by Abigail Agar
“Mother,” he said slowly, “do you know the hiding places in the house?”
Cecilia looked at him. “That seems like an odd question. Hiding places? Where are the hiding places, Edward?”
“No, Mother. I don’t know where there are hiding places. Do you know where there are hiding places?”
“No. Do you think I hide my undergarments?”
Edward closed his eyes and counted to ten. He needed that money. After close to a week, the kitchen was beginning to run low on food.
The next day, Edward tried a different approach. “Mother, we need more food. Where’s the money?”
“What money, Edward?”
“The money we used to buy food. Where is it?”
“There is no money to buy food. There’s money for whisky and money for gambling, but there’s no money for food.”
Edward breathed deep. All that searching, and there was no money. “How did we have food in the kitchen?”
Cecilia talked to him as if he were a little boy. “I told your father I would go into town and buy his whisky. He gave me his money to pay for it. I bought whisky and food. I paid a boy to bring the food to the back door. I came in through the front door with the whisky. Your father got the change. He never knew.”
Edward began to panic. There was no money and very little food. He hoped the man who wanted to buy their furniture would come back. He’d sell every stick if it meant they could eat for a few weeks.
Edward told Penelope he was walking into town to get a job. He would see Father Stevens. The priest saw everyone in town every Sunday. He must know who needed help.
Penelope nodded. “Ask about jobs for girls. I learn fast, and I work hard.”
Edward nodded although he had no intention of asking the priest to find a job for Penelope.
“How are you faring there? I keep meaning to visit, but there have been a few difficult problems here that I couldn’t turn my back on. How is your mother?”
Edward didn’t know how much Father Stevens would like to know, but Edward wanted to unburden himself, and he needed to purge.
“My mother hasn’t been doing well. She is slowly coming out of her shock. Penelope and I have to each take an arm to move her from one room to the next. She is beginning to speak; she will eat some of the time, and will have tea with Penelope.
“We are out of food and have no money. Is there anyone in need of a hard-working boy? I need to buy the family food.”
The priest grimaced. “I don’t know of anyone looking to hire, but I’ll ask around the parish. I can put out a call for food. If every parishioner brought one item to the church, you could eat for a few weeks. I will do that this Sunday. We live in a very generous village.
“I have reached out to your uncle. It was not difficult to find him once I went to the Lord in this county seat. He sent a letter. I will go today to see if he got a reply although if he did, he would have surely notified me. He is your best hope.”
“Thank you, Father. You have given me hope. Asking if anyone needs a helping hand. Asking for food donations. Writing to my kin. Thank you for doing so much for us.”
Father Stevens opened his mouth to speak and closed it. He cleared his throat. He opened his mouth to speak again. “You must realize, Edward that you cannot go on living in that house, trying to live under such difficult circumstances. You are twelve. Your sister is ten. Even if your mother were her regular self, you face an almost impossible task. I pray every day for your uncle to take you in.”
Edward tried to conceal the tears in his eyes, but it was impossible. “I need to get back to my mother,” he said. He ran home.
On Monday, Father Stevens came to visit sitting in a work cart tied to a horse. He parked at the back door.
He called out to Edward. Both he and Penelope opened the back door to see the cart carrying three potato bags full of food. Father Stevens bounced down to the ground.
“Let me help you with this bounty. The village answered my call immediately. I asked for donations at mass yesterday, and look how they responded.”
Penelope was crying as Edward emptied the sacks on the kitchen table.
Edward had to brace deep so his voice wasn’t high and wavering. “This is more than we could have imagined. What wonderful people. How can I ever repay them?”
Father Stevens smiled. “On the way here, I wondered what I would say if you asked that question. I think I have an answer. If you went to the village and asked what the people in the village needed done, you could hammer or shovel your way to a thanks.
“I think they’d be appreciative, and it would only take a day of your time.”
“I’ll do it. Tell me when and where, and I’ll do it from sunrise to sunset.”
Father Stevens grinned. “Mind you, they would do it out of the goodness of their heart, but it’s always nice to hear ‘thank you.’“
Edward went into the kitchen to see Penelope putting away the food they just received.
“Did we get good food?”
Penelope nodded. “I can’t believe it. We can eat again.”
Edward craned his neck to make sure his mother wasn’t listening. “Did we get any tea and sugar cubes?”
“Yes. She will never know we ran out. We have uncooked bread. Do you think you can cook it without burning it?”
Edward shrugged. “I’ll try.”
Penelope clasped both her hands to her heart. “Bread.”
They both laughed.
Cecilia walked into the kitchen. “Edward is going to attempt to make bread,” Penelope said.
Cecilia winced. “Don’t burn it.”
Edward and Penelope laughed again.
Edward said, “That’s exactly what Penelope said.”
“Penelope, would you make me some tea? You forgot the sugar cubes last time.”
Penelope smiled, “Oh, did I? I’ll make sure I remember today.”
Cecilia left to go to the parlour.
Edward said, “She’s doing better.”
Penelope nodded and smiled.
*****
A week later, Father Stevens knocked on the front door. Edward answered and asked the priest to join his mother and his sister in the parlour.
“Tea, Father?” Penelope asked.
“Yes, I would like that very much. I walked from the parish and, as you know, the hill can be a challenge.” He turned to Penelope. “Cream, no sugar.” She nodded.
“What brings you up the hill, Father?” Edward asked.
Father Stevens grinned. “ Do you remember I asked what to write to Avery Stanton on your behalf?”
Cecilia spoke up, “Father, my brother is named Avery Stanton. Did Lord Daniels write to my brother?”
The priest turned to Cecilia. “Yes, he did. It is customary for us to reach out to relatives of the deceased or the deceased wife’s family during this difficult time.”
Confused, Cecilia said, “But he lives so far away. Surely he is unable to offer help.”
The priest grinned. “He is coming to visit you. He should be here within three days. He looks forward to helping you in any way he is able. This is great news. Great news, indeed.”
Edward rose from his seat and walked to the Father. He shook his hand. “Thank you for arranging this, Father Stevens. You have been so kind. So helpful.”
Penelope rose and went to the priest. She hugged him, tears in her eyes. She whispered in his ears, “Thank you. You have saved our lives.”
Cecilia asked, “Is he coming here? We don’t have a guest room ready. What will we serve him for food?”
Penelope put her hand on Cecilia’s. I will prepare the guest room. Edward will find something to serve. Isn’t it wonderful? You will get to see your brother again.”
“Yes, I suppose it is,” Cecilia said. “But I don’t know why he’s coming.”
Edward made his voice upbeat, “Your brother loves you, and he’s coming to visit you. I, for one, am excited by his visit.”
&
nbsp; Penelope jumped in. “I don’t really remember him, so I can’t wait to meet him again.”
Chapter 17
Three days later, Avery Stanton knocked on Cecilia’s front door. Penelope ran for the door and opened it to see her Uncle Avery and another man, much younger.
“Please come in. I’m Penelope. We’ve been expecting you. Thank you for travelling so far to visit us.” Penelope curtsied, and her uncle bowed. The man next to him did not.
Penelope said, “Let me take your things.”
“You don’t have a butler?” Henry said.
Avery turned to him and gave him a penetrating look.
“Penelope, may I introduce you to my son, Henry.”
Penelope curtsied again.
Henry did not bother to bow.
“Please, come in. My mother is in the parlour.”
Avery walked in and greeted Cecilia in a booming voice. She turned her head to Avery. “Avery, is that you? I didn’t know you were in this area. Are you visiting Lord Daniels?”
Edward came in carrying the tea tray. He put the tray down and bowed. “I’m Edward.”
Avery bowed, “I am your uncle Avery.” He turned, “and this is your cousin, Henry.”
Edward bowed again.
Henry didn’t bow.
Edward recovered quickly and said, “Please sit.”
Penelope said, “I will pour. How do you like your tea, Uncle Avery?”
He responded, “I like hearing, Uncle Avery, Penelope. Cream, no sugar.”
Penelope turned, “And you Cousin Henry?”
Henry said, “Don’t call me Cousin Henry. Henry will do. Cream, two sugars.”
Penelope blushed. “I beg your pardon.”
Avery took Cecilia’s hand in his. “I’m sorry about Albert. It was sudden?”
“Yes.”
“I came as soon as I heard. You have not been well?”
“No, Avery. I’m fine. Nothing wrong.”
Avery grimaced. “I was misinformed. Forgive me?”
Cecilia furrowed her brow, “Forgive you for what? It is wonderful to see you, and I know you came a long way. You should have told us. We would have prepared for you.”
Penelope put her hand on her mother’s arm. “Edward and I prepared. Don’t worry. Uncle Avery and Henry will be comfortable.”
Henry snorted. “In this house?”
Cecilia’s eyes seemed to focus. “I remember you. You are Henry.”
“That’s right, Cecilia. It’s amazing you remember after so long.”
Avery turned to Edward. “I’d love to see the rooms you have prepared for us. Could you show me?”
“Certainly. Follow me.”
They went into the guest room. “This is lovely. Thank you. Avery shut the door. How long has she been like this?”
“Since the funeral. She’s much better. The first five days she didn’t speak, she didn’t eat. Penelope and I had to take an arm each and help her walk.
“She still gets confused and forgets things, but she is much improved.”
“You have no servants. Who is cooking? Who is cleaning? You still have food?”
Edward grimaced. “We had to let the servants go. I cook, and Penelope cleans. We ran out of food, but the parish priest took up a collection, and the next day we got three potato sacks of food. I estimate it will last another ten days. I tried to get a job, but no one will hire me without skills.
“I searched every inch of this house for money. After mother started talking again, I asked her where the money was because I needed to buy food. When my father was paid, he used to send Mother into town to buy whisky. She skimmed a little off the top to buy food. She had a boy bring it to the back door. She came in the front door with whisky, and then he took the rest of the money and went gambling.”
Avery closed his eyes then opened them and looked at Edward. “So, you have no money, and your food will run out in ten days?”
“Yes. I go to town and ask around every day. I haven’t had luck yet, but I’m not giving up. Penelope may take in laundry. We are still arguing about it. She’s ten. I don’t want her to do it. She sees it as a way to contribute and bring money in.”
Avery nodded his head, which Edward thought was strange. “The three of you are coming with me. I can’t in good conscience leave you up here wondering where your next meal is coming from.
“Pack and prepare to leave tomorrow. I will hire a coach so there will be two. Plenty of room on top for your trunks. Your mother will ride with me. Henry will ride with you. My townhouse and my country estate have more room than I would ever need – even adding three more people.
“Don’t argue with me. Tell Penelope to pack herself and your mother.”
Edward furrowed his brow. “But what about this house?”
“I’ll go see Lord Daniels. You won’t get any value for it. Understand?”
Edward nodded.
“Go tell your sister and your mother. Penelope has a lot to do by tomorrow.”
“Uncle Avery?”
Avery turned back, having already headed for the door.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. This is the right thing to do. You’ll see.”
Uncle Avery was gone. Edward grinned and went downstairs to tell Penelope.
*****
Avery had taken care of the house through Lord Daniels; Penelope had run down to the parish and told Father Stevens that Cecilia, Penelope, and Edward were packed and ready to go.
Penelope was pleased that Cecilia had taken an active role in packing her things and knew she was going to live with her brother. It was as if the sun had come out from behind heavy clouds. Edward said it was from worry and stress about how they were going to live being solved.
Edward and Penelope were excited about their trip, their first one, and got into the carriage with smiles on their faces.
“What are you two smiling about?” Henry said, his voice surly.
Edward ignored Henry’s attitude. “We are happy for our new adventure.”
Henry snorted. “New adventure. Living off my father, you mean. Don’t think you’re going to live the high life. I’ll make sure my father assigns you jobs like shovelling the pigpen and cleaning the horse stalls. If you think it’s going to be fun and games, you are sorely mistaken.”
Penelope and Edward looked at each other. “We are willing to do whatever work is assigned to us. We are not afraid to work.”
Henry let out a short laugh. “You say that now, but you wait. You won’t want to do anything. I’ll be watching.”
Penelope spoke. “Tell me Henry, since we are going to be living together, what books have you read you could recommend for us? Is your father’s library well-stocked?”
“Well, Penelope,” Henry said in a smarmy voice, “I think reading is a waste of time, and I never go in the library so I don’t know how many books are in there.”
“I prefer to hunt. Do either of you hunt? No? It’s really quite satisfying. I like to shoot an arrow at an animal without killing it so it will spasm and die a slow death.”
Edward and Penelope looked at one another. Penelope tried again. “Do you ride much?”
Henry rolled his eyes. “God, no. Riding is so boring. Father will probably give each of you one of the castoffs to ride. You’ll be lucky if you can get it to gallop.”
Edward smiled. “We don’t care. Any horse is better than none.”
“Oh, that’s right. You two were poor until you latched onto my father. How did you manage that? He’s pathetic to let you come live with us. What did you do? Whine about how destitute you are? Tell him you are going to have to live in the street with your hand out for money? Penelope, did you tell him you were going to have to prostitute yourself if he didn’t help you?”
Penelope leaned back on her bench and closed her eyes. This was going to be a long trip if she had to listen to Henry’s voice all day and all night. She wasn’t going to let him bait her. She learned that on
e thing from living without. People wanted to bait.
He would tire of talking, eventually. They would spend days in the carriage together. Henry couldn’t keep up the stream of insults. It was impossible. Would living with him be like this?