Chapter 16: Chapter 16 – This is too much

Willie Sayer stared in disbelief at every carpet, every chandelier, every imperfection in the paper walls as he made his way down the corridors of the service wing at Lilac Hall. Not that there was anything particularly beautiful along this floor, in a place that was only frequented by employees, but the fact that his friend was serving there made everything seem twice or three times greater. That's why he couldn't help stopping every three steps to admire any trifles that might also be seen at any other villager's home.

However, all that euphoria and respect for the friend who had just landed a job for Snodland's richest and most famous family faded the moment he walked through the door of his room. A rickety shared room, even worse than the one owned when he was on the Cornell estate.

Sayer refrained from making this annotation aloud, as he feared hurting Oscar's feelings, but the truth is that the room he had in the office and where he used to sleep on busy days, between bags of documents, was more spacious and decent than this dump. He was even wondering if there´d be rats in this place too...

"I know it's not the room you'd expect to have after moving to what looks like a palace from the outside," Oscar declared, perhaps as a defense mechanism when he saw Sayer's change of expression, "but we haven't come to admire the furniture. So please, let's get this over with.”

"Uh… Okay, okay, I won't waste any more time."

Sayer seemed to hesitate, both before and after saying this. This friend of his was so changed…!

In another time, he would have burst into tears at the very bad conditions in which they had put him to live, although later, when he was recommended to resign, he would have gotten up on his own and would have said bravely he was doing everything for "Maddie". Now, on the contrary, he barely mentioned the girl and was taking things with such parsimony that was scary.

"Where should I put them?"

"Should you put them somewhere? Just give it to me.”

"No, there´s many" Sayer smiled, although who knows what that smile would imply, "I don't think they even fit on your lap. I was already leaving them for the end just because I didn´t want to spend all morning rummaging in my bag, trying to deduce which were those of your beloved and which were intended for other neighbors whose happiness is not so obvious.”

"Just put them on the bed," Oscar sighed.

Ambiguous as it had been the few times he spoke to Sayer, Sayer must still think he wanted something with Madeleine. And Oscar didn´t consider it necessary to undo the misunderstanding until that moment, when the postman opened his bag and dumped its contents on the mattress. Thus allowing more than a dozen letters to fall on the cot, some even landing on the ground, before the surprised recipient of them.

“There has to be a mistake.”

"There isn't, they're all yours. Maddie wrote them! Ah no, don't make that face, you should be happy. She must love you very much to have written you eighteen letters in just over a week. I wish a girl had me present daily to go to these extremes. If that were the case, rest assured that I would lead her down the aisle!”

"You say these letters have been in your possession for the past week…" said Oscar, who was already feeling sick just hearing about marriage. “Shouldn't you have delivered them earlier?”

“Oh yeah. Yes, you are absolutely right. It's just that we had a little problem at the office, because… Well, I don't want to bore you with details. I'll just mention that it had to do with an open window and cows that went the wrong way. The thing is, we spent the last six days reorganizing and cleaning up. Did you know that the manure of these animals is difficult to remove from curtains?”

"There are things, dear Willie, that I´d rather remain ignorant about. And this is one of them.”

“You say that because you´ve never had to see yourself in such a predicament, but you´ll see when it happens and you got to come to me for help.”

Sayer had said that, but Oscar was no longer listening. After picking up a bottle of ink, paper, and a pen that he kept in a dresser drawer, he sat down on the floor, depositing what he had just taken next to him and beginning to open each envelope. arranging the cards on the mattress, in chronological order.

"Are you going to answer there?"

"I don´t have a choice, do I?," he replied, since he didn´t have his own desk and everything indicated that if he wasn´t to respond the letters, they wouldn´t stop arriving. “Come on, hand me some of the books on that shelf, so I have something to lean on. And no, don't pass me any with a foreign title. I borrowed those and can't risk them getting stained.”

"Borrowed? From whom, Seymour or the Cornells?”

"From the Northrops."

"Don't fuck around! Those bums?”

"They're not bums."

"You must be kidding! Let's see, they are not bad people, but... The cripple, for example, she spends most of the year walking between the private school she attends and London. The old man hardly steps on his mansion, busy as he is with his business in the capital. He never celebrates any kind of event. And Albert Northrop… That's the worst of the three! It's not that he's too busy to hold balls or talk to the neighbors anymore, it's that he doesn't even bother to put on a good face! Notice that one day I went to take them the mail and he looked at me badly because I was wearing my shirt had a stain. It´s awful. He even rudely told me to dress up a bit, that those are not ways to wear a uniform.”

"I don't dislike them," laughed Oscar, thinking that it was good that someone had told Sayer to take care of his appearance a bit, since he was always disheveled and seemed to have just got out of bed in a hurry “In fact, I almost enjoy their company more than the Cornells and Seymours combined. Of course, of the Seymours, for now, Patrick is the only one I know... But well it´s enough for me!”

"I don't recognize you anymore, I really don´t!”

“Come, take a seat where you see fit and stop trying to peek the letters over my shoulder. If you behave well, I will even let you read some of them.”

"You don't have to hide it, I know that you'd prefer me to leave."

“I don´t mind. You can either stay here, although it will take a while to get this over with, or you can go for a walk in the gardens (I'm sure my partner would be happy to give you a tour of the area) and come back later. But I had planned to reply to Madeleine and give you the letter as soon as I finish writing it.”

Sayer thought about it for a moment before saying:

"I'll go, since you crave so much for privacy. I'm going to annoy this Kenneth you told me about, until he too gets fed up with my irreverent presence and throws me out.”

Oscar did not object, he was amused by the grandiloquence with which that character sometimes expressed himself. In short, he didn´t hate him: despite the fact that on many occasions he was presented as another jerk in a low-quality novel, it was obvious that he could read the environment.

Having, then, finished placing the letters in the order in which they were drawn up, Oscar read the first of them:

«Dear Oscar,

»I know that yesterday you must have left in dispair about our fight, because the last thing you want is to leave what was (and will always be) your home on bad terms with me. But you should know that I don´t blame you, we both behaved badly with each other, and it is understandable things ended like this.

"It may not be the most appropriate thing to do by letter, but I feel compelled to do so, as I won't have much of a chance to see you now that you work for the Seymours. So here goes, I apologize for the slap I gave you. Happy now?

“I forgive you, too, for chasing Theresa's skirts. I asked her about it myself and she denied any trace of feeling on her part. As she is sincere about her emotions, because I know her well and I know it, I choose to think that it´s one-sided. I recommend you, being so, that you leave my little sister alone and let us forget all this matter ».

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The farewell came "with love", apparently, but Oscar only saw poison between the lines. What kind of troubled mind could believe that he, a full-fledged adult, would want to date a kid? The Patrick thing made sense, being who he was, but even the original Oscar couldn't have turned out so bad.

The next letter was dated the following day, which implied that, having received no reply, Madeleine had been distraught, deciding to goad him a bit more to cooperate. After the courtesy greeting, the text read like this:

«Oscar, do you really think that for a trifle like the other day we should end our friendship? Come on! You and I have been always like siblings. Or have we not shared a roof, games and hardships? Also, your uncles are an important part of the service in our house, we couldn´t do anything without them. If only for that, because we grew up as a family, you should give in to your pride and consider you may be wrong.

Look, I´ve already told you that I forgive you for trying to seduce my sister, so I don't see what need there is to continue with this childish tantrum that you are up to.

»Is it because of the slap I gave you? Does it still hurt? I'm sorry for that, although you should acknowledge that you deserved it and endure that little punishment like a man. And yes, I have written small, because that blow that is a small thing compared to everything that I am now suffering when knowing you have left and are refusing to communicate with me again ».

After a farewell in which she claimed to be "desolated", Madeleine ended her second letter here.

"Emotional blackmail, huh?" Oscar thought as he still held the paper with a poker face. Up close, Madeleine was annoying, but from a distance she was even funny. As if he was going to fall for such a simple trick!

The third letter, dated the same day as the second, but clarifying that it was written during the night, read as follows:

“I know I must sound very burdensome, but you have no idea what the hell I'm going through here. My parents are in a very strange mood, especially my father, always nervous and elusive. Eleonore and Beverley behave as if Patrick Seymour is the last man on the face of the Earth and they don´t stop talking about how they will get him to notice them. Only Theresa is normal! And of course, I had thought that you´d help me with Patrick, because you promised you would and you have a moral duty to me. But now you're leaving, not even deigning to answer me!

It is horrible, yes. But I have to say I can understand, you sure don't want to hear from someone who despised your growing feelings for Theresa and then hit you without saying anything. I admit my fault, it was not like me and I shouldn´t have done it. Also, it is possible in these letters I have not expressed myself in the correct way. But please understand me, anyone would be exalted if a situation was as uncertain as mine! I am on the brink of poverty, without any emotional support from my family and even on top of that my dear best friend, my brother, has left. How am I supposed to take it?

I sincerely hope that you rectify. We don't have to talk about Theresa again. If you want, we won't! Just respond to these letters and let's get back to the close relationship we had.”

After that, Oscar couldn't hold back his laughter any longer. Okay okay, now it was self-victimization and the most false apology he'd read in a long time. The next letter was dated two days later and did not even contain a greeting or farewell.

“So you think you have the right to ignore me, huh? Very good! So be it! I did what I had to apologize, reiterating over and over how distressed I am about losing a valuable friendship such as yours. But you know what? I won´t crawl anymore for something that´s not worth it!

“We have had such good times together… But this was not meant to last, I knew it and I imagine that you should also imagine it. If after so many years together you still can't tell when I'm sorry, then maybe we shouldn't keep talking. I´m especially sorry that you did not even have the courage to write to me yourself to tell me how sore you are that it ends this way. I know that deep down you didn't want to hurt me with Theresa, which was a slip, but I've already told you that this is ancient history!

Listen, you don't need to come back to Rose Cottage to visit me if you don't want to. Not even on your day off (which I know is Sunday, I already asked one of the maids of Lilac Hall), but you should at least do your duty as a gentleman and help me out with Patrick. Or do you not even care about my happiness anymore?”

No, actually that never mattered to me, Oscar thought as he folded and tossed the paper back onto his bed.

Why did that seem like a message to break up with an annoying boyfriend? Oscar didn´t know, but the truth is that he did not expect less from Madeleine. The following letters diminished in content gradually. While the intervals between each letter became shorter, since Madeleine wrote up to three letters a day, the message to be transmitted became more concise and direct.

The older letters were pure emotional blackmail, apologies for such blackmail, and still more charges intended to crush Oscar's conscience. The newer ones, perhaps due to the lack of response to which she was subjected, each one began to be more offensive than the previous one until there was a point in which when opening the envelope the only word that could be read in the Premium quality paper was an "Asshole" with huge, italicized letters, very well detailed.

Oscar nearly collapsed from a fit of laughter, it took him several minutes to pick up a pen and paper and start writing a response.

«Dear Madeleine,

»Why the rush? First of all, let me clarify that it wasn´t my fault that I did not respond to your letters earlier. Sayer had a problem making the delivery and it was only half an hour since he just gave me all of them. Believe me that if he had received them before, and if it was only one, I´d have responded without delay.

»Regarding what happened last week, don't worry about it. I apologize for not knowing how to address the problem (or whatever it was) and in the same way I accept your apologies for not knowing how to keep your cool. We were both wrong and, I agree with you, there´s no need to bring it up again. Let´s leave the past behind.

Now, I was moved to learn of the terrible situation in which you find yourself, because I didn´t expect my departure would be an inconvenient for you. However, you must know that this won´t last long, since I plan to fulfill the promise I made you. I´ll help you get Patrick Seymour's attention because, in the week that I have been living with him and observing his way of life, I´ve been able to conclude he would be the perfect husband for you. And heck, you're right that we're like siblings and we shouldn't abandon each other!

"You may not believe what I say, because in recent times we have been more separated than usual. But, so you can see that my intentions are honest, I will propose something with which I suspect you can get Patrick to notice you. I´ll not give you many details in this note, since I´d like you to confirm by letter beforehand that this ridiculous fight between us has come to an end, and I would also prefer to give you all the details in person.

“I'll just tell you in advance that young Seymour is a fan of games of chance and he has a firm belief in all the amulets and rituals that can provide luck… And that's where the shots go. That´s it and it has something to do with the fair that will be held in a few weeks, since you will have to participate in it if you want to get his affection.

"I will not elaborate any further. If you think it is worthwhile to ignore all our past disputes and at least try to listen to this plan of mine, write to me. This week I will be busy, but next week I´ll stop by Rose Cottage to talk to you about the arrangements if you agree.

"PS: Don't get mad at Sayer for the confusion, take this as a calligraphy exercise like the ones Ms. Groves gives you and reflect on all the vocabulary that you have been able to put into practice by sending me so many letters."

Oscar signed the farewell and put the letter in an envelope. He was finishing when Sayer entered the room without knocking, with a sleepy face that was not typical of someone as active as him. Oscar didn't mind seeing him like this: he was already used to Kenneth absorbing the life energy of all those he managed to coax into endless dialogue.

"Just in time," he had said when he saw him appear, "here´s the letter. Do me a favor and deliver it tomorrow without fail, I don't want my new employer to find out that I receive four or five letters a day from a girl of marriageable age and this is the only thing that will appease Madeleine.”

"So you guys have had a fight?" Sayer asked, picking up his curiosity where he left it.

"Something like that, let's say we have a worrying divergence of opinion on certain matters. But it doesn't matter, I think the Seymour fair will be a good opportunity for all of us to reconcile.”

"Speaking of which, have you decided what you will do at the fair? Because your partner kept telling me that you and he had a set up a company, that you were going to capture animals and then sell them.”

"That was the plan, but after listening more deeply to his idea, I refused," said Oscar, who did not seem to understand why Kenneth continued with the idea that he would be with him in his post, if he had already been seedling-. “I heard that some of those who work in the kitchens are going to set up some kind of country restaurant, just for that day that the fair lasts, as is evident. And I asked Kilduff to let me help out as a waiter. At first he refused, but after I offered to be the waiter for the entire service during these days, to prove that I could do it right, finally he agreed.”

"You, as a waiter?" Sayer laughed.

The original Oscar had no sense of balance to carry a tray and no memory to remember orders. It was not surprising, being so, he had never been able to apply for a position other than the one he had.

"I don't know what Kenneth will think about it, but he'll already realize he's got the wrong idea." Turning back to the pile of letters, Oscar recalled. “Oh right, didn't you want to read a little of Madeleine's poetry?”

He hadn't finished asking the question when he handed one of the papers to Sayer, who took it with all the enthusiasm in the world but, when he finished reading it, returned it frustrated.

"If this is a joke, it's not funny at all. I haven't been putting up with that charlatan for three-quarters of an hour for you to make up four insults and want to pass them off as something sweet Maddie said!”

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