Page 77 of Winterset
“Forgive me, what I should have said was that I was thinking about how I mightcancelit.”
“You shouldn’t do that.”
“Shouldn’t I?”
She shook her head. “I don’t want to interfere with your plans any more than I already have.” She smiled bravely, but I saw the worry in her eyes. “When are you hosting it?” she asked.
“A little less than two weeks.”
“That doesn’t leave you much time.”
“Not much at all,” I agreed, thinking of all the work that needed to be done.
“Do you have a plan to make the estate presentable?”
“Only a vague one,” I admitted. “I thought I would concentrate my efforts on the places my guests will see.”
“So, outside, you will focus on the courtyard and drive. And inside, the entrance, dining hall, and the drawing room?”
I nodded. “The drawing room will be the most difficult. The water damage under the window is extensive.”
“Water damage?” She looked equal parts concerned and confused.
“Yes. The window seal failed. The frame is rotted, and the papers are ruined.”
“Isthatwhy you are planning to remove them?” she asked. “I thought you didn’t like them.”
“I love them. The design is beautiful.”
She smiled at that. “Thank you. It took me nearly two months to paint them.”
“I didn’t realize.”
“How could you have?” she said. “That room alone will likely take more than two weeks to repair.”
“I know.” I sighed. “And even if, by some miracle, I complete the repairs, new wall papers cannot be delivered so quickly.”
“You could purchase plain papers, and I could paint them for you if you would like.”
“I would like that very much. Thank you.”
“Perhaps you could order new furniture to distract from the imperfections,” she said.
“I doubt there is enough time.”
“You’re probably right.” Her brow furrowed. “We could rearrange the existing furniture to hide the imperfections,” she said.
I laughed. “The entire room is an imperfection.”
“Hmm. Well, what if, instead ofhiding the needed repairs, we highlight them? You are hosting a ghost-story reading, after all.”
“You think I should make Winterset look worse?”
“Only the drawing room. We could bring down the old furnishings from the attic: the threadbare carpets and moth-eaten tapestries. Your guests would think the decor was purposeful. We will make the rest of the manor as presentable as possible.”
She was excited, her eyes distant, as though she were picturing the room.
“That might work for the inside,” I said. “But what about the grounds?”
