02. A Woman Who Knows Her Place
Baroness Bingham liked to show off. She demonstrated this by dumping the nanny’s duties on the governess and framing it as career development, or by considering it a sign of generosity when she paid for carriage fare while sending her on errands during her only day off in a month.
“This is a letter to my mother, this is an order for the general store, and this is the coat measurements to take to the dressmaker. The collar must be silk.”
In addition to these, a grocery order from the cook and a list of stationery supplies requested by the governess were added to Bronwynner’s tasks.
Bathgate City was about an hour away by carriage from the Bingham mansion. Bronwynner had no intention of going to town on her day off, but the Baroness envied her.
“They’re showing a new play at the theater that would be perfect for a young girl like you. Tell me what it was like when you return.”
Though Bathgate was merely a rural small town compared to the capital Whittingham, it was expensive because of its proximity to Bathpool, a nobles’ resort. With Bronwynner’s salary, she would need to save for two months to see a performance.
Still, she said nothing.
After finishing her business at the post office, general store, dressmaker, grocery store, and stationery shop, she would barely have time to visit the used bookstore. The last post carriage from town to near the mansion departed at four in the afternoon. Alternatively, she could take the six o’clock carriage to the neighboring village and walk for an hour.
Walking was fine, but the Baroness believed that a servant’s reputation was her own reputation. She wouldn’t likely permit a young nanny to walk alone on a dark forest path.
“……Um, ma’am.”
Just as Bronwynner opened her mouth after much deliberation, an unexpected stroke of luck arrived.
“Oh, and I’m going to Perth this afternoon. I received a letter from my sister yesterday saying she sprained her ankle and needs help.”
Perth was about two hours away from Bathgate by train.
“What about Elise and Kaylee?”
“I can’t leave the children alone without you, can I, Bronwynner?”
The Baroness spoke as if it were Bronwynner’s fault that today was her day off, then added, “Miss Carter has agreed to come along, thankfully.”
Bronwynner tried not to show her sense of liberation.
“I hope Elise and Kaylee have a good time in Perth.”
“Actually, there’s a new amusement ride there, and Alec has been stirring up the children so much about it. Since I’m too sensitive for places like amusement parks, I told Alec to handle it himself.”
The Baroness found her stepson, who was young enough to be her brother, difficult to deal with, and Alec maintained an appropriate distance from her while occasionally winning her favor to manipulate her as he wished. This time too, he probably made some demand of his stepmother in exchange for playing with his sisters for a day.
But it wasn’t Bronwynner’s concern.
She was just glad to be away from Alec Bingham.
Although she was going to Bathgate involuntarily, Bronwynner’s mood improved as soon as she left the mansion.
Of course, she cared for Elise and Kaylee. Despite the low pay for the work, the working environment at the Bingham mansion wasn’t bad.
However, except for the nanny’s one day off per month, she had no personal time. The room she had shared with the nanny became hers alone after the nanny left, but in reality, she spent more nights sleeping with the children in the nursery.
Bronwynner wanted to study more. What she learned at the orphanage wasn’t enough. Her goal was to enter a teacher training school with the money she saved from work. If she passed the exam, she could work as a proper teacher at a provincial boarding school, if not at a prestigious place like the Baron’s household. With that experience, she might someday become a highly paid governess like Miss Carter.
Her steps were quite light as she crossed the stream, making plans for her future.
Bathgate was a place that possessed both the vibrancy of a city and the leisurely atmosphere unique to resorts.
Bronwynner completed her tasks as quickly as possible and wandered around town at a relaxed pace. She had already decided to take the six o’clock carriage, so she had plenty of time. She lingered in front of the theater the Baroness had mentioned, admired the shop windows in the bustling area, and spent a long time deliberating at the used bookstore before purchasing a thick art history book.
Raindrops began to fall just as she left the bookstore.
She regretted not bringing an umbrella. She waited under the eaves for a while, but it didn’t seem like the rain would stop anytime soon.
She saw a tea room sign across the street.
‘Maybe I should wait while having some tea……?’
But she had already spent her budget on the book. If it rained, she might have to pay extra for the carriage fare.
While hesitating about what to do, an umbrella shadow suddenly appeared above her head.
Bronwynner looked up at the umbrella’s owner.
“Hello, Bronwynner.”
The one who extended this not-so-welcome helping hand was her employer’s son, Alec Bingham.
* * *
“I thought you went to Perth with the Baroness and the children.”
“Actually, I was on my way back after setting out. This is quite fortunate.”
“Fortunate……?”
“Mother asked me to bring you along, Miss Harcourt. She said my sisters need you after all.”
Bronwynner lowered her eyes.
“Didn’t Miss Carter go with them?”
“Ah. Miss Carter.”
Alec raised his eyebrows. He seemed to think this made him look attractive.
He was quite tall, and his face wasn’t unattractive, but Bronwynner had never felt any affection for him. It wasn’t just because he came home reeking of alcohol three or four days a week, or sometimes didn’t come home at all. Among the young maids’ whispers were stories about Mr. Bingham’s “bad hands.”
The Baroness must have had reasonable suspicions that he was squandering the family fortune by frequenting clubs as far away as Whittingham under the pretext of networking, and that he was involved not only in gambling but in even more unsavory activities. Bronwynner had heard the Baroness complain to the Baron several times about “your uncontrollable son.”
Alec clicked his tongue and continued.
“That woman…… That person has no talent for taking care of children.”
She silently listened to his words.
Before departure, the governess had forbidden Kaylee from taking her cherished doll to Perth. Kaylee, who had been holding back her sorrow, burst into tears the moment she saw another girl with a doll at the train station. The Baroness, pressed for time, had no choice but to board the train with the children, but Kaylee whined incessantly. Then Miss Carter severely scolded the child, which frightened even Elise, who began to tear up.
After about an hour, the Baroness earnestly asked her stepson:
To please go back and bring the nanny and Kaylee’s doll.
“Poor Kaylee.”
After hearing the situation, Bronwynner only said that much.
When they arrived at the mansion, the sun had already set.
No matter how much they searched, Kaylee’s doll couldn’t be found. Even if she had lost it while playing hide-and-seek, Bronwynner found it strange since Kaylee’s hiding places were obvious.
“Maybe it got mixed in with the luggage……? It wasn’t visible from the time of departure, so the governess said not to bring the doll.”
Bronwynner didn’t agree with Alec’s words. That doll was specially commissioned by Baron Bingham as a birthday gift for his daughter.
“It’s too conspicuous an item for that.”
“We’ll be late for the train at this rate.”
He urged.
With no choice, she gave up searching for the doll. Instead, she grabbed a small baby doll that Kaylee occasionally played with and followed Alec out.
During this time, they didn’t encounter anyone. Everyone seemed to have gone out, knowing that the mistress and the strict governess were away.
“What about Colin……?”
At the front of the mansion, Bronwynner asked when she saw Alec coming out driving the carriage himself, wearing a raincoat. Colin was the name of the Bingham mansion’s coachman.
“He’s been drunk and sleeping since early evening. I think Mother is too negligent in managing the servants.”
To get from the Bingham mansion to Bathgate, they had to pass through Bath Forest. As evening fell, the forest became engulfed in darkness where one couldn’t see an inch ahead. Thus, Bronwynner believed Alec’s words about it being early evening. She didn’t own even a common pocket watch, and somehow felt embarrassed to reveal this fact, so she didn’t ask him for the time. She thought the journey seemed longer than when she took the post carriage in the morning because of the rain.
When the carriage crossed a bridge over a small river, she finally realized something was wrong.
……There was no bridge on the way to Bathgate.
She opened her eyes wide and pressed her face against the window.
Heavy raindrops continuously beat against the window, and the carriage lamps had long gone out due to the rainwater. Even in the darkness, it was all too clear that the faint light flickering in the distance was not the light of Bathgate Station.
Until that light came very close, all Bronwynner could do was try to suppress her anxiety.
‘We must have missed the train, so we’re going to the next station to get ahead of the train.’
But when the carriage stopped, all she heard was the sound of rain soaking the ground. There was no train whistle, no voices of people coming and going in front of the station. She clutched the doll tightly and buried herself deep in the cushion.
Eventually, the carriage door opened.
Alec’s face was hidden under the raincoat. She didn’t need to see his face to know that his expression wouldn’t be as friendly as before.
Beyond his shoulder, she saw an unfamiliar building.
“Get out, Bronwynner.”
He said.
* * *
Alec took Bronwynner into the building.
The building was much smaller than the Bingham mansion, but it was a splendid two-story house that Bronwynner could never afford even if she worked her entire life. The interior gave the impression of a villa built by a capital nobleman imitating a country-style house. As soon as they entered the foyer, Alec took off his raincoat and threw it aside.
As expected, there was no sign of anyone else in the building. Judging by the lights being on, someone must have prepared and left before the two arrived.
Bronwynner stopped at the bottom of the stairs leading to the upper floor.
“Where are Kaylee and Elise……?”
He shrugged.
“In Perth.”
She felt relieved for now. That meant the children weren’t in danger. It also meant that Alec Bingham wasn’t such trash that he would harm his half-sisters just to get to her.
“Then this isn’t Perth.”
Alec smiled. It wasn’t a kind smile.
“You just realized that now?”
With that answer, everything became clear.
Bronwynner gripped the stair railing.
“If you’re a man of honor, please let me go now.”
He looked down at her with amused eyes. Even with the raincoat on, it couldn’t prevent his clothes from getting wet; his suit and the shirt underneath were soaked.
“Ah, honor.”
Without warning, he snatched her wrist. It was such a strong grip that she almost screamed in surprise. If she resisted further, she would be dragged up the stairs like this.
As if reading her fear, he smirked.
“Don’t you think that’s too luxurious for a woman like you?”
If she were to fall down the stairs, she would be seriously injured. If injured, she would have no chance to escape. Assessing the situation, Bronwynner had no choice but to follow him upstairs.