Lies Exposed
976 Words
Amelia burst through the kitchen door with a large smile on her face.
“What’s got you in a good mood?” Nancy asked while she stirred a large pot on the stove.
“I just bumped into The Tart leaving Lord Winthrope’s chambers. She was so proud of herself, thinking that Uncle Charles was going to take care of her,” Amelia replied.
“Fat chance of that,” Nancy grumbled.
“Do you know she loosened buttons from Aunt Beatrice’s gowns so that I would be punished for it?”
Nancy stood up straight and looked at Amelia; she pressed her lips into a tight line. “Miss Amelia, did she beat you again?” Amelia nodded her head. Pointing to the rag Amelia held in her hand, Nancy said, “Did you use that to clean her majesty’s pot?” Again, Amelia nodded. Nancy grabbed the rag and dropped it into the pot on the stove, giving it a good stir.
She fished the rag out of the pot with a ladle and tossed it into a basket by the door and washed her hands.
The Tart walked in from the dining room. “What smells so good, Nancy?” she asked.
“Soup for Lord and Lady Winthrope’s dinner tonight. Grab a bowl and help yourself.” Nancy gestured with her head to the cabinet on the wall that held old chipped crockery for the servants to use. Amelia felt a laugh bubble up from the back of her throat. She bit her lips to keep the laughter from escaping. Her eyes grew large as The Tart grabbed a bowl, dipped it into the soup, and ate the meal.
“What’s got into you, miss high and mighty? You don’t have anything to say to me now, do you?” The Tart addressed Amelia with a crooked smile on her face. Amelia kept her mouth shut and shook her head. “That’s what I thought. You think you’re better than the rest of us. You’re not. You’re worse than us; you’re a slave.” The girl laughed.
“Don’t you have floors to clean?” Amelia smirked as the girl brought the bowl to her lips again.
The Tart finished her meal and dropped the bowl onto the counter. “I don’t have time for this.” She said, storming out of the kitchen.
Nancy kept her eye on the door and when The Tart was too far to hear them she turned back to Amelia and said, “You can let it out now.”
Amelia burst into laughter. Tears started to roll down her cheeks. “Don’t let my uncle know what she just did. He might enjoy that.”
“Miss Amelia, you’re awful,” Nancy said, laughing along with her. “We will have stale bread and cheese for our meals today.”
“That sounds lovely to me,” Amelia replied. “Mrs. Hunter wants me to help you this afternoon, Nancy.”
“Alright.” Nancy nodded. “Roll up your sleeves and wash your hands.”
While Amelia was busy waiting on her aunt, Mrs. Hunter was in Lord Winthrope’s office supervising The Tart. Lord Winthrope had left his desk drawers unlocked and wide open. She saw letters from various creditors, which did not surprise her. Mixed in with those letters were letters from Amelia’s father’s solicitor, Christine, and George, dated four years prior.
Knowing that Lady Winthrope was heading out to tea and Lord Winthrope was in his chambers, no one would notice if she read the letters.
Mrs. Hunter dismissed the maid and sent the girl to clean another room. She picked up the letter from George and it began.
“Aunt Beatrice,
No, of course, I do not mind signing over Amelia’s dowry to Christine. It would honor Amelia’s memory greatly. My sister loved our cousin dearly and I know it would make Amelia very happy……”
George continued about how he missed his father and sister and hoped their souls were both at peace. This letter was dated shortly after the funeral. She picked up the letter from Christine.
“Mama,
This will be our last communication. I blame you completely for my cousin’s death. Although you may not have killed her directly, your treatment of your own niece after her father’s death broke her heart and killed her spirit as if you had murdered her yourself. I will never forgive you for it. Do not call on me, you will not be welcomed into my home.
Sincerely, Lady Christine Denton
This letter was dated a month after Christine ran away from home to elope.
“Well done,” Mrs. Hunter thought to herself. “You have finally managed to tell that beastly mother of yours what you think. Although your cousin has more spirit than you give her credit for.”
The final letter was from the solicitor.
“Lord Winthrope,
Since learning of your niece’s death, you will understand that you will no longer be receiving the stipend that Lord Southerton set up for his daughter’s care….”
This letter was dated a few months after Christine’s letter. Apparently, Christine had been so angered by the supposed death of her cousin that she took it upon herself to inform the Southerton’s solicitor. George must have corroborated the story of Amelia’s death.
“Serves that greedy harpy right.” Mrs. Hunter said to herself.
Since the letters were in Lord Winthrope’s drawer, she assumed that Lady Winthrope did not know of their existence.
She left the room to find Amelia in the kitchen. Nancy had been teaching Amelia how to bake bread and prepare the family meals. Poor Amelia was covered in flour, and Nancy was getting a little short-tempered with her. Cooking and baking were not Amelia’s strong suits.
- Writer
