It has been two years now since Papa died. Funny I should use that name for him, as I hated it whenever Victoria said it.
As I had said before, shortly after his death, two men came to see me. They told me that my father had failed to write a will. While the law of the land stated it be left to the next of kin who was male, there was no one. Everyone had died. So, the men said that upon examining the matter, they had decided that I would receive the estate in full.
Their choices were slim. It was going to be Victoria or me.
And so a young sixteen-year-old with a head for books came to possess a failing estate in debt. Fortunately, none of it was substantial on its own; it was mostly little things that Papa had left unpaid. But together it was worth worrying about.
Using the elementary basics of economics I knew, I tried to get the farm back into order. However, I soon learned that text is not always the way to go. Edward, my father's steward, was of great help. He pretty much ran the farm, I merely gave the order. Last year was enough to pay the debts, this year I will be able to get Victoria into town with Al.
Victoria and Al both were ridiculous in their requests. Neither of them realized that when you have no money, you have no fluff. They continued to make demands for more fluff when there was none to be had. You would think they would learn after a while.
Victoria had kept some standing in court all these years. While she was never in anyone's particular circle, she kept circulating like a piece of driftwood in the lake.
This year, however, I hoped to send her to the capital for the season with Al. Then they would both be out of my hair and I would be able to shut off all social communication and focus on improving the estate so I could leave.
If I had learned something from books, it was that there is more out there. There is more than just plantations and social gossip and reading out of books. If I could travel, I could see and do so much more.
And it would get me away from the memories…
But I won't go there.
But if I could get the farm to produce enough to support Victoria, Al, and itself, and get the means to travel, then I could leave for a while at least.
Whenever I am particularly stressed, I go to the lake.
Our estate's redeeming quality is the lake that surrounds it. There is a forest bordering it on the north side that technically belongs to the king, but he is so old that he never visits. Sometimes, though, I hear the hunting horns. Disgusting sport. Waste of good horses and dogs, let alone the creatures being hunted. You would think that royalty had enough food.
Back in the house, Victoria called me to her sitting room.
Living with Victoria meant there were certain rules, unspoken ones, but both parties agreed. While I held the purse strings, she held power over all social engagements. She held her kingdom over the majority of the rooms in the house, excepting the kitchens, my bedroom, the library, and the adjoining room where I did my work and wrote letters of business.
We had come to one spoken agreement, however. We both agreed that Al needed to be married. I knew this because she would never be able to stand on her own two feet. While her mother had no problems supporting her, I had no desire to.
Problem was that if a suitable man should call, why should Al have competition around. I hated society in general, but I would have to be present. So, I hatched a plan.
Victoria had to announce who was coming. I then could put on one of two different costumes: that of relaxed hostess, or that of slightly dirty maid. I only became the hostess when it was business. And when Victoria told me (with great pride) that she had secured a visit from Prince Alexander, I definitely decided to play the maid. That would be much more fun, as well as less embarrassing.