Maida Finds a New Place to Hide

“Welcome, Miss Locke. I’m Mr. Keen, Mr. Crenshaw’s steward. Please step in.”
He stepped back to hold the door wide. She heard it squeak as he pushed it wide. However, the interior welcomed her. The entrance hall gave a glimpse of the kitchen beyond. To the right of the entry were the stairs. She moved past them into a spacious drawing room. A massive fireplace dominated the inside wall. At the back were two doors. An open door gave her a glimpse of a dining room. Maida ventured over, opened the second, and discovered a well-lit parlor with windows on two walls and a door leading out.
“How lovely.”
“It is the north side of the house, and despite the windows, tenants haven’t complained of it being too cold,” said the steward.
Upstairs, the principal bedroom had a spectacular view through double windows looking out over the small winding valley that demarcated Barnsley Cross. A bedroom next door would be sufficient for visitors. Though I don’t know who would visit, besides my aunt.
The third bedroom was tiny, suitable only for a child or storage. They trailed down to the drawing room.
Mr. Keen said, “I understood you had furniture of your own, miss?”
“Yes. I’ve had some stored pieces, but not enough to furnish this house.”
“Mr. Crenshaw has sufficient items to loan until you can have your items installed. Contact Charlton here in town, he’s the carter.”
They toured the second cottage. Of similar boxy construction, the rooms were smaller with a parlor, dining room, and kitchen on the ground floor, and three bedrooms on the second. Maida hoped it suited Mrs. Potter and her son.
Aunt Rae grumbled, “I still believe having the housekeeper reside with you is the best idea. What will the neighbors think?”
Maida finally voiced what she had not been able to admit. “Having them next door means I don’t have to worry about the boy being underfoot.”
In front, below the cottage, a thicket of gorse covered a sloping hill. The bushes ended where the land flatted. Laborers had pulled out the prickly bushes to plant hay. She imagined it growing tall as the summer progressed. Maida looked forward to seeing the plantings flourish in those fields.
She could discern the entire village from one end to the other. Barnsley Cross village was situated along a brook. In time, she supposed she might distinguish her neighbors down below; right now, she knew no one. That’s an advantage.
She felt protected up high on her sloping hill, nestled against the woods with no near neighbors. A queen looking over her domain.
“I’m here so Aunt Rae doesn’t think me a burden.”
She walked back inside.
I won’t let anyone in, and I won’t venture out. I’ll hide here like I did at Aunt Rae’s.