Story The Linder Legacy (Complete)
- Thread starter Kathy in FL
- Start date
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Nice find this morning 
thank you.
thank you.
Chapter 13
"Easy with her!"
"It's all right Widow, she's just a bit nervie after the ride. Just stay back and we'll handle her."
I didn't care, Nanny was never out of sorts yet here she was snapping and clacking her teeth together, looking to take a chunk out of someone. And since she was my steed I would not be told to stay back.
"Easy girl ..."
"Widow!"
"Suck wind," I muttered under my breath and continued to do as I please. As soon as Nanny got my smell she shook off the boy that had been trying to bring her down the ramp off of the livestock car and stepped over to me to complain. "I know, I know. It's all right. Your sensibilities are overset. There now ... I'm right here. And yes you may sniff and wuffle all you wish but please keep the slobber to a minimum."
I heard some boyish sniggers behind me and turned. There stood the Talbot brothers, both looking a foot taller than when I had left early in the Spring but undoubtedly the same stinkers as well if their redheaded, freckle faced grins were any indication. "Hello Jode, Jude."
They took their hats off and bowed but could not seem to take their smile off. "You think she'll let us take her? We brought some carrots."
Nanny's ears flickered at the word carrots and she gave the boys a considering glance. "If you really have the carrots I believe she will appreciate the attention."
"Yes'm." They pulled out carrots nearly as identical looking as they were and Nanny gave me a look as if to say "Now this is some like."
I walked her over to the boys and held her lead until I was sure she was more herself. Carrots are Nanny's weakness and she barely gave me a half glance when I turned to supervise the rest of my livestock. "Easy there! Those are chickens not bed pillows. Don't throw their cages around like that!"
Jode tapped my elbow and said, "Da told us that if you wish it, we can drive the wagon for you. We got word you'd be bringing Nanny there and some feather dusters and Joel built a good, sound coop for your biddies. It's right near the kitchen birds so they'll have some company to cluck with."
I bowed my head and said, "Tell your father and your brother that I appreciate their forethought very much as it is a thing I had been worrying about."
"Yes'm. Ma said you would. She said she'll see to them the same as she sees to the kitchen birds when you've duties that keep you busy."
They bowed again and scampered away taking Nanny with them before climbing into the seat of my old wagon.
I turned to find half the railyard staring. "Am I keeping you men from your work?"
They all suddenly found themselves some business to get busy with and I went in search of the Sheriff. I found him and Guard Nealy on the other side of a large tree biting their lips.
I rolled my eyes. "You both look like you have a stomach ailment. Perhaps you need a dose of oil to clean your systems."
Guard Nealy started coughing and shaking and then bowed and turned and walked quickly away. I looked at the Sheriff whose eyes were streaming and asked, "Does the insanity come from your mother's side or your father's?"
He lost it. I rolled my eyes and left him howling and went to collect my satchel from the items that hadn't been loaded onto my wagon. I placed my hat back upon my head and pinned it in place and then turned about looking for what conveyance we would be taking to the Hall.
The Sheriff stumbled over still wiping his eyes and said, "Dear Lord, Wendolyn will not know what to think."
"I will not act this way with her. She is the Guardian's wife and you said yourself she is ... a ... hmmm ... stickler."
"Yes, but she's no fussbudget. Tomas wouldn't stand for it. She's just a bit stiff and nervie. Get her relaxed and she's much more approachable. Problem is at the moment Widow she can't relax and it aggravates the other."
"Hmmm."
"I take it you recognized the boys."
"Yes, their grandfather is one of the gardeners and their father works in the vineyards. Their mother helps with the Linder fowls. I ..."
"You what?"
I shook my head. "They and the other belowstairs workers were kind to me." Shaking my head again, "It is rather late in the day Sheriff. I'm sure you have duties to attend to and ..."
"Trying to get rid of me?"
"In a word? Yes."
He sighed. "You'll have to bide my company a bit longer Widow. The Linder left word that he is home rather than entertaining and is eager to meet you."
"Botheration."
"Easy with her!"
"It's all right Widow, she's just a bit nervie after the ride. Just stay back and we'll handle her."
I didn't care, Nanny was never out of sorts yet here she was snapping and clacking her teeth together, looking to take a chunk out of someone. And since she was my steed I would not be told to stay back.
"Easy girl ..."
"Widow!"
"Suck wind," I muttered under my breath and continued to do as I please. As soon as Nanny got my smell she shook off the boy that had been trying to bring her down the ramp off of the livestock car and stepped over to me to complain. "I know, I know. It's all right. Your sensibilities are overset. There now ... I'm right here. And yes you may sniff and wuffle all you wish but please keep the slobber to a minimum."
I heard some boyish sniggers behind me and turned. There stood the Talbot brothers, both looking a foot taller than when I had left early in the Spring but undoubtedly the same stinkers as well if their redheaded, freckle faced grins were any indication. "Hello Jode, Jude."
They took their hats off and bowed but could not seem to take their smile off. "You think she'll let us take her? We brought some carrots."
Nanny's ears flickered at the word carrots and she gave the boys a considering glance. "If you really have the carrots I believe she will appreciate the attention."
"Yes'm." They pulled out carrots nearly as identical looking as they were and Nanny gave me a look as if to say "Now this is some like."
I walked her over to the boys and held her lead until I was sure she was more herself. Carrots are Nanny's weakness and she barely gave me a half glance when I turned to supervise the rest of my livestock. "Easy there! Those are chickens not bed pillows. Don't throw their cages around like that!"
Jode tapped my elbow and said, "Da told us that if you wish it, we can drive the wagon for you. We got word you'd be bringing Nanny there and some feather dusters and Joel built a good, sound coop for your biddies. It's right near the kitchen birds so they'll have some company to cluck with."
I bowed my head and said, "Tell your father and your brother that I appreciate their forethought very much as it is a thing I had been worrying about."
"Yes'm. Ma said you would. She said she'll see to them the same as she sees to the kitchen birds when you've duties that keep you busy."
They bowed again and scampered away taking Nanny with them before climbing into the seat of my old wagon.
I turned to find half the railyard staring. "Am I keeping you men from your work?"
They all suddenly found themselves some business to get busy with and I went in search of the Sheriff. I found him and Guard Nealy on the other side of a large tree biting their lips.
I rolled my eyes. "You both look like you have a stomach ailment. Perhaps you need a dose of oil to clean your systems."
Guard Nealy started coughing and shaking and then bowed and turned and walked quickly away. I looked at the Sheriff whose eyes were streaming and asked, "Does the insanity come from your mother's side or your father's?"
He lost it. I rolled my eyes and left him howling and went to collect my satchel from the items that hadn't been loaded onto my wagon. I placed my hat back upon my head and pinned it in place and then turned about looking for what conveyance we would be taking to the Hall.
The Sheriff stumbled over still wiping his eyes and said, "Dear Lord, Wendolyn will not know what to think."
"I will not act this way with her. She is the Guardian's wife and you said yourself she is ... a ... hmmm ... stickler."
"Yes, but she's no fussbudget. Tomas wouldn't stand for it. She's just a bit stiff and nervie. Get her relaxed and she's much more approachable. Problem is at the moment Widow she can't relax and it aggravates the other."
"Hmmm."
"I take it you recognized the boys."
"Yes, their grandfather is one of the gardeners and their father works in the vineyards. Their mother helps with the Linder fowls. I ..."
"You what?"
I shook my head. "They and the other belowstairs workers were kind to me." Shaking my head again, "It is rather late in the day Sheriff. I'm sure you have duties to attend to and ..."
"Trying to get rid of me?"
"In a word? Yes."
He sighed. "You'll have to bide my company a bit longer Widow. The Linder left word that he is home rather than entertaining and is eager to meet you."
"Botheration."
Chapter 14
The type of gas carriage used by traders and some of the wealthy families in the region were often noisy and smelled of someone's frying pan once they had gotten up and running. The one I rode in from the railyard to the Hall was much quieter and definitely less smelly. In fact I will admit to enjoying the luxury of padded seats and a quieter ride after being so long on the rail. An unexpected pot hole woke me from a near doze and I looked around to see we were nearly at the Hall and my stomach began to knot.
When we pulled up to the Great Gate I noticed there were less than half the guards there had been last time I was there and I didn't recognize a single one of them. Driving down the long lane to the second gate I saw only about a third of the towers wer manned.
Looking at the Sheriff with a scowl I said, "I thought you told me that none of the below stairs staff were killed."
"They were not," he said rolling up the window between us and the driver. "Why do you ask?"
"Lack of attendants at the gate and security points. And why are you doing that? I thought you said the driver was your man?"
The Sheriff sighed. "This isn't Harper, Widow. Nor is it the railyard. There is a certain ... protocol ... that is expected at Linderhall and well you know it. The people that came with us from our holdings have expectations and feel their status has been elevated since ours has. You need to ... to be more careful in your speech and who you speak around."
I just looked at him. "If you expect me to fix this snarl then you need to let me do my job and be who I am. Do not start trying to confine me to how you think I should act. That type of thinking is likely what has caused the mess you says exists. You are trying to combine two households, change Guardians, and integrate the family into the neighborhood all in one fell swoop. And I can tell you pretty much what I am likely to find."
"Oh really?"
"Yes, really Sheriff I-Care-Nothing-For-Status-But-Am-Lying-Through-My-Teeth Linder." I got a glare but didn't let it stop me. "The people from your old household have an attitude. 'Their' Linder is now in power and they are going to make good and sure everyone knows it. I saw it in the outrage some of your staff exhibited at the railyard whether you saw it or not. The staff of Linderhall are likely wondering if they will lose their status if not outright be turned out by the new staff ... and the new staff have probably not helped calm those waters. Then comes the plague and too many people that are needed are lost and your family is at sixes and sevens trying to find your way through grief and unfamiliar duties. And rather than ask the existing staff to help and guide you, someone gets a stiff rump, stands on ceremony, and makes an even bigger mess of it all. You can't see your interior problems because you are having to deal with so many from the outside. But I can guarantee if you don't get the interior problems managed you'll never get the outside ones under control."
It looked like he was going to blow a gasket then his shoulders eased and he shook his head. "You see things too damn clearly. Trouble with the staff started almost immediately. Like I said upon investigating I thought it was primarily a matter of distrust ... but ... yes, I admit on reflection it is possible that the staff from our holdings have ... not helped."
"Sheriff, you are going to have to step back a bit. Let me feel things out with the old staff and give them time to feel me out. What has been broken so long cannot be fixed overnight. But let us get one thing straight ... I am not your spy belowstairs. Unless I think it pertains directly to the job I have set for myself what I learn stays behind my teeth."
"I have not asked you to ..."
I snorted. "Not yet you haven't. Like I said however, you are a Linder by blood ... you won't be able to help yourself. You'll try and manipulate me and push me and not even truly realize that you are doing it ... or if you do you will be convinced you have only the purest of motives. Mr. Barlow the ... the deceased Sheriff ... was just like that. He too was some distant connection of my husband, just like Mizz Marta only on the other side."
"Marta is a Linder connection?! She never said."
I could tell he was irritated. I shrugged and told him, "If you had bothered to read the staff files you would have seen it. And she's not the only one, simply the closest by blood. Many of the older staff are distantly related to the Linders even if they have to go back to the Days of Destruction to make the connection."
"The staff files are missing."
Surprised I asked, "What do you mean missing?"
"Exactly that. Father ... Father did something with them and we can't find what."
I had a suspicion but I wasn't going to say anything ... not to the Sheriff.
It was at that moment that we arrived at the Hall. The Sheriff helped me out and told the driver and outrider to take the rest of my luggage to the Dower House. As they pulled away the door to the Hall opened and we climbed the stairs and entered in.
The entry way was dim so it took a few moments for my eyes to adjust but when they did I caught sight of the older man standing to the side. "Mr. Holman!"
He tried, he really did, but rather than stand straight and tall and proud as the Head Butler had when I left he started coughing and nearly fell. "What are you doing up with a cought like this?! Surely you didn't risk your health for me! Here ..." I turned to look and told the Sheriff, "Don't just stand there, pull that chair over."
The Sheriff blinked but then did just as I bid him, scandalizing a maid that had come to take our cloaks. I wanted to stick my tongue out at her but satisfied myself with a cold stare that had her giving me a belated bow and then hurrying to hang the cloaks on hooks near the door. Mr. Holman finally got his breath and shook his finger at me, "You shouldn't be speaking like that. That's the Sheriff."
I snorted. "I know. But he's human ... most of the time ... and has explained I am come to help to get things settled, so he can help when I bid him to. Besides, Linderhall will not settle until its head staff are able to rest enough to regain their health." I patted the older man's arm. "What would we do without the likes of you and Mizz Marta?"
The older man's pale cheeks glowed a healthier pink for a moment before becoming pale again.
I heard the Sheriff snapping his fingers. "You there ... Boy. Is Doctor Cummins around?"
"Aye Sir," stuttered a boy who had been peeking around the corner.
"Well see that he is told I wish him to visit Mr. Holman before the curtains are drawn." The boy continued to stare until the Sheriff said, "Move." He scampered quickly enough after that encouragement.
"Ah, thank you sir. It's just this cough ... it lingers."
"Think nothing of it Holman. The Widow is correct, this Hall wouldn't be the same without you. Do you require assistance?"
"No Sir. But I will return to the staff lounge if you've no objections."
"None at all. But before you go could you perhaps tell me which infernal sitting room The Linder is in?"
"The Blue one sir."
Mr. Holman walked slowly away but I could see that the Sheriff was trying to remember which blue room that might be as there were several. I told him, "It is the one next to the Library."
He nodded in relief. "Of course ... damnation, which Library?"
I covered my hand to hide my smile and then said, "The Linder's personal library most likely ... down the hall from his personal chambers."
"Lord, we need colored arrows around here like they do at the meeting houses of the Great Council. We'd all get lost far less often."
"It's not that bad," I told him.
"Says you. Do you know how many blue sitting rooms are in this place?"
"Six."
"I ..." He stopped and then grinned. "You've counted."
"If you think the number of sitting rooms is confusing you should try counting the bedrooms. It even boggled the mind of my comportment teacher and hardly anything ruffled that woman's feathers. Lucky for me I inherited a natural ability to never find myself lost from my Woodsmen clan. As I hear it, four generations back the Guardian of that era had eight wives at one time and each wife demanded her own private suite of rooms under The Linder's roof rather than in their own cottages as had been the tradition before that. Each suite encompassed what was basically a private home and was built to house not only the Guardian's wife but their offspring and all her private staff and any guests they might choose to invite for a stay. They were also to be decorated in the style of the home they left behind as a reminder of where they each came from. It took nearly ten years to complete the work and that was the last time that Linderhall was built out though some interior redesigning and modernizing has been done off and on since."
"I thought you knew nothing of the genealogies," the Sheriff said suspiciously.
"No, I said it was not considered something necessary for me to know, not that I knew nothing at all about the family history. Though in truth I know more about the Hall itself than about the family that has always lived under its roof. The staff take pride in their work and explained bits and pieces of it to me. For instance, the sitting room that we are walking to is one of the original rooms and there is a series of trap doors in there that lead deep into the subcellar ... and escape method left over from the Days of Destruction though no longer the deep, dark secret it once was."
"Trap doors? Surely you jest. There's a few hidey holes but ... but no ... damnation. Just how much has been kept back on purpose?"
"More than likely my husband's secretary showed your father. That's the traditional way such information changed hands when a new Guardian took over. It is why the position of the secretary is so important. Whether your father had time or saw fit to show your brother ...?" I shrugged. "What happened to Mr. Whitt?"
"He was among the dead. My father had taken him on as secretary as Father's previous secretary had preferred to stay at our other holdings and serve my brother Gerald."
I stopped. "How many brothers do you have?"
"Five. Tomas is The Linder. Gerald inherited Father's former holdings. James now carries the responsibility of Chancellor. Our brother Richard is in the Regional Guard. Then a young half brother named Rickerson at university studying agriculture who is Dwen's son. I also have a step brother who is Dwen's son from her first marriage, but we only see him rarely as he prefers his logging holdings in the Northeast. He wanted to take his mother's body and bury her in her birthplace but later agreed to abide by her will and let her be buried beside Father. It was a great concession as he and Father never really got on."
"Good Heavens. And the two sisters correct?"
He grinned. "Incorrect. If you do not count my sister in laws I have six sisters." He laughed at the look on my face. "We Linders are a prolific lot." When he saw my expression following his statement he said, "Damn my mouth. You'd figure a Sheriff would have more control of that orifice."
"No. You merely speak the truth. And it appears the problem may have been one of my husband's own making. But could we simply name your sisters and ... and pass over the rest of it?"
He sighed but agreed. "Melissa and Marjorie are married and on holdings of their own. They are older than Tomas and I barely remember them living at home.Then April who is between James and I in age and ... and she will not marry."
"Why?" I asked since it seemed such a strange thing to say.
"When we were children she and our sister Chell were playing in the orchard. Men came out of the hedge, and kidnapped both girls and their nanny. The was woman eventually able to escape but with only one of the girls. A ransom was made but before Father could pay it they'd been attacked by the savages whose land they had tried to escape to. It was three more months before Father and his men found her. The damage had already been done."
Quietly I told him, "I will wait for her to tell me if she wishes to."
"That would be best. April is ... she is very strong but ... well, you'll see. And Chell ... well, she has her own problems from the experience but it did not stop her from marrying. He's a diplomatic envoy with the Great Council. Tomas sees her more than the rest of us do."
"That's four ... and then I know you have a younger sister named Nancee."
"Yes," he said as we climbed the last set of stairs. "Quite a hike. No wonder none of the Linders in the portrait gallery have ever been portrayed as fat." Having thought the same thing more than once I remained silent. "Nancee is Dwen and Father's daughter. And then the baby is Liesel. Between Nancee and Liesel is Rosalee. We almost lost her to the plague as well and ... her health has not returned yet either. She occasionally becomes confused and cries so we've made an area of the nursery for her to wander about in though she is beyond the age of needing it."
I made note to ask Marta what she prescribed for healing and whether people were cooperating or ignoring her good sense. And then we stopped in front of a closed wooden door that the Sheriff knocked on.
The type of gas carriage used by traders and some of the wealthy families in the region were often noisy and smelled of someone's frying pan once they had gotten up and running. The one I rode in from the railyard to the Hall was much quieter and definitely less smelly. In fact I will admit to enjoying the luxury of padded seats and a quieter ride after being so long on the rail. An unexpected pot hole woke me from a near doze and I looked around to see we were nearly at the Hall and my stomach began to knot.
When we pulled up to the Great Gate I noticed there were less than half the guards there had been last time I was there and I didn't recognize a single one of them. Driving down the long lane to the second gate I saw only about a third of the towers wer manned.
Looking at the Sheriff with a scowl I said, "I thought you told me that none of the below stairs staff were killed."
"They were not," he said rolling up the window between us and the driver. "Why do you ask?"
"Lack of attendants at the gate and security points. And why are you doing that? I thought you said the driver was your man?"
The Sheriff sighed. "This isn't Harper, Widow. Nor is it the railyard. There is a certain ... protocol ... that is expected at Linderhall and well you know it. The people that came with us from our holdings have expectations and feel their status has been elevated since ours has. You need to ... to be more careful in your speech and who you speak around."
I just looked at him. "If you expect me to fix this snarl then you need to let me do my job and be who I am. Do not start trying to confine me to how you think I should act. That type of thinking is likely what has caused the mess you says exists. You are trying to combine two households, change Guardians, and integrate the family into the neighborhood all in one fell swoop. And I can tell you pretty much what I am likely to find."
"Oh really?"
"Yes, really Sheriff I-Care-Nothing-For-Status-But-Am-Lying-Through-My-Teeth Linder." I got a glare but didn't let it stop me. "The people from your old household have an attitude. 'Their' Linder is now in power and they are going to make good and sure everyone knows it. I saw it in the outrage some of your staff exhibited at the railyard whether you saw it or not. The staff of Linderhall are likely wondering if they will lose their status if not outright be turned out by the new staff ... and the new staff have probably not helped calm those waters. Then comes the plague and too many people that are needed are lost and your family is at sixes and sevens trying to find your way through grief and unfamiliar duties. And rather than ask the existing staff to help and guide you, someone gets a stiff rump, stands on ceremony, and makes an even bigger mess of it all. You can't see your interior problems because you are having to deal with so many from the outside. But I can guarantee if you don't get the interior problems managed you'll never get the outside ones under control."
It looked like he was going to blow a gasket then his shoulders eased and he shook his head. "You see things too damn clearly. Trouble with the staff started almost immediately. Like I said upon investigating I thought it was primarily a matter of distrust ... but ... yes, I admit on reflection it is possible that the staff from our holdings have ... not helped."
"Sheriff, you are going to have to step back a bit. Let me feel things out with the old staff and give them time to feel me out. What has been broken so long cannot be fixed overnight. But let us get one thing straight ... I am not your spy belowstairs. Unless I think it pertains directly to the job I have set for myself what I learn stays behind my teeth."
"I have not asked you to ..."
I snorted. "Not yet you haven't. Like I said however, you are a Linder by blood ... you won't be able to help yourself. You'll try and manipulate me and push me and not even truly realize that you are doing it ... or if you do you will be convinced you have only the purest of motives. Mr. Barlow the ... the deceased Sheriff ... was just like that. He too was some distant connection of my husband, just like Mizz Marta only on the other side."
"Marta is a Linder connection?! She never said."
I could tell he was irritated. I shrugged and told him, "If you had bothered to read the staff files you would have seen it. And she's not the only one, simply the closest by blood. Many of the older staff are distantly related to the Linders even if they have to go back to the Days of Destruction to make the connection."
"The staff files are missing."
Surprised I asked, "What do you mean missing?"
"Exactly that. Father ... Father did something with them and we can't find what."
I had a suspicion but I wasn't going to say anything ... not to the Sheriff.
It was at that moment that we arrived at the Hall. The Sheriff helped me out and told the driver and outrider to take the rest of my luggage to the Dower House. As they pulled away the door to the Hall opened and we climbed the stairs and entered in.
The entry way was dim so it took a few moments for my eyes to adjust but when they did I caught sight of the older man standing to the side. "Mr. Holman!"
He tried, he really did, but rather than stand straight and tall and proud as the Head Butler had when I left he started coughing and nearly fell. "What are you doing up with a cought like this?! Surely you didn't risk your health for me! Here ..." I turned to look and told the Sheriff, "Don't just stand there, pull that chair over."
The Sheriff blinked but then did just as I bid him, scandalizing a maid that had come to take our cloaks. I wanted to stick my tongue out at her but satisfied myself with a cold stare that had her giving me a belated bow and then hurrying to hang the cloaks on hooks near the door. Mr. Holman finally got his breath and shook his finger at me, "You shouldn't be speaking like that. That's the Sheriff."
I snorted. "I know. But he's human ... most of the time ... and has explained I am come to help to get things settled, so he can help when I bid him to. Besides, Linderhall will not settle until its head staff are able to rest enough to regain their health." I patted the older man's arm. "What would we do without the likes of you and Mizz Marta?"
The older man's pale cheeks glowed a healthier pink for a moment before becoming pale again.
I heard the Sheriff snapping his fingers. "You there ... Boy. Is Doctor Cummins around?"
"Aye Sir," stuttered a boy who had been peeking around the corner.
"Well see that he is told I wish him to visit Mr. Holman before the curtains are drawn." The boy continued to stare until the Sheriff said, "Move." He scampered quickly enough after that encouragement.
"Ah, thank you sir. It's just this cough ... it lingers."
"Think nothing of it Holman. The Widow is correct, this Hall wouldn't be the same without you. Do you require assistance?"
"No Sir. But I will return to the staff lounge if you've no objections."
"None at all. But before you go could you perhaps tell me which infernal sitting room The Linder is in?"
"The Blue one sir."
Mr. Holman walked slowly away but I could see that the Sheriff was trying to remember which blue room that might be as there were several. I told him, "It is the one next to the Library."
He nodded in relief. "Of course ... damnation, which Library?"
I covered my hand to hide my smile and then said, "The Linder's personal library most likely ... down the hall from his personal chambers."
"Lord, we need colored arrows around here like they do at the meeting houses of the Great Council. We'd all get lost far less often."
"It's not that bad," I told him.
"Says you. Do you know how many blue sitting rooms are in this place?"
"Six."
"I ..." He stopped and then grinned. "You've counted."
"If you think the number of sitting rooms is confusing you should try counting the bedrooms. It even boggled the mind of my comportment teacher and hardly anything ruffled that woman's feathers. Lucky for me I inherited a natural ability to never find myself lost from my Woodsmen clan. As I hear it, four generations back the Guardian of that era had eight wives at one time and each wife demanded her own private suite of rooms under The Linder's roof rather than in their own cottages as had been the tradition before that. Each suite encompassed what was basically a private home and was built to house not only the Guardian's wife but their offspring and all her private staff and any guests they might choose to invite for a stay. They were also to be decorated in the style of the home they left behind as a reminder of where they each came from. It took nearly ten years to complete the work and that was the last time that Linderhall was built out though some interior redesigning and modernizing has been done off and on since."
"I thought you knew nothing of the genealogies," the Sheriff said suspiciously.
"No, I said it was not considered something necessary for me to know, not that I knew nothing at all about the family history. Though in truth I know more about the Hall itself than about the family that has always lived under its roof. The staff take pride in their work and explained bits and pieces of it to me. For instance, the sitting room that we are walking to is one of the original rooms and there is a series of trap doors in there that lead deep into the subcellar ... and escape method left over from the Days of Destruction though no longer the deep, dark secret it once was."
"Trap doors? Surely you jest. There's a few hidey holes but ... but no ... damnation. Just how much has been kept back on purpose?"
"More than likely my husband's secretary showed your father. That's the traditional way such information changed hands when a new Guardian took over. It is why the position of the secretary is so important. Whether your father had time or saw fit to show your brother ...?" I shrugged. "What happened to Mr. Whitt?"
"He was among the dead. My father had taken him on as secretary as Father's previous secretary had preferred to stay at our other holdings and serve my brother Gerald."
I stopped. "How many brothers do you have?"
"Five. Tomas is The Linder. Gerald inherited Father's former holdings. James now carries the responsibility of Chancellor. Our brother Richard is in the Regional Guard. Then a young half brother named Rickerson at university studying agriculture who is Dwen's son. I also have a step brother who is Dwen's son from her first marriage, but we only see him rarely as he prefers his logging holdings in the Northeast. He wanted to take his mother's body and bury her in her birthplace but later agreed to abide by her will and let her be buried beside Father. It was a great concession as he and Father never really got on."
"Good Heavens. And the two sisters correct?"
He grinned. "Incorrect. If you do not count my sister in laws I have six sisters." He laughed at the look on my face. "We Linders are a prolific lot." When he saw my expression following his statement he said, "Damn my mouth. You'd figure a Sheriff would have more control of that orifice."
"No. You merely speak the truth. And it appears the problem may have been one of my husband's own making. But could we simply name your sisters and ... and pass over the rest of it?"
He sighed but agreed. "Melissa and Marjorie are married and on holdings of their own. They are older than Tomas and I barely remember them living at home.Then April who is between James and I in age and ... and she will not marry."
"Why?" I asked since it seemed such a strange thing to say.
"When we were children she and our sister Chell were playing in the orchard. Men came out of the hedge, and kidnapped both girls and their nanny. The was woman eventually able to escape but with only one of the girls. A ransom was made but before Father could pay it they'd been attacked by the savages whose land they had tried to escape to. It was three more months before Father and his men found her. The damage had already been done."
Quietly I told him, "I will wait for her to tell me if she wishes to."
"That would be best. April is ... she is very strong but ... well, you'll see. And Chell ... well, she has her own problems from the experience but it did not stop her from marrying. He's a diplomatic envoy with the Great Council. Tomas sees her more than the rest of us do."
"That's four ... and then I know you have a younger sister named Nancee."
"Yes," he said as we climbed the last set of stairs. "Quite a hike. No wonder none of the Linders in the portrait gallery have ever been portrayed as fat." Having thought the same thing more than once I remained silent. "Nancee is Dwen and Father's daughter. And then the baby is Liesel. Between Nancee and Liesel is Rosalee. We almost lost her to the plague as well and ... her health has not returned yet either. She occasionally becomes confused and cries so we've made an area of the nursery for her to wander about in though she is beyond the age of needing it."
I made note to ask Marta what she prescribed for healing and whether people were cooperating or ignoring her good sense. And then we stopped in front of a closed wooden door that the Sheriff knocked on.
Chapter 15
The door opened and a pinched faced man answered. I didn't recognize him but the Sheriff did as he grinned and said, "Is my brother in Kirkwood?"
If possible the man looked at me and got even more pinched up. To poke a bit and see how he reacted I added, "And please tell him the Widow Linder awaits his pleasure."
The man looked behind me and then back at me but I refused to enlighten him. He made the wrong assumption and turned to the Sheriff and said, "Please tell the Widow Linder's maid that ..."
The Sheriff saw my move and quickly moved to try and forestall it. "The lighting in this hallway needs improving if you think the Widow has a maid standing behind her."
The shock on Kirkwood's face was almost theatrical. A voice in the room asked, "Why are you jsut standing there? Come in already."
The Sheriff gave me a warning look and then led me in. A woman sat at a stitching hoop working on some intricate design of white on white, probably meant for their baby. A man sprawled on a sofa with papers in stacks all about him. They spied me about the same time. "A little warning Daren," the man growled.
The Sheriff shrugged, "I received a message from Thornsby that you were awaiting our arrival and we came straight here."
The man shook his head in irritation. "I told him it wasn't necessary that you come straight here. I expected you would wish to stop and clean up and get the kinks out." He turned to me, "Pardon Widow, I'm afraid ..."
The woman interrupted in a voice I can only describe as prissy. "I am sure that the Widow Linder is not interested in our little problems."
My turn. "Aahh, but Mrs. Linder, your comfort is the reason for my presence. I have heard of the joyous event pending and of all the work you have to do getting to know the surrounding families and helping The Linder secure the succession. That is a necessary task of great importance. So, if I may? I would like to lend you my support by managing some of your other burdens."
She opened her mouth on an immediate refusal, I could see it in her eyes, but I beat her to the punch. "I know, truly I do. The Sheriff has told me how you feel so responsible that you've even limited the aid you will accept from your sister in laws." I gave a look of particular understanding that she could read exactly how she wished to read it but meant what I wished it to mean. "However, as a widow of a former Guardian, it is my pleasure to fulfill my duty and responsibility so that you may focus your full energies where they will serve The Linder and your status best."
She blinked and I knew I had her. "Oh ... well yes ... I do need more time in certain areas of responsibility. If you truly feel led ..."
"Allow me to start tomorrow morning?" I asked carefully.
"Well ... yes ... I do believe that will serve. I have a great many preparations to make with regard to a visitation to the Vanburens."
"A family much involved with the local missions," I said, knowing the family of whom she spoke. "Their second oldest grandson was away at seminary when my husband passed but got leave to come back for the funeral. He gave one of the prayers."
"Did he? I had not heard that. Did he receive a letter of appreciation?"
"The Widow Ceena would have seen to it but I am sure that now that you know you'll say something to Mrs. Vanburen. Timothy - the young man in question - is her pride and joy."
She nodded. "Thank you for sharing that with me. It will give me something to start on. It was a great surprise to me to find out that the Linders and Vanburens didn't socialize much."
It wasn't a surprise to me but I didn't say such. Ceena and Tonya had practiced the religion of their mothers rather openly and did not care for the Vanburens who could be sticklers about church matters. Belowstairs gossip could sometimes come in handy and I realized I would need to dredge some up to feed Wendolyn to keep her from making enemies where none needed to be made.
The Linder glanced at his wife who had gone back to contentedly stitching and said, "You will excuse us Wendolyn but I wish to ask Daren and Widow Linder a few questions."
"Of course," she said inclining her head in our direction.
The Linder led us through a connecting door and then closed it and went to a cabinet. "Drink Daren?"
"Better not. Missed dinner and I still have much to discuss with James."
"Someone taking my name in vane?" asked a man coming down the spiral staircase that led to a series of bookcases arranged on a ledge above the main floor of the library.
The Sheriff and the Chancellor clapped each other on the back and I could see they were closer than they were with their elder brother ... or perhaps simply more demonstrative about their closeness.
The Linder looked at me closely and seemed to be debating offering me a drink. Despite my status, my youth seemed to stump him. I asked him, "Do you mind if I pull water from the tap?"
He blinked which I was beginning to realize was a reaction when this branch of the Linders was trying to figure out what to say. I stepped over to a book case and slid it back revealing a small basin, water tap, and some crystal goblets. I turned the tap and let it run for a moment and then put a goblet under the tap to catch some water. I slid the bookcase closed and then turned to find all three men staring at me.
The Sheriff sighed. "You know, you could simply tell us."
I shrugged. "Where's the fun in that? Not to mention this way at least lets you retain some pride or pretend you knew it was there all along."
The Sheriff rolled his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. The Chancellor gave a slow grin and looked at The Linder who ultimately said, "Tell me in private and I won't need to pretend. Is there anything else like this I should know about?"
I named off several features and then was asked to show them. At the end The Linder asked, "Are there more?"
"Not in this room."
"Which means there are in other areas of the house."
"There's something in most of the rooms but the oldest parts of the Hall have the most ... relics of the Days of Destruction such as the trap doors I just demonstrated."
"And the staff knows of these features and did not mention them?" The Chancellor asked in a bit of temper.
"The Senior staff do certainly ... they are how I know. And most of the understaff probably know but not even hot pokers would make them betray the family's secrets. They likely assume that you know."
"Why would they assume that?" he said still unmollified.
"Because the secretary would have made a point to show your father and your father should have made a point of showing you. Consider it inhereted knowledge. What I do not understand is why Ceena and Tonya didn't Lord it over you and show you how much they knew."
The Chanellor opened his mouth and then closed it while The Linder gave an irritated shake of his head. "Father and the widows had a disagreement early on. They were extremely rude to Dwen - Father's Consort - and after Father spoke to them twice and they did not moderate their behavior he forbid them the Hall until they could treat her with respect."
I whistled. "That must have gone over well."
All three men shrugged nonchalantly. I turned to the Sheriff and asked him, "Do you remember what I told you about the status quo?"
"Yes," he answered slowly after thinking for a moment.
"Ceena and Tonya's father was a tribesman from the Borderlands."
The Sheriff blinked.
"And their mothers were the daughters of important men that ruled two rather large and dangerous families of traders whose holdings once included Old Paduck."
"Are you telling me they are from a family of pirates?!"
"You might call them that and not be far off, so long as you called them wealthy and connected pirates. The marriages sealed a deal of nonaggression and allowed my husband to broker trade agreements in territories that no other Guardian before him had managed to. Ceena and Tonya were nearly as young as I when they came here as brides. And they maintained their family connections despite over twenty-five years of separation."
"Well damnation."
"You've begun to say that quite often."
All three men looked at me but it was the Sheriff who said, "I have a feeling the frequency is going to increase."
The door opened and a pinched faced man answered. I didn't recognize him but the Sheriff did as he grinned and said, "Is my brother in Kirkwood?"
If possible the man looked at me and got even more pinched up. To poke a bit and see how he reacted I added, "And please tell him the Widow Linder awaits his pleasure."
The man looked behind me and then back at me but I refused to enlighten him. He made the wrong assumption and turned to the Sheriff and said, "Please tell the Widow Linder's maid that ..."
The Sheriff saw my move and quickly moved to try and forestall it. "The lighting in this hallway needs improving if you think the Widow has a maid standing behind her."
The shock on Kirkwood's face was almost theatrical. A voice in the room asked, "Why are you jsut standing there? Come in already."
The Sheriff gave me a warning look and then led me in. A woman sat at a stitching hoop working on some intricate design of white on white, probably meant for their baby. A man sprawled on a sofa with papers in stacks all about him. They spied me about the same time. "A little warning Daren," the man growled.
The Sheriff shrugged, "I received a message from Thornsby that you were awaiting our arrival and we came straight here."
The man shook his head in irritation. "I told him it wasn't necessary that you come straight here. I expected you would wish to stop and clean up and get the kinks out." He turned to me, "Pardon Widow, I'm afraid ..."
The woman interrupted in a voice I can only describe as prissy. "I am sure that the Widow Linder is not interested in our little problems."
My turn. "Aahh, but Mrs. Linder, your comfort is the reason for my presence. I have heard of the joyous event pending and of all the work you have to do getting to know the surrounding families and helping The Linder secure the succession. That is a necessary task of great importance. So, if I may? I would like to lend you my support by managing some of your other burdens."
She opened her mouth on an immediate refusal, I could see it in her eyes, but I beat her to the punch. "I know, truly I do. The Sheriff has told me how you feel so responsible that you've even limited the aid you will accept from your sister in laws." I gave a look of particular understanding that she could read exactly how she wished to read it but meant what I wished it to mean. "However, as a widow of a former Guardian, it is my pleasure to fulfill my duty and responsibility so that you may focus your full energies where they will serve The Linder and your status best."
She blinked and I knew I had her. "Oh ... well yes ... I do need more time in certain areas of responsibility. If you truly feel led ..."
"Allow me to start tomorrow morning?" I asked carefully.
"Well ... yes ... I do believe that will serve. I have a great many preparations to make with regard to a visitation to the Vanburens."
"A family much involved with the local missions," I said, knowing the family of whom she spoke. "Their second oldest grandson was away at seminary when my husband passed but got leave to come back for the funeral. He gave one of the prayers."
"Did he? I had not heard that. Did he receive a letter of appreciation?"
"The Widow Ceena would have seen to it but I am sure that now that you know you'll say something to Mrs. Vanburen. Timothy - the young man in question - is her pride and joy."
She nodded. "Thank you for sharing that with me. It will give me something to start on. It was a great surprise to me to find out that the Linders and Vanburens didn't socialize much."
It wasn't a surprise to me but I didn't say such. Ceena and Tonya had practiced the religion of their mothers rather openly and did not care for the Vanburens who could be sticklers about church matters. Belowstairs gossip could sometimes come in handy and I realized I would need to dredge some up to feed Wendolyn to keep her from making enemies where none needed to be made.
The Linder glanced at his wife who had gone back to contentedly stitching and said, "You will excuse us Wendolyn but I wish to ask Daren and Widow Linder a few questions."
"Of course," she said inclining her head in our direction.
The Linder led us through a connecting door and then closed it and went to a cabinet. "Drink Daren?"
"Better not. Missed dinner and I still have much to discuss with James."
"Someone taking my name in vane?" asked a man coming down the spiral staircase that led to a series of bookcases arranged on a ledge above the main floor of the library.
The Sheriff and the Chancellor clapped each other on the back and I could see they were closer than they were with their elder brother ... or perhaps simply more demonstrative about their closeness.
The Linder looked at me closely and seemed to be debating offering me a drink. Despite my status, my youth seemed to stump him. I asked him, "Do you mind if I pull water from the tap?"
He blinked which I was beginning to realize was a reaction when this branch of the Linders was trying to figure out what to say. I stepped over to a book case and slid it back revealing a small basin, water tap, and some crystal goblets. I turned the tap and let it run for a moment and then put a goblet under the tap to catch some water. I slid the bookcase closed and then turned to find all three men staring at me.
The Sheriff sighed. "You know, you could simply tell us."
I shrugged. "Where's the fun in that? Not to mention this way at least lets you retain some pride or pretend you knew it was there all along."
The Sheriff rolled his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. The Chancellor gave a slow grin and looked at The Linder who ultimately said, "Tell me in private and I won't need to pretend. Is there anything else like this I should know about?"
I named off several features and then was asked to show them. At the end The Linder asked, "Are there more?"
"Not in this room."
"Which means there are in other areas of the house."
"There's something in most of the rooms but the oldest parts of the Hall have the most ... relics of the Days of Destruction such as the trap doors I just demonstrated."
"And the staff knows of these features and did not mention them?" The Chancellor asked in a bit of temper.
"The Senior staff do certainly ... they are how I know. And most of the understaff probably know but not even hot pokers would make them betray the family's secrets. They likely assume that you know."
"Why would they assume that?" he said still unmollified.
"Because the secretary would have made a point to show your father and your father should have made a point of showing you. Consider it inhereted knowledge. What I do not understand is why Ceena and Tonya didn't Lord it over you and show you how much they knew."
The Chanellor opened his mouth and then closed it while The Linder gave an irritated shake of his head. "Father and the widows had a disagreement early on. They were extremely rude to Dwen - Father's Consort - and after Father spoke to them twice and they did not moderate their behavior he forbid them the Hall until they could treat her with respect."
I whistled. "That must have gone over well."
All three men shrugged nonchalantly. I turned to the Sheriff and asked him, "Do you remember what I told you about the status quo?"
"Yes," he answered slowly after thinking for a moment.
"Ceena and Tonya's father was a tribesman from the Borderlands."
The Sheriff blinked.
"And their mothers were the daughters of important men that ruled two rather large and dangerous families of traders whose holdings once included Old Paduck."
"Are you telling me they are from a family of pirates?!"
"You might call them that and not be far off, so long as you called them wealthy and connected pirates. The marriages sealed a deal of nonaggression and allowed my husband to broker trade agreements in territories that no other Guardian before him had managed to. Ceena and Tonya were nearly as young as I when they came here as brides. And they maintained their family connections despite over twenty-five years of separation."
"Well damnation."
"You've begun to say that quite often."
All three men looked at me but it was the Sheriff who said, "I have a feeling the frequency is going to increase."
I have a serious addiction to your writing lol. ugh!
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
You've got that right Mysty lol.
Landcruiser
Contributing Member
Cool and a little different than your other story's' can't wait for more!!!
DustMusher
Deceased
I am so enjoying this story - so unlike your other ones but totally engaging. If it were ever to be published is should not be put between covers but in a small filigree flask. Thank you, Kathy.
DM
DM
Chapter 16
I stretched and then nearly fell off the sofa seat that I had chosen to sleep on. I stood up and walked to the nearest window and looked out to see that the sky was just beginning to turn pink, my preferred hour at this time of year to wake up and start the day. And I certainly had a long day ahead of me.
It had taken a hacksaw to get the rusted padlock off the door and by that time it was too dark to do much more than make sure there were no monsters hiding in any closets or under any beds. I sent off the young men sent by someone called Mr. Clark and turned to look at my temporary living quarters.
First was to decide which bedroom would be mine but since I was sure I didn't want to use any of the rooms until they have been thoroughly cleaned I decided to sleep on the sofa since there was no staff to see and get affronted by it.
I dressed quickly then had a light breakfast of some of the traveling food I had fixed for my journey. It left no mess to clean up but a bit of wrapping paper and that I twisted and placed in the tinder basket near the kitchen fireplace.I carried my apron over my arm and then headed out to try and catch some of the staff at their breakfast in the staff dining hall.
The Talbot boys saw me coming and one held the door for me while the other bolted down a hall. I heard benches and chairs being moved and when I entered I caught the different expressions on various faces. The ones that knew me were unsurprised and even welcoming. The ones that didn't ranged from worry to disdain.
"Goodness, please I did not mean to interrupt."
All but a few began to sit down but a few remained standing stiffly.
"Is there something you wish to say?" I asked them.
A prunefaced woman said, "Your are the Widow?"
I inclined my head.
"You do not belong here."
"Well, you are certainly free to have your own opinion about that."
My answer flummoxed her. "But you are the Widow Linder."
"I had thought that was already an established fact."
"You ..."
I gave a slight smile but inside I wanted to stamp my foot. "I had hope to give you a few days but I suppose, to forestall any issues or create problems for Mrs. Linder perhaps it is best that I make things clear up front."
I looked around and tried to hold onto my pleasant expression. "The household has been through a trying time. I have been told that there have been ... let us call it a bit of confusion during a stressful transition. But the time is over for that to any longer be an excuse. I am here to make sure that the transition continues in a much calmer and constructive fashion so that The Guardian and the other Linders can see to their responsibilities without the interference of ... delays." I looked at the boards that lined one side of the dining room and saw with surprise they were blank. "Where are the schedules?"
The prune-faced woman said, "In my office."
"They do not belong in your office. They belong written upon the boards here so that all might see them."
"That is not the way we do it."
I did not like her tone. "I suggest you rethink your answer Mizz ... ?
When she did not give me her name Jode Talbot whispered, "That's Mizz Kinsey. She was the housekeeper at old Guardian's holdings."
I knew I would have to tread lightly. "You were aware that Linderhall already has a housekeeper?"
Her nostrils flaired and she said, "I was to have the care of the Guardian's private quarters."
"And do you now?"
She swallowed and the complained, "Final arrangements have been impossible to make with everything at sixes and sevens."
"Well I am here now and the sixes and sevens will cease. Fetch me the schedules. Now. The Guardian was quite explicit last night as to his wishes and his wishes were that Linderhall return to its former effeciency. And that is exactly what will occur." When she still stood there I said, "Starting with the schedules being posted for all to see. Transparency Mizz Kinsey. It prevents abuse of status, inadvertant and otherwise." Turning to the rest of the staff I said, "This is merely a reminder to some but status grants responsibilities, not rights. The greater your status the greater your responsibilities ... and in particular the responsibility of preventing abuse. The Guardianship of Tentuckia has always stood on the principle that all, regardless of status, are treated justly and are free of abuse. The Sheriff has assured me that regardless of where someone stands in the line of status, they will be treated equally under the law. The Chancellor said much the same to me last night. And the Guardian sealed it even further by stating that they are starting the way he means for the family to go, by making sure that there are no injustices in the incomes or taxes."
I sighed.
"But The Guardian and those under his authority cannot accomplish these tasks among the people of the region if their own home does not reflect those values."
Mrs. Kinsey interrupted my speech. "I am sure Mrs. Linder will have something to say of this."
"Indeed. She already has," I replied. "She gave me leave last night to set this part of the household in order so that she might focused her energies on the neighboring families and on the pending arrival of the heir. It behooves us all not to cause her any more stress than she is already under because the wife of the Guardian or not, she is still a pregnant woman. Her health will not be jeopardized under my watch. Do I make myself clear to everyone present?"
There was a lot of nodding all around. Everyone knew the dangers of childbirth. I continued, "I am well aware that everyone here has been under considerable strain and many are still recovering from the deadly illness that struck Linderhall. It is my intent to make this better for everyone ... but if I find someone is intentionally causing problems I will not hesitate to take action. I will not abuse my status but I won't be rolled like a sausage either. It is time for all of us to get to work, with a common goal. I do not wish to see the Great Council stick their nose in here."
"They'd never," said a man who reminded me of a frog.
"Oh yes they would. And the Mayor's Council could cause problems as well. If you thought living at Linderhall and being the Guardian was like being some great king of old you are badly mistaken. The Guardianship is a position of servitude to the people, not one of the people serving the Guardian. And as you have given your word to work for the Guardian by being here at Linderhall you too now serve the people of Tentuckia by making the Guardian's job easier, not more difficult."
I turned to Mr. Holman and said, "I am aware that the health of so many has precluded a normal schedule but if you and the other upper staff could put together a list of the most pressing matters that need attending I will try and provide a schedule since Mrs. Kinsey has failed to do so."
"I have not failed," that lady intoned like an outraged goose.
"Oh yes, you have. I gave you multiple opportunites to fetch the schedules you said were in your office. You failed to do so. That only leaves me with the understanding that the reason you did not fetch them is because they do not exist. If you think to stave me off and twit the Guardian's wife about my orders you can save the effect. She will be unavailable to you for the duration. I will have a word with Dr. Cummins to make sure of this and if you persist I will take it to the Guardian directly even if it means bypassing the Chancellor to do it."
She paled but remained sitting which only reinforced in my mind that her so-called schedules were non-existent, made up as she went along, or reflected so much favortism that even I would be able to tell.
I sighed in real disappointment. I had not wanted it to devolve into me pulling so much status on my first day back at the Hall. It was depressing. Speaking to Mr. Holman again I asked, "Has Mizz Marta had her breakfast yet?"
"Mrs. Cooksey should be making it up right now."
"Thank you."
I stretched and then nearly fell off the sofa seat that I had chosen to sleep on. I stood up and walked to the nearest window and looked out to see that the sky was just beginning to turn pink, my preferred hour at this time of year to wake up and start the day. And I certainly had a long day ahead of me.
It had taken a hacksaw to get the rusted padlock off the door and by that time it was too dark to do much more than make sure there were no monsters hiding in any closets or under any beds. I sent off the young men sent by someone called Mr. Clark and turned to look at my temporary living quarters.
First was to decide which bedroom would be mine but since I was sure I didn't want to use any of the rooms until they have been thoroughly cleaned I decided to sleep on the sofa since there was no staff to see and get affronted by it.
I dressed quickly then had a light breakfast of some of the traveling food I had fixed for my journey. It left no mess to clean up but a bit of wrapping paper and that I twisted and placed in the tinder basket near the kitchen fireplace.I carried my apron over my arm and then headed out to try and catch some of the staff at their breakfast in the staff dining hall.
The Talbot boys saw me coming and one held the door for me while the other bolted down a hall. I heard benches and chairs being moved and when I entered I caught the different expressions on various faces. The ones that knew me were unsurprised and even welcoming. The ones that didn't ranged from worry to disdain.
"Goodness, please I did not mean to interrupt."
All but a few began to sit down but a few remained standing stiffly.
"Is there something you wish to say?" I asked them.
A prunefaced woman said, "Your are the Widow?"
I inclined my head.
"You do not belong here."
"Well, you are certainly free to have your own opinion about that."
My answer flummoxed her. "But you are the Widow Linder."
"I had thought that was already an established fact."
"You ..."
I gave a slight smile but inside I wanted to stamp my foot. "I had hope to give you a few days but I suppose, to forestall any issues or create problems for Mrs. Linder perhaps it is best that I make things clear up front."
I looked around and tried to hold onto my pleasant expression. "The household has been through a trying time. I have been told that there have been ... let us call it a bit of confusion during a stressful transition. But the time is over for that to any longer be an excuse. I am here to make sure that the transition continues in a much calmer and constructive fashion so that The Guardian and the other Linders can see to their responsibilities without the interference of ... delays." I looked at the boards that lined one side of the dining room and saw with surprise they were blank. "Where are the schedules?"
The prune-faced woman said, "In my office."
"They do not belong in your office. They belong written upon the boards here so that all might see them."
"That is not the way we do it."
I did not like her tone. "I suggest you rethink your answer Mizz ... ?
When she did not give me her name Jode Talbot whispered, "That's Mizz Kinsey. She was the housekeeper at old Guardian's holdings."
I knew I would have to tread lightly. "You were aware that Linderhall already has a housekeeper?"
Her nostrils flaired and she said, "I was to have the care of the Guardian's private quarters."
"And do you now?"
She swallowed and the complained, "Final arrangements have been impossible to make with everything at sixes and sevens."
"Well I am here now and the sixes and sevens will cease. Fetch me the schedules. Now. The Guardian was quite explicit last night as to his wishes and his wishes were that Linderhall return to its former effeciency. And that is exactly what will occur." When she still stood there I said, "Starting with the schedules being posted for all to see. Transparency Mizz Kinsey. It prevents abuse of status, inadvertant and otherwise." Turning to the rest of the staff I said, "This is merely a reminder to some but status grants responsibilities, not rights. The greater your status the greater your responsibilities ... and in particular the responsibility of preventing abuse. The Guardianship of Tentuckia has always stood on the principle that all, regardless of status, are treated justly and are free of abuse. The Sheriff has assured me that regardless of where someone stands in the line of status, they will be treated equally under the law. The Chancellor said much the same to me last night. And the Guardian sealed it even further by stating that they are starting the way he means for the family to go, by making sure that there are no injustices in the incomes or taxes."
I sighed.
"But The Guardian and those under his authority cannot accomplish these tasks among the people of the region if their own home does not reflect those values."
Mrs. Kinsey interrupted my speech. "I am sure Mrs. Linder will have something to say of this."
"Indeed. She already has," I replied. "She gave me leave last night to set this part of the household in order so that she might focused her energies on the neighboring families and on the pending arrival of the heir. It behooves us all not to cause her any more stress than she is already under because the wife of the Guardian or not, she is still a pregnant woman. Her health will not be jeopardized under my watch. Do I make myself clear to everyone present?"
There was a lot of nodding all around. Everyone knew the dangers of childbirth. I continued, "I am well aware that everyone here has been under considerable strain and many are still recovering from the deadly illness that struck Linderhall. It is my intent to make this better for everyone ... but if I find someone is intentionally causing problems I will not hesitate to take action. I will not abuse my status but I won't be rolled like a sausage either. It is time for all of us to get to work, with a common goal. I do not wish to see the Great Council stick their nose in here."
"They'd never," said a man who reminded me of a frog.
"Oh yes they would. And the Mayor's Council could cause problems as well. If you thought living at Linderhall and being the Guardian was like being some great king of old you are badly mistaken. The Guardianship is a position of servitude to the people, not one of the people serving the Guardian. And as you have given your word to work for the Guardian by being here at Linderhall you too now serve the people of Tentuckia by making the Guardian's job easier, not more difficult."
I turned to Mr. Holman and said, "I am aware that the health of so many has precluded a normal schedule but if you and the other upper staff could put together a list of the most pressing matters that need attending I will try and provide a schedule since Mrs. Kinsey has failed to do so."
"I have not failed," that lady intoned like an outraged goose.
"Oh yes, you have. I gave you multiple opportunites to fetch the schedules you said were in your office. You failed to do so. That only leaves me with the understanding that the reason you did not fetch them is because they do not exist. If you think to stave me off and twit the Guardian's wife about my orders you can save the effect. She will be unavailable to you for the duration. I will have a word with Dr. Cummins to make sure of this and if you persist I will take it to the Guardian directly even if it means bypassing the Chancellor to do it."
She paled but remained sitting which only reinforced in my mind that her so-called schedules were non-existent, made up as she went along, or reflected so much favortism that even I would be able to tell.
I sighed in real disappointment. I had not wanted it to devolve into me pulling so much status on my first day back at the Hall. It was depressing. Speaking to Mr. Holman again I asked, "Has Mizz Marta had her breakfast yet?"
"Mrs. Cooksey should be making it up right now."
"Thank you."
Chapter 17
I left the dining hall and turned to enter the kitchens. They were clean but not the type of clean that I was used to seeing in Mrs. Cooksey's domain.
I saw her before she saw me. There was no laughter or singing as I was used to hearing and when she did spy me she stopped for a moment and then raised her apron to her eyes and started crying.
"Oh Mrs. Cooksey," I said rushing forward.
"Marta said thee vould come but I vas afraid to believe it."
"Well I am here. Not even the Hammers of Destruction could keep me away once I'd heard she'd asked for me."
"Ja, ja ... and now that thee are, vee vill get this messy Hall in order. Yoost look at my kitchen, yoost look."
"Actually is looks like you've done marvelously under the circumstances that I've heard of. I'm more concerned at the moment with the larder."
"It is a terrble mess," she said banging pots and pans around. "A terrible, terrible mess."
"Is is difficult ... well not difficult exactly as I've seen you make a meal fit for a Great Council banquet out of the rudest of ingredients ... is it more challenging than you would feel is appropriate to put together meals?"
"Ja, ja ... there are many thinks vat needs to be replenished. Soom will come viff the harvest but soom need to come from the towns." She looked at me then around and whispered, "They've not been listening to Mr. Tosh."
"Them?"
Mrs. Cooksey nodded. "And him being how he is ..."
"I'm afraid you'll need to speak plainer for me to understand."
In an even quieter whisper she said, "They are taking only coin in and not the guuds ... for the income and taxes."
It was my turn to blink. But I didn't need to say anything as Mrs. Cooksey just nodded.
A girl I didn't recognized came into the kitchen and then stopped when she saw me. Mrs. Cooksey smiled and said, "Alyce this is thee Vidow Linder. Vidow Linder this is Alyce, she is a very goot girl. She has been much help viff Marta."
"How do you do?"
If possible the girl's eyes got wider and then she smiled shyly. "Fine thank you ma'am." She turned to Mrs. Cooksey and said, "Mizz Marta is ready for her tray."
"Hah. You mean she is vedy to pick at her tray."
I asked, "She is not eating properly?"
Mrs. Cooksey rolled her eyes. "Vould that voman eat a bit more she vould get vell faster. But no. She vorries and vorries for the rest of us and tinks nuffing for herself."
Mrs. Cooksey threw up her hands and I decided to see for myself. "Alyce, have you had your breakfast yet?"
"No ma'am."
"Then please why don't you sit and have a bite and let me surprise Mizz Marta by being the one to take her tray in."
Mrs. Cooksey nodded, "Ja, ja ... surprise the voman. Maybe she vill forget her troubles long enough to eat rather than simply push de vood around on her plate."
I picked up the tray and went down another hall and stopped in front of a door once clearly labled "Housekeeper's Quarters" but the brass plate was now missing. I tried not to but I got a mean feeling for a certain woman that I'd only just met. Setting that aside for the moment I turned the knob and walked in and set the tray upon a small table.
"Thank you Alyce. Go eat Dear. I'll be out in a moment."
"Actually, Mrs. Cooksey thinks I should watch you to make sure that you eat rather than just push the 'vood' around."
I heard something fall and rushed through to the sleeping chamber to find Mizz Marta sitting up with a very surprised look on her face. I don't know who opened their arms first but we wound up in an embrace. It terrified me to feel how thin she was beneath her uniform and to see how truly pale and ill she looked.
"Well this is completely out of bounds. Has this household not been seen by a doctor at all? First Mr. Holman nearly coughs up a lung last night and now you looking so pale."
"Do not start Leeda ... uh ..."
I sighed. "I know protocol requires you to call me Widow but could we at least dispense with it in private? I know it's true but ... it still bothers me to be called that by people who knew me before."
"Remarry and no one will need to."
"Nat told me the same thing and I will tell you what I told him ... yuck."
She patted my cheek. "Perhaps with time your 'yuck' will pass."
I surprised her by saying, "Perhaps. But that is not what I wish to speak of. I've come to do the job you've set for me and ... oh Mizz Marta ... I had no idea things were so bad. The Sheriff spoke of there being problems but this is ridiculous. Half the staff at less than half strength. No schedules. And those that are up and about seem to be at cross purposes. What were they thinking trying to integrate so much at once?"
"It is really only a few of the staff from the other holding causing the worst of the problems on this level."
"Let me guess, that Mrs. Kinsey is one of them."
Marta nodded. "She has some sway it is true."
"She's about to sway herself out of the top of a tree. She disobeyed a direct instruction from me ... in front of the entire dining hall."
Marta gasped. "Surely not."
"Surely she did. I don't have much time to move. I am going to use that Dr. Cummins to block her access to the Guardian's wife. I would love to stay - and I will be back later in the day if you are up for it - but ..."
"Go. And hurry. I believe she listened to the Widows Ceena and Tonya more than was healthy. She rather doted on them."
"Hah. That explains it more."
I kissed her cheek and secured a promise ... a real one ... that she would at least try to finish most of what was on her tray and then bolted in the direction I knew the upper staff offices to be.
I left the dining hall and turned to enter the kitchens. They were clean but not the type of clean that I was used to seeing in Mrs. Cooksey's domain.
I saw her before she saw me. There was no laughter or singing as I was used to hearing and when she did spy me she stopped for a moment and then raised her apron to her eyes and started crying.
"Oh Mrs. Cooksey," I said rushing forward.
"Marta said thee vould come but I vas afraid to believe it."
"Well I am here. Not even the Hammers of Destruction could keep me away once I'd heard she'd asked for me."
"Ja, ja ... and now that thee are, vee vill get this messy Hall in order. Yoost look at my kitchen, yoost look."
"Actually is looks like you've done marvelously under the circumstances that I've heard of. I'm more concerned at the moment with the larder."
"It is a terrble mess," she said banging pots and pans around. "A terrible, terrible mess."
"Is is difficult ... well not difficult exactly as I've seen you make a meal fit for a Great Council banquet out of the rudest of ingredients ... is it more challenging than you would feel is appropriate to put together meals?"
"Ja, ja ... there are many thinks vat needs to be replenished. Soom will come viff the harvest but soom need to come from the towns." She looked at me then around and whispered, "They've not been listening to Mr. Tosh."
"Them?"
Mrs. Cooksey nodded. "And him being how he is ..."
"I'm afraid you'll need to speak plainer for me to understand."
In an even quieter whisper she said, "They are taking only coin in and not the guuds ... for the income and taxes."
It was my turn to blink. But I didn't need to say anything as Mrs. Cooksey just nodded.
A girl I didn't recognized came into the kitchen and then stopped when she saw me. Mrs. Cooksey smiled and said, "Alyce this is thee Vidow Linder. Vidow Linder this is Alyce, she is a very goot girl. She has been much help viff Marta."
"How do you do?"
If possible the girl's eyes got wider and then she smiled shyly. "Fine thank you ma'am." She turned to Mrs. Cooksey and said, "Mizz Marta is ready for her tray."
"Hah. You mean she is vedy to pick at her tray."
I asked, "She is not eating properly?"
Mrs. Cooksey rolled her eyes. "Vould that voman eat a bit more she vould get vell faster. But no. She vorries and vorries for the rest of us and tinks nuffing for herself."
Mrs. Cooksey threw up her hands and I decided to see for myself. "Alyce, have you had your breakfast yet?"
"No ma'am."
"Then please why don't you sit and have a bite and let me surprise Mizz Marta by being the one to take her tray in."
Mrs. Cooksey nodded, "Ja, ja ... surprise the voman. Maybe she vill forget her troubles long enough to eat rather than simply push de vood around on her plate."
I picked up the tray and went down another hall and stopped in front of a door once clearly labled "Housekeeper's Quarters" but the brass plate was now missing. I tried not to but I got a mean feeling for a certain woman that I'd only just met. Setting that aside for the moment I turned the knob and walked in and set the tray upon a small table.
"Thank you Alyce. Go eat Dear. I'll be out in a moment."
"Actually, Mrs. Cooksey thinks I should watch you to make sure that you eat rather than just push the 'vood' around."
I heard something fall and rushed through to the sleeping chamber to find Mizz Marta sitting up with a very surprised look on her face. I don't know who opened their arms first but we wound up in an embrace. It terrified me to feel how thin she was beneath her uniform and to see how truly pale and ill she looked.
"Well this is completely out of bounds. Has this household not been seen by a doctor at all? First Mr. Holman nearly coughs up a lung last night and now you looking so pale."
"Do not start Leeda ... uh ..."
I sighed. "I know protocol requires you to call me Widow but could we at least dispense with it in private? I know it's true but ... it still bothers me to be called that by people who knew me before."
"Remarry and no one will need to."
"Nat told me the same thing and I will tell you what I told him ... yuck."
She patted my cheek. "Perhaps with time your 'yuck' will pass."
I surprised her by saying, "Perhaps. But that is not what I wish to speak of. I've come to do the job you've set for me and ... oh Mizz Marta ... I had no idea things were so bad. The Sheriff spoke of there being problems but this is ridiculous. Half the staff at less than half strength. No schedules. And those that are up and about seem to be at cross purposes. What were they thinking trying to integrate so much at once?"
"It is really only a few of the staff from the other holding causing the worst of the problems on this level."
"Let me guess, that Mrs. Kinsey is one of them."
Marta nodded. "She has some sway it is true."
"She's about to sway herself out of the top of a tree. She disobeyed a direct instruction from me ... in front of the entire dining hall."
Marta gasped. "Surely not."
"Surely she did. I don't have much time to move. I am going to use that Dr. Cummins to block her access to the Guardian's wife. I would love to stay - and I will be back later in the day if you are up for it - but ..."
"Go. And hurry. I believe she listened to the Widows Ceena and Tonya more than was healthy. She rather doted on them."
"Hah. That explains it more."
I kissed her cheek and secured a promise ... a real one ... that she would at least try to finish most of what was on her tray and then bolted in the direction I knew the upper staff offices to be.
Chapter 18
I was almost there when the Sheriff waylaid me ... or tried to. "Move," I told him.
"Well you're in a mood."
"No I'm on a mission. And stay out of my way."
He let me pass but his curiosity got the best of him and he followed me to Dr. Cummins office and was there when I knocked on his door.
Someone called "Enter." I walked in and introduced myself. "I am the Widow Linder."
The doctor stood up quickly and came around. "Is someone ill?"
"That is what I am trying to prevent. I ..."
The Sheriff interrupted. "Don't stand on so much ceremony with him. He's another cousin."
I sighed and asked, "Which side this time? The sane or insane?"
My tone and words caused him to smile. "Oh definitely sane. He's the son of my father's sister."
"Lovely."
I turned to look at the man in question to find him leaning against his desk for a seat. "Had a lot to do with Daren have you?"
"Enough," I said. "But it is not the Sheriff and his peculiarities that I wish to discuss. Let me be frank, below stairs is a hideous mess. To order it properly is going to take all of my status and creativity. I spoke hastily this morning trying to head off a situation and now I need your cooperation."
Cautiously the doctor said, "If you will explain I will see if I can comply."
I turned to the Sheriff and said, "Shut the door, preferably with you on the other side of it unless you insist on being a busybody."
"Oh I definitely insist," he said with a glint in his eye.
"Fine, have it your way. But stay out of trouble and don't cause me any." To the doctor I said, "I suspect that part of the stress that the Guardian's wife is under is due in large part to household politics. People trying to prove they are needed above someone else, that they are a favorite, people getting comfortable with unfamiliar duties and higher status, the new staff trying to run things like they were run at your other holding except you don't make those kinds of changes in the midst of the mess that has been going on. Some appear to be claiming previleges they don't have or haven't earned, and that is only from one short meeting. A few seem to think their status gives them access to authority that they do not have and they are ... leapfrogging the chain of command if that makes sense."
The Sheriff said, "They're making an end run around and trying to go directly to the head."
"I suppose ... whatever what you just said means."
"It means that Mrs. Kinsey has been up to tricks again," the doctor interjected.
I relaxed a bit. "I would not call them tricks. They are much more harmful than that. She disobeyed a direct instruction from me."
Both mean said, "What?!"
"I don't wish to make too much of this yet. Perhaps she is just territorial and I will have to prove myself. That's fine, that I can deal with. But when I asked for the schedules she had stated she had them in her room. When I asked why they were not on the board in the dining hall like they were supposed to be she said it was because that isn't the way they did it at your other holding. I said she wasn't at your other holding, she was now at Linderhall and the way it is done here is complete transparency. I asked for the schedules not once but multiple times and she still did not produce them. That means either the schedules do not exist or she is refusing to produce them for some other reason ... either is unacceptible." I sighed. "And that's when I spoke precipitously. She threatened to take the issue directly to the Guardian's wife and I said that she no longer had such access because the stress of what was going on was endangering the heir."
"You may have spoken precipitously but you did not speak wrongly. And if you are asking me to support you on this I do and will inform the other staff that Mrs. Kinsey can ... leave a message with the Guardian's secretary."
I nodded. "Thank you. That should flummox her for a bit but I need to find a way to deal with this constructively and permanently."
"Why not request that she be sent back to my brother Gerald's holdings?"
I looked at the Sheriff and said, "Dunce. Because she doesn't have a place there any more. I won't gain order here by simply exporting the problems to someone else. I think her lack of job may be the biggest problem. Apparently she was supposed to hold a special position here ... to take care of your Father's and his Consort's private quarters?"
Both men shrugged. "It was a possibility but no contract was signed."
"What was she supposed to do if not that?"
Neither man had a clue. "Her brother was father's valet but he is one of the upper staff that succumbed."
"OK, that's another reason she might be insecure. But you do realize I cannot allow that to continue to interfere with the running of Linderhall?"
The two men looked at each other. I could see their concerns before they even had to voice them. "If you think I am only going to pick out the staff from your other holding to make an example of you are wrong. Mrs. Kinsey is just the current nail sticking up that I will need to hammer on. I just need to know that I have your support in insulating the Guardian's wife from any unpleasantness that may arise."
I turned to leave but heard as I swept out the door, "Are you sure she is sixteen?"
I was almost there when the Sheriff waylaid me ... or tried to. "Move," I told him.
"Well you're in a mood."
"No I'm on a mission. And stay out of my way."
He let me pass but his curiosity got the best of him and he followed me to Dr. Cummins office and was there when I knocked on his door.
Someone called "Enter." I walked in and introduced myself. "I am the Widow Linder."
The doctor stood up quickly and came around. "Is someone ill?"
"That is what I am trying to prevent. I ..."
The Sheriff interrupted. "Don't stand on so much ceremony with him. He's another cousin."
I sighed and asked, "Which side this time? The sane or insane?"
My tone and words caused him to smile. "Oh definitely sane. He's the son of my father's sister."
"Lovely."
I turned to look at the man in question to find him leaning against his desk for a seat. "Had a lot to do with Daren have you?"
"Enough," I said. "But it is not the Sheriff and his peculiarities that I wish to discuss. Let me be frank, below stairs is a hideous mess. To order it properly is going to take all of my status and creativity. I spoke hastily this morning trying to head off a situation and now I need your cooperation."
Cautiously the doctor said, "If you will explain I will see if I can comply."
I turned to the Sheriff and said, "Shut the door, preferably with you on the other side of it unless you insist on being a busybody."
"Oh I definitely insist," he said with a glint in his eye.
"Fine, have it your way. But stay out of trouble and don't cause me any." To the doctor I said, "I suspect that part of the stress that the Guardian's wife is under is due in large part to household politics. People trying to prove they are needed above someone else, that they are a favorite, people getting comfortable with unfamiliar duties and higher status, the new staff trying to run things like they were run at your other holding except you don't make those kinds of changes in the midst of the mess that has been going on. Some appear to be claiming previleges they don't have or haven't earned, and that is only from one short meeting. A few seem to think their status gives them access to authority that they do not have and they are ... leapfrogging the chain of command if that makes sense."
The Sheriff said, "They're making an end run around and trying to go directly to the head."
"I suppose ... whatever what you just said means."
"It means that Mrs. Kinsey has been up to tricks again," the doctor interjected.
I relaxed a bit. "I would not call them tricks. They are much more harmful than that. She disobeyed a direct instruction from me."
Both mean said, "What?!"
"I don't wish to make too much of this yet. Perhaps she is just territorial and I will have to prove myself. That's fine, that I can deal with. But when I asked for the schedules she had stated she had them in her room. When I asked why they were not on the board in the dining hall like they were supposed to be she said it was because that isn't the way they did it at your other holding. I said she wasn't at your other holding, she was now at Linderhall and the way it is done here is complete transparency. I asked for the schedules not once but multiple times and she still did not produce them. That means either the schedules do not exist or she is refusing to produce them for some other reason ... either is unacceptible." I sighed. "And that's when I spoke precipitously. She threatened to take the issue directly to the Guardian's wife and I said that she no longer had such access because the stress of what was going on was endangering the heir."
"You may have spoken precipitously but you did not speak wrongly. And if you are asking me to support you on this I do and will inform the other staff that Mrs. Kinsey can ... leave a message with the Guardian's secretary."
I nodded. "Thank you. That should flummox her for a bit but I need to find a way to deal with this constructively and permanently."
"Why not request that she be sent back to my brother Gerald's holdings?"
I looked at the Sheriff and said, "Dunce. Because she doesn't have a place there any more. I won't gain order here by simply exporting the problems to someone else. I think her lack of job may be the biggest problem. Apparently she was supposed to hold a special position here ... to take care of your Father's and his Consort's private quarters?"
Both men shrugged. "It was a possibility but no contract was signed."
"What was she supposed to do if not that?"
Neither man had a clue. "Her brother was father's valet but he is one of the upper staff that succumbed."
"OK, that's another reason she might be insecure. But you do realize I cannot allow that to continue to interfere with the running of Linderhall?"
The two men looked at each other. I could see their concerns before they even had to voice them. "If you think I am only going to pick out the staff from your other holding to make an example of you are wrong. Mrs. Kinsey is just the current nail sticking up that I will need to hammer on. I just need to know that I have your support in insulating the Guardian's wife from any unpleasantness that may arise."
I turned to leave but heard as I swept out the door, "Are you sure she is sixteen?"
Sammy55
Veteran Member
I expect knees are gonna be a'knockin' all through out the Linderhall!
Yup! Knees are gonna be a'knockin'!!
I agree with the question - "Are you sure she is (only) sixteen?" Wise young woman.
I LOVE IT!!!
Now get ready for the MOAR ROAR!!!
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
I hate to say it, but you know we need MOAR lol.
maineforlife
Contributing Member
Oh, so very exciting!! I don't know what stories you are finishing but Sissy has been out there in zombie land for a very long time.....
I'm just DYING to know if she turns!!!! or if that peroxide stuff worked.
momengineer
Senior Member
In the "postscipt"...Sissy is talking to her grandchildren...so I can't imagine that she turned. 
Chapter 19
All I did all day was run back and forth. Making sure Nanny and my cluckers were taken care of. Meeting with Mr. Holman, Mizz Cooksey, and Mr. Tosh, and then an early supper with Mizz Marta.
"I'm glad you insisted I stick with those infernal classes even when it meant missing a morning ride on Nanny. I know it was to keep my mind active and to finish out my training but believe me, I'm scrambling to remember all of the lessons now and very thankful for what I do remember."
Mizz Marta smiled tiredly. "It isn't memory you need but practice. Managing your own home is very different from managing an establishment the size of Linderhall. Even I find it challenging after so many years of few people living under this roof."
I shook my head. "It's not the size - I never had problems with those exercises in school - it is all the personalities ... especially the ones that seem to run cross purpose all the time. I just don't understand the need to make things more difficult than they need be naturally."
"Have you had any more issues with Mrs. Kinsey?"
"No, at least none that I've run into myself. I believe she had thought to out wait the staff guarding The Linder's private quarters but then was dumbfounded to be informed that the Guardian and his wife departed their quarters from a different exit and would be visiting away from the Hall for a few days."
"She is going to make a formidable enemy if you keep this up. I never understood why she left her former position. She does not seem to have any serious attachment to the Linder family singly or as a whole."
"You said she got along well with the Widows Ceena and Tonya."
"She did which surprised me. I'm not certain but perhaps she meant to go to them at the Dower House."
"What of her brother the valet?"
"They weren't brother and sister, they were former spouses."
"What? Are you sure? I was told ..."
"Oh yes. The local priest brought a copy of the marriage and divorce papers that had been forwarded to him so that they could be included in the staff files. In case of problems or some such was his reason I suppose." She sighed. "You need to be careful Leeda. Mrs. Kinsey can create problems.
I shrugged. "She started this tug o' war. If I back down now my status will mean nothing to the other staff and we'll be back to square one before we've barely left it." Rifling through the lists that I'd been given I shook my head. "I find it hard to believe that things got so bad in such a realtively short period of time. Every list speaks of shortages that are unnecessary. I've requested a meeting with the Chancellor."
"Gentle with your words Leeda."
I looked up and smiled. "I will." Then I bit my lip. "I am to meet he and his wife for a late dessert. I've met him but what is she like?"
"A new bride, painfully shy. It was arranged shortly before the old Guardian - your husband - became ill. She comes from a well-to-do family that bordered their other holding. I do not think she ... hmmm."
"Not another theatrical," I sighed.
"It is not like that. But she is young ... not too much older than you, perhaps eighteen. I also don't think she was allowed much training. She does like stitching and is actually quite talented at it."
"That's something to start with. And now I must go. You need your rest and I ... must beard one of the lions in their den."
She waved me off and her eyes were closed before I closed the door to her quarters. I almost backed into the girl named Alyce startling us both.
"I beg your pardon," she gasped.
"Actually it is I who should beg yours. I was not paying attention. May I ask you something?"
She nodded nervously.
"How is she really? She seems so unaccountably weak."
"Several of the old staff are ma'am. Dr. Cummins said it must be their age. But ..."
"But what?"
"But we've staff that came with us that are older and they've put off the illness faster. I worry ... Mizz Marta ... she's been kind to me. We weren't led to believe that anyone here would be. But ... but they have been. I hope the tonic Dr. Cummins has been prescribing works. They just keep getting weaker."
I patted her arm then walked away. My mind was going places it didn't want to. I had some time before I met with the Chancellor and I was going to change but then without really deciding to I found myself at the door of the Sheriff's office.
Before I could stop myself I knocked. There was no answer and I turned away. I was three steps down the hall when the door was opened and the Sheriff stuck his half shaven face out.
I turned and said, "Obviously I've ... I've come at an inconvenient moment but ..."
"What's this? What has you upset enough that you are being polite?" he asked with a friendly smile.
I don't know if he was trying to put me at ease or just what but it didn't work. I sighed and answered him, "Memories of having to be so suspicious of every one and every thing."
"Are you saying this to the Sheriff or to the man who wears the title?" he asked throwing my words back at me.
I shook my head and admitted, "Both. Please, a ... a moment of your time."
Becoming serious he opened the door and I stepped through as he wiped the remaining shaving soap from his face. It was a Spartan room done mostly in dark paneling, dark wood, and dark leather. Not even the gaslamps helped to lighten the atmosphere very much. A perfect office for an officer of the law. "Please, sit down."
I sat in a chair in front of the desk and he pulled a chair around and sat beside it. "You really are troubled."
"What can you tell me of Dr. Cummins?"
"He's married."
"If I didn't have so much on my mind your immediate assumption that I would care about that bit of information would irritate me."
"Perhaps you should simply tell me what is on your mind and I can tailor the information I have to your needs."
I looked to the heavens for guidance. "I haven't even been here a full day and I feel like I've been here a year longer than I was married." Shaking my head then looking at him I said, "Can you promise me that what I say here goes no further if it is just my imagination getting the better of me?"
"It depends. I don't like to give promises about things that I've not yet heard."
"Oh botheration."
"Easy Widow, just spit it out."
"You'll likely think I'm fit for a drama troupe but here it is. Based on who is getting well and who is not it seems that only the original staff here at the hall are still faultering. I mentioned something to Alyce ... she is a staff member from your father's holding ... and she is actually the one that brought it to my attention and she mentioned that Dr. Cummins stated that it was likely age ... but the new staff that were ill and of equal age or older have recovered in a way that far surpasses the existing staff of Linderhall. And then she let slip that Dr. Cummins had prescribed a tonic for those that were still ill but the old staff are only weakening. Do ... do you see what I am wondering?"
The Sheriff steepled his fingers. "I see it but John would never intentionally harm anyone. He takes his vow to do no harm so seriously he was nearly jailed for refusing to pick up a gun in defense of the university when he was still at studies. Father took John on to try and afford him some protection. Our society does not make it easy for men like him to live comfortably."
Guessing correctly, I asked,"He's a pacifist? You are sure?"
"Oh yes, definitely. And so is his wife's family. They are part of a small but very vocal group on the Mayor's Council."
I rubbed my forehead. "Then I need to speak to Dr. Cummins directly and pray he does't take affront at my questions." I looked at him and said, "Thank you for your time."
"Slow down. If you are still serious about this then I'll go with you."
"There's no ..."
"... every need."
I shrugged. Under normal circumstances I probably would have told him to stuff his presumption of what I needed him for but these weren't normal circumstances I was thinking.
"Very well."
"Humph. You must really be concerned if you aren't throwing a fit."
I looked at him cautiously. "Yes, I am. And I'm also worried about creating a situation that could be ... detrimental to the peace of the household and my own existence. But ... I just can't shake the concern and if something is wrong and I let status and fear of losing it keep me from my moral obligations ... I don't think I could live with myself."
All I did all day was run back and forth. Making sure Nanny and my cluckers were taken care of. Meeting with Mr. Holman, Mizz Cooksey, and Mr. Tosh, and then an early supper with Mizz Marta.
"I'm glad you insisted I stick with those infernal classes even when it meant missing a morning ride on Nanny. I know it was to keep my mind active and to finish out my training but believe me, I'm scrambling to remember all of the lessons now and very thankful for what I do remember."
Mizz Marta smiled tiredly. "It isn't memory you need but practice. Managing your own home is very different from managing an establishment the size of Linderhall. Even I find it challenging after so many years of few people living under this roof."
I shook my head. "It's not the size - I never had problems with those exercises in school - it is all the personalities ... especially the ones that seem to run cross purpose all the time. I just don't understand the need to make things more difficult than they need be naturally."
"Have you had any more issues with Mrs. Kinsey?"
"No, at least none that I've run into myself. I believe she had thought to out wait the staff guarding The Linder's private quarters but then was dumbfounded to be informed that the Guardian and his wife departed their quarters from a different exit and would be visiting away from the Hall for a few days."
"She is going to make a formidable enemy if you keep this up. I never understood why she left her former position. She does not seem to have any serious attachment to the Linder family singly or as a whole."
"You said she got along well with the Widows Ceena and Tonya."
"She did which surprised me. I'm not certain but perhaps she meant to go to them at the Dower House."
"What of her brother the valet?"
"They weren't brother and sister, they were former spouses."
"What? Are you sure? I was told ..."
"Oh yes. The local priest brought a copy of the marriage and divorce papers that had been forwarded to him so that they could be included in the staff files. In case of problems or some such was his reason I suppose." She sighed. "You need to be careful Leeda. Mrs. Kinsey can create problems.
I shrugged. "She started this tug o' war. If I back down now my status will mean nothing to the other staff and we'll be back to square one before we've barely left it." Rifling through the lists that I'd been given I shook my head. "I find it hard to believe that things got so bad in such a realtively short period of time. Every list speaks of shortages that are unnecessary. I've requested a meeting with the Chancellor."
"Gentle with your words Leeda."
I looked up and smiled. "I will." Then I bit my lip. "I am to meet he and his wife for a late dessert. I've met him but what is she like?"
"A new bride, painfully shy. It was arranged shortly before the old Guardian - your husband - became ill. She comes from a well-to-do family that bordered their other holding. I do not think she ... hmmm."
"Not another theatrical," I sighed.
"It is not like that. But she is young ... not too much older than you, perhaps eighteen. I also don't think she was allowed much training. She does like stitching and is actually quite talented at it."
"That's something to start with. And now I must go. You need your rest and I ... must beard one of the lions in their den."
She waved me off and her eyes were closed before I closed the door to her quarters. I almost backed into the girl named Alyce startling us both.
"I beg your pardon," she gasped.
"Actually it is I who should beg yours. I was not paying attention. May I ask you something?"
She nodded nervously.
"How is she really? She seems so unaccountably weak."
"Several of the old staff are ma'am. Dr. Cummins said it must be their age. But ..."
"But what?"
"But we've staff that came with us that are older and they've put off the illness faster. I worry ... Mizz Marta ... she's been kind to me. We weren't led to believe that anyone here would be. But ... but they have been. I hope the tonic Dr. Cummins has been prescribing works. They just keep getting weaker."
I patted her arm then walked away. My mind was going places it didn't want to. I had some time before I met with the Chancellor and I was going to change but then without really deciding to I found myself at the door of the Sheriff's office.
Before I could stop myself I knocked. There was no answer and I turned away. I was three steps down the hall when the door was opened and the Sheriff stuck his half shaven face out.
I turned and said, "Obviously I've ... I've come at an inconvenient moment but ..."
"What's this? What has you upset enough that you are being polite?" he asked with a friendly smile.
I don't know if he was trying to put me at ease or just what but it didn't work. I sighed and answered him, "Memories of having to be so suspicious of every one and every thing."
"Are you saying this to the Sheriff or to the man who wears the title?" he asked throwing my words back at me.
I shook my head and admitted, "Both. Please, a ... a moment of your time."
Becoming serious he opened the door and I stepped through as he wiped the remaining shaving soap from his face. It was a Spartan room done mostly in dark paneling, dark wood, and dark leather. Not even the gaslamps helped to lighten the atmosphere very much. A perfect office for an officer of the law. "Please, sit down."
I sat in a chair in front of the desk and he pulled a chair around and sat beside it. "You really are troubled."
"What can you tell me of Dr. Cummins?"
"He's married."
"If I didn't have so much on my mind your immediate assumption that I would care about that bit of information would irritate me."
"Perhaps you should simply tell me what is on your mind and I can tailor the information I have to your needs."
I looked to the heavens for guidance. "I haven't even been here a full day and I feel like I've been here a year longer than I was married." Shaking my head then looking at him I said, "Can you promise me that what I say here goes no further if it is just my imagination getting the better of me?"
"It depends. I don't like to give promises about things that I've not yet heard."
"Oh botheration."
"Easy Widow, just spit it out."
"You'll likely think I'm fit for a drama troupe but here it is. Based on who is getting well and who is not it seems that only the original staff here at the hall are still faultering. I mentioned something to Alyce ... she is a staff member from your father's holding ... and she is actually the one that brought it to my attention and she mentioned that Dr. Cummins stated that it was likely age ... but the new staff that were ill and of equal age or older have recovered in a way that far surpasses the existing staff of Linderhall. And then she let slip that Dr. Cummins had prescribed a tonic for those that were still ill but the old staff are only weakening. Do ... do you see what I am wondering?"
The Sheriff steepled his fingers. "I see it but John would never intentionally harm anyone. He takes his vow to do no harm so seriously he was nearly jailed for refusing to pick up a gun in defense of the university when he was still at studies. Father took John on to try and afford him some protection. Our society does not make it easy for men like him to live comfortably."
Guessing correctly, I asked,"He's a pacifist? You are sure?"
"Oh yes, definitely. And so is his wife's family. They are part of a small but very vocal group on the Mayor's Council."
I rubbed my forehead. "Then I need to speak to Dr. Cummins directly and pray he does't take affront at my questions." I looked at him and said, "Thank you for your time."
"Slow down. If you are still serious about this then I'll go with you."
"There's no ..."
"... every need."
I shrugged. Under normal circumstances I probably would have told him to stuff his presumption of what I needed him for but these weren't normal circumstances I was thinking.
"Very well."
"Humph. You must really be concerned if you aren't throwing a fit."
I looked at him cautiously. "Yes, I am. And I'm also worried about creating a situation that could be ... detrimental to the peace of the household and my own existence. But ... I just can't shake the concern and if something is wrong and I let status and fear of losing it keep me from my moral obligations ... I don't think I could live with myself."
Chapter 20
Dr. Cummins wasn't in. He'd been called to a difficult birth by a local midwife. I couldn't shake the feeling that time was running out.
The Sheriff asked, "Do you trust me?"
"I beg your pardon?"
"Do you trust me to do my job?"
"I suppose I must. I came to you didn't I?"
"Well that's something I suppose. Go to your meeting with James and I'll nose around and then speak with John. Perhaps a few more facts and he'll be able to make heads or tails of your concerns."
I nodded and accepted that I was a poor detective as my nerves were shot. "Just don't leave it for long. Please."
"I won't," he said patting my shoulder.
I tried to refocus but was still somewhat distracted by the time I got to the Chancellor's suite of rooms. A woman let me in after my knock and escorted me to what was once called the Green Room. It had to do with the original purpose of the structure that eventually became Linderhall. Its history however escaped my memory as I was trying to focus on what was at hand.
"Widow Linder, thank you for joining us. Let me introduce my wife.Tosha, this is the Widow Linder."
I bowed and said, "How do you do?"
Barely above a whisper I heard, "Very well thank you. Won't you please sit down. I already have the cake ready. I hope that's all right."
I looked into her worried eyes and smiled. She reminded me a bit of Rom's sister Beth before she left to be married. They were both fairy story pale and blonde with perfectly arched brows and pink lips. She looked like a porcelain doll.
I sampled the cake and it was delicious. "This is wonderful. Perfectly moist but not at all squishy ... this is the way a real cake should be."
Her cheeks became a dusky rose and I received a small smile as well. I had been right, she'd baked it herself.
We made small talk and I did manage to get her to give her opinion on needlework around the Hall. "I hate to ask not knowing what responsibilities you already have but, would you mind looking around and seeing if there is any serious repair work that needs to be ordered? I'm trying to prepare schedules for the Winter months and that is one thing I know less of than I should."
She glanced at me in surprise and then glanced at the Chancellor who in turn seemed surprised at her obvious happiness at the idea. "Tosha's very gifted in needlework," he told me. "Quite well-known for it in fact."
"Surely not," she whispered.
"Surely yes," I said. "At least so far as the fact that Mizz Marta pointed it out to me in particular and she's not one to praise without there being reason to."
In the end she agreed to have a look around and to actually save me the trouble of making a supply list as well. I told her, "You're a saint. That's all there is to it."
She had a pleasing laugh and I was happy that she went to her chambers with a smile while her husband and his scribe stayed to discuss other things with me.
When she had left he looked at me and said, "Thank you."
"For what?"
"Tosha misses her family a great deal but they tend to overshadow her when we visit, especially her sisters. She was worried ... well, she worried for no reason."
"None at all. Though you may not think as kindly of me when we begin discussing these other cursed lists I hold in my hand."
And with that we were off and running. The Chaneellor surprised me. He wasn't just an empty shirt with a title, he really knew what he spoke of.
After about an hour the Chancellor leaned back and said, "My father had desired the change from goods to coin in order to build the Hall's coffers back up. The pomp and circumstance of his predecessor's funeral drained quite a bit off. We've also found ... gaps ... in the assets where there should be none. I've been able to find record where an asset came in but not where the asset went out ... and yet there is no corresponding asset in the vaults. And he also spent an extraordinary amount on his 'medicine'."
I knew the subterfuge was for the benefit of the scribe since apparently the actual content of the medicine was not common knowledge.
He said, "Let me speak with The Linder. This might actually be a bargaining chip he can use with the towns. We'll offer them the option of paying their bills, at least in part, with goods."
I nodded. "I leave that to you. I'm just the messenger. However, we have several serious shortages that must be looked at starting with seed for the Spring crops. Mr. Tosh said he had mentioned it."
"Indeed he had. He ..."
The door banged open and the Sheriff stormed in. "John's been attacked."
Dr. Cummins wasn't in. He'd been called to a difficult birth by a local midwife. I couldn't shake the feeling that time was running out.
The Sheriff asked, "Do you trust me?"
"I beg your pardon?"
"Do you trust me to do my job?"
"I suppose I must. I came to you didn't I?"
"Well that's something I suppose. Go to your meeting with James and I'll nose around and then speak with John. Perhaps a few more facts and he'll be able to make heads or tails of your concerns."
I nodded and accepted that I was a poor detective as my nerves were shot. "Just don't leave it for long. Please."
"I won't," he said patting my shoulder.
I tried to refocus but was still somewhat distracted by the time I got to the Chancellor's suite of rooms. A woman let me in after my knock and escorted me to what was once called the Green Room. It had to do with the original purpose of the structure that eventually became Linderhall. Its history however escaped my memory as I was trying to focus on what was at hand.
"Widow Linder, thank you for joining us. Let me introduce my wife.Tosha, this is the Widow Linder."
I bowed and said, "How do you do?"
Barely above a whisper I heard, "Very well thank you. Won't you please sit down. I already have the cake ready. I hope that's all right."
I looked into her worried eyes and smiled. She reminded me a bit of Rom's sister Beth before she left to be married. They were both fairy story pale and blonde with perfectly arched brows and pink lips. She looked like a porcelain doll.
I sampled the cake and it was delicious. "This is wonderful. Perfectly moist but not at all squishy ... this is the way a real cake should be."
Her cheeks became a dusky rose and I received a small smile as well. I had been right, she'd baked it herself.
We made small talk and I did manage to get her to give her opinion on needlework around the Hall. "I hate to ask not knowing what responsibilities you already have but, would you mind looking around and seeing if there is any serious repair work that needs to be ordered? I'm trying to prepare schedules for the Winter months and that is one thing I know less of than I should."
She glanced at me in surprise and then glanced at the Chancellor who in turn seemed surprised at her obvious happiness at the idea. "Tosha's very gifted in needlework," he told me. "Quite well-known for it in fact."
"Surely not," she whispered.
"Surely yes," I said. "At least so far as the fact that Mizz Marta pointed it out to me in particular and she's not one to praise without there being reason to."
In the end she agreed to have a look around and to actually save me the trouble of making a supply list as well. I told her, "You're a saint. That's all there is to it."
She had a pleasing laugh and I was happy that she went to her chambers with a smile while her husband and his scribe stayed to discuss other things with me.
When she had left he looked at me and said, "Thank you."
"For what?"
"Tosha misses her family a great deal but they tend to overshadow her when we visit, especially her sisters. She was worried ... well, she worried for no reason."
"None at all. Though you may not think as kindly of me when we begin discussing these other cursed lists I hold in my hand."
And with that we were off and running. The Chaneellor surprised me. He wasn't just an empty shirt with a title, he really knew what he spoke of.
After about an hour the Chancellor leaned back and said, "My father had desired the change from goods to coin in order to build the Hall's coffers back up. The pomp and circumstance of his predecessor's funeral drained quite a bit off. We've also found ... gaps ... in the assets where there should be none. I've been able to find record where an asset came in but not where the asset went out ... and yet there is no corresponding asset in the vaults. And he also spent an extraordinary amount on his 'medicine'."
I knew the subterfuge was for the benefit of the scribe since apparently the actual content of the medicine was not common knowledge.
He said, "Let me speak with The Linder. This might actually be a bargaining chip he can use with the towns. We'll offer them the option of paying their bills, at least in part, with goods."
I nodded. "I leave that to you. I'm just the messenger. However, we have several serious shortages that must be looked at starting with seed for the Spring crops. Mr. Tosh said he had mentioned it."
"Indeed he had. He ..."
The door banged open and the Sheriff stormed in. "John's been attacked."
Chapter 21
"Where is he?"
"He's being taken to his quarters now."
Rather than ask where that might be I followed the Sheriff and the Chancellor as they hurried across the Hall. His rooms were actually next to his office which I thought rather strange but then again I was not a doctor and up at all hours seeing to emergencies.
A young woman came through a door tying the sash of a robe. I looked at her and said, "Please tell me you are Dr. Cummins' wife."
"Yes."
"Thank goodness. We need to get him stripped down so we can see what his injuries are and he'll be less likely to complain if it his wife doing it." And when I noted how that sounded I blathered, "And naturally you will too. I mean ..."
A rather nervous hiccup of laughter escaped her and she said, "I know what you mean."
I walked into the doctor's surgery and then stomped my foot in frustration. "Why does everything in here require a degree in Latin and Greek to read?!"
Then there was a breathless, "Ma'am, Mizz Marta said you'd need this."
I turned to find Alyce completely out of breath but holding a quilted satchel. I looked at her and said, "Please tell her that she is a blessed woman and that I intend to grow up and be just like her."
The men looked at me like I had taken leave of my senses but Alyce gave a quick smile that faultered when she glanced towards the doctor and then rushed back to what I knew would be Mizz Marta's side. That was when another woman entered the room.
I looked up and we sized each other up. She said, "I'm April."
"I'm Leeda. If you will kindly deal with your brothers before they have palpitations I will deal with the doctor."
"A plan it is. I like you already."
April rounded on her brothers and I turned to the doctor. His wife was already washing the cuts and bruises and he was regaining consciousness. I stepped over and said, "Behave for your wife Sir or you'll have both April and I poking at you."
That stopped him for a moment but when I opened the satchel and he saw what it contained he snapped, "I am fine. I do not need any quakery."
"Hah. What is more quakery than that pharmacopoeia of ingredients in your surgery? I could only read about half of the labels in there ... and most of it is because of someone's hideous handwriting."
"You can read Greek and Latin?"
I rolled my eyes. "I don't do it for fun and pleasure but yes. How else am I supposed to tell which midicinal plant belongs to which family? Now be still or I'll have your wife sit on you."
"I beg your pardon?"
"Save your begging for your wife Sir. I have a feeling she is going to need to be a long-suffering sort to deal with you. It is common knowledge that for centuries doctors have made the worst patients."
I was an hour cleaning, salving, and stitching and at the end of it I was as exhausted as the doctor. I left him in the care of his wife and closed the door to their rooms to give them some much needed privacy.
My hands were shaking as I cleaned things up trying to leave the room's contents as painstakingly neat as I had found them. A quiet knock and then a head came around the corner. "Hi. I'm Nancee. April asked if you'd come to the ... well it is the sitting room that is that putrid green with all the animal heads on the wall ... when you are finished."
"I'll be there in about two moments."
I closed Miss Marta's satchel and made a note that I needed to replenish the bandages and cleaning cloths in it then headed to what was usually called the Huntsman Room; though the "one that is the putrid green color" described it just as well.
The door was open and I walked in. "How is he?" the Chancellor demanded upon seeing me.
"Resting at the moment but he is going to be sore for a while. I see no evidence of concussion or internal injuries but I told his wife the symptoms to look for. There was another woman there ... older ...?"
April said, "That would be Lorna. She's Kate's companion."
"Kate? Oh, you mean the doctor's wife." I rubbed my forehead. A glass was pushed into my hand and I looked to up to see the Sheriff.
"It's cider. You need the sweetening."
"More than likely," I said knowing he meant both for energy and for my nature. "I'm almost afraid to ask what happened to cause this."
The Sheriff said, "I had decided to walk to the home John was going to when I came upon him being drug off into the bushes by three bad characters. I startled them and they took a shot at me. I returned fire. Winged one, one got away, and one is laid out in the butcher's shed getting sketched for identification purposes before he gets hung at the crossroads."
"Thieves?"
"No, or at least they did not act like most thieves act."
April glared and said, "Had they been thieves, there would have been no need to beat John. He would have given up his purse without a struggle."
I looked at the Sheriff but his eyes told me to keep any further questions to myself.
April and Nancee both bid me a goodnight after saying it was nice to meet me even under such circumstances, or perhaps because of the circumstances since I had been able to help John. That's when I noticed how late it was and excused myself to go speak with any staff that remained awake.
"Chancellor, perhaps we can reschedule our meeting."
"Of course Widow. But do not worry, I will put into motion what we've already spoken of."
"Thank you." I turned to leave, bidding the remaining people in the room a goodnight with a nod of my head.
I made my way below stairs and as I had suspected there were several staff sitting up waiting for news. "He'll live," I told them. "Now you lot need to get some rest. And Mr. Holman! What are you doing still up?"
"Actually Widow, I felt better this evening than I have in some time. And that's even not taking the doctor's tonic."
"About that tonic ..." I shook my head. "Never mind. We are all too tired. Seriously though, everyone but the ones on night duty need to get some rest. I'm not sure what the next few days will bring but we all need to be ready for whatever it might be."
They filed out and I walked quietly to Mizz Marta's quarters and stuck my head in. Alyce was asleep on a cot. I set the satchel down as silently as I could but something must have awoken Alyce for she sat up quickly. I put my finger to my lips and then mouthed, "He'll be alright. How is Mizz Marta?"
"Better ma'am."
Carefully I asked, "Did she have the doctor's tonic?"
"Not today. Mrs. Kinsey didn't bring it."
Even more carefully I asked, "Mrs. Kinsey is the one that makes the tonic?"
"No ma'am but she is the only one allowed to fetch it but the Doctor has been out most of the day and then ... I'm sure he'll have orders on how to make it up for everyone, especially now it seems to be working."
"Hmmm. Thank you Alyce. Now get back to sleep. Morning is going to come far too quickly I'm afraid."
I turned and was nearly back to the dining hall when a hand covered my mouth in the dark.
"Where is he?"
"He's being taken to his quarters now."
Rather than ask where that might be I followed the Sheriff and the Chancellor as they hurried across the Hall. His rooms were actually next to his office which I thought rather strange but then again I was not a doctor and up at all hours seeing to emergencies.
A young woman came through a door tying the sash of a robe. I looked at her and said, "Please tell me you are Dr. Cummins' wife."
"Yes."
"Thank goodness. We need to get him stripped down so we can see what his injuries are and he'll be less likely to complain if it his wife doing it." And when I noted how that sounded I blathered, "And naturally you will too. I mean ..."
A rather nervous hiccup of laughter escaped her and she said, "I know what you mean."
I walked into the doctor's surgery and then stomped my foot in frustration. "Why does everything in here require a degree in Latin and Greek to read?!"
Then there was a breathless, "Ma'am, Mizz Marta said you'd need this."
I turned to find Alyce completely out of breath but holding a quilted satchel. I looked at her and said, "Please tell her that she is a blessed woman and that I intend to grow up and be just like her."
The men looked at me like I had taken leave of my senses but Alyce gave a quick smile that faultered when she glanced towards the doctor and then rushed back to what I knew would be Mizz Marta's side. That was when another woman entered the room.
I looked up and we sized each other up. She said, "I'm April."
"I'm Leeda. If you will kindly deal with your brothers before they have palpitations I will deal with the doctor."
"A plan it is. I like you already."
April rounded on her brothers and I turned to the doctor. His wife was already washing the cuts and bruises and he was regaining consciousness. I stepped over and said, "Behave for your wife Sir or you'll have both April and I poking at you."
That stopped him for a moment but when I opened the satchel and he saw what it contained he snapped, "I am fine. I do not need any quakery."
"Hah. What is more quakery than that pharmacopoeia of ingredients in your surgery? I could only read about half of the labels in there ... and most of it is because of someone's hideous handwriting."
"You can read Greek and Latin?"
I rolled my eyes. "I don't do it for fun and pleasure but yes. How else am I supposed to tell which midicinal plant belongs to which family? Now be still or I'll have your wife sit on you."
"I beg your pardon?"
"Save your begging for your wife Sir. I have a feeling she is going to need to be a long-suffering sort to deal with you. It is common knowledge that for centuries doctors have made the worst patients."
I was an hour cleaning, salving, and stitching and at the end of it I was as exhausted as the doctor. I left him in the care of his wife and closed the door to their rooms to give them some much needed privacy.
My hands were shaking as I cleaned things up trying to leave the room's contents as painstakingly neat as I had found them. A quiet knock and then a head came around the corner. "Hi. I'm Nancee. April asked if you'd come to the ... well it is the sitting room that is that putrid green with all the animal heads on the wall ... when you are finished."
"I'll be there in about two moments."
I closed Miss Marta's satchel and made a note that I needed to replenish the bandages and cleaning cloths in it then headed to what was usually called the Huntsman Room; though the "one that is the putrid green color" described it just as well.
The door was open and I walked in. "How is he?" the Chancellor demanded upon seeing me.
"Resting at the moment but he is going to be sore for a while. I see no evidence of concussion or internal injuries but I told his wife the symptoms to look for. There was another woman there ... older ...?"
April said, "That would be Lorna. She's Kate's companion."
"Kate? Oh, you mean the doctor's wife." I rubbed my forehead. A glass was pushed into my hand and I looked to up to see the Sheriff.
"It's cider. You need the sweetening."
"More than likely," I said knowing he meant both for energy and for my nature. "I'm almost afraid to ask what happened to cause this."
The Sheriff said, "I had decided to walk to the home John was going to when I came upon him being drug off into the bushes by three bad characters. I startled them and they took a shot at me. I returned fire. Winged one, one got away, and one is laid out in the butcher's shed getting sketched for identification purposes before he gets hung at the crossroads."
"Thieves?"
"No, or at least they did not act like most thieves act."
April glared and said, "Had they been thieves, there would have been no need to beat John. He would have given up his purse without a struggle."
I looked at the Sheriff but his eyes told me to keep any further questions to myself.
April and Nancee both bid me a goodnight after saying it was nice to meet me even under such circumstances, or perhaps because of the circumstances since I had been able to help John. That's when I noticed how late it was and excused myself to go speak with any staff that remained awake.
"Chancellor, perhaps we can reschedule our meeting."
"Of course Widow. But do not worry, I will put into motion what we've already spoken of."
"Thank you." I turned to leave, bidding the remaining people in the room a goodnight with a nod of my head.
I made my way below stairs and as I had suspected there were several staff sitting up waiting for news. "He'll live," I told them. "Now you lot need to get some rest. And Mr. Holman! What are you doing still up?"
"Actually Widow, I felt better this evening than I have in some time. And that's even not taking the doctor's tonic."
"About that tonic ..." I shook my head. "Never mind. We are all too tired. Seriously though, everyone but the ones on night duty need to get some rest. I'm not sure what the next few days will bring but we all need to be ready for whatever it might be."
They filed out and I walked quietly to Mizz Marta's quarters and stuck my head in. Alyce was asleep on a cot. I set the satchel down as silently as I could but something must have awoken Alyce for she sat up quickly. I put my finger to my lips and then mouthed, "He'll be alright. How is Mizz Marta?"
"Better ma'am."
Carefully I asked, "Did she have the doctor's tonic?"
"Not today. Mrs. Kinsey didn't bring it."
Even more carefully I asked, "Mrs. Kinsey is the one that makes the tonic?"
"No ma'am but she is the only one allowed to fetch it but the Doctor has been out most of the day and then ... I'm sure he'll have orders on how to make it up for everyone, especially now it seems to be working."
"Hmmm. Thank you Alyce. Now get back to sleep. Morning is going to come far too quickly I'm afraid."
I turned and was nearly back to the dining hall when a hand covered my mouth in the dark.
sssarawolf
Has No Life - Lives on TB
LOLOLOLOL clifff alert.
I was just merrily reading along, enjoying myself. My hand on the mouse, sliding the cursor down the screen to yet another chapter, and another one, and another one,(oh be still my heart) every word gently moving me deeper into the world of Linderhall, and then all of a sudden BAM, $%^# cliff.
Oh well, dinner is all ready late, but I guess I'll go cook it now.
More please.
Oh well, dinner is all ready late, but I guess I'll go cook it now.
More please.