he’s gone away for good. God rest his tormented soul.”
A maid jumped up in defense of Tom. “Try moving anything from its place as I do to dust the china cases! I dare you all to do it!” Molly eyed them all in obvious fear and anger as she vented. “You’ll see him put it all right back where it goes! He’s still here! Just because he doesn’t rage the house down as he once did, doesn’t mean he’s not still here!”
“I know you all fear her coming here will bring His Lordship’s wrath down upon us,” Mr. Pettigrew said quietly, his face grim. “But we have nothing to say of it, I’m afraid. Just do your jobs! He can’t blame us for her arrival, now can he?”
Mr. Pettigrew dismissed them all, leaving Mrs. Abbot and Mrs. Gates with him in the kitchens. The three all looked to one another for answers at times like these, being the elder of the group of servants.
“I didn’t wish to create more of a panic,” Mr. Pettigrew began in a low whisper. “His Lordship implies his intent to reduce staff once more. He means it this time. We all saw this coming. How can anyone be expected to keep a full staff of servants when no one comes here?”
“When will we be given our notice?” Mrs. Gates looked immediately downcast, folding her shaking hands in her lap.
“The castle is to be permanently closed when Her Ladyship leaves Westerleigh, whenever that may be,” Mr. Pettigrew lamented with a reluctant sigh. “His Lordship instructs me to see to the closing. He’s hired an able caretaker in London. The man arrives sometime next year. We are to make Mr. Greenly welcome and he’s to be given the former land agent’s cottage. We can only pray Her Ladyship stays on indefinitely or we are all out of jobs.”
“That won’t be likely and ye know it,” Mrs. Gates added tightly, her eyes filled with anger. “The poor woman will run from here screaming to high heaven as they all do! And what of us when that happens, Mr. Pettigrew? What’s to become of us?”
“We all knew this day was coming,” the butler repeated in frustration. “I for one, mean to make the most of my time. I plan to seek employment closer to London, as you all should. There is always a place to be found for properly trained servants. His Lordship will give us all positive references. He’s given me his word.”
“I’ve lived at Westerleigh all o’ me life,” Mrs. Abbot added sadly. “I’m not keen on going to the city nor will the others be, Mr. Pettigrew.”
“Tell them all to start looking for other positions at once, both of you,” Mr. Pettigrew advised, eyeing them both a bit more kindly. “The younger ones will all be happy to go, I think. There is nothing keeping them here, no work for them in the village or the mines, or even another estate close by for that matter.”
“I never thought I would see this day,” the housekeeper said in a sad whisper. “I always thought the castle would go on as it always has.”
“Times have changed, Mrs. Gates,” Mr. Pettigrew said with a sad frown. “Lord Westerleigh cannot keep a residence going that he never uses. All of these grand castles and estates of yesterday will end up the same. Already they have become curiosities to the public, even dreadful inns catering to whoever can pay for the night. The tenants will all have to be told of what is coming, of course. This will not happen overnight, but it will happen. You have families and must prepare them.”
The three all sat silently with their thoughts, not seeing the pale apparition standing in the doorway near the stove.
The steam from the whistling kettle illuminated his outline briefly. The swirling vapor-like image of the man disappeared as quickly as it came.
~ ~ ~
James sat upon the high parapet of Westerleigh, glaring broodingly over the grounds beyond him, looking over the vast green that stretched for as far as the eyes could see.
His silver eyes glowed in helpless rage to learn that the castle was to be
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