choice Miss. So are you getting settled in then? Do you like Westwind House?” I smiled since Mr. Lowood had just related the name of the house to me.
“Yes, very much so. You have all been so kind to me. My rooms are lovely and the food is delicious. How could I not be happy here.” Mrs. Whitby patted my arm.
“I’m so glad you like it here Miss. I have to say we were a might surprised when the Master sent us word to make this room ship shape for a guest. This room has been empty since the beginning.” Mrs. Whitby walked around the room looking for things to tidy up but she seemed hesitant as if wanting to ask me something. She touched the still bare fireplace mantle and turned her mouth down.
“Oh, we need to get the duster in here. Dust collects so quickly in the countryside it does.”
“Oh, please don’t bother with that Mrs. Whitby. I can do the tidying up and dusting in here.” I had never a maid to clean up my room or personal belongings. The rest of the house I was fine with, but maids move and hide things. Then they get upset when you question them as to their whereabouts. I am not referring to valuable things either, everyday things that you need to use such as hairbrushes would go missing.
“Fie fie! You hardly create any sort of mess. I would be remiss of my duty if I didn’t do any sort of housekeeping up here.” She turned and looked at me and smiled warmly. “Besides Miss, you are no trouble at all. I am glad to have the work to do. If it wasn’t for you I would be following my grandson around the stables bothering him.”
“Are you lonely out here?” I asked
“Not as lonely as I would be without my Thomas or my little Timothy. He works the stables, grooms the horses and the like. It’s a long work day but I’ve come to see Westwind as my second home. The Master has always been kind and more than generous to us. Most employers would have fired my Thomas straight away when he lost his hearing.”
“But Mr. Lowood kept him on?” I inquired.
“That he did and then some. One of the Master’s horses caught a fright during a fearsome storm we had. It kicked out of the stable and my Thomas lit out after it. He found it after several hours. The horse and Thomas caught pneumonia. The poor beast died even though the Master had the best horse doctor flown in.” The smell of baking muffins wafted up the stairs and in to the room.
“I was looking after Thomas at our cottage and a team of doctors descended upon us. The Master had no less than five doctors at our home caring for Thomas. I had to move out of my own bedroom! Thomas got better and in a months’ time was back at work but he had lost his hearing in one ear because of an ear infection. He carries on a lighter version of his duties now.”
“That was very generous of Mr. Lowood.” I said impressed by his generosity. Mrs. Whitby put her plump hand to her chin and looked down at me from where I sat on my bed.
“That is not even the whole of it Miss. He not only paid for those five doctors to come out, paid for their service but he also paid to have them put up in the finest hotel in the city and transportation. I remember the first night he was in the same room with Thomas and the doctors and he was a sight. His horse had just died and he came in looking fierce and wild and grabs a hold of the first doctor he can.” Mrs. Whitby squinted her eyes and reached up her hands grabbing an imaginary person.
“I won’t have you mucking about and making this poor man anymore ill than he already is. The five of you are the best doctors in the country. If I am paying out for a miracle; I damn well better receive one.” She dropped her hands and her fierce imitation of Mr. Lowood and smiled.
“And wouldn’t you know it? He then takes me out of the room and apologizes for his coarse talk. He held my hand and assured me that we would not lose another soul here at Westwind. I
“Yes, very much so. You have all been so kind to me. My rooms are lovely and the food is delicious. How could I not be happy here.” Mrs. Whitby patted my arm.
“I’m so glad you like it here Miss. I have to say we were a might surprised when the Master sent us word to make this room ship shape for a guest. This room has been empty since the beginning.” Mrs. Whitby walked around the room looking for things to tidy up but she seemed hesitant as if wanting to ask me something. She touched the still bare fireplace mantle and turned her mouth down.
“Oh, we need to get the duster in here. Dust collects so quickly in the countryside it does.”
“Oh, please don’t bother with that Mrs. Whitby. I can do the tidying up and dusting in here.” I had never a maid to clean up my room or personal belongings. The rest of the house I was fine with, but maids move and hide things. Then they get upset when you question them as to their whereabouts. I am not referring to valuable things either, everyday things that you need to use such as hairbrushes would go missing.
“Fie fie! You hardly create any sort of mess. I would be remiss of my duty if I didn’t do any sort of housekeeping up here.” She turned and looked at me and smiled warmly. “Besides Miss, you are no trouble at all. I am glad to have the work to do. If it wasn’t for you I would be following my grandson around the stables bothering him.”
“Are you lonely out here?” I asked
“Not as lonely as I would be without my Thomas or my little Timothy. He works the stables, grooms the horses and the like. It’s a long work day but I’ve come to see Westwind as my second home. The Master has always been kind and more than generous to us. Most employers would have fired my Thomas straight away when he lost his hearing.”
“But Mr. Lowood kept him on?” I inquired.
“That he did and then some. One of the Master’s horses caught a fright during a fearsome storm we had. It kicked out of the stable and my Thomas lit out after it. He found it after several hours. The horse and Thomas caught pneumonia. The poor beast died even though the Master had the best horse doctor flown in.” The smell of baking muffins wafted up the stairs and in to the room.
“I was looking after Thomas at our cottage and a team of doctors descended upon us. The Master had no less than five doctors at our home caring for Thomas. I had to move out of my own bedroom! Thomas got better and in a months’ time was back at work but he had lost his hearing in one ear because of an ear infection. He carries on a lighter version of his duties now.”
“That was very generous of Mr. Lowood.” I said impressed by his generosity. Mrs. Whitby put her plump hand to her chin and looked down at me from where I sat on my bed.
“That is not even the whole of it Miss. He not only paid for those five doctors to come out, paid for their service but he also paid to have them put up in the finest hotel in the city and transportation. I remember the first night he was in the same room with Thomas and the doctors and he was a sight. His horse had just died and he came in looking fierce and wild and grabs a hold of the first doctor he can.” Mrs. Whitby squinted her eyes and reached up her hands grabbing an imaginary person.
“I won’t have you mucking about and making this poor man anymore ill than he already is. The five of you are the best doctors in the country. If I am paying out for a miracle; I damn well better receive one.” She dropped her hands and her fierce imitation of Mr. Lowood and smiled.
“And wouldn’t you know it? He then takes me out of the room and apologizes for his coarse talk. He held my hand and assured me that we would not lose another soul here at Westwind. I
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