A New Estate - Crimson Peak

Chapter Twenty Seven

The days after proved to be uneventful beyond the men cracking on with their jobs, they were being amazingly efficient under Ben's watch and it was wonderful to see their original chipper selves beginning to shine through once again.

Unfortunately, nothing went much further between Robert and myself, mostly due to him being kept busy with the renovations so the only time we got to see each other was during his breaks and at meals.

There was something coy and exciting about our shared glances and smiled, knowing that we each wanted the others' company mutually was a comforting thought.

I believed that Mother had caught on to our little looks, as she began giving me suggestive looks and knowing smiles of her own.

The first time she gave me an all-knowing look, I feared that things would end abruptly for us, that she would out things to Father and he would put things to a halt.

The amount of relief I felt when nothing occurred was insurmountable.

It was on the fifth night after our kiss that Father made his announcement.

We were all gathered at the table, eating a beef meal that I had helped Mother to prepare.

The atmosphere was humming with a pleasantness that we hadn't felt amongst each other for quite some time.

Even though it was tragic there was no denying that David's death had been beneficial.

It was a cruel thought, but true all the same.

The noise was broken by Father's tinkering on the side of his glass with the handle of his fork, his black and white peppered beat broken in half by a large smile.

He waited a moment for everyone to settle before clearing his throat and setting his fork down beside his half empty plate.

"I'm sorry to interrupt everyone's engaging conversations, but I feel it's time I had my say."

Everyone fell into total silence, waiting for him to continue, even cutlery had stopped scraping on plates.

"It has been a treat getting acquainted with all of you, not just as your employer but also as a colleague and a friend."

The men gave him a little cheer that Father was obviously not expecting, Mother placed a supportive hand over his whilst I shared a look and a smile with Robert.

"But," he continued, giving Mother a wistful smile as she squeezed his hand, "all good times must come to an end and as such, we plan to depart tomorrow morning."

"You're going home?" I asked softly, feeling a little disjointed.

I understood that my parents had their own lives to run back in Wiltshire, but their presence within the large manor was a comfort for me.

It was a childish notion; however, the truth tends to be.

"We are," Mother answered, "we trust that you will do marvellous things for this place."

"We'll continue working as hard as we can, mam," Nathaniel nodded.

"Please, there is no need for a man of such experience to refer to me so formally," she replied with a light laugh.

"Merely being respectful, mam, my age has no place here."

"Here's to a safe journey," Ben cut in, raising his glass in a toast.

We each give a cry of varying well wishes, raising our barely filled glasses towards the centre of the table before taking a sip.

And just like that, we resumed on as if nothing had happened.

Conversations continued and food was finished, bit by bit people began to dribble out of the kitchen to find some evening entertainment.

I stood to help Mother tidy as she prepared the water to wash the sullied crockery. Father and Robert assisted and moved the plates, cutlery and glasses from the table and onto the sideboard as I made space by putting away the clean dishes.

"Sir," I heard Robert whisper non-too discreetly to Father, "when you have a moment, I wish to speak with you privately."

My heart jolted in excitement.

Was this going to be about what I had overheard?

It made logical sense, with this probably being his last chance before they left.

Unless it had happened beforehand during work hours and I hadn't noticed them stepping off to the side for confidentiality.

"Of course," Father obliged with a brief nod of his head, looking at Mother he asked, "do you mind?"

"Not at all, you boys can scurry off."

Both gave us a courteous smile before leaving, my eyes trailed after them until Mother cleared her throat to gain my attention whilst acting like scrubbing the dishes had her enraptured.

"It seems as though someone is rather taken by our resident Robert."

My cheeks flared up a little and heated at the glint in her eye, so I used the drying of the plates as a distraction.

"Well, he is a charming man."

"Indeed he is, and just how far has he charmed you?"

"Not far, Mother, don't go fretting."

"I'm hardly fretting, I wish you would be just a little faster."

"These things take time."

"I know," she sighed, rinsing out the large pot dinner had been cooked in, "but you're nearing thirty, most women are married by your age, even I had you and your brother."

"And I understand that, but no man had caught my eye, at least no free man."

Mother took a side glance at me and then passed over the heavy pot for me to dry now that I was done with the plates.

"What about Jake?"

"Jake?"

"Yes, the boy from when you were younger."

"We were ten," I laughed, gasping out my surprise, "and it was definitely unrequited on my side, it also would have been short lived as he went to Harrow in the end."

"I suppose," she conceded as a small frown furrowed her brows, "I just worry about you."

"As you always have, but there is no need, even if Robert and I don't work out."

"So, you plan on proceeding with courting?"

"If Father will allow it, yes," I smiled, staring into the deep pot as if it would have the answer.