Lady Rose's Education Read Free

that those closest to you have no skeletons in their closets, Mr. Wyndham, you should check.”
    The notion did not seem to faze Mr. Wyndham. After all, he was a country lawyer who had seen a thing or two during his long career. Mostly wills and minor land disputes.
    ”Mr. Wyndham,” Lady Rose said, losing her patience. ”You have been this family's lawyer for decades. I expect more from you. You need to correct this wrong.”
    ”There are limits to what a lawyer can do. I am sure you understand, Lady Rose.”
    Lady Rose got up onto her feet and paced restlessly.
    ”I can't say I do. At this moment I understand very little,” she said without looking at Mr. Wyndham. ”Except that I trusted the wrong person. The completely wrong person. One cannot see clearly those who are closest. That is what they say, but I have not believed it until now. Am I to lose everything because of my mistake?”
    Mr. Wyndham treated this as a rhetorical question.
    ”In any case, Lady Rose...” he said, getting up. As far as he was concerned, the matter was quickly coming to a close. Lady Rose would not let him off that easily.
    She stared at the paper. No matter how great a wordsmith she might become, she hardly had hope to ever have such an impact on anyone as these words had on her.
    Her family was ruined.

CHAPTER 4
     
     
     
     
     
    May, 1891
     
    Norah was walking towards the Abbey early in the morning. The sun was only a sliver of white and yellow in the horizon. She was carrying a small bag, for she was to live in the servants' quarters of the great house from this day on.
    The sky arched dark and majestic above Norah, but she only looked up when the lid was suddenly lowered on her. She had arrived at the tree-lined entryway to the Abbey, and the plane trees formed an oppressive cavity around her. She raced through it as fast as she could without actually running.
    Her ears were still ringing from her aunt Sarah's many pieces of advice the night before. Aunt Sarah thought that Norah's new job was ”a smashing stroke of luck” for a girl like her that had finished school at the age of 12 and had not had any professional training. Though aunt Sarah said that Norah would certainly do well, she said it with her whole face wrinkled with concern. She went on to say that Norah was to take her cue from other servants and not to make a show of herself.
    Aunt Sarah had also told her that she was to go around the house and straight to the servants' door. Norah had marvelled at her knowledge about the house's ins and outs, and as a response aunt Sarah had told her something fascinating. Norah's mother Mary had also worked in the Abbey as a maid, years ago, before she was married.
    This had led to a downpour of questions from Norah, but her aunt had been sparse with information after the first titbit. No, she couldn't say why Norah hadn't known about this. Yes, her mother had left her post, met Norah's father and moved to North Cumberland with him. No, aunt Sarah couldn't remember much more and even if she did, she would not feel free to tell Norah every detail. She said, ”It is not for me to tell you things that your poor ma wanted to keep to herself.”
    In any case, all of those things had happened years and years ago. It was not likely that the present servants would remember Mary or realize that Norah was her daughter. She should just get there bright and early in the morning and be her own person. After all, Norah had been chosen for the job by Lady Rose herself. Clearly the kind lady had taken a liking to her.
    Norah saw the Abbey's impressive silhouette from the path. The tree-lined street arrived straight to the main entrance, but Norah walked around the manor, as she had been instructed. The rows and rows of windows stared at her inhospitably as she scurried past them. Fortunately the servants' door was a great deal less intimidating. Norah touched her scarf and straightened her skirt and her posture. Then she took a deep breath