Chapter 4431Please respect copyright.PENANA4BbrlV9SCj
431Please respect copyright.PENANA9shXPQWVhG
Mid-morning the next day Nat sat at my table having come by to check on me.431Please respect copyright.PENANAYfAXRukIVG
431Please respect copyright.PENANATCjyncFmDU
"By all that's holy. Such news," Nat muttered. "And it should have been shared with the church. We need to lay in extra food and medical supplies in case the enemies on our border try an incursion during this time of apparent weakness."431Please respect copyright.PENANAvNzvhgJAw9
431Please respect copyright.PENANAPu8vaZgnM1
"I believe the Captain ... or whatever title he bares as the brother of the Guardian ... may well be having a word with the Mayor."431Please respect copyright.PENANABocfMw0MJ9
431Please respect copyright.PENANAVNBJSRYQdZ
Noting my tone of satisfaction Nat counseled, "Leeda ... it is not healthy that you still hold such a grudge. And dangerous until we know where this new Guardian stands ... whether the Mayor has his ear or not."431Please respect copyright.PENANAVBsl8KA6ps
431Please respect copyright.PENANA2DB3lK4bdz
Knowing he was right but still unable to let it go I said, "Perhaps. On the other hand ... oh bother, what am I to do with my fowl." The thought distracted me from where I would have taken the conversation and confused Nat.431Please respect copyright.PENANAGq1OjNknWu
431Please respect copyright.PENANAf3zQZ2ch4z
"What? Why do anything with them ... the lazy cluckers already drop more eggs than you can use."431Please respect copyright.PENANAPz0oYupcEP
431Please respect copyright.PENANA4QOrB9f0XU
Attempting to explain I told him, "That is the other part Nat. The housekeeper at Linderhall ... she needs me. It will be at least through the Winter."431Please respect copyright.PENANACeCetsyZal
431Please respect copyright.PENANAhuXgzyk7NX
Nat immediately pruned up. "No. I ..."431Please respect copyright.PENANAZGo6hMbwHf
431Please respect copyright.PENANAHJxpQwrHey
"Nat, I want to go. Or should I say I want to leave this place regardless of where I go. This is no longer my home. I had thought to write to Sister Evelyn but ... truly ... this may be God opening a door for me to escape before what you call my 'grudge' becomes too deeply entrenched."431Please respect copyright.PENANARd1mXV4hdw
431Please respect copyright.PENANAB1rnf6ojPI
"What incentive have they given? And are you sure they come from Linderhall?"431Please respect copyright.PENANA43XADGCwj0
431Please respect copyright.PENANAP2JjUDuarm
A soon-to-be familiar voice called from the dooryard. "Widow?"431Please respect copyright.PENANAtC7Tz4hk0p
431Please respect copyright.PENANA4rT2PxRkrc
I stepped to the door and beckoned him over. "I can offer you a seat at the table this time Sir. My cousin is here."431Please respect copyright.PENANANOJQyZ9bXr
431Please respect copyright.PENANAxV6Ifj7JNr
The man took off his hat and shook hands with Nat. "Daren Linder ... and you are Brother Harper? I just stopped by the church and Father Gabe sent me this way. I was hoping to catch you."431Please respect copyright.PENANAQ6lWKyepat
431Please respect copyright.PENANANAfqTWyQCZ
Nat nodded. 431Please respect copyright.PENANAo12LEbCjaw
"Please, sit, allow me to pour you a cup of tea?" I pulled a bottle of apple wine from the cupboard and asked, "Or something stronger despite the hour of the day? Forgive me for saying so but you look like you could use it. And the fruitcake should be ready to eat if you'd both like a slice."431Please respect copyright.PENANAq6eDWD9oXR
431Please respect copyright.PENANAoyugMC4ZzO
Nat gave me a scowl. He was partial to my fruitcake and he knew that I knew it and was trying to bribe him into a more open mind. "Bah!" he said suddenly capitulating. "You'll do as you please anyway Leeda. Let us not have an argument over it. I'll have a slice of cake and a cup of wine." He turned to the man and said, "If I were you I wouldn't turn either down. Leeda has a fine hand at such things despite her youth."431Please respect copyright.PENANAhzetR27omt
431Please respect copyright.PENANA52uNeLzgUk
I rolled my eyes at Nat behind his back and the man's eyebrows shot up. Nat and I were close despite the ten year difference in our ages. Both of us are unconventional in our own way. I suspect that the man was having to rework his expectations of us. He looked at Nat and said, "She has told you of my request?"431Please respect copyright.PENANAxdBxbrJtMd
431Please respect copyright.PENANA5Sz25u1nHh
"Only just. What guarantee do I have that you are who you say you are? I made the mistake in believing that the Linders would care for her once, I won't make the mistake twice."431Please respect copyright.PENANAs8PJLhAcuZ
431Please respect copyright.PENANAMH6WjAdtfr
"Nat!" I exclaimed, worried he was making an enemy he did not need.431Please respect copyright.PENANAiC3nBmxf0U
431Please respect copyright.PENANAId35t4Vxsq
"It is true and I won't stand by again."431Please respect copyright.PENANAAXAkHC5oJB
431Please respect copyright.PENANAF7XVgR1ikR
The man didn't seem to take any affront to Nat's words and in fact seemed to relax ... though perhaps it was his first bite of cake that did it. "I've papers here. And if you've need of further proof I can send for Mr. Tosh who is going over the Mayor's books as we speak."431Please respect copyright.PENANAhh171gcQOM
431Please respect copyright.PENANA8p3LOYIT64
I was glad I hadn't taken a sip of wine yet or I would have choked on it. "Mr. Tosh is here?"431Please respect copyright.PENANAFnTnuE7UYh
431Please respect copyright.PENANAlASJPz4Hrh
"Yes," he answered with smirk.431Please respect copyright.PENANAzGQBXsvpvd
431Please respect copyright.PENANAVKRgTb0w4z
"Well, the ... hmmm ... the Mayor must be finding it ... well ..."431Please respect copyright.PENANA1b9kY9s5r4
431Please respect copyright.PENANApofURyZxIF
The man snorted and nodded. "Indeed he is."431Please respect copyright.PENANAe8A5nnDXFn
431Please respect copyright.PENANAtW9Z2t89f4
Nat turned to me and asked, "You know this Mr. Tosh?"431Please respect copyright.PENANA2pCqin2fsR
431Please respect copyright.PENANAzFpelCLBIS
"He is the manager of Linderhall, or was when I resided there."431Please respect copyright.PENANACBGMcamf0F
431Please respect copyright.PENANA5mkHg1SvaD
The man said, "Still is though his title has been changed to Bailiff and my brother has bid him hire some assistants so that he can do more touring."431Please respect copyright.PENANAwX8B4Bbzkz
431Please respect copyright.PENANAUJD4n21Xvd
Nat whistled. "That's going to go over fine."431Please respect copyright.PENANArvsscXtaWx
431Please respect copyright.PENANAKoOC5PE5fA
"Aye, there's already been talk but the truth is that it is as much for the protection of the towns as it is for the Guardian. Before his death my father discovered a great many discrepancies and unknowns in his cousin's income and the same in the tax rolls. The review is to straighten the two sets of books out in case the missing entries are because the books have become confused over the years. Mr. Tosh said that the old Guardian did his own books and was tight fisted with them. My brother has decided to continue with the idea of a new accounting to show both the people and the Great Council that it is to be a lawful transfer despite the unusual nature of this succession, that there are no plans to take advantage of those under our care and nurture."431Please respect copyright.PENANA2pT5vnIkq3
431Please respect copyright.PENANAiJHkoBGO5L
Nat nodded. "Makes sense when said that way. But let us return to the topic at hand. I will be blunt and ask what duties will Leeda be expected to fulfill."431Please respect copyright.PENANAPVPsrSw0OB
431Please respect copyright.PENANAefE6EA6Hbg
It took but a moment for both the man and I to catch Nat's meaning. Fear leapt into my chest but the man was quick to dispel it. "Mostly she will be a liaison between Mr. Tosh as Bailiff, Marta as housekeeper, my other brother James who has taken the position of Chancellor, and my sister in law so that the Hall can be pulled back in shape after so much disruption. Mr. Tosh will have his hands full guiding the incoming harvest; James with helping Tomas - The Linder - establish his place on the Great Council, and Marta is still recovering and will need to be careful through the winter. For the rest, I had thought that she can be a companion to my sisters who are ... high spirited and not enjoying the restrictions they are experiencing in their new social circle."431Please respect copyright.PENANAtDshT2Owo6
431Please respect copyright.PENANAGzq1qRItZu
Nat still looked unconvinced. "Nat, let me try and understand." I turned to the man and asked, "Basically what you wish is for someone to ... hmmm ... put your sister in law at her ease, perhaps introduce your sisters to the household staff, and if possible redirect everyone's energies so that the work can proceed quickly and with as few ... er ... bumps in the road as possible."431Please respect copyright.PENANA5Pz0pCKWKD
431Please respect copyright.PENANAMW4iQ1JRHf
The man nodded. "You see it rightly." To Nat he explained, "The Guardian's wife is expecting her first child. To say it has my brother ... er ..."431Please respect copyright.PENANA66E9HCHNNh
431Please respect copyright.PENANAth26xYymaF
Nat nodded thoughtfully. "The village priest often needs to counsel men that are ... er ..."431Please respect copyright.PENANAxmelMJBpAG
431Please respect copyright.PENANALbXQWOepbn
I rolled my eyes at their er's. "How close to climbing the ceiling in the meeting hall is he?"431Please respect copyright.PENANATLp6yvX3cl
431Please respect copyright.PENANAGYnHvzyPa2
The man looked at me with a smile. "He's almost able to swing from the gaslamps."431Please respect copyright.PENANAOfyVCgkKBC
431Please respect copyright.PENANADcVMGHRNSl
Nat leaned forward and said, "Be that as it may, and I'm not so deep in the church that I can't see where my cousin’s presence wouldn’t help, but what of her status?"431Please respect copyright.PENANAnzLaHztFD6
431Please respect copyright.PENANAbWzJLoLU22
"Nat ..."431Please respect copyright.PENANAmzd11L9Piz
431Please respect copyright.PENANAr4QI1iyGd8
"No Leeda. It needs discussing. I know you are fond of this Marta and will do all in your power for her regardless of my concerns but on this I'll have my say." He turned to the man and said, "Leeda was sent back here with no escort, no dower, no portion beyond food and a few circles to keep herself for less than a year. She was forced to give up what could have been sold to secure some future for her and left with the burden of a status that keeps her from pursuits better suited to her talents and nature. Had she not had this cabin to return to she would have been forced to beg for charity ... but from whom I don't know as none have stepped forward to offer much more than consternation and resentment at having to rearrange the social scale of Harper. My cousin was a wife, not a temporary consort, and should have been treated better ... should be treated better."431Please respect copyright.PENANA6nwd5O06IT
431Please respect copyright.PENANAUSbmJvbArz
The man scowled. "It wasn't by our hand. My father was told she would be there to care for. That she wasn't made it appear ..." In an aggravated tone he said, "It was weeks before I could finally get some of the story out of Marta and Tosh and they still kept most of the facts close. I assume it was because of the presence of the other widows and the mischief they could cause. I knew the Below Stairs held some grudge and distrust but I was searching in the wrong direction. I thought it was due to their attachment to the previous Guardian or perhaps because he'd treated them ill."431Please respect copyright.PENANAvfvuLCYO18
431Please respect copyright.PENANAWoVJkPSWzm
I shook my head. "No. The Linder treated his staff well and was even handed, if not generous with his words or coin to them. Ceena and Tonya could be a bit cold to the staff but that was status talking and them showing how they were raised rather than intentional misconduct. And as for the rest, you must be mistaken yet. Mizz Marta and Mr. Tosh would hold no grudge on my account, nor would any of the other staff for that matter. Any changes would have them concerned as most have been staff since their apprenticeship and for several, their parents before them were and are also staff. When your life and livelihood depends on a single family, it can be nerve-wracking to be in the midst of change. And you've likely brought in your own staff to the mix." At his nod I said, "I'll sort out the problem when we arrive. The quicker the issues can be concluded the better for all concerned." The man just stared at me. "What?"431Please respect copyright.PENANAbH1bpYQVvs
431Please respect copyright.PENANA0zQo7xtELt
"I've a sister your age - the younger, not the older which I have a feeling you will get along well with - and I cannot imagine ... You are ..."431Please respect copyright.PENANA4m7cGrLhrB
431Please respect copyright.PENANA8P4ynzNjI4
Nat nodded. "Leeda came on like this during the dying time we had here when she was a child. The Sisters saw it and sent her to the college early. She would have had a triple had her marriage to the old Guardian not interfered."431Please respect copyright.PENANAYTQd8CIbbc
431Please respect copyright.PENANAbdM7FghMBj
"I thought she was given in marriage at 14?"431Please respect copyright.PENANAle9ys0zr5c
431Please respect copyright.PENANA3bV41Qycpn
"She was."431Please respect copyright.PENANABiYuEAWgfA
431Please respect copyright.PENANA5pRDQBPW4Z
"Hello. I'm in the room, not on my deathbed or deaf," I reminded them.431Please respect copyright.PENANAxSux0yYZ5L
431Please respect copyright.PENANA8tenIqxnNm
The man turned to look at me. "And you are 16 now? Why did you not finish the college or go to university?"431Please respect copyright.PENANA1Jd1wUQF3y
431Please respect copyright.PENANACrL7qUFH42
I spit, "Status."431Please respect copyright.PENANAOboKXTxojX
431Please respect copyright.PENANAJOTDG83wQQ
"Status? But surely ..." He stopped and then remembered that status was a two edged sword. Depending on your status you can receive social perks but at the same time be held back so that those with less status can have a fair try at seeking their fortune. He sighed. "My brother may be able to help but not until after the succession is secured."431Please respect copyright.PENANA4hNf1cQLgm
431Please respect copyright.PENANA0EsUM74BI9
I shrugged, "I don't expect anything to change so don't make a request on my behalf."431Please respect copyright.PENANAEiQqXMZJvU
431Please respect copyright.PENANAxH4DGjZwcG
Nat looked at the heavens and sighed, "And this is why she needs someone to look after her interests."431Please respect copyright.PENANAoFhInRwXrp
431Please respect copyright.PENANADHhrDWnGSo
The ma\n nodded and they both began to irritate me. Before I could express it however the man said, "I have some leeway in this matter. I'll get Mr. Tosh to write a contract and at a minimum she will at least have a stipend and a sum settled on her."431Please respect copyright.PENANA97YIPrH37Y
431Please respect copyright.PENANAJ25UZR2sHN
There was some scratching at the backdoor and I left the two men to their dickering. I looked out and there to my great surprise saw a runner from the Mayor's house. "May I help you?" I asked.431Please respect copyright.PENANAIxYcobMcKl
431Please respect copyright.PENANA1r0jFBi4LY
"A delivery Widow Linder," the boy said holding out a piece of paper.431Please respect copyright.PENANABqff5FZAU2
431Please respect copyright.PENANAhln5ifQLAp
I took it by its corner and the boy ran off, presumably to complete other tasks. I walked back in holding the invitation like it was a piece of hairy nettle and me without gloves.431Please respect copyright.PENANAgDOYNFihNZ
431Please respect copyright.PENANAelKHeIsWrR
"What is it Leeda?" Nat asked.431Please respect copyright.PENANAqn9OL1RI9m
431Please respect copyright.PENANAdXKDK8Cz03
"I have no idea."431Please respect copyright.PENANA3XDveSHCY3
431Please respect copyright.PENANAP82wWHtdau
"It looks like an invitation."431Please respect copyright.PENANAw0QF36roZn
431Please respect copyright.PENANAbmdT7E1ZHE
"I know."431Please respect copyright.PENANAzuW3pO7lqu
431Please respect copyright.PENANAkE8odCb1q0
The look on my face must have been something to behold because the man laughed and asked, "And do you always treat invitations like they are plague riddled bombs?"431Please respect copyright.PENANADjE0Z8N3wB
431Please respect copyright.PENANAPv6RDSCQ0R
"Seeing as I've never been invited anywhere much less to the Mayor's home I'm honestly not certain how I am to treat it. Are you the reason for this?" I asked him in accusation.431Please respect copyright.PENANAA4ksrHSkhm
431Please respect copyright.PENANAxSjfTkatet
He smirked. "Perhaps." More seriously he asked me, "You've never been invited to the Mayor's house? I was given to understand that you were quite close."431Please respect copyright.PENANAlIIgl2feex
431Please respect copyright.PENANAxUK9UszVTz
Nat snorted and said, "The Waverly family holds the post once held by the Harpers. Our great grandfather grew weary of the politics and retired. We became the Woodsmen ... at least until the plague that killed us all. It came from fleas carried by the deer and ... "431Please respect copyright.PENANA4JBX4uUQQy
431Please respect copyright.PENANAYPaCqejRBo
I put my hand on Nat's shoulder as I knew it was an old worry of his. "Rest Nat. It was never your calling to be a Woodsman. Grandfather and father never regretted sending you to seminary. And that is ancient history. As for the connection with the Waverly family ... that too is ancient history and I would rather not discuss it. But I won't be part of a faradiddle either, not even for politics or politeness. I have no relationship with the Waverly family, certainly not a close one."431Please respect copyright.PENANA5QC1gPzfbx
431Please respect copyright.PENANACTmymGP39g
The man looked interested in questioning me more but I asked instead, "You seem to know about this ... this missive. Did you prompt it?"431Please respect copyright.PENANAhkIR0rMqd6
431Please respect copyright.PENANAkMzTAnJh0B
"In a manner of speaking." I simply stared at him. He shrugged. "I dislike mysteries and I've faced far too many in the last few days, and them being primarily about you Widow."431Please respect copyright.PENANAgRkL3IKNLu
431Please respect copyright.PENANAMQKqy9VhwM
"Oh for goodness sake ..."431Please respect copyright.PENANAbDV5uTAZMz
431Please respect copyright.PENANAGUJxUBUsZy
"Oh aye ... you may doubt it if you wish but between being thwarted from questioning Marta because of her illness, from questioning Tosh because he's so stiff in his britches he must have his wife starch them, and then the so-called confusion that should not have been of you being informed of my tentative arrival date, I can assure you ... I am being good and mellow compared to how I wish to behave."431Please respect copyright.PENANA5K8GtT6vUg
431Please respect copyright.PENANAr60A5LLYka
I was trying not to smile as his description of Mr. Tosh was very accurate. "And exactly what devilment have you gotten up to to release some of your fractious nerves?"431Please respect copyright.PENANAX52WWSrDH2
431Please respect copyright.PENANAKIhkaKXA31
"I wish to see you at the Mayor's house, in company."431Please respect copyright.PENANAGBz2VBzvqP
431Please respect copyright.PENANAu5xMFEy90Q
I was no longer amused. "No."431Please respect copyright.PENANAQ04WULKKgR
431Please respect copyright.PENANA6f34rPA28h
"I beg your pardon?"431Please respect copyright.PENANAKKnFzIxYRJ
431Please respect copyright.PENANAOcVshZQhF4
"Leeda!" Nat hissed.431Please respect copyright.PENANAdT95mFattD
431Please respect copyright.PENANAlpGh0vIOpx
"I won't go."431Please respect copyright.PENANA0g78daUvib
431Please respect copyright.PENANAObart73z4v
The man looked at me calmly and said, "The invitation is for my benefit, not the Mayor's."431Please respect copyright.PENANAYVZ4zEdiO9
431Please respect copyright.PENANAflKB9KMnva
"I care not," I told him rising from my seat. "I won't go and you can't make me even if you are the brother of the Guardian."431Please respect copyright.PENANA0M4Nfgz2GU
431Please respect copyright.PENANAuQ2IQ63Lws
I turned and left the cabin. It was a childish thing to do and I left Nat to clean up the mess but my anger had taken my commonsense.431Please respect copyright.PENANA9hitmmWVrQ