Chapter 7
On the evening of the fifteenth day, the carriage passed through a dense willow grove and stopped before a charming stone cottage with a dark slate roof.
The estate was not massive, but it possessed an elegant tranquility. Two small streams encircled the entrance, where a few slender weeping willows swayed softly in the breeze.
"We're here," Helen announced.
We stepped down, gazing at this unfamiliar yet peaceful courtyard in a momentary daze.
Sam helped us carry our bags inside. The grounds were meticulously swept, clearly maintained by someone on a regular basis.
Helen handed him a bank note for five hundred silver pieces.
"Thank you for everything, Sam. From here on out, we walk alone. Return to your family and live in peace. For your own safety, forget you ever saw us," she said.
Sam offered a refusal at first but eventually accepted the money. With a deep bow, he drove the carriage away, disappearing into the shadows of the woods.
The gates closed, completely shutting out the rest of the world.
The courtyard had a stone well and a proper kitchen. The bedding in the sleeping quarters was entirely brand new.
Rose and Daisy let out a cheer and immediately went to draw water to start a fire. Two weeks of hard rations had nearly driven them mad.
I followed Helen into the main house.
A food carrier sat on the table.
Helen opened it to reveal four warm dishes and a steaming soup.
"I arranged this in advance through a contact," she said. "An old woman named Mary Miller comes by every three days to tidy up and drop off provisions. Save for her, not a living soul knows this house is occupied."
I looked at those simple, home-cooked dishes, and my eyes welled up.
We finally no longer had to live in fear.
The four of us indulged in a hot bath, changed into clean garments, and sat around the table to eat our first warm meal in two weeks.
It was simple fare, including a pot of stewed greens with crusty bread and a dish of soft, savory egg pudding. Still, we wolfed it down fiercely.
By the time we finished, the sky was completely dark.
The courtyard was incredibly still, filled only with the chirping of crickets.
Helen and I sat on the porch, looking up at the moon.
"Grace," she said softly, "from today onward, you are no longer the Lady of Stanton Manor. Have you thought about what you want to do with your future?"
I pondered for a moment and shook my head.
"I don't know," I replied.
"Never mind that. Take your time to think," she murmured. "For once, we have money and time. You can learn a trade, start a small business, or simply live a peaceful life. Any choice was perfectly fine."
"What about you?" I asked her.
She chuckled softly. "Me? My early years were surrendered to others. For what remains of my life, I intend to belong only to myself.
"I want to see the famous gardens of Riverside, listen to the local operas, and taste the pastries I had only ever read about in books. I want to experience every single piece of life I had missed."
I'd never seen her look like that before. Her eyes were burning with pure hope.
The woman who had remained submerged in the suffocating depths of the manor for twenty years had finally come alive.
We talked for a long time.
When the hour grew late, I returned to my own room.
Lying in a strange bed, I smelled the scent of sunlight trapped in the fresh linens, and I found myself unable to sleep.
I could not help but wonder what Stanton Manor in the Capital City looked like right now.
Had Richard and Edward noticed we were missing yet?
What expressions were they wearing on their faces?
Were they furious, or were they gripped by absolute panic?
A sudden wave of immense satisfaction washed over me.