“I couldn’t have said it better myself!” Mattie had read all about kindred spirits in L.M.Montgomery novels, but she’d always dismissed the concept as nonsense. But here, in this world of daredevil women, she felt a hint of connection, perhaps a homecoming even.
“We still have over an hour before Vera wants us all to congregate on the training field, and I’ve already had breakfast.” Sadie glanced over at the ornately carved grandfather clock that looked like two cranes holding the timepiece under their intertwined beaks. “Would you like to see the dynamo that helps power the building? Vera showed it to me when Lily and I arrived four days ago. There is a machine shop next door to the power station that Vera said we could use at our leisure if we were so inclined. Carrie’s father is the owner of a bicycle boutique in Chicago. He was one of the first who started offering motorized ones, so she grew up around machines too.”
“Truly?” Mattie said as her heart kicked up a beat.
Sadie dipped her chin in confirmation. “So are you ready to see the engine that powers this place?”
“Am I ever,” Mattie said as she followed Sadie to a nondescript door tucked away in an alcove near the grand foyer. Decorative vine-like scrollwork helped obscure the entranceway to an entirely new world. Unlike the grandeur of the main house, the hidden hallway was narrow and utilitarian. But despite its unfussy appearance, it was clean and brightly lit with electric bulbs.
Just as curious as she’d been about the display portion of the castle, Mattie scanned the servants’ corridor. She wondered what it would be like to work in a big house, hurrying unseen behind the walls. How often did she feel like that? Her work concealed, unnoticed.
The stairs down to the subbasement were equally simple but well maintained. As they descended past the kitchen and the laundry, Mattie didn’t envy the servants who had to make this steep trip multiple times a day as they lugged trays of food and freshly pressed linens. Although gas ovens with enameled tops, electric washing machines, and newfangled electric-powered vacuum machines made the business of running a household easier, it didn’t mean all manual labor had disappeared, especially in a mansion of this size.
Even before they reached the power room, Mattie could hear the steadylub lub lubof the motor. The rhythmic sound had a way of both soothing and thrilling her.
“My dad says that the steady thump of a thresher used to put me to sleep,” Sadie said, as if she’d heard Mattie’s thoughts. “My mom would put me under a tree on a blanket, and I’d drift right off. Lily, though, used to howl something terrible. It’s funny how folks think twins should be so similar. My sister and I have always been as different as oil and water, but thankfully we get along a lot better than that.”
Twins.Mattie hadn’t realized until now that the sisters were fraternal ones. Yet somehow the revelation didn’t cut as deep as she’d thought it would. It gave her yet another connection to this woman who seemed to echo her own internal thoughts. Maybe Sadie would understand emotions Mattie felt about Alfred when no one else ever had.
“It’s funny,” Mattie replied as a rush of sad fondness flowed through her. “My twin and I were the classic peas in a pod. We always liked the same things—flying, machines, even the same food. None of the rest of the family can abide braunschweiger, but Alfred loved it just like me.”
“I didn’t know you were a twin too! I’ve never met another set,” Sadie said excitedly as she went to push open the door to what soundedlike the power room, given the intensity of the steady sounds emanating from behind the wood. “I take it he’s an aviator too?”
“He was.” The words were still hard to say, even after all these years, but there was comfort in talking about him. “He died in France. Fighter pilot. Same squadron as Leo. They were best friends too.”
“Oh,” Sadie said softly, her hand frozen on the partially open door. “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have brought up the twin thing.”
“It’s okay,” Mattie assured her and then realized that it was. “You didn’t know.”
Sadie gnawed at her lip. “Does it bother you? I mean me and Lily being...”
“Twins?” Mattie finished as the other woman trailed off, as if unsure if her words were doing harm or good. When Sadie nodded affirmatively, Mattie waited a beat before speaking, trying to figure out the answer for herself.
“In my family, it’s like Alfred is just on a trip, ready to return—his belongings still waiting for him. But we don’t talk about him, and it creates this emptiness. I think it’s good for me to see you and Lily together, to think of the good times, to fill in that hollowness with memories.”
“If you ever need to talk about your brother, both Lily and I would be more than willing to listen. If I lost Lily, I’d probably natter on about her all the time and keep a little bit of her alive with me.”
Something akin to relief washed over Mattie. “That is exactly how I feel. I just said something similar to Leo. Being on this grand adventure makes me feel oddly closer to Alfred than I ever did when eating at the same table as his empty chair. I just keep on imagining how much he’d enjoy all this.”
“What do you think he would have thought of this room?” Sadie asked as she finally pushed the door open, revealing a massive masterpiece of machinery. The two-cylinder motor and the Crocker-Wheeler generator whirled madly. The rhythmic pounding of the pistons overwhelmed the senses, but Mattie could almost feel the flow of powerrunning from the engine, through the driveshaft, and into the generator, where it sparked to life, lighting and putting into motion the entire mansion.
“Oh! Alfred would have loved it!” Mattie shouted as she walked toward the equipment, drawn in by its power.
“It was designed by Dr.Cyprien O’Dillon Mailloux, the same man who’s responsible for the electrical systems in the Astoria Hotel and the Biltmore House.”
“I’ve read some articles written by him!” Mattie leaned closer to the motors as she watched the valve rods pop up and down in time with the firing of the cylinders.
“Vera has his original plans.” Sadie bent down.
“Does she?” Thrilled, Mattie glanced over at her new compatriot, who was now critically eyeing the carbon brush on the generator’s armature.
“Oh yes.” Sadie didn’t turn her attention from the apparatus. “She lent them to me to read. I’m sure she’ll let you borrow them too.”
“Oh, that would be just the berries!”
“Do you need any assistance, ladies?” a male voice intoned—pleasant enough but definitely confused.
Mattie spun with Sadie to find a man dressed in clothes that were too fancy to be those of a mere laborer but too casual to be those of a businessman. His noncommittal grin matched his tone. “I am Mr.Berkley. I oversee the operations of the power system here at Fete Castle.”
