Secret Whispers (Heavenstone 2)

One of the voices I heard was real, but I didn’t realize it for a few moments.

Mrs. Dobson was standing in the kitchen doorway, calling to me in a whisper and beckoning. I looked back at the living room to be sure Lucille wasn’t watching and then went into the kitchen. Doris was sitting at the kitchenette, her hands wrapped around a cup of tea. She looked up. Mrs. Dobson stood beside her.

“We want you to know we absolutely did not break Mrs. Bennet’s jar of skin cream,” she said.

“I know you didn’t,” I replied.

“We just wanted you to know we wouldn’t do anything to hurt your father or you, Miss Semantha, and we’re both quite upset that your father is so upset with us.”

“I know, Mrs. Dobson. I spoke to him about it. He said we should forget it all for now.”

“We thought you’d stand up for us. Didn’t we, Doris?”

“Yes, thank you,” Doris said. “I’d hate to lose this work over something I didn’t do.”

“You won’t,” I promised. I smiled at them and started out.

Mrs. Dobson followed me to the stairway. I turned to reassure her again, but I could see there was something more.

“What is it, Mrs. Dobson?”

She looked toward the living-room doorway first and then leaned in to whisper to me. “I saw Mrs. Bennet looking at the mail and taking an envelope that was addressed to you,” she said.

“When?”

“Yesterday. I thought she might have taken it by mistake, but I wanted to be sure. Did she give it to you?”

“No. I’ve received no mail.”

She nodded. “I had a suspicion. Your father told us how he doesn’t want any deception in this house. It’s a very special house, and you’re special people. I didn’t think it was my place to say anything about your mail, but I don’t like us being unjustly accused of things, either.”

“No, you shouldn’t like it, and you shouldn’t be accused,” I said.

“If you tell her I told you, she’ll be very upset with me, I’m sure, and probably go complaining to your father, but I haven’t lived this long and worked this long for good people to end up sneaking about and tiptoeing around so as to make myself invisible. If someone can’t stand the sight of you, you don’t wish them to be blind. You just walk off. That’s what me mum taught me,” she said. “Sorry to disturb,” she added, and returned to the kitchen.

I looked toward the living room again.

Why would Lucille take my mail? Who would write to me?

After the talk we had just had, I didn’t think this was the time to ask about that letter addressed to me and accuse her. I started up the stairway, telling myself I would find out why, if she had taken it by mistake, she hadn’t yet given it to me.

Little did I know how quickly that would be and what an impact it would have on the future Lucille so wanted to design for me.

The Letter

I INTENDED TO confront Lucille about my letter the following day, but she was gone before I went to breakfast, and then she and Daddy went to dinner with some people after work. When they came home late that evening, they were together laughing and enjoying a nightcap in the den. I didn’t want to bring it up in front of my father, anyway. However, the following morning, I deliberately rose earlier and waited for Lucille to come out of the bedroom. I saw my father leave first, and then, when she emerged, I pretended to be walking out and down to breakfast at the same time.

“Good morning, Semantha.” She waited at the top of the stairway.

“Good morning.”

“What are your plans for today? I’m going to Lexington to meet the governor’s wife for lunch,” she said before I could reply. “I’d take you along, but it’s not proper to surprise her with a guest.”

“That’s all right. I’m going to do some reading, relax at the pool. Uncle Perry is sending some design proposals over for me to look at. They’re for girls my age. I used to give him input all the time.”

“How nice. I took a brief look at that sector of the business. He could use something to boost sales.”

We started down the stairway.