Page 30 of Winterset
“That is your father speaking, not you. I daresay you prefer a little hard work to dwelling in squalor.”
“Your faith in me is misplaced, Charlie.”
“No,” he said simply, and there was something about his belief in me that made me wish to live up to it, however impossible.
When Charlie and I left earlier that afternoon, I’d instructed Bexley to remove the ivy from the gate and clear a small path. As we entered through Winterset’s front gate, I was pleased to find he had done as I’d requested.Walking my horse through the gate unimpeded felt like a small victory. One that brought me a surprising amount of pleasure and pride.
The gravel drive and surrounding grounds were still a disaster though. I’d not yet had time to explore past the courtyard, but I assumed the walled garden and grounds behind the manor were in just as poor condition.
When we reached the putrid fountain, we climbed down from our horses, and Charlie took our mounts to the stables. We had no stablehands to tend to the horses, but thankfully, the stables were in decent condition. Nothing compared to the fancy one Damon had begun building—had undoubtedlyfinishedbuilding by now—at Summerhaven but serviceable.
As I walked to the front door, I let my gaze roam over the house and surveyed the facade. First, the base, which blessedly appeared level, then the ground and first floor, and finally, the attic. The stone structure appeared sound. Luckily, it was made of sturdy stone, not wattle and daub, but whoever had designed this house seemed to care more for function than form. The wings were not symmetrical, and the mismatched windows were unevenly placed. I counted at least three separate styles. Had the architect not considered the outside design when deciding where to put the windows? There was no rhyme or reason to their placement.
I shook my head and continued up the front steps.
At the door, Bexley greeted me with a bow and collected my things. Another improvement from our first encounter yesterday. “Mrs. Owensby is nearly finished with your dinner, sir. When would you like it served?”
“As soon as possible, please. I will take a tray in my study tonight.” Normally, I would dress for dinner and eat in the dining hall, but with Charlie preoccupied in the stables, I had no one to assist me in dressing. And I hated to admit it, but I was anxious to open my ledgers and begin calculating the cost of repairs.
“Of course, sir,” Bexley said and moved toward the kitchen.
I crossed the entrance hall to the study and stepped inside. It was a fine room with a nice view of the grounds. Or rather, it would have a nice view once the grounds were cleared, the windows were washed, and the season spring.
Standing behind my desk, I looked down at my notebook and froze.
What the devil?
Several of my notes had been crossed off. I could still read the words, but that was not the point. Someone had entered this room without my permission, read my notes, and defaced my notebook.
I reached for my top desk drawer and pulled it open. Relief flooded me when I saw that my letters were still neatly stored in the drawer.
I quickly closed it and began pacing behind the desk. I scanned the room. Nothing else appeared out of order, but I felt ill-at-ease, like someone was watching me. I looked at the open door, half expecting to see Mrs. Owensby or Bexley standing at the threshold, but they weren’t there.
I rubbed my forehead, then reached for my notebook to study which items had been crossed off.
Vanquish ghost
Replace carpets
Repair uneven floorboards
Return Lockwood portraits
Repair water damage on western wall
Remove wall papers in the drawing room
Repair window casement
Replace mattresses
Repair curtain rods
Remove wall papers in eastern wing bedchambers
Repurpose the gallery into a billiard hall
Turn the white room into a hat room
