“Virt told me everything except when you’re leaving. When are you going to Wyoming?”
“I don’t know,” Faith ground out through clenched teeth.
“You mean your employer hasn’t told you, yet?” Lydia prodded.
“Oh, she’s leaving soon,” Virt announced loudly. “Real soon.”
Faith nudged her aunt with an elbow to the ribs. “Shh.”
“Well, if you don’t hear from your…employer soon, Faith, let me know. Rich men have been known to change their minds and governesses are expendable. My own children had several. And I might be able to use you at my house.”
“When pigs fly,” Faith muttered.
“What was that?” Lydia asked.
“I said ‘goodbye’, Mrs. Abbott.” Faith walked away with Virtuous in tow.
“How could you, Aunt Virt?” Faith fumed, when they were out of Lydia’s hearing.
“I had to say something,” Virt said defensively. “She came up to me and started talking about all the Christmas gifts Augustus had delivered to our house.”
“You could have ignored her, but no, you had to brag,” Faith said.
“Well, why not?” Virtuous wanted to know. “It’s good to finally have something to brag about.”
“But now everyone will expect me to go.”
“Well, why not?” Virt studied her niece. “You are going to Wyoming, aren’t you, Faith?”
Faith avoided her aunt’s eyes and hurried to catch up to Tempy, Joy, and the others who were walking ahead. Virt trotted after her, determined to get an answer.
“You didn’t answer my question,” Virt accused as soon as she caught up with Faith.
Tempy turned to Virt. “What question was that, Virt?”
“I simply asked Faith if she was going to Wyoming.”
“I saw you talking to that bigmouth Lydia Abbott,” Tempy said. “Did you tell her Faith was going to work in Wyoming?” Tempy grabbed her sister’s arm.
“What if I did? She’s going, isn’t she?” Virtuous jerked free of Tempy’s grasp. “You are, aren’t you, Faith?”
Faith opened her mouth to speak, but Hannah jumped in to heal the family breach. “Of course she is, but the idea of leaving all of us is so new, Faith just needs a little time.”
Chapter Eight
Faith did need a little time. More than a little time. But she didn’t have it.
The second bill soliciting payment of delinquent taxes arrived Monday morning, two days after Christmas. Payment was due on the 31st day of December. Failure to pay would result in forfeiture of the Richmond and Petersburg properties. Time had run out.
Faith pulled on her worn black traveling cape and gloves, then headed for the front door, the envelope containing the property tax bill clutched in one fist.
Tempy followed close on her niece’s heels. “Faith, where are you going?”
“To take care of this.”
“Faith?”
“Don’t worry, Tempy, I know what I’m doing.” Faith smiled at her aunt, then opened the door. “I’ll be back shortly.”