Chapter 25

I was starving.  My father was a kind man, but he lacked the sense of proper etiquette when it came to entertaining.  Even though I was his daughter, I was a stranger to the household.  Therefore, it was up to him to offer me something to take the edge off my hunger.   Fortunately, my mother was quick to make up for my father’s shortcomings and a spread that exceeded what I’d experienced at the Northrups each morning was set out.  How they came up with such an array of food in such a short period of time was a mystery, but I didn’t bother to question it.  I simply reveled in the abundance until my stomach could hold no more.

I quickly learned that my mother was not one to mince words or waste time.  We’d no sooner been served our food and drink when she demanded that the servants leave the room.  She even went so far as to warn them that she would know if anyone was listening at the door and they would be se