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Mid-morning the next day Nat sat at my table having come by to check on me.596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdoMn9WKcd
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"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."596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7m30AtJTC0
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"I believe the Captain ... or whatever title he bares as the brother of the Guardian ... may well be having a word with the Mayor."596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUHTlmDRbi
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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."596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFftQeN2zpS
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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.596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGYtAystxQ
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"What? Why do anything with them ... the lazy cluckers already drop more eggs than you can use."596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzAq1k5ANF
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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."596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWinq4cZRgm
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Nat immediately pruned up. "No. I ..."596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbe5MBwdvRg
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"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."596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytRpA6aQ7Z
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"What incentive have they given? And are you sure they come from Linderhall?"596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWaKTwBcQW
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A soon-to-be familiar voice called from the dooryard. "Widow?"596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUeTEyXigW
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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."596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxx6hVPA05B
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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."596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoARdobDWBz
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Nat nodded. 596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP80WSBfq56
"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."596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6kQM5yzHLS
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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."596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimJDJMgve1
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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?"596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLcTXXeCOp
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"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."596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzi44PBm4j0
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"Nat!" I exclaimed, worried he was making an enemy he did not need.596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7T6745HyTv
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"It is true and I won't stand by again."596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUIkJPFMlY
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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."596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOydVZtizG
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I was glad I hadn't taken a sip of wine yet or I would have choked on it. "Mr. Tosh is here?"596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6zKVpjgzE
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"Yes," he answered with smirk.596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsxTijjcve
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"Well, the ... hmmm ... the Mayor must be finding it ... well ..."596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7HVGKnOB6
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The man snorted and nodded. "Indeed he is."596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5QR9CdVXvT
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Nat turned to me and asked, "You know this Mr. Tosh?"596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3gDlBtIQhd
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"He is the manager of Linderhall, or was when I resided there."596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKsP6nSyA0G
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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."596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9JwY4cP9X
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Nat whistled. "That's going to go over fine."596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCoUymMYfa
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"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."596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRKb19cJHT2
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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."596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVo5JiUK4S
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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."596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Ud5uyYLia
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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."596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCIasbB6Dkz
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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 ..."596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LQu3Z8w9r
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Nat nodded thoughtfully. "The village priest often needs to counsel men that are ... er ..."596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQtnvtDtbm
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I rolled my eyes at their er's. "How close to climbing the ceiling in the meeting hall is he?"596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmyXfziP9ba
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The man looked at me with a smile. "He's almost able to swing from the gaslamps."596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxMxsoFZBc
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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?"596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQDjYCnVbD
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"Nat ..."596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRubNZUNZd
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"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."596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5wObfGu3R
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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."596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwh6guzD9LH
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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?"596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTj3QrK2edh
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"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 ..."596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNr90JQARZU
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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."596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCs4y8w6tub
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"I thought she was given in marriage at 14?"596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5E3VYqipi
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"She was."596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowCznhAZ50
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"Hello. I'm in the room, not on my deathbed or deaf," I reminded them.596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVFh6NlY6O
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The man turned to look at me. "And you are 16 now? Why did you not finish the college or go to university?"596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pETaiHmJP
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I spit, "Status."596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpBdhlN0hr
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"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."596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HOnD0Wdxp
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I shrugged, "I don't expect anything to change so don't make a request on my behalf."596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡagDBNUlKQP
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Nat looked at the heavens and sighed, "And this is why she needs someone to look after her interests."596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2m7zZO7tj
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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."596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwNqfRCLlA
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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.596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZK0bZgQX7
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"A delivery Widow Linder," the boy said holding out a piece of paper.596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9rYAsN9UT
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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.596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡglzzmD81sK
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"What is it Leeda?" Nat asked.596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2Vf0JS435
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"I have no idea."596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevuu4oJGaX
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"It looks like an invitation."596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQG57BP5w3o
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"I know."596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDjQJA4RUj
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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?"596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUtmEZ8VhH
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"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.596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQegyfGYv6s
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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."596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZIKxMY8eZH
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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 ... "596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0ZRHP26w2
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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."596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡolwrHJqJ2b
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The man looked interested in questioning me more but I asked instead, "You seem to know about this ... this missive. Did you prompt it?"596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosG7kO12Ht
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"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."596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATPJxxS087
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"Oh for goodness sake ..."596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rYX7r88ho
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"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."596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtr3dJnOvtY
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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?"596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaW9ZLeqx8q
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"I wish to see you at the Mayor's house, in company."596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVU8i4pyzh
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I was no longer amused. "No."596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72CprhsRR7
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"I beg your pardon?"596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHdVLyXa38Y
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"Leeda!" Nat hissed.596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡleVFVmekAu
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"I won't go."596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jqvGe6Xzg
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The man looked at me calmly and said, "The invitation is for my benefit, not the Mayor's."596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdpAadoCoI
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"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."596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2Rhp1aJPY
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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.596Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNlX81lJg1
