The Dowager Countess (The Saga of Wolfbridge Manor Book 2) Sahara Kelly (book club recommendations TXT) 📖

“A brute of a man, and no credit to his father,” observed Giles.

“I could not agree more,” she answered.

“What happened then?”

“Then…there was Mrs Ashe, the only resident of the Dower House. As sour-faced and mean a woman as one could possibly imagine. She begrudgingly made food and served it by leaving a plate of it somewhere in the hall. More than a few times the rodents got to it before I did. She never cleaned…I found myself doing that with a bucket I’d stumbled across outside. She lived in the servants’ quarters, and I’ll lay odds that there were no rats there.” Gwyneth shivered.

“There was nobody with you when I found you.” Giles looked sombre. “You were quite alone.”

She blinked and then nodded. “I think I knew she’d gone. It got colder and colder, and so quiet. I was already hungry and foraging in what parts of the garden were still accessible. I had no winter clothes, you see. Only the blankets and I couldn’t afford to let them get wet…”

Her eyes shone with unshed tears. Giles hated to push her, but he needed to know it all, to hear it all, then it could be put away in the past where it belonged.

“I lost track of time. I heard nobody. Finally I risked going to her quarters. They were bare. Nothing I could use. No clothing, no blankets, and worst of all, no food. The larder had been stripped clean. I cannot say whether she had very little to start with, or whether she was cruel enough to pack everything and take it with her. I don’t even know when she left, to be honest. But I would guess that’s when my journey downhill really began.”

Giles held up his hand. “And now your journey is upward, my Lady. Back into the light.”

She nodded, and he watched as some of the tension left her shoulders. “How did you find me?”

“I believe I mentioned that Wolfbridge is in trust for those related to the line? You are related to the line.”

“Yes, I remember. But how did you know to come to the Dower House for me?”

He shrugged. “Those currently in residence at Kilham Abbey, although devoid of manners, could not deny me the information I sought.”

“I would imagine not, Giles.” She allowed herself a smile. “I’m sure you can be most persuasive.”

He waved that aside. “When the needs arise, yes. The main thing is that I found you in time. And now, here we are, you are recovering well, out of bed and asking questions.” He looked at her. “I shall do my best to answer them.”

“I scarce know where to begin,” she replied, “since my mind keeps coming up with more.”

“Then start with the simplest. Sometimes those answers will cover many of the more complicated enquiries.”

“Why are there no maids?”

“An excellent beginning.” He kept his eyes on her, watching for her reactions, learning about this new Lady he’d be serving for an undetermined length of time.  “The charter for Wolfbridge specifies that no other woman may reside at Wolfbridge, other than the Lady herself.”

“Really?” Gwyneth’s eyebrows rose. “How unusual.”

“In fact, there are maids. We have several who come in every day, two of whom are daughters of Mrs Barnsley. All are local girls. They work during the day, late morning through midafternoon, mostly, and there is little interaction with them at those times. They are quite happy with that and of course they receive a wage for their services.”

“So my room…”

“Was, and will continue to be, cleaned when you are not there. Along with laundry and other household chores.”

“So I have no personal maid?”

“Lady Adalyn worked around that very question,” answered Giles. “She came to an arrangement with Jane Barnsley, as she was then. Jane arrived from her home nearby every morning. She tended to Lady Adalyn’s needs, took care of her clothing and so on, and then departed. Everything else Lady Adalyn required, we were able to provide.”

“I see. I must give thought to my needs in that area, I suppose.” Her face gave away little of her thoughts, but she was obviously turning this over in her mind. She looked back at Giles. “Why are there no women? How did that come about?”

“It goes back to the original Lady Wolfbridge. Upon her husband’s passing, she was besieged by suitors, all interested more in the property than her Ladyship. She grew more and more frustrated and then found herself enamoured of one of the gentlemen on her staff. She would have married him, I think, but as luck would have it his eyes turned elsewhere.”

“Oh dear,” Gwyneth winced. “That must have been a disappointment.”

“I’m sure it was. Especially when she discovered he’d also fathered a child with one of her maids.”

“A charming man indeed.” Gwyneth’s tone was dry. “I assume she kicked him out?”

“She did. Along with every other woman. From that point on, she was the only female in residence, and she made sure the tradition would continue. It must have been a challenge and I’m sure many legal minds must have pounded on her door, but she held fast.” He smiled slightly. “I am of the opinion she had influence with some highly placed nobles in the Parliament of that time, because she accomplished the impossible. Wolfbridge was secured against any kind of entail other than that dictated by her Ladyship. And it has been thus ever since.”

“That is impressive,” she nodded. “A truly forceful personality I would think.”

“I probably would have enjoyed meeting her.” He chuckled. “Working for her might have been another matter entirely.”

She shared his laughter, shaking her head. Then moved forward with her questions. “The gentlemen who live here. Can you tell me