A muscle jumped in Jennifer’s jaw. “That is not what happened.”
“You told the gardener I came from nothing
and didn’t know how to behave in a proper home.”
“People talk,” Jennifer snapped. “Maybe you shouldn’t listen at doors.”
Emma gave a tired laugh, barely more than breath. “Jennifer, I was cleaning behind the doors.”
Silence.
For once, nobody had an immediate lie ready.
My mother recovered first. “Emma, you’re upset. No one is denying that mistakes were made. But Daniel has responsibilities beyond this household. We were trying to protect his reputation.”
“My reputation?” I asked.
Margaret looked at me with moist eyes. She could summon tears whenever she needed them. I hated that I noticed it now.
“Your business was growing so quickly,” she said. “There were investors, reporters, partners overseas. Emma was lonely and overwhelmed. She made accusations. She misplaced documents. She frightened staff with her moods. We did what we thought was best.”
