“Faith and Hope? Aye, right nice and proper little gels until they got sent to that fancy school.” She shook her head. “Two spoiled gels came home! Not that that were the vicar’s and Mrs. Jones’ fault. Mrs. Jones confessed to me that their real father wanted them raised a certain way, and not in a way that is correct for people in our positions.” She sighed. “They thought themselves above us in the village.”
“Oh! You know they are not the vicar’s daughters?”
“Aye, but the truth wasn’t well known, you know. I guess Mrs. Jones had’a talk to someone about it, and her someone was me,” she said with a little laugh.
“She trusted your discretion,” Cecilia said.
Mrs. Hull nodded. “I was blessed,” she said. “And I’m the only one she told that Miss Faith sent her a letter two months ago. Said that she knew she and Hope were a mite hasty, and she was sorry for that. She wanted to tell her she was fine and had secured a good position, but didn’t tell her where, only that the earl knew.”
Cecilia sighed. “Well, that is something, I guess.” She stood up. “Let’s find the vicar and my husband. I need to return home for a bit before the inquest.”
Mrs. Hull rose slowly to her feet. “You watch out for the magistrate at the inquest. He don’t like women, or what he thinks of as womanish ways.”
“What do you mean?” Cecilia asked as they walked toward the church.
“Won’t let his wife and daughter have tea in the afternoon, says that’s too womanish and barbaric.”
“Womanish?” Cecilia repeated, astonished.
“Yes. That is what he says. Mrs. Hester, she loves the tradition and loves tea. She brings tea down to my little cottage two to three times a week so she might enjoy it. I love the company and the gossip,” she said on a coy laugh. “And sheleaves what extra tea she has brought with me, so I might enjoy another day of tea.”
“That sounds wonderful!” Cecilia said.
Mrs. Hull nodded. “And Idoneed to talk to the vicar. He’ll be needing a cook and someone to keep for him; I’d like the job.”
Cecilia and Mrs. Hull found the men in the north transept. They were discussing the raised stage the pulpit sat on.
“That floor looks dangerous, Mr. Jones. We need to put this repair at the head of our list lest the wood collapse under you and you fall through the floor.”
“I’m sure the lanterns must be more important,” Mr. Jones said. “If the floor gave way, you are only talking about a drop of two feet at most.”
“But it could be a drop to cause injury, as it would come upon you unawares. It won’t take much to put in new floorboards. I’ll have the Summerworth carpenter here to fix it before Sunday services. Shouldn’t take long.”
Mr. Jones looked at the cracking and sagging floorboards and reluctantly agreed. “But lanterns working are important for the congregation.”
“Yes, and they will get fixed. Don’t you feel it would be nice to have something on your list done? Then you can look forward to getting it all done and not thinking of it as a list that goes nowhere?” James asked.
“James,” Cecilia said. “Are you about done here? Hugh needs to be fed before the inquest.”
He nodded. “I think we are done here for now anyway,” he said.
“And you need to eat, too, Mr. Jones,” said Mrs. Hull.
“I’m not hungry, Mrs. Hull.”
“Nonsense. You may not feel hungry, but for you to make it through the inquest this afternoon, you’d best have food. I’ll nip up to the house and get something for you. Gracious knows Iknow where everything is. And I can go on cooking and keeping for you, too,” she said.
The vicar frowned and shook his head. “I can’t think right now, Mrs. Hull.”
“I understands, truly,” she said soothingly. “I’ll just do for you today so you ken see to what ya needs to do, and then we’s can talk more on a more permanent situation. Wanted to let you know before that Mrs. Ralston come about offering the same.” She shook her head. “Her house ain’t tidy like mine.
“I ain’t braggin’, but I wanna help today. Also, wanna let you know I’s interested afore Mrs. Ralston come offering the same. Asides, I cain’t abide havin’ nothin’ to do. That’s why I helped with Miranda’s garden and do trimming around some of the headstones.”
The vicar looked bemused and a bit hunted.
Cecilia and James tried to hide their laughter at the competition forming between the neighbor ladies, and Mrs. Jones was not even in the grave yet.
The Branstokes took their leave of the vicar, saying they would see him at the inquest that afternoon. In the meantime, they were going to see the earl to see if he knew where to find Hope and Faith. They wanted to send express messages to both young women.
