Anna hesitated wondering if she could be so directly forward regarding the late Baroness.
“John, I am not knowledgeable of how the late Baroness died but would like to be informed, so that I am aware of all issues affecting the children.”
Mr. Field did not hesitate to answer and Anna thought he was almost too willing to provide the details, “Well it happened before my time, so I am only aware of what the servants and town folk have told me. But all the same, I believe she was terribly ill the last few years of her life. Married very young to the Baron and with no relatives of her own nearby, it was all slightly suspicious.”
“Suspicious?” Anna was confused by his explanation and shocked that Mr. Field would cast accusations on his employer to his new bride, “How so?”
“The Baroness was ill for a very long time, shut up in the house and out of sight. Some say that she was mad and kept hidden for that reason. Either way, the night she died the Baron was not at home.”
“How would that be suspicious when the Baron is frequently away on business?”
“He never left the house or the children before the Baronesses death, as I understand it. He was always present and then the night she died was the first night he had been away. It seems too consequential that she would die the same night the Baron leaves the home? But forgive me, I am speaking to freely and only repeating the gossip of the town folk.”
Anna did not like the direction the conversation was turning and started to regret the open rapport she had created with Mr. Field. She certainly did not have a high regard for the Baron, as his behavior towards her had not been the kindest, but that did not make him a murderer. Anna refrained from taking up Mr. Field’s view on the subject and decided she would in future keep more of a distance from his idle talk.
Chapter 4
Several weeks had passed since Anna had arrived at her new home and she had slowly made herself comfortable with her new position in life. By most accounts she had a pleasant existence, she lived in a stunning and spacious mansion with unlimited grounds, and she had some company to pass the time with. Mr. Field had become a good friend, although he enjoyed gossip more than most men his age, Anna still spent most afternoons with him and the children in the garden.
The boys were very different in their behavior towards Anna. Harry immediately took to her and would be by her side every second of the day affectionately holding her hand or stroking her dress. Henry tolerated her presence but mostly ignored any question or instruction she put to him.
Baron Hester had come and gone from the marital home numerous times, generally staying for a few days and then disappearing again for weeks on various business matters. When the Baron was at home the boys desperately tried to ascertain his attention by displaying their work or engaging him in business topics, but all of their efforts went unnoticed. The Baron would mainly keep to his personal study and frequently took his meals alone.
For such a large house the Baron only kept a few servants of whom Anna had tried to befriend, to no avail. They all kept themselves in the servant’s quarter when they were not about their chores and when Anna tried to start conversations they would humor her with short answers.
In short, the days passed pleasantly enough and they all merged from one to next without any consequence. Anna was not called upon to perform any great duties for the children or the Baron, therefore she spent her days entertaining herself and enjoying the children’s company.
Anna had mainly kept to her side of the building and had not ventured over to the east wing where the Baron spent his time when he was at home. Today she found herself walking in that direction, knowing the Baron was away, she could afford to be a little inquisitive. She walked down the red velvet halls
“John, I am not knowledgeable of how the late Baroness died but would like to be informed, so that I am aware of all issues affecting the children.”
Mr. Field did not hesitate to answer and Anna thought he was almost too willing to provide the details, “Well it happened before my time, so I am only aware of what the servants and town folk have told me. But all the same, I believe she was terribly ill the last few years of her life. Married very young to the Baron and with no relatives of her own nearby, it was all slightly suspicious.”
“Suspicious?” Anna was confused by his explanation and shocked that Mr. Field would cast accusations on his employer to his new bride, “How so?”
“The Baroness was ill for a very long time, shut up in the house and out of sight. Some say that she was mad and kept hidden for that reason. Either way, the night she died the Baron was not at home.”
“How would that be suspicious when the Baron is frequently away on business?”
“He never left the house or the children before the Baronesses death, as I understand it. He was always present and then the night she died was the first night he had been away. It seems too consequential that she would die the same night the Baron leaves the home? But forgive me, I am speaking to freely and only repeating the gossip of the town folk.”
Anna did not like the direction the conversation was turning and started to regret the open rapport she had created with Mr. Field. She certainly did not have a high regard for the Baron, as his behavior towards her had not been the kindest, but that did not make him a murderer. Anna refrained from taking up Mr. Field’s view on the subject and decided she would in future keep more of a distance from his idle talk.
Chapter 4
Several weeks had passed since Anna had arrived at her new home and she had slowly made herself comfortable with her new position in life. By most accounts she had a pleasant existence, she lived in a stunning and spacious mansion with unlimited grounds, and she had some company to pass the time with. Mr. Field had become a good friend, although he enjoyed gossip more than most men his age, Anna still spent most afternoons with him and the children in the garden.
The boys were very different in their behavior towards Anna. Harry immediately took to her and would be by her side every second of the day affectionately holding her hand or stroking her dress. Henry tolerated her presence but mostly ignored any question or instruction she put to him.
Baron Hester had come and gone from the marital home numerous times, generally staying for a few days and then disappearing again for weeks on various business matters. When the Baron was at home the boys desperately tried to ascertain his attention by displaying their work or engaging him in business topics, but all of their efforts went unnoticed. The Baron would mainly keep to his personal study and frequently took his meals alone.
For such a large house the Baron only kept a few servants of whom Anna had tried to befriend, to no avail. They all kept themselves in the servant’s quarter when they were not about their chores and when Anna tried to start conversations they would humor her with short answers.
In short, the days passed pleasantly enough and they all merged from one to next without any consequence. Anna was not called upon to perform any great duties for the children or the Baron, therefore she spent her days entertaining herself and enjoying the children’s company.
Anna had mainly kept to her side of the building and had not ventured over to the east wing where the Baron spent his time when he was at home. Today she found herself walking in that direction, knowing the Baron was away, she could afford to be a little inquisitive. She walked down the red velvet halls
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