Ruth walked over and leaned her back against the tree. “Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, what did the two of you learn?” She looked at the twins.
Unity glanced at Theodosia. “You tell her.”
“You know Mr. White, don’t you?” Theodosia asked. “The man who does odd jobs around the village?”
“You mean the one who gawks at every woman who passes by him?” Louisa asked in disgust.
Jenny nodded. Old Mr. White was said to be nearly a hundred years old, although Jenny thought he was likely closer to seventy. Many of the girls at the school insisted he had winked at them or tried to pinch their bottoms. He had never been so outrageous to touch Jenny, but she also made a point to stay farther than an arm’s length away from him just to be safe.
“Go on,” Ruth said.
“Unity and I asked him what he learned since the last time we spoke to him.”
There was a rumor amongst the pupils that Mrs. Rutley had been seen entering the office of the solicitor. Why the headmistress was in need of a solicitor, no one seemed to know, but Ruth had tasked the twins to learn what they could. Because Mr. White seemed to know everything that happened in the village, Ruth had sent Unity and Theodosia to inquire as to what he might know.
“Well?” Ruth snapped. “What did you learn?”
Theodosia shook her head. “Not much. He said he was putting in a new door for Mr. Locke—as you know, the hattery is next door to the solicitor’s office—and he overheard her mention the nameWill.”
“Will,” the girls repeated in a thoughtful whisper.
Unity nodded. “And that it was important she get her estate in order for him.”
Jenny tugged on her braid. “Does anyone know a William?” The others shook their heads. “Perhaps Mrs. Rutley has a nephew or a close friend with that name.”
“Or a suitor?” Louisa offered.
“No matter who this Will is, why would she need to get the estate in order for him?” Unity asked. Then she gasped. “Unless she plans to remarry! If she did, would he not take over whatever property she owns?”
This mysterious Will confounded Jenny and the other girls for several minutes. Each offered her thoughts or rejected the ideas of others.
Then Ruth pushed away from the tree, her eyes wide. “What ninnies we are! Mrs. Rutley isn’t seeing anyone named Will. She isdrawing upa will. That is what Mr. White overheard. One must get her estate in order for a will.”
Jenny covered her mouth. Was their headmistress dying? She did not appear ill, but she was already in her forties, and thus old enough to die of old age at any time.
“I’m cold,” Unity said, rubbing her arms. “I’m going inside. Are you coming?”
Jenny shook her head. “I believe I’ll remain here for a while. I’m cold, but I’d like to give this a little more consideration.”
After her friends returned to the house, Jenny allowed her mind to wander. Not on Mrs. Rutley and her concern, for that was no business of Jenny’s. No, she thought of the beautiful woman she had encountered when she went to purchase the mask. Had Lord Dowding been honest with her when he said that Jenny was lovelier than she? What if Ruth was right, and he had lied?
“Jenny?” Mrs. Rutley said as she came to stand at Jenny’s side. “What are you doing out here in the cold all alone?”
Jenny sighed. “I’m just thinking. I miss Julia and Diana. And of course, Emma. Do you miss them, Mrs. Rutley?”
The headmistress nodded. “Like you, each of them holds a special place in my heart.”
They fell quiet for several moments, and then Mrs. Rutley asked, “Jenny, is something troubling you?”
What point would there be in her hiding her concerns? Mrs. Rutley always found a way to work out what any of her students were thinking.
“When I went to purchase the mask for Lord Dowding’s ball, a lady was there, and she said she’ll also be attending.”
“I imagine there will be many people in attendance,” Mrs. Rutley said.
“Yes, but I also overheard her say she intends to pursue him. Romantically. At least, that was my impression. When I asked him about her, he assured me that I’ve no need to worry.”
“And you don’t believe him.”