Lucy Wickshire 33 Chapter Five 2

Walter had turned all night in bed after returning home. No matter how much he tried, he could not descend into deep sleep. What was Her Ladyship planning for him? He could not get that smile of hers out of his head. Though it was a hot night, he shivered nevertheless, while soaked in sweat. By morning, he looked like he had not slept at all. Sitting up, he looked round his room. The farm was making profit and his mother took the liberty of decorating his room. He had slept here a lot, yet half the things in here, he could not recognize. A knock on the door told him a servant had brought water for him to clean up. He sighed at this. A few days ago, they could not afford clothes that would take them into the near white cold, now she was indulging in designing the household. She had even brought a tutor for his little brother, Allen. His father stopped complaining about managing the farm, as he could not complain that his wife was having the time of her life.

"Come in." Walter answered and the servant came in. The elderly man put the water in the bath before informing a dazed Walter that he was done. Dismissing him, Walter cleaned up and dressed in the new garments his mother had bought before going down for breakfast. Today was his first day after quitting his job. Even though the Lady had been the one who told him to quit, he still wondered how she was going to get information from him.

Walter had nothing to do today, but go and deliver doc.u.ments to Lady Steinhouse. Knowing that no one was coming for the money in their possession and those that wanted it did not know where to go, his family could go into town and make friends and even go into the city. He approached the table and greeted his mother and father before sitting down.

"No work to day?" his father asked.

"I quit today. I will not be working at the stables any more." Walter informed them and his mother smiled.

"That's great. How can you be working in the dirt? You can help out in the farm. It's yours after all, and you know it would help your father a lot." his mother said. After all the fortune her son had ama.s.sed, she was always indignant that he was still working in that school as a stable boy. She had already had some neighbors from town stop by and wanted their daughters to meet her son. Though they were not n.o.bility, they were not poor at all. She had discovered how much standing they had in town because of this property of theirs. They were the Krains and they were somebodies now.

"That is not the job I was referring to." his father corrected and the table went silent. Everybody a.s.sumed Walter's job was a taboo. The maids always asked what the young master was doing out all day. They were never allowed to discuss Walter and were punished if they were caught discussing him. Though they did not understand the consequence of their actions, they had already made a mystery out of Walter. Making others so curious, It had spread to their new circle.

"I do. I will be out for a while today." was all Walter said. As usual, he did not explain nor did they ask. Breakfast continued as usual, with Walter saying little to nothing.