Page 4 of Winterset
“I promised Papa I would stay within these walls,” I said, my voice a weak whisper.
Mrs. Owensby’s gaze softened. “This is not the life your father wanted for you, Kate. He wished for your safety, yes, but not your seclusion. You cannot become who you are meant to be living in the shadows.”
“Papa is dead, Mrs. Owensby, and that is entirely my fault. The least I can do to honor his sacrifice is to remain here alive. It might not be the life he wished for me, but at least Iamalive.”
A sorrowful look passed between my guardians.
I hated to put them in this position. They’d already given up so much these past two years to hide me away and ensure my safety. But what choice did I have?
Bexley cleared his throat. “If Mr. Jennings does indeed take up residence, then you will indubitably be discovered.”
“Not necessarily,” I said, a plan forming in my mind. “What if we make Mr. Jennings notwantto stay?”
“What do you mean?” Bexley asked warily.
I needed to tread carefully. What I had in mind was unconventional, at best, and criminal, at worst. “Well, a man like Mr. Jennings, who has made the world his home these past years, could not be content to live so far from London Society and, thanks to his neglect, in an estate in such disrepair.”
Mrs. Owensby gave me a disapproving look at my lack of respect for the supposed gentleman.
“It is true, is it not?” I said.
She said nothing in reply. She couldn’t because Mr. Jenningshadlet the estate fall into disrepair. When he’d inherited Winterset, he’d not come to care for the estate, nor had he hired a steward to care for it in his absence. He’d not sent one penny to pay for the upkeep of Winterset.
All the maids and footmen had long since left, the grounds keeper too. Had it not been for me, even Mrs. Owensby and Bexley would have sought employment elsewhere.
To pay for the necessities of life these past two years, I’d had them quietly sell Mother’s jewelry several towns south of Winterset. Bexley had farmed much of our food in the kitchen garden, and Mrs. Owensby had sold the surplus at market. It was not a bounteous life, but we’d managed to survive.
Our funds were growing scarce though. Mother’s jewelry was gone, but I still had a few family possessions left to sell that would fetch a price.
I could always sell theotheritems I’d found in the attic. They did not belong to me—they belonged tohim, even if he did not know of their existence—but they would sell for a significant sum and could sustain us for a very long time. Perhaps the rest of our lives if we were frugal.
I did not like the idea of taking more from Mr. Jennings than was owed to the servants for their work these past two years, but if worse came to worst, I would have no other choice.
What type of man could allow his estate to go to rot and to slight his servants? I didn’t know, nor did I wish to. In truth, I’d forgotten Mr. Jennings as readily as he’d forgotten Winterset. And now he wanted his servants to shine his home, order him special soap, and prepare his favorite meals?
Over my missing body.
I would not let the irresponsible Mr. Jennings displace me from my beloved Winterset.
“The estateisin disrepair,” Bexley hedged. “It is possible, I suppose, that he might take one look at Winterset and decide to leave.”
“He might,” I agreed, “but we cannot leave it up to chance. We must do all we can to make Winterset inhospitable. We must drive Mr. Jennings away.”
Mrs. Owensby sucked in a breath. “Kate, we cannot—”
“We can. Wemust. Did you not read his list of demands: French-milled soap? Portuguese port wine? A man of his breeding couldneverbe happy here. We will help him realize it sooner. And until we can drive him away, I will stay out of sight. I will hide.”
“What if Mr. Jennings discovers you before we can drive him away?” she asked.
The truth hung above our heads like a noose. “I won’t let him find me.”
“How could you help it?” Bexley asked. “Mr. Jennings will walk these halls every day.”
“Ihave walked them my whole life. I know every secret passageway and priest hide.”
“You cannot hide forever,” Mrs. Owensby said.
“I don’t intend to, just until Mr. Jennings leaves.”
