by John Edwards
Elizabeth and Charlotte talked about many things. Charlotte said she was very impressed that Elizabeth had so much self confidence and that was rarely seen in a woman. She told her that she was very bashful and lacked confidence. Charlotte then told Elizabeth that she brought out a good side of her brother, but Elizabeth attributed it to her brother’s recent success at discovering what really was going on at Hunting Hills.
“That may be partly correct, Elizabeth, but still, he is changed. For one thing, he has never been very comfortable around women, but he seems quite amicable when he is around you. Now, our brother was the complete opposite. He knew what to say and when to say it and he was as lively and charming a man as was seen in these parts. Being the designated heir to Hunting Hills, he was a target for many single women, but John is more serious and guarded. Though he is not as experienced with women, he is very smart and is still wise to their ways.”
“Then he seems to be an ideal older brother. I found him to be a gentleman when we rode the coach to Hampshire.”
“He told me that you had a strong mind and sweetness of temper. Elizabeth, I have to agree with the Kimbles. They believe you too will soon be married, just as happened to the previous governess.”
“That I surely doubt. I am fixed in my mind to marry only when the deepest love visits me. Too many young women are prone to jump at the first opportunity that is presented. Why they do not know the character of their chosen partner nor much anything else about their nature. Then there are the women who marry to enrich themselves, but men do the same thing. No Miss Winstead, I shall marry for true love or I shall remain single, but I am very naive around men.”
“Well, one would not know this from watching you. You extoll confidence in the way you carry yourself and in the way you interact with others. I should like to learn your secret, Elizabeth.”
“You shall, just first learn to be a good listener, look others in their eyes and be truthful, but if the truth will hurt or harm anyone, do not respond. In other words, do not tell your sister-in-law that her new baby is hideous. One has to be smart about these things.”
“Then I shall practice what you have taught me. Thank you Elizabeth.”
Mr. Winstead soon joined Charlotte and Elizabeth and they went back to the Kimbles where they were already coming outside for a picnic. This was Elizabeth’s day to be off but she went to Mrs. Kimble and expressed her thanks for this but told her she had not even worked a full week and wanted to spend more time with Lucy and Richard while Mrs. Kimble would be free to join her friends. Elizabeth enjoyed the time she spent with the family and their friends. They were as polite and kind to her as could be and she felt as welcome as if she was in their family. But she knew there was the other reason for wanting to stay near, to be close to Charlotte and her brother. She could not forget his looks at her at the dance and at the meals and she felt as if his eyes were a magnet to her, drawing herself to him. This was all new to her and she was unaccustomed to seeing herself as the object of a man’s attention, but true to herself, she knew that she also had often looked at John Winstead, and she would never forget his reaction upon learning of her mugging. When she looked at him, what she saw was an outgoing and engaging man who was as friendly as any man she had met. He was gracious to everyone and she noticed that the children were also drawn to him, yet she sometimes saw sadness in his eyes.
Mr. Winstead and Charlotte left on Wednesday late morning. Elizabeth was sorry to see them leave because she had grown quite fond of Charlotte. She had observed Charlotte mature in her self confidence in those short days and had coached Charlotte in made up conversation with her brother. Elizabeth was hopeful that John Winstead did not discover that she had worked with Charlotte to practice with her own brother, and she had noticed Mr. Winstead often looking at her with a measure of equanimity. She also hoped that he found her liveliness stimulating and refreshing, for she believed that those women that would be after his fortune might be otherwise.
As he left, he told Elizabeth that in a few weeks when the Kimbles come to spend some days at Hunting Hills, that he has some places he wants to show her. He looked deeply into her eyes as he smiled and told her she was fun. At that he turned away and left for his home.
Elizabeth was glad to be back with the children but her thoughts were now with her new friends, Charlotte and John Winstead, and she tried, in vain, to discover why she was fun. She did know one thing, sleeping was no fun. Since seeing John Winstead she found sleep difficult to come by as her mind wanted to recall every detail of her interactions with he and his sister. Even with so little sleep, she still awoke early with the sun. Her days were long and she was often tired but she did finally settle on taking afternoon naps whilst her wards were doing the same, and this seemed to help.
CHAPTER 5
LATE SPRING MUSINGS
Elizabeth immediately went to work to be the best governess possible. She had two wards as smart and endearing as she could hope for and she knew that they related well to her, even so much as to make their studies fun. Always encouraging the children to ask questions, Elizabeth saw to it that they were exercised both in mind and body and they awoke each day anticipating what their governess had planned for them. Both parents were exceedingly happy to have Elizabeth as their governess and agreed that she would not long remain a single woman, for they saw in her what any wise man would be looking for in a partner. Already Mr. Kimble had some men inquire regarding Elizabeth but he did not give them any encouragement, responding to most with his thoughts that she already has a special friend. Neither did he feel this was being untruthful, for both his wife and him saw the way John and Elizabeth got along, and so did their children.
Nearly two weeks after Mr. Winstead and Charlotte visited, Mr. Kimble came to Elizabeth and, smiling at her, gave Elizabeth a letter and a small package. As the children were having their midday nap, she went outside to read her letter. It was from John Winstead.
Miss Elizabeth Watkins,
Miss Watkins, I have good news for you. During the dance party that night at the assembly, I was visited by one of the investigators that I have mentioned to you that I have hired to determine who is behind the mischief that has been directed at Hunting Hills. Though I will not go into the details, but suffice to say, I have discovered a young women, the friend of the son of a former tenant, and she was wearing a locket such as Charlotte now wears. I did not know the young woman but wanted to see if it was your own, so I casually asked her if she would show it to me, and she did. No follow-up questions were asked and I gave her no reason to believe that I was interrogating her, but I did offer to pay her for it and we soon agreed to a fair price. Now you can open the package. Although I know you have been harmed more than just losing the locket, I believe further investigations will discover more of the truth.
Please Give the Kimbles Charlottes’ and my best wishes, and let me say that Charlotte and I look forward to seeing you all in a few weeks when you come to visit Hunting Hills.
Respectfully
John Winstead
Elizabeth was excited on receiving this letter and retrieving her necklace. She now knew what she had been thinking all along, that she had met a very good man in John Winstead.
Later, when she brought the children down for dinner, she showed the locket to everyone. “Oh, we are so very happy for you, Elizabeth. Isn’t her locket beautiful, Frank?”
“Yes, it certainly is quite lovely. It seems John Winstead’s promise to find those that have done you harm is working well. He did confide in me that he should have seen you to your uncle’s home, Elizabeth, for it was not that far out of his way. He said he had not acted so much a gentleman as he should have so he has this remorse.”
“But sir, he should not feel that way. There was no reason for him to suspect I would visit any harm, and he nor anyone could expect my uncle was dead. No, Mr. Winstead is a good and decent man.”
Mrs. Kimble smiled and winked at her husband when Elizabeth was not lo
oking at them and they had the same understanding, that Elizabeth and John Winstead admired each other.
Whilst Elizabeth kept busy with the children, who grew to love her goodness and even temper and her friendly outgoing way, Elizabeth said nothing more about Mr. Winstead. Elizabeth had visited Mrs. Watson and Rascal each Sunday and now she told her about the family visiting Hunting Hills. Mrs. Watson was excited to hear this news and asked to be briefed in full detail when Elizabeth returned.
Soon it was just a day away from the Kimble’s visiting Hunting Hills. Always during early June they would visit their friends, for there they could find other beautiful country with meandering streams rushing down from the surrounding hillside and beautiful lakes covering the lowlands running near the winding road that eventually led to the grand manor. Although some of the servants left Hunting Hills after the elder Mr. Winstead had passed, most remained.
John Winstead had long thought that it was strange the way that some of the people who worked at Hunting Hills left so soon after his father’s passing, since he did not expect they had other prospects for employment. His father’s steward did so as well as the Thomas family, who were former tenants. Young Steven Thomas, their son, is the one who had given Elizabeth’s locket to his girl friend. John Winstead had this information to use against him, but there were bigger issues still to be settled. Just after his steward and the Thomas family left Hunting Hills, Mr. Winstead received the head butler’s resignation, and this man, a Mr. Boggs, left the very next day.
These happenings were related to the investigators whom Mr. Winstead had hired. From his own perusal of his father’s records, and in spite of the poor and near sloppy management of the estate by his father and brother, John Winstead had discovered that Mr. Thomas had lied about the income that his tenant farm had earned. Apparently, entries had been made over his father’s own records that made it appear that less money was earned. The father never caught the errors, nor did his eldest son, who appeared less interested in these matters than the father. John Winstead forgave his father, because he had noticed that over the recent years he had become more forgetful and often did not think clearly. This certainly, as John Winstead thought, made the estate vulnerable.
The resignation of Mr. Boggs was prompted when Mr. Winstead happened upon his butler studying the records and copying down information from them. This act was not innocent as these records had been locked away, but Mr. Boggs knew where they were kept and got at them. There was one paper that Mr. Boggs alone had seen. It was a letter from a friend warning the late Mr. Winstead that the man seeking to buy the cabinet shop in London had planned to steal the shop by forging the deed to that business. John Winstead and his investigators had written the document and dated it a day before the father’s passing, and made it look as a letter that never had been delivered. The letter provided a contact that would provide its bearer a large sum of gold to any man who would provide the deed to Mr. Winstead’s cabinet making shop located in London. All the servants knew that a man who had visited the elder Mr. Winstead on at least two occasions wanted to buy the cabinet shop, but it was not for sale. Mr. Winstead knew right away that Mr. Boggs was involved and said to him he was glad that he had found his papers, that he had not remembered if he had put them away. Instead of admonishing his butler, he asked him if he would be interested in helping with the management, saying it was all to confusing to him, and he then acted surprised when Mr. Boggs would insist on resigning the post, but Mr. Boggs had planted the thought of his leaving in John Winstead’s mind shortly after the father had died, so this was not a surprise. John Winstead acted as if he had left his papers out and had forgotten to put them away and so he believed that Mr. Boggs had taken the bait. When he saw that the deed for the cabinet shop was missing, he smile
CHAPTER 6
A SUMMER VISIT TO HUNTING HILLS
Both Charlotte and John Winstead looked forward to their friends visiting them. John was nervous at the prospect of seeing Elizabeth again and hearing of her situation. Had Mr. Reynolds visited her? Had others done the same? How would he react to seeing her again and how would she react?
As he thought on these things and rubbed his hands while he waited for their arrival, others shared a similar anticipation.
Elizabeth knew they were getting close to Hunting Hills for she noticed the dense woodlands stole the sun’s rays and darkened all around the carriage. Frank Kimble told everyone they were minutes away and Elizabeth felt the movement of the carriage and her heart beating wildly as she felt Mr. Winstead’s presence as they neared their destination. Weeks earlier, when riding by the property, she had thought it a beautiful estate, but now, knowing the owner, she felt his presence about them as they made one final turn into the sunlight and caught the first glimpse of the home nestled in a land of small hills and meandering streams feeding lively lakes supporting all manner of flora and fauna, with the large home rising on a hill above beautiful gardens of boxwoods and many flowers. Now the carriage was making its way to the circular drive and all were excited for they had arrived. “Look,” said Louisa, Mr. Winstead and Charlotte have come outside to greet us.”
The Kimbles arrived at Hunting Hills the first Friday in June, and John Winstead and Charlotte both warmly greeted their friends. Elizabeth followed them out and was nervous in seeing Mr. Winstead again and did not look to take in all the great home’s beauty, preferring to show reserve. There would be time for that later, but it was all Elizabeth could do to play the role of the governess instead of a friend visiting another. Even so, she was happy when Mr. Winstead took her hand and helped her out of the carriage and announced how pleased he and Charlotte were to see her again. His smile was sincere and she felt the softness of his warm hand, along with the intensity of his eyes and she thought her voice unsteady when she thanked him, but she looked down to hide her blush, such were the feelings that he brought upon her. Though she had written Mr. Winstead a letter thanking him for finding and returning her locket, she wanted to thank him in person for this kindness, but she would wait for the opportunity. The servants unloaded the luggage, including some of Elizabeth’s own that had been sent from Windhaven, and took them to the rooms that were reserved for the guests. Frank and Louisa knew the rooms from their frequent visits so Charlotte walked upstairs and showed Elizabeth her room. “Elizabeth, it is so good to see you. We shall have much fun while you are visiting. There is such good news that I do not know how to start, but you will learn more of these things whilst you are here. I will tell you today that I have been practicing to be more assertive, and I am doing it quite well and I am gaining self confidence.”
“That is great, Charlotte. Then are you practicing with your brother?”
“Yes, quiet often, and John says that you have been responsible for this, and then he laughs. Still, Elizabeth, I feel so much better being myself. I just can say what I feel, but do it in such a way that does not offend. It is such good fun to see the looks and glares that others profess when I react so. This makes me feel so liberated and has given me real confidence for the first time in my life.”
“That is good Charlotte. You are on the road to being a woman in full control of your life, and you will continue to improve as you practice.”
“I am hoping for that, Elizabeth. My brother has plans to introduce me into London society starting in a few months. We have a town home there and we shall be in London some weeks. I am very excited about my coming out, but I fear my brother is not so happy about it.”
“And why does he feel so? Maybe he not ready to see you grow up so soon.”
“He feels that he cannot be away from Hunting Hills for too long at a time because of the work associated with managing this estate, though he too has gained confidence with his ability to be its master. That is the other thing, but I will let him tell you the details. My brother believes that he has discovered some that have been responsible for the troubles at Hunting Hills, but I will let him speak on these things, for I do not k
now of the details either.”
“Elizabeth, I see Mrs. Hampton, our housekeeper. I will leave you for now, but she will be happy to show you around the home. After she has done that, perhaps we can take a turn outside?”
“Thank you Charlotte, I would enjoy that, but I should first be careful not to get lost. The home is so grand.”
Mrs. Hampton explained that the home is near two hundred years old, and has been in the Winstead’s family for that long. It had been built of stone blocks mined locally and the marble steps all around the home are from Italy. The grand doors at the entrance are made of English Walnut, and there were extensive carvings to the doors leading to the grand entrance. Elizabeth expected to hear trumpets any minute, for such was the splendor of this house. The main living level contained the ball room, dining room, parlor, sitting room, music room, Mr. Winstead’s private study, a library for visitors, a sun room, a drawing room and a billiards room. All were appointed lavishly but in good taste. The next level housed the family’s apartments and those reserved for guests. They each had large windows and the best of furnishings. Elizabeth noted the closet in her room was larger than her bedroom at Windhaven Manor. The servants rooms were on the lower level which also contained the kitchen and preparation rooms and the servants dining room as well as the washing room and extensive pantries including a wine room and still other rooms used for household work. In short, Elizabeth had never seen anything like this in all her life.