Avaline followed Lottie to the lounge. Jonna waited outside, dabbing his forehead with a handkerchief. When he saw Avaline, his shoulders slumped.
"Are they inside?" she asked.
"A representative from the Bank, Mr. Williams, insisted on talking with Master Charles," he said.
Avaline frowned. "Did we have prior notice?"
"No, my lady." Jonna wiped his forehead.
"How long has Elaine been talking to him?"
"Not too long," he replied.
She hesitated before asking, "Where is Vivian?"
"She went out, m'lady," Lottie said.
Of all the times to be out. Where had she gone? No matter, Avaline thought. There are more important things to deal with now. She handed Lottie her purse.
"Please look after the twins."
Adjusting her facial expression, Avaline opened the door and walked in. Mr. Williams was a tall man who oozed self-importance. When Avaline walked in, he gave her a quick look before ignoring her completely. Now, that is just rude. On one side, Jonna stood by the door.
"Hello, Mr. Williams." Avaline tried to be as polite as possible. "My name is Avaline Stark. It's my understanding you believe you have business with us?"
Elaine stood as she approached the seating area. She grabbed her arm.
"What are you doing?" she whispered.
Smiling at Elaine, Avaline pulled her to the couch and sat. Tea had been given to their guest. Judging by how full Elaine's cup was, she hadn't drunk any. It was one thing for Avaline to go behind Elaine's back, but sometimes her Sister-in-law needed help even if she didn't realize it.
Mr. William curled his mustache between two fingers. "As I said before, I'm here for the master of the house."
Avaline snapped open her fan, covering her mouth. "Considering your visit was unexpected, you will not find him here today. Perhaps following proper protocol might allow you some time with him."
Mr. Williams didn't like that. He sat up straighter.
"I will wait," he said.
"No," she told him, gripping her dress. "I'm afraid you won't."
He gaped at her boldness. "To think I'm being received with such rudeness. I will not move until I've spoken with your brother. Your house and its belongings are at stake, and I won't sit here being treated in this manner."
Elaine gripped Avaline's arm. Her nails dug into skin. "Avaline, apologize at once. It's not befitting of a lady to speak to their guest in such a manner."
Avaline looked at Elaine and forced a polite smile. It wasn't her fault that he was acting with such rudeness. To Mr. Williams, she said, "I believe it's quite rude to show up where you aren't invited or expected. Not only that, you threatened to take away my home under a loan contract with the bank, which I might say, you aren't in charge of.
"I wonder what Mr. Ulysses would think if his colleague were trying to manage his contracts. And I do believe all the payments on the loan are up to date, so you have no business here unless you're trying to get bribed."
Mr. Williams's face turned red. Sputtering, he rose from his seat. "How dare you, you wench?! I will not stand for your slander and insults!"
Avaline swallowed the string of curses on her tongue and forced herself to stay seated.
Elaine rose to her feet, bowing. "Please excuse her," Lady Stark began. "We will pay -"
"No, we will not." Avaline's voice was firm. She took a deep breath. "So you see, Mr. Williams, we don't have time for you. Please leave before your manager gets wind of this. And since we're on this topic, it was agreed that any harassment on the bank's part would nullify and void the contract, so you've just caused the bank a lot of money. Good day."
Avaline turned to Jonna. "Escort Mr. Williams out. He won't make a fuss."
"This will not end like this!" Mr. Williams fumed.
Red in the face, Mr. Williams followed Jonna out. Even from here, his curses and insults reached the ladies' ears.
"Uncouth bastard," she spat. "I should have poured the tea on him."
Elaine stared at her. "A-Avaline?"
Gritting her teeth, Avaline closed her fan. Shaking, she smoothed out her dress. She had lied about the loan being forgiven. It wasn't a clause in their loan, but it was a clause in others. If Mr. Williams had done his research, he might have realized this. Avaline should be grateful he was a dunce. Scammers like him were like leeches. They come to one's home, talk about a payment overdue, get the money, and pocket it. Then they claimed the family was behind on their payments and eventually asked for more money until the family was left out on the streets. Not on my watch.
It happened to a family a few years back, but Avaline had looked into it. She wouldn't let anyone take our home away. She would have to report it to the bank or Charles, but they might not believe her. After all, Mr. Williams only asked to talk to Charles and never mentioned anything about payments.
"Thank you for dealing with him," Avaline told Elaine. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'd like to return your dress."
Upon taking a step, her legs shook.
"But what are we going to do?" Elaine asked. "Are we losing the house?"
Trying to appear calm, she grabbed Elaine's hands. "We aren't losing our home. Charles - he will take care of it. Now, if you'll excuse me."
Upstairs, Avaline closed the door to her chamber. She let out a wet gasp. Dark thoughts spiraled around her mind. Lose the house? Tapping her chest, Avaline wobbled toward her bed. Her eyes burned as she pulled her shoes and stockings off. Avaline blinked rapidly, but her vision blurred. Now wasn't the time for such things. She had to think. Charles had never mentioned how the repayment was going. She had guessed that if there had been an issue, he would have told them.
Even as her hands froze and stiffened, Avaline pulled out the laces of her dress as best as she could manage. Something was lodged between her chest and the fabric. Wincing, Avaline reached into her dress and pulled out a crumpled letter.
Swallowing thickly, Avaline unfurled the letter and reread Lord Nightingale's message. Her chin trembled. Standing, Avaline rushed to her desk. Fabric and ribbons toppled to one side as she searched for ink and paper. If this opportunity could save her family, how could she refuse it?
***
The room was dark when Avaline awoke. Groggily, she sat up and hissed. Pain throbbed along her back and neck.
"Lady Ava?" Lottie asked from outside the room.
"Enter."
Light flooded the room as the maid opened the door. Lottie walked in with a candle in her hands. She started lighting up the room.
"Dinner is ready," she said. One look at Avaline, and she continued, "Let's get you decent."
Once pressed and her face washed, Avaline met her family in the dining room.
"Sister," Vivian said, "I thought we were going to starve."
"We missed you this afternoon," Avaline replied.
Elaine shifted uncomfortably in her chair. Vivian gave Avaline a heated look.
"Glad you could join us," Charles said.
Once seated, Charles started with grace, thanking the Goddess Sol and Luna for their meal.
"Amen," we said.
Avaline dipped her bread into the vegetable soup and took a bite.
"How was the tea party?" Elaine asked the twins. "Did you two have fun?"
The twins didn't speak. Charles and Vivian stared at Avaline.
Swallowing her food, Avaline said, "They played all afternoon."
Avaline should have asked them about the tea party after Mr. Williams's visit, but she couldn't face them.
"What of your meeting with the client, dear?" Elaine asked.
Charles cleared his throat. "They've been partners with our family for a long time."
That could only mean one thing: the partners were growing restless.
"But what's this I hear about a visit from the bank?"
Elaine twisted her napkin in her hands.
"Mr. Williams dropped by without an appointment," Avaline answered. "He didn't say what he wanted, so I sent him packing."
Charles rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Can I expect a complaint?"
Clearing my throat, she returned to her meal.
He sighed. "Alright, I'll take care of it."
"What would the bank want?" Vivian asked. "Are we late on payments?"
This time, they looked at Charles. The twins slumped in their chairs.
"Not necessarily," he began.
"So why did he come here?" Vivi asked.
Charles hesitated. "I'll ask," he finally said.
"If needed, we can use my dowry," Elaine began.
"No!" all three of them said.
Turning pink, Elaine looked down. "Apologies. I shouldn't have crossed the line."
Charles reached across the table and placed his hand on hers. "We didn't mean to yell," he said.
"We can't let you use your money for this," Vivi interrupted. "As the lady of the house, that money should be used for your expenses."
"Thanks for thinking about our family," Avaline added.
"Can we be excused?" Anna said.
She had barely touched any of her food. Though Brian had eaten more of his, it was less than what he normally eats.
"Was the meal not to your liking?" Charles asked. "Should we ask Marco for something else?"
"No!" Anna blurted out. "I - I'm done eating."
"Go ahead," Vivian said. "Make sure you get your reading finished. Lady Margot is coming tomorrow."
"Is a tutor necessary?" Brian asked.
"Learning is important," Charles told him. "It's how you'll provide for your family in the future."
"Didn't you want to go to the Academy?" Vivian asked. "You need to pass the entrance exam. You can't do that if you don't study."
"We don't have money for the Academy!"
Brian ran out of the dining room, followed by Anna. So, that's what this was all about.
"Ava, what happened at the tea party?" Charles asked.
Avaline placed her bread down. "They didn't say. The ladies mentioned going out for new wardrobes, but all those children are well-mannered. There's never been an issue before."
"I'll talk to the twins," Vivian volunteered.
Charles nodded. "Yes, that would be helpful." He turned to Lottie. "Please keep their food warm. They'll get hungry later."
Lottie bowed. "Yes, sir."
She picked up their bowls and took them out.
The dining room turned grim. To think the twins were worried about money. It's not like the older Starks had tried to hide it. They had tried to make them feel like they could ask for things.
Vivian finished her dinner first and headed upstairs. Charles didn't seem to have an appetite, and Elaine waited for him until he was ready to leave. Alone in the dining room, Avaline finished the rest of my soup. This was the first real meal she had all day, and it wasn't enough. If only they could afford to spend a bit more on their food storage.
Biting her lip, Avaline eyed the extra piece of bread. She did have a long night ahead of her. Glancing over her shoulder, she tore the smallest piece and bit into it. Mildly satisfied, she went upstairs.
Vivian waited outside her room. She followed Avaline into her chambers and closed the door.
"What did they say?" Avaline asked.
"It wasn't easy," Vivian admitted. "Apparently, the kids were showing off all the things they had done that week, like going to sweet shops and buying new clothes, and horseback riding."
Avaline could already see where this was going. "They felt out of place."
"Well, yes. Embarrassed, I'm guessing too. While the other children didn't make fun of them, it did make things awkward."
"The other ladies wanted to do a shopping trip. Dominic is throwing a ball for his birthday."
Vivian rolled her eyes. "We don't have to go to that one."
"You're just saying that because he's had a sweet spot for you," Avaline teased.
Vivian gave her a look. "I already told him I'm not interested. Besides, he's never serious about courting anyone."
Avaline stepped closer. "Then, do you have a new love interest?"
"Don't fish for information," Vivian scolded. She cleared her throat. "
"What are we to do about that shopping trip?"
Avaline gestured to the work on the desk. "I'll finish those up and ask for extra work. What about you?"
"I went to the bank this afternoon," Vivian confessed. "You know, I'm in the filing room, and Oswald is set to take his paternity leave, so I asked the manager to give me his hours."
"Vivi, you can't do that."
"Who knows what the bank wants now?" Vivian interrupted. "We need the money. The extra hours I take will help with the expenses."
Avaline hugged herself. "I guess you're right, but Charles can't find out. He'll lock us up and try to solve everything himself."
"I know. I'll be careful, and you should too." Vivian smiled thinly. "The extra pay from the maid job would have been helpful." Vivian walked to the door. "I'd say not to stay up so late, but I'll ask Lottie to bring you some tea."
Even though she knew Vivian didn't mean it like that, Avaline's chin trembled. She forced herself to smile as her sister departed. She pushed past the tears. Soon enough, she would start earning more, so their family wouldn't have to suffer.