Fourteen

The following week Mercedes stayed home and played games with the children. She and James formed an attachment, but Lizzy proved more difficult. The adorable little four-year-old child played with them, but still refused to speak.

Stepping into the role of woman of the house, Mercedes enjoyed planning the daily meals and organizing the staff, just as she’d done when she was married to Fredrick. Doing something productive took her mind off her worries.

At first most of the servants seemed afraid of her, but as the days flew by, they warmed up just as James had. Mercedes dared to ask them questions about