Amelia stared at the handkershief as she twisted it in her hand. In the corner was a name embroided; Julia.
She should have recognized the girl sooner. It wasn't like she hadn't left an impression. Though not for long, they had talked on the night of her birthday. At the time she'd assumed that the maid's cagey demeanour was due to shyness just as the other's had suggested. But knowing what she knew now she saw it Julias dismissiveness that night in a whole other light.
She was certain that the maid had recognized her, not as a mistress of the duke but as someone her emplyer had ill will against. Or at least was keeping an eye on. This left her with the question whether she'd truly managed to convince the marquis before.
Amelia had pondered her next course of action the entire night. While unsatisfied with the solution she'd come up with, sitting idly by wasn't an option. She couldn't rouse Radford's suspicion and spook him, not until Dario returned. And the only way to do this was to give Julia the position she desired.
That's why she had sought out Gordon early that morning to request that Julia would serve as one of her maids. Though clear that Gordon hadn't bought her explanation of simply hitting it off with the girl he had neither opposed nor questioned her.
Olivia was happy to hear the news though. For a moment after she told her it was as if they'd never fought.
"I've always thought that manual labour was a waste of her competence" she'd said with a bright smile.
"Though I understand the necessity of being careful with outside hires, it's still a shame. She used to serve the late countess, you know. I'm sure she'll be greatful to you for this opportunity."
Afraid of being to obvious Amelia had only found out a few things about the girl through her conversation with Olivia. She'd previously worked for Earl Dalton but had been let go due to cutbacks on staff in the annex building after his late mother's passing. After some time of unemployment and odd jobs she was eventually hired to Dario's estate though the firm endorsement of the Earl's head of staff.
Earl Dalton. Amelia vaguely recalled him from Dario's banquet as a second to none bootlicker. It wasn't a name she remembered her father ever mentioning, but given the circumstances she knew that he must be connected to the marquis in some way. If she could find out how perhaps he could be the key to reaching Radford. While the marquis wasn't one to make mistakes the earl certainly seemed like he could.
She had learned another thing through Olivia as well; despite sharing a room the two of them hadn't spoken much until a couple month's ago, around the time that she arrived to the manor. Olivia's position as her maid must have been Julias means of gathering information until now.
This realisation made her blood run cold. How much had Amelia shared with her? And what had Olivia let slip, if not delibaratly then accidentally?
A firm knock on the door interrupted her thoughts and Julia's voice rang out.
"May I come in?"
Amelia swiftly put away the handershief in her hands and cleared her throat.
"You may enter."
The girl strode in with confident steps carrying her usual afternoon tea.
"Olivia asked me to take this to you since she is currently busy."
It seemed like Olivis was back to keeping her distance.
"Thank you, by the sofa is fine" Amelia motioned and her instruction was acknowladged by a curt nod.
She could see what Olivia meant when she'd praised Julia. The woman was swift and precise in her movements, barely making a single sound as she served the brew.
"It smelles different than usual."
"I added some dried lavender to the leaves, I find that it goes rather well with this particular blend. Hope I did not overstep?"
"You certainly didn't. It smells lovely."
The woman lingered by her side as she took her first sip.
"Would you like to join me" Amelia asked but Julia shook her head, her expression stiff.
"It wouldn't be appropriate."
Amelia sighed.
"Let us not do this when we both know the reason for you being here. My excuse for requesting you won't hold for long if we're like this around each other. Take a seat."
Julias mouth tightnened but her demeanour remained otherwise unchanged. She took a moment, as if calculating her next course of action, then relented.
"I did not bring a second cup" she stated dryly as she sank into the sofa.
"It is no matter, just keep me company."
"May I ask why?"
"Given your position there must be things you'd like to know from me" Amelia inquered and regarded the woman while taking another sip.
She didn't answer.
"Look, you do not trust me, nor I you. It is wise of us to stay cautious. But caution alone hasn't gotten either of us far. Like it or not, we need each other."
"Meaning?"
"First off you must act around me like you do Olivia. She will notice right away that something's amiss otherwise. Unless she already knows why you are really here?"
"She doesn't."
Her denial brought Amelia some sense of relief, unreniable as they may be.
"Very well. Second thing, if there's something you'd like to know, ask me and I will do my best to help. I need not know your reasons for it."
Julia didn't look entirely convinced but agreed after a moment of thought. She stayed for a while but didn't say much. Contrary to what Amelia hoped, neither did the maid ask anything before she left. Her inquieries might have given a lead to what she was looking for.
'I have time' she sighed and leaned back in the sofa.
With Julia so close by, she had ample opportunity to make sure she didn't relay the wrong information.