AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“If you want her in working order, you should encourage this so-called coddling,” Mr. Crowley snapped in reply. “You beat your servants into oblivion and while that may be within your rights, far be it from me to stop you, it doesn’t make for strong workers.” It was the first time she had heard him sound cross and Mrs. Cavendish seemed to recognize her mistake. Lady Lydia had instructed the woman to keep him happy. A happy solicitor was one who did not delve too far into the ledgers.
“My apologies, Sir,” Mrs. Cavendish said though she did not sound sorry at all. With that she made a swift turn and flew out the door, off to vent her rage on some other poor soul Marilee thought.
Marilee closed her eyes and released her breath. Peggy peered out the door, nodded her head that all was clear, and shut it before turning to face the pair seated on the far side of the room.
“That ought to buy us some time,” the laundress said with a grin.
“A week, at best,” Mr. Crowley agreed. “After that, I will have to find some other excuse to visit.”
“We can cross that bridge when we near those waters,” Marilee mused.
“Unfortunately, there is likely to be another beaten maid by then,” muttered Peggy.
“For now, what can we do?” Marilee asked.
Marilee’s dressing had been changed and her wounds were feeling much better. She thanked Mr. Crowley. He moved to stand between the maids and seemed to contemplate their options.
“Is there anyone else who might help us?” he wondered. “Someone with access to more of the house? I don’t suppose the two of you spend much time on the upper levels. Perhaps whomever cleans the study can look through the letters and ledgers? We need proof before we can move.”
Peggy shook her head. “We cannot risk bringing the other girls into this. Most of them cannot read anyway, let alone interpret figures and sums. Many are taken from the street; vagrants are not missed by family.” She explained that the wrong one might inform Mrs. Cavendish of their goals out of fear or hope to avoid punishment.
“Besides,” Marilee added. “We are not given many opportunities to talk with the other servants. Mrs. Cavendish held the reins firmly in hand and put a stop to any idle conversation.”
“It’s only in the dormitory at night that we see the others for any extended period of time, and have a chance to talk,” Peggy said.
“But we never have the chance to isolate one from the pack,” Marilee said, “But perhaps I could search. Tell me what I should try to find. In addition to these chores, I am also Lady Lydia’s personal maid,” Marilee revealed when Peggy had seemed hesitant to share that tidbit. “I have access to almost all of the house if you tell me what you need.”
“Kate, no!” Peggy cried. “It is far too dangerous and you’ve already been hurt.”
“Someone has to do it,” Marilee argued. “It may as well be me.”
“A Jack of all trades,” Mr. Crowley said with some hesitation. “You would have to be very cautious.”
“Of course,” Marilee replied. “What am I looking for?”
“For starters how much is relegated to the income of the servants,” he began. “I cannot seem to find any record of the payments or income budgeted to maintaining a full staff. This is the first thing that caught my attention; that and any of Lady Lydia’s personal expenditures. There is also a rather expensive new horse. That must be on a separate ledger that tracks such things. When I ask, the lady only says that she does not know where her father keeps it and he is too ill to meet me himself.”
Marilee and Peggy shared a pointed look. They did not have to find a missing ledger to answer Mr. Crowley’s question.
“We don’t get paid,” Peggy said in a voice so quiet that Mr. Crowley had to ask her to repeat the statement.
“You mean they barter your time in goods rather than coin?” he wondered. “What sort of things are you given?”
“No,” Marilee corrected him. “She means what she said. That we are not allowed a wage. At all.”
The room fell silent and Mr. Crowley’s eyes shifted from one maid to the other as if determined to discover that he had misunderstood.
“Why would you stay?” he scoffed. “That is madness. You can get a roof over your head and a decent wage anywhere in the city. There is no reason to work like a slave for nothing.”
“We cannot leave,” Peggy muttered. Her voice was full of shame and hurt. If it were as simple as he had claimed, did he not see that they would have left ages ago? Did he think them so foolish as to willingly partake in such an agreement?
“What do you mean, cannot?” he hissed.
“We cannot leave.” Marilee snapped in frustration. “You wanted the truth and there you have it.” She crossed her arms over her breast and glared at the man. “We don’t get paid and we aren’t allowed to leave.”
“Ever?” he whispered.
“I’ve been here four years and never once left the house,” Peggy revealed much to his dismay.
