15
Once there Mary
absent mindedly picked up a book and sat in a large chair and began reading.
Liza fussed over her work table, placing objects in a pile and then taking some
out. She was at this for about five minutes before Mary let out a deep sigh.
Liza’s head turned to face Mary.
“What is it? Oh…
are you… upset Mary?” Liza said, putting a small compass down carefully on the
table.
Mary tilted her
head and closed the book with a loud snap!
“You seem quite
cross Mary.”
“And why should I
not be? I must ask you Liza, am I truly going to be a part of this trip?”
“Yes, of course,
why-“
“Then why do I
only find out information in drips and dribbles, as if I were a child who
needed shielding from unpleasant things. Is that how you see me?””
Liza laughed but
then caught herself. “Oh Mary, Mary dearest, no. That is not how I see you at
all, heaven’s no. It has been difficult for you, I know, but I for one forget
sometimes that you do not know everything.”
“Everything like
what? Is there more?”
Liza sat down
across from Mary’s chair and looked at her hard for a moment.
“No… I mean, I don’t
think so. Probably Mary, I shall probably tell you things here and there and
you will realize I have not told you them before. But I can assure you it is
not that I or even the General are keeping things from you.”
Mary sighed and
put the book down on the side table. “Oh Liza, I know. I know. It is just.. it
is just that I do wish so very badly to go on this adventure. You have no idea
how boring life can be…”
“I have some
idea.”
“Yes, but really-
Mother keeps me waist deep in lace making and party planning. If before I met
you was dreadfully boring.” Mary grabbed Liza’s hands and held them. “I want to
have this adventure, but also be of a help. So please do not hold back from
me.”
“Very well. I
promise to help you, and myself, have a grand adventure. Now, since we are
packing for an adventure we must address your clothes.”
Mary laughed. “Oh
yes please! I am dying to be rid of these hideous dresses Mother makes me
wear!”
The next morning
Mary sent a carefully worded note to the Iggelsdin’s house with her Uncle’s
first floor maid. Pruella, as she was known in the household, was to find the
Iggelsdin’s maid, Ethel, and give her the note.
Mary was practically
a nervous wreck when, about an hour later, her maid Pruella came back. Mary was
waiting for her in the downstairs kitchen, much to the cook’s consternation.
“Well? What
happened?” Mary said, startling the maid.
“Well Ma’am, I
found the maid Ethel for you and delivered her your note.”
“And, well do you
have an answer?”
“Yes Ma’am. She
said to me, she said “See how the weather turns.”
Mary looked
puzzled. “And that was it, nothing else? Did she write anything in return?”
“No Ma’am, that
was it, not even a good bye, she just left me standing by the back door.”
“Hmmm, that maid,
Ethel? She seemed like an odd one” Liza said not a half an hour later. Mary had
hurried over the General’s house to tell Liza what Ethel had said to her maid.
“What on earth
could it mean, “the weather?” You don’t suppose there is someone there named
weather do you?”
“Doubtful, not
exactly a common name. But that does remind me, even if Ethel had given us a
name, how would we know who it was or if they worked there?”
“Indeed, we must
figure out a way to get a list of names of who works there…”
“Well” Mary said
“I think I need to make a trip to the country…”
“What?” Liza said.
“Well, as I see it
I may be able to use some of my country connections to suss out who is working
at their house. Now, they are nowhere near our house, but I suppose I could see
who is near their house I might know. Sort of work their help…”
“Yes, let’s ask
the General… no, wait, let’s ask Ingrid, my lady’s maid. She’ll know, she knows
a whole network of help.”
Within the hour
they had, with the help of Igrid, found a friend of Mary’s Mother, a Mrs.
Deering, who lived in a small house in the same county as the Iggelsdin’s
house. Liza went back to Mary’s house to help her pack
“Now don’t get too
excited” Mary said as she carefully placed clothes into a case while her maid
gathered up jewelry. “Pruella and I may not be able to find out much.”
“Ma’am” Pruella said
“If you don’t mind me sayin’, I know the lady’s maid of Mrs. Deering and she
will know someone. She told me things about every Lady, Lady’s maid and
scullery maid in the north of England last time we were there.”
“Excellent! See
Mary, you’ll be fine.”
“Well, I hope. I
suspect the most difficult part will be putting up with Mrs. Deering for the
night. Oh I hope she does not talk to Mother anytime soon.”
“Why? What are you
telling her is the reason for your visit?”
“That I am joining
you and the General for a shooting party further up north.”
“Well, that sounds
reasonable, and Grandfather and I can vouch for you!”
“That’s not the
problem, mother will be livid I skipped out on some of the season’s parties.”
Liza looked at
Mary strangely. “Good lord Mary, Other than that dreadful fête at the Oggelsdins’,
how many parties have you attended since we met?”
Mary looked up, a
shocked look on her face. “None!” and the two began to laugh, very loudly.
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