After breakfast, she cornered Ghost in the foyer. “Are they set to arrive today?”
“Yes.” Ghost eyed the hallway. “You sure ’bout this?”
“Yes, and one more thing. I’d like to have dinner alone with Ed tonight. I won’t require a chaperone. It’s obvious he has no dishonorable intentions, and the servants will be around. You’ll be busy helping with teaching our new staff how things are done anyway.”
“I’m happy to not stand awkwardly in the room while you eat,” Ghost teased. “You know, Mr. Neal’s a good man. He just worries he’ll lets people down. He’s not secure and not goin’ to risk anyone until he’s got the money to care for them. Make sense?”
“It does.” Cora squeezed Ghost’s hand.
He turned her palm up and studied her callouses. “I knew you were a good, hardworking woman. Not like these women with the rich men I can’ts stand. I knew you were the right woman for Ed. That’s why I did what I did.”
A warning fluttered up her spine. “What did you do, Ghost?”
He looked to the exit. “I best go wrangle up those people and bring them here while Mr. Neal’s gone.”
Apparently he wasn’t going to share, but she trusted he would when he was ready. “Good idea. I’ll go finish the dress for tomorrow. Retrieve me when our new guests are dressed and ready to work.” Cora ascended the stairs and went to work. She managed to complete the gown except for the final lace cuff when Ghost’s knock sounded at the door.
Grace answered, summoning him inside with hat in hand.
“They’re cleaned and dressed in uniform. But we have a problem.”
The urgency in his voice stirred Cora into action. She handed the dress over to Grace. “Run a stitch along here to secure the lace.”
“Yes, Miss,” Grace said and went to work.
Cora followed Ghost to the kitchen to discover Captain Wilkins, his wife, and two other adults dressed and ready. But beyond them were four small children huddled together in the corner with dirt-encrusted faces, bugs in their hair, and too-small bodies hidden under torn clothing.
She knelt in front of them, attempting not to cover her nose from the foul odor of sweat and rot. “What do we have here?”
“We heards you had food for work. I might be small, but I’s strong,” a little boy who couldn’t be over eight or nine said, holding his arm up to show his nonexistent muscles. Her heart ached at the sight of them.
“Well, I don’t know… What can you do?”
“You’re not serious,” Cook scolded.
“I’s can plant those flowers and trees out theres.”
“Flowers and trees?” Cora glanced at Ghost.
“Mr. Neal knew you like flowers, so he had some delivered. Gift for your help with everything.”
“He shouldn’t have gone to the trouble or the expense.” Inside, she swelled with hope that this meant Ed did care for her the way she’d begun to care for him.
“Do we have a gardener?”
“Yes, but I was goin’ to plant them so they’d be done on time,” Ghost stated, but she knew that wasn’t the truth. It had to be that they’d let the gardener go to save money until this was all over.
“Well, sounds like you have an assistant. But when he’s done, he has to take a bath, and we’ll clean and mend his clothes. What should we call you?”
“I’s Albert. This here’s Margaret, Emma, and Beth.”
“Is can wash dishes, and I scrub floors real good.” A young girl that Albert called Margaret, only a year or two older than the boy, sank to her hands and knees and made a circular motion. “I just needs a brush.”
“She’s not going to be in my kitchen. No way,” Cook protested but in a less-scolding tone.
“Each of these little ones can bathe, and I’ll brush their hair. After, they can clean floors and windows and anything else that needs tending to for the party. We need this house perfect, and since we’re a few less on help around here, I think we could use the extra hands.”
“Miss McKinnie, thank you for your kindness.” Captain Wilkins placed three wooden objects on the table. A lion, a giraffe, and a bear. “Mr. Ghost gave me your message. I made these small ones, but I can make larger ones for the party.”
