Alice looked at Ella and shook her head pleading with her eyes for Ella not to say anything. Alice knew Ella would tell her mother everything given the opportunity and she did not want to cause any more trouble for the Palmers. Ella rubbed Alice's shoulder then leaned in placing her head on Alice's shoulder, neither answered.
Maria on the other hand took this as an opportunity to have Alice kicked out of the Palmer's house for ill treating her and Ella sent home so she could reclaim her rightful title as the young madam of the McCanns.
Old madam McCann had been watching the whole thing unfold, she had observed the mischievous glint in Maria's eyes. She'd known this girl Maria was shady, she just never knew what she was playing at. Today she realised, this girl is trying to tarnish her younger sister's public image; such person who'll embarrass her own family publicly won't have a bottom line and that's problematic but she chose to remain quiet and observant.
