Pip and his sisters ran across the meadow, Rocket bounding along behind them. As I lit my cigarette, Pip saw me, spoke with his sisters, then began to walk towards me. His older sister grabbed his arm, shouting, but they were too far away to make out what they said. His little sister stood still, face fearful.
Pip shook off his older sister’s arm, but didn’t come to me. So I went out to them. “Are you well?”
Both the girls had Amelia and Peter’s straight brown hair and brown eyes. The older one, a girl of twelve, glanced away, cheeks coloring. “Yes, mum.”
The little one was six. She didn’t appear afraid, only confused.
I squatted in front of her. “How about you?”
Pip said, “She told me something. I was about to tell you.”
“No!” The older one stomped her foot. “Mommy and Daddy said not to tell anyone! Especially not her!”
I looked up at the girl. “Especially not me? Perhaps I should go talk with them about this then.”
She stepped back, face pale. “Please don’t tell them.”
“I won’t, if you let your little sister tell me what she heard. This is my house. If you want to live here, I can’t have secrets.”
The girl bit her lip for a moment. “Okay.”
Her little sister gave her a smug smile. “I heard Mommy yell at Daddy because he told Mr. Roy of things in the house here.”
I was so surprised I could only stare for a moment. “He did?”
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“She didn’t actually yell,” Pip said. “They whispered. But it was like yelling.” He turned to his little sister. “Right?”
She nodded. “She was angry. And he was angry too, ‘cause he said he was only trying to ‘tect her and —”
“Pro-tect her,” the older girl said.
Her little sister acted as if she hadn’t heard. “— but I don’t know what for.”
Pip and I exchanged a glance, and I found the older girl peering at me.
She knows something’s wrong.
How much had they told her? She would’ve been two when Pip was born — but if the servants had gossiped in front of her, she might already guess much. “Don’t worry about that. This is a matter for adults.” I smiled at them. “I’m glad you told me.”
Her older sister said, “You’re not angry?”
I considered this. “No, I should have expected it.” I rose. “But let’s not worry your Mommy and Daddy about it.”
The oldest girl said, “May we go play now?”
“Yes, but I’d like to speak with Pip for a moment.” I turned to him. “If you don’t mind.”
“No, mum,” Pip said, “I like talking with you.”
The girls ran off. Rocket followed them, tail wagging.
“Pip, I’m going to tell you something which nobody can know about, not even your sisters. Can you keep a secret?”
“Yes, mum.”
“I’m going to go away.”
Pip stopped, staring at me with his mouth open. “But why?”
I gazed at the sun, low and dim in the overcast sky. “Because I don’t want to live here anymore.” Should I ask? “If I find a place that’s safe for us, do you want me to send for you?”
Pip shook his head. “No, mum. I like it here now that I’m in the kitchens. I like Mistress Anne, and Monsieur, and the maids. I like learning how to cook.” He smiled. “I even like being with the men at night. They tuck me in and tell me stories.” He grabbed my hand. “I promise I’ll be good. I won’t ask any more questions about Mommy. Just — please don’t go away.”
I hugged him. “Oh, Pip. It’s not because of you.” How could I explain it? “What if they made you stay in the stables with your Daddy? How would you feel then?”
He considered this for a moment. “Bad. I’d — I’d want to run away.” His look of astonishment was so much like Roy’s the day I asked him to teach me to shoot a moving target that I almost laughed. “But you’re the lady. Why do they make you do things you don’t want to?”
I smiled to myself. “That’s an excellent question, my dear. You’re quite smart for being only ten. But I don’t know. And you mustn’t ask anyone else. Promise?”
Pip nodded gravely. “I promise. When will you go?”
I shrugged. “Soon, I hope. My friend is getting tickets.”
He smiled, placing my hand on his cheek. “I hope not soon. Will you tell me bye before you go?”
I squeezed his little hand. “I will.”
So Peter Dewey reported to Roy Spadros. No wonder Amelia was angry with him. What might Amelia have passed along to the man who tried to destroy her, without even knowing of it?
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