especially for the opportunity to work with Lorenzo and improve herself musically, but now that he was gone, she couldn’t bear to stay there. She had one request though, and hoped that she was not being too forward in presenting it. If it wasn’t going to be missed, could she please keep the harp he had given her, the one that had long hung unused in the bedroom of the son who had left home years before? She waited for their response, eyes downcast.

It was the mistress who answered first. “We’re terribly sorry for your loss, Emily. We were also very fond of Lorenzo, and this place will be very lonely and quiet if you leave as well. Are you sure you won’t stay?”

Amelia merely shook her head, not trusting herself to speak. If they would not give her the harp, she would leave without it. But she could not stay any longer.

“That was our son’s harp?” asked the master. “He never played it. I had forgotten that it was even there. Yes, Emily, take it. No one will miss it here. And you have surely earned it.”

Amelia let out a sigh of relief and said, “Thank you sir and madam. I really am so grateful. You gave me a home here as well as a job. Good bye.”

She gave a slight bow and left the room, then fairly ran through the hallway. First she sought out Elsa, who was busy folding laundry and piling it in the mistress’ wardrobe.

“Elsa, I’m leaving,” she said, out of breath.

“You’re not!” Elsa exclaimed. “Not after singing so beautifully at the funeral yesterday!”

“Yes,” replied Amelia. “I can’t stay. I can’t work in the kitchen if I don’t have the relief of making music with Lorenzo. That was all that made my life bearable these past many months.”

“Ah, you poor girl,” said Elsa and enfolded Amelia in a warm embrace. “It won’t be the same around here without you. God speed.”

“Thank you, Elsa,” Amelia answered, “and please, remember your promise.”

“Don’t worry, dear,” Elsa said, putting a finger against her lips. “Your secret is safe with me.”

The two women hugged each other tightly for another moment, and then Amelia was racing back to the servants’ quarters where she packed up her few belongings and carefully wrapped the harp in her cloak. Then she sought out her friends in the kitchen one last time. She took special leave of Bess and Louise and Mistress Roach.

“Bess,” she cried as she hugged her friend, “thank you for everything. I shall never forget you.”

Louise held her for a long time, and then wiped tears from her eyes and said, “Goodbye, Emily. We’ll probably still be here toiling away when you are rich and famous somewhere.”

“Keep in touch, dear,” said Mistress Roach as she embraced the girl. “Wherever you go,” she added.

Before she could start crying again, Amelia smiled bravely and left the manor through the same servants’ entrance she had first entered it, walking briskly through the streets of the town until she came to the candle merchant’s shop. Sarah was alone when she burst in with her satchel and the bundled harp. 

“Amelia!” exclaimed Mistress Pyms. “Are you going somewhere?”

“I don’t know if I’m going somewhere, Sarah,” replied Amelia. “I just know I’m not going back to the great house. I’ve quit my position. No more scouring pots for me.”

“What happened? Why did you leave? I thought you liked it there, that you had friends and you were making music with Lorenzo.”

Amelia’s mouth twisted into a grimace at the mention of her friend’s name. “Lorenzo is gone,” she said. “He died suddenly. There was no warning at all. I never said goodbye to him. They had the funeral yesterday and I played my grandmother’s favourite song and then sat by his grave until it got too cold out.” She stopped suddenly, unable to continue.

“So where will you go, my dear?” asked Mistress Pyms.

“I was wondering if you could put me up for a few days, at least until your nephew’s troupe arrives. I could work in the shop, keep your accounts, clean and cook for you. It’s that or find an inn, but I really can’t afford that.” Amelia shifted the harp and bag in her arms. “I have a harp to trade Frederick for mine, since I couldn’t hope to pay him what it’s worth. The master kindly let me keep the old one his son learned on. No one had played it in years before Lorenzo found it for me. It’s actually a better instrument, bigger, and more suited to him than my old one.” 

Sarah considered. “Of course you can stay here, although I must warn you that the accommodations aren’t palatial. I live behind the store, as you know, and rent out the upper rooms. They’re all occupied right now; otherwise you could have one one. I’m sure we can pull a cot into the kitchen and you can sleep there. You don’t take up much space. But I’d rather you didn’t serve in the store, dear. No harm meant, but I try to keep up a certain level of genteel pretentiousness for the customers.” She smiled as she said this, but Amelia knew that her choice of clothing and the mask she wore would not inspire confidence in Sarah’s clientele.

She replied, “Thank you, Sarah. I really didn’t know where else to go.”

“You are always welcome here, Amelia,” answered the older woman. “Now let’s see about a cup of tea.”

Amelia gave Sarah a warm hug, then gathered her things and fled into the kitchen before a customer should wander into the shop.