Episode FOURTEEN
“What’s the nut for?” asks Lilly to Ellie.
Picking up Edgar, she places him on the open windowsill and sets him off, “That my dear is going to be his treat Gary will be giving him once he gets to town.” Lilly nods, but still looking confused, Ellie continues, “I’ve trained Edgar to fly into town, specifically to the Abbey there. There then Gary, who is a friend of mine and the caretaker of the Abbey, knows Edgar and knows what to do. The coin is to pay for a horseman to deliver the letter, and the nut is a treat to reward Edgar for delivering the letter to the destination. Once he’s eaten his treat, he’ll return here to the homestead where I reward him with another nut, or berry, sometimes he changes his mind in what he wants on his return trip. Funny ‘ole bird.” Ellie chuckles out gazing up in the sky.
Now understanding, Lilly replies, “Oh so he’s just like a dog who does tricks for treats?”
Chuckling to herself and nodding her head, “More or less, yes you got it. You would have liked Shadow, Nora’s dog…Well he was more of a family pet then just her dog, but he loved her most we say.”
Lillianne curiously responds, “Well where is he?”
“Lilly dear…” William begins, “I think they mean that the dog died.”
“Oh, I’m awfully sorry about your loss, Father has several hounds, all for hunting though, so I can’t really play with them.” She pauses to lean in towards Nora to whisper, “…but there’s a few strays in town I try to pet when mother is not looking.” She pops her head up and exclaims, “We do have a few stable cats that catch the mice, mother doesn’t know I sneak them food though.
“Excuse me young lady, what was that?” William is brief in starting to scold her before Elouise starts.
“Well then maybe…” Elouise claps her hands together loudly exclaiming to distract him, “If our Lord allows, we can adopt a few strays to claim as our own?”
“What are you talking about mother?” Joey asks in a confusing tone.
A bout of discussions erupts excitedly from the children as they overheard the offer of employment earlier outside the window. They were all sitting under while eavesdropping on the conversation. Joey and Lillianne however were much too busy investigating the turtle they found than overhearing the conversation the adults were having.
“What I mean is…” Elouise begins turning to William she curtsies while saying, “Lord Maynard, I humbly accept your offer. I’ve already thought it through enough. As you said before, Henry will become a squire. Winifred will work in the kitchens, she’s also good with medicinal herbs. Joseph can help with the hunting or even become a squire as well. Luke can be an assistant to your Stewart; while Alfred can work the stables as a groom. Lenora can be Lillianne’s lady-in-waiting, all while I…will be more than happy to become Lillianne’s tutor…BUT, all of this on one condition.” She points her finger at William while emphasizing the clause to her agreement in a much firmer voice.
Lillianne is thrilled and squeals with joy. All the children are all cheering and hugging one another. There’s no way they can finish the conversation so William ushers them out the door and tells them, “The rambunctious lot of you ought to start eating lunch, Winifred took her time making it and it smells heavenly. We’ll finish up the details in private.” He shuts the door and locks it, eager to continue the conversation with Elouise.
Overwhelmingly excited, a usually composed William, gleefully declares “That’s wonderful news Rosie! And already working out the details. Seems as though you are quite organized. You seem to be a born powerful leader, even though you’re a woman. Now…What is your condition that you speak of?”
Confidently standing in front of him she simply does not express the importance of it. She commands it, in an imposing tone, “…Your wife shall never lay a hand on any of my children.”
William nods in agreement smiling while saying, “Absolutely, that will not be a problem.” He reaches his hand out.
Elouise shakes it firmly while replying, “Let us go over the details later, as you said Winnie has made a wonderful lunch. Let’s go join everyone.”
“Yes, it smells wonderful, what did she make?” William asks opening the door.
Ellie responds, “A roast from the stag I got yesterday evening. It’s been simmering all…”
Interrupting with a scolding voice Will’s voice is abrasive as is his hand that he wraps around her wrist, “A stag, on your Lord’s land? That’s punishable offense unless you…”
Also interrupting Will, Ellie soothes his scolding concern, “…unless I have permission, which I do. All Lord Paynel commands in return is the set of antlers, the hide, and a shilling.” She smiles as his concern lessens. William releases her wrist as she continues, “I was planning on going to visit him sometime later this evening. The hide should be done enough for him. Would you like to join me? The children will be staying here.”
As they continue their way to the kitchen Will remarks, “A woman hunter, who has permission to hunt on her Lord’s land. What’s next, you own land?”
As bluntly as she can, Elouise responds, “Yes. Fifty-five acres actually.”
As they enter the kitchen William just stands in awe before asking, “What are you?”
“I’m a thirty-one-year-old unmarried woman who is a single mother to six children. I’m a free tenant peasant who owns land on this far side of Yorkshire, that has a knack for breaking societal norms, along with having a few secrets…Any other questions?” She says nonchalantly while spinning around with a smirk and a giggle.
Grinning and pointing at her, “That giggle of yours is going to get you in trouble one of these days.” The children snicker as they are clearing the table to make room for William and Elouise to now eat. The children file out of the room carrying on their conversations as they leave.
“So, I have to ask my Lord,” Elouise begins to say as she sits down at the chair William pulls out for her, “Why would Lilly need a tutor? Doesn’t she already have one? Surely the Chaplain of your estate teaches her properly.”
“Chancellor Richard had to be…” he pauses, seemingly to try and cool a growing temper of his from the question, “…removed from his post, and is currently a missing person according to the townsfolk. As his actions were poor in regards to teaching my daughter. Father Adam is currently taking his place, but only for holy service.”
Sensing more to what was being said and as a mother she has a hunch as to what he might be referring to, she declares, “I hope you’ve made him a eunuch now.”
Before taking a sip of tea, his gaze looks to her while he mutters to himself quietly, “Something like that.”
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