Her parasol kept threatening to slip out of her hands as the wind only grew stronger, and the whispers of said wind grew louder. Just then, as if the wind said something too hurtful, the clouds began to weep, rain pouring rapidly from them all of a sudden. Unfazed, Maisie continued to walk. She absolutely needed to get to where she was going, and she truly did not care what her parasol or outfit looked like after the rain. Just feeling the cold breeze and the raindrops tickle her skin made up for it.
“Ms. Barnum! Come inside immediately, it is raining cats and dogs out here!” the voice of Mrs. Addington boomed--and not warmly. Maisie almost shuddered, but she took in a discreet deep breath before running up to the home. “Walk, dear!” she yelled again. She turned away briefly to roll her eyes, not having been able to resit the urge. ‘This is the woman my son wants to marry? She’s hardly a woman, she’s a girl,’ she thought to herself, but just in time for Maisie to approach, she plastered the fake smile across her face that she had mastered. “Good afternoon, Ms. Barnum.”
“Good afternoon, Mrs. Addington!” Maisie chimed. She began to shake the water out of her parasol.
“Good riddance!” Mrs. Addington exclaimed. “If you are going to attempt to remove the water from that parasol, please do so over there. Although, it does not look like it is worth saving. One should never, ever use their parasol in the rain, or bring it when it is even slightly cloudy, for there is always the risk of rainfall, and parasols were not built for withstanding rain.”
Maisie wasn’t in the mood for another one of Mrs. Addington’s lectures, and it was not like she could just rid of it. It cost her enough money already, and took her older brother even more time to spend decorating it. Surely, she would be able to worry about it later on.
“And your dress is all wet, too! I cannot let you into my home like this, Ms. Barnum,” she sighed, shaking her head. If she did not love her son as much as she did, she would have instructed him to get rid of Maisie already, to find someone better. But she loves her son more than anyone she will ever love, and she promised she would at least try to tolerate Maisie. But she believed she was not worthy of the Addington name, at least not yet. A small part of her believed in her, although she would never admit that. And Maisie did not belong to the lower class, no, not at all, but the source to which her family accumulated their wealth, Mrs. Addington was not a fan of. Maisie’s older brother, Phineas, led a circus, or a “freak show”, as Mrs. Addington would describe it. It caused them to be well off, sure, but she was not particularly a fan of what this circus entailed. She also imagined it was why Maisie acted the way she does, having grown up around a circus.
“I am so, so sorry, Mrs. Addington,” Maisie frowned. “I cannot walk back home, it is too far for me to go and it is still pouring rain and--”
“Do not fret, child. You may borrow one of my dresses, but if there is so much as a small tear, well...there is no way you can replace it because the silks are imported from China, so I suppose a sum of money will suffice.”
“Oh, thank you, Mrs. Addington! I promise you, I will be so very careful.”
“You better be,” she teased, but there was a hint of true threat to her voice. Thankfully, Maisie didn’t catch on, for she was too consumed by her gratitude. Seconds later, Mrs. Addington rushed back outside with a beautiful white gown. “This will be much better than your bright red frock, anyhow. You may change in the foyer, so long as you remove your dress before you step inside. You do have undergarments on, correct?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Maisie nodded, perhaps a bit too rapidly. She stepped out of her gown, placing it on one of the chairs on the porch to dry. She quickly rushed inside, carefully but quickly placing the white one over her head. It fit like a glove, and she did feel very beautiful and refined in it. Mrs. Addington smiled, a genuine, hopeful smile. Maybe there was some faith to be placed in this girl.
“I will summon Lucian,” the young maid Minerva stated, walking cordially upstairs at first, but running when she was out of sight. Maisie smiled.
“I think we are going to let Minerva go soon,” Mrs. Addington suddenly said, attempting to make conversation.
“Oh, really? Why? She is such a pleasure to have around, is she not?” Maisie asked, making her voice and choice of words sound more proper. Mrs. Addington didn’t seem to notice.
“She wants to become a schoolteacher in Scotland. Her family is from there, too, so that must be part of why as well.”
Maisie smiled even further. “She will do wonderful things.”
Just then, a piercing scream rang through the estate. Mrs. Addington and Maisie both immediately rushed up the stairs, Maisie tripping on the dress a few times, honestly forgetting to be careful. Surely Mrs. Addington will understand.
The door to Lucian’s room swung open, and his face was tear stained. He jumped into his mother’s already open arms. “She wasn’t happy, Mother,” he sobbed. “She...right in front of me, she just...jumped.”
“I am so sorry you had to witness that, my son,” she cried with him. “She was a good young lady, with a bright future ahead of her.”
Maisie stood there in disbelief. Minerva seemed fine just two minutes ago, and now she just chucked herself out of Lucian’s window when she went to fetch him? Well, perhaps it made a bit of sense…
Ten seconds after Mrs. Addington made her way upstairs, Minerva rushed in through the door. “My apologies, Mrs. Addington, I--” she was out of breath.
Maisie turned to her, smiling warmly. “It’s alright, she’s already gone upstairs to fetch Lucian.”
“Oh, dear, this is not good! She will fire me!” she whisper-shouted. “I am the worst maid ever.”
“Not to worry!” Maisie assured her, putting a loving hand on her shoulder.
“I just-” she quickly began to calm down. She took in a deep breath, then exhaling it. “I was out tending into the garden, and I did not hear Lady Addington’s calls for me...I have been so clumsy lately, she will not forgive me.”
“You are doing the best you can! We all make mistakes. Besides, someone who is too lazy to go up to their own son’s room to call them downstairs is hardly a lady in my eyes,” Maisie joked. Minerva couldn’t help but giggle.
“I’m Maisie,” she smiled. “After all this time of me coming here and we have not met yet!”
“My name is Minerva,” Minerva smiled back, shaking her hand politely. “I was only hired two weeks ago, hence why I am so worried about my clumsiness costing me my job.”
“I am sure Mrs. Addington will understand. She may be uptight, but deep down that brick wall, she is truly empathetic. She is not a snob, but she is not warm either. You will be okay,” Maisie assured her.
Minerva exhaled once again, quite literally feeling weight be released from her shoulders. “Thank you, Miss Maise.”
“Oh, please, that’s way too formal. Just Maisie is fine.”
“Yes, Maisie.”
“There you are, Minerva! I called for you,” Mrs. Addington gracefully trotted down the stairs, Lucian behind her.
“I-I know, Lady Addington. I am so, so sorry, words cannot describe how sorry I-”
“It is quite alright, dear. You are new around here so I will excuse it. But just so you can remember, in case you are far away and so I do not have to damage my voice calling for you, every Wednesday in the early evening, Miss Barnum and Lucian go into town together. He is courting her,” Mrs. Addington explained somewhat sincerely and somewhat passive aggressively.
“Yes, ma’am,” Minerva nodded rapidly. Maisie tried to hold back a smile, but was unsuccessful.
“Oh Lucian, you forgot your coat! Minerva, if you would please fetch it?”
“I need to use the washroom, I will walk up with you Minerva,” Maisie smiled.
The two of them headed up the stairs, hushed giggles erupting from them.
“If you and Lucian go out every Wednesday, why does he need to be fetched?” Minerva rolled her eyes playfully.
“Oh, you know these wealthy people. They just want to feel fancy and they’ll do anything to do so,” Maisie laughed. “I don’t actually need to use the washroom.”
Minerva frowned. “Then whyever did you follow me here? Lady Addington will not be pleased-”
“Just wanted to be sure you were alright. And I’ve befriended most of the maids that have come in and out of this house, it’s sort of my thing.”
Minerva smiled as she gently took hold of Lucian’s wool coat. “I am sure you made them feel much more comfortable here.”
“I try. Even I don’t feel comfortable here sometimes, I don’t want anyone else to feel like that.”
“You are very kind. I hope Lucian treats you well.”
Maisie nodded solemnly, and the two headed back downstairs.
Was Mrs. Addington pushing Minerva too hard recently? But wouldn’t Minerva have told her? Ah, no, it was not that simple. It never was. Maisie almost sighed at the thought.
“Darling, are you alright?” Lucian finally made his way over to her, holding her hands gently and catching hold of her gaze.
“A tad shaken up, but nothing a night on the town can’t fix, right?” she smiled sheepishly. “I will have to report this to Detective Howard, though.”
“But why, sweetheart? I saw it with my own eyes, she jumped out of this window. There is nothing to investigate,” Lucian spoke softly.
“And I know that, Luci. I am still required to report these manners, though. And what are we supposed to do with her body?” Maisie sighed. “Everything will be okay, Lucian, Mrs. Addington. But it is my duty.”
“I still do not understand why they would let a woman, let alone you study under a detective. It is a far too dangerous field of work.”
Maisie didn’t feel like striking up an argument with Mrs. Addington, not right now. She would let her comment slide, just this one time.
“I agree. I would not want anything to happen to you, my love,” he gently pulled Maisie in closer. “Let us just drop this and have a nice evening. Okay? We both need it. That was traumatizing.”
“I-okay,” Maisie sighed, following Lucian out the door. Something did not feel right about this so naturally, she kept quiet for most of their night. She couldn’t stop thinking of all of the possibilities. Had Mrs. Addington said something to her? That would still count for something, if she had done or said something to drive Minerva to take her own life. Could she have perhaps fallen? She just didn’t get it.
She tried to enjoy at least some of the evening. Lucian took her to this breathtaking meadow on the outskirts of town, which thrived with lavender, dandelions, and even tulips. Maisie’s breath was taken away. Almost. She knew what he was doing, trying to distract her by bringing her to this beautiful, dream-like place. But she just couldn’t enjoy it after today.
“You are awfully quiet tonight, my love. You have never been this quiet,” Lucian teased lightly, playfully nudging her shoulder.
Maisie sighed.
Now, it was Lucian’s turn to sigh. “Why are you so worried about this? She was just the maid, we can replace her.”
“But we were friends,” Maisie protested. “You know how I always befriend the maids at your estate. I’m grieving. Why doesn’t this phase you? You saw her die. She was a person, too. And I want to get to the bottom of this, as her friend, and as a detective in training.”
“Leave it to the professionals, Maisie-May,” Lucian suggested. Only it came off more as a demand. “Look, I just want to have a lovely night with you, and stargaze with you in this plentiful field. I am still trying to process all of this myself.”
“But that’s why I’m here, Lucian. To be here for you. We can process it together, just let me know what you need-”
“Just stop! Okay? Let’s just have a nice night,” Lucian raised his voice.
“Don’t you talk to me like that,” Maisie spat back. “I am so sick of you not taking into account how I feel. I never get to choose where we go, I never even get a say. Whenever I am sad or struggling you just tell me to smile and it will all be fine, and then you just expect me to be fine afterward, magically fine. You never dance with me at the balls you drag me to, you just go and socialize with your friends and show me off, and sometimes you even tell me to go off on my own, as if you don’t want to be seen with me. And most of all, I am so tired of feeling so small the second that I step into your house. Do you not see the way your mother treats me? Why do you not stop her, Lucian?”
“You are blaming my mother for Minerva’s death,” he grit his teeth. “Aren’t you?”
“I don’t know! I have many different ideas but that isn’t what this is about. Lucian, you treat me like...like poop! Am I just some trophy wife to you that you can go around town and show me off to everyone so that you look good? And why me, anyways? I’m just some girl whose family is in the circus. I am wealthy but you do not like the source of which I attain my wealth. I thought you loved me, once, but now I’m just not so sure…” “I thought you loved me,” Lucian murmured.
“What? I do!”
“Don’t play. I saw the way you looked at her. The way she looked at you.”
“What?” Maisie laughed in disbelief. “What are you-”
“Oh, you know exactly what I’m talking about.”
Normally, Mrs. Addington would sit on the porch and wait for Maisie. But this time, she was not there. Maisie wearily approached the house. This just didn’t feel right. She took hold of the bronze knocker on the door, rapping it three times. The door was answered by Minerva.
“It’s you!” Minerva smiled. “I-I mean. Good afternoon, Miss Barnum.”
Maisie laughed. “Hello, Minnie. Where’s Mrs. Addington?”
“Ill, unfortunately,” she sighed. “But alas, not to worry. Lucian is in tip top shape.”
“Tip top shape?” Maisie giggled.
“Something we would say in England,” Minerva reminisced. She always looked so truly happy when she spoke of England. “Well, come on in. I have already fetched Lucian, he will come down when he is ready.”
“Wow, he doesn’t need you to escort him down the stairs?” Maisie playfully gasped. The two burst into laughter. Maisie put a hand up to her forehead dramatically. “Help me! I am Lucian Herbert Addington, and I cannot travel down a flight of stairs without a chaperone! Who knows what may happen to me? I may fall and get a singular scratch on my beautiful porcelain leg and then no one will look at me the same again!”
The two were laughing so hard that their stomachs began to hurt. Lucian rushed downstairs upon hearing all the ruckus.
“Minerva,” he said sternly. “My mother would like some tea. Her usual.”
“O-Oh!” her face flushed. “Yes, Sir Lucian.”
“Yes, off you go,” Lucian gestured. He turned to Maisie once she was out of sight. “What despicable behavior from the maid! Mocking me like that.”
“Oh, no! That was all me, love, I’m sorry,” she laughed. “It was funny, we didn’t mean to insult you.”
“No, no. You would never say such things about me. You do not need to protect her,” he smiled, kissing her forehead.
“But-”
“Let us go now, shall we?” He linked arms with her. “I thought we could check out the tavern, have a bit of fun tonight.”
“We were harmlessly joking around!” Maisie protested. “That did not mean she had those feelings for me.”
“What about the time I walked in on the two of you in the tea room?”
Maisie and Minerva sat on the bench near the sliding glass door, sipping tea pretentiously, making up fake gossip, and giggling.
“You must be joking! Bessie would never,” Minerva gasped.
“Oh, but she did! But I do not even blame the woman, I mean, have you seen Charles? And comparing Charles to James...ha ha!” She giggled in the most fake way possible. Minerva almost broke character when she laughed.
“Wait, wait, did you hear about Victoria?” Minerva smirked.
“Victoria Browning? What about her?” Maisie leaned in curiously.
“She slipped poison in her father in law’s wine.”
“Oh, please. He had it coming.”
Finally, the two burst into laughter. Maisie put her hand on Minerva’s shoulder as she laughed so hard. Minerva froze at her touch, which only caused Maisie to freeze also. They locked eyes, and for the first time, Maisie noticed the golden specks in Minerva’s beautiful eyes.
“Minnie? Are you alright?” Maisie finally asked.
“Oh, yes. Completely,” she said, finally smiling slightly, all of this without breaking their eye contact.
“Maisie?” Lucian called. Maisie casually moved away from Minerva right when he walked in. She rose.
“Luce! Are you ready to go?”
Lucian was a tad alarmed at what he saw, but he let it go. He figured that was just how two girls acted when they were close. “As ready as I will ever be! I got us into the finest banquet for tonight. You are going to meet so many amazing people, you’ll love it.”
Before they departed, Maisie turned around one last time to send a quick smile her way.
“That is how dear friends act!”
“Is it, though? Then why was this in her uniform pocket?”
Lucian pulled out a small sketch of two girls kissing. It looked an awful lot like Maisie and Minerva. On the back of it, it read, “How I wish you would come back to England with me, but I know it is not so. You have a life here, a love here, and what I feel towards you is strictly forbidden. Not a day will go by that I do not think of you, Maisie Louisa Barnum.”
Maisie clutched it as she read it, tears spilling out of her eyes.
“Why do you care, Maisie? Did you have these strictly forbidden feelings for her too?” Lucian demanded.
“I-no!” she continued to sob. But even she knew that was a lie. “So what if she had feelings for me? We both know she never would have acted upon them, and even if she had I am loyal to you.”
“But do you love me?”
“Do you love me?”
“I asked first.”
“Fine, I don’t love you, Lucian, and I haven’t for a long time!” Maisie roared. She finally locked eyes with a dumbfounded Lucian. But his expression grew furious very fast. But there was something abnormal about the fury in his eyes.
“I never loved you,” he spat as he got closer to her. Maisie backed away, but he eventually got hold of her wrist. “But you know what I did love? Going to the circus. All of the insane acts...they inspired me.”
“Oh my god...you killed Minerva. Didn’t you?” She gasped.
“No. I guided her through a little acrobatic trick, so we could put on a little show for you and impress you. But she got a little too close to the window…” he smirked.
“You killed her! You killed her!” Maisie screamed, breaking away from his grasp.
“I don’t want you, but I have to have you. My status, my family name is in danger And you were the only one naive enough to bat an eye near me. You know this entire town is afraid of us? Did you know that?”
“Your family name is about to really be in danger after I tell Detective Howard.” She threatened, but only realized what a mistake that was after she said it. He pulled a dagger out from inside his coat pocket.
“I can find someone better than you. Ladies may fear my family, but oh, any one of them would die to be with me, dear. But this is the only way I know you will keep your mouth shut…” he raised his dagger, slowly aiming towards her, but then a familiar voice called, “Maisie?!”
He sighed, carefully stepping away and putting his dagger back into his coat. He could have quickly killed Maisie right there and then, but the approaching person was too close, and he would be at risk of ruining his reputation and family name if this person reported him to the authorities. Maisie escaped from Lucian’s threatening embrace, running towards the center of the field to see who it was. When he finally came into view, she gasped.
“Eugene...am I dreaming or is it truly you?” Maisie laughed breathily, somehow breaking free of Lucian’s tightening grasp. Eugene embraced her before she could even open her arms.
“Do you need me to pinch you, Lulu?”
Maisie giggled, ruffling her hand through his hair. “You are never going to let go of that childish nickname, are you?”
“Don’t act like you hadn’t always loved it,” Eugene teased. “Now, who is the fellow?”
“He is--was courting me,” Maisie shrugged.
“Why did I see him hold you in such a...compromising way?”
“Shhh!” Maisie quietly scolded. “We can talk about this later.”
“The strangest thing happened, Maisie,” Eugene started. “I was walking along the outskirts of town and I saw a young woman with blood spilling out of her and an open window. But she lived. I took her to the local medic, I don’t really have much money to my name--”
“What did she look like?” Maisie interjected.
“Short, shaggy light brown hair. Green eyes. She looked like a maid.”
“Minerva lived!” she exclaimed, wrapping her arms around Eugene. She turned to Lucian. “Now, no one will want to marry you, and your reputation will be in absolute ruin--”
He was gone. Taken off.
“Oh, no…” Maisie whispered. She fell to her knees in utter disbelief. “No one is safe now. Especially my family.”
“I will not let anything happen to you, your family, or anyone in this town, Maisie. I swear on my life.”
Maisie chuckled in disbelief. “What are you doing here, anyhow?”
“France got a bit...drab.”
“France was drab?”
“Without you there, yes.”
Maisie’s cheeks flushed. “I missed you dearly. I wish we could just run away from all of this, together.”
“We can, Lulu! That's exactly why I returned,” Eugene grinned like an eager schoolboy.
“But matters are far more complicated than that. Lucian, Minerva...My family is in danger. Life is not that easy, Eugene, as you always thought.”
“We always find a way, Maisie. We always had, even when we thought we would not. Nothing is different now.”
“I love Minerva,” Maisie admitted out of the blue. “Please, understand.”
“Maisie Barnum, you are my best friend. Of course I understand. And you can be with her in France. They celebrate all sorts of love in the town I live in.”
After a long pause of contemplation, Maisie nodded and grabbed Eugene’s hand, lightly squeezing it. “Okay. But you must have patience. I will not feel secure until Lucian is behind bars.”
“Oh, please. You learned patience from me,” Eugene teased.
“Oh, hush!” Maisie giggled, and together they ran back to the Barnum estate to face whatever awaited them beyond the door. Maisie already felt secure knowing Minerva survived.
‘We always find a way.’
About Liv Queen Majestic:
my name is liv, and i am a rising senior in high school, a writer, and performer from california, but hoping to move to nyc next year for college to study musical theatre directing and creative writing as a double major. tim burton has been my inspiration ever since i was four years old, the nightmare before christmas was the first film i enjoyed, therefore i truly aspire to live that sort of gothic lifestyle and to tell stories within it. i am a staff writer at cordelia magazine, and i currently have one publication with unpopular zine, titled "to the one who wronged me."
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