Day 48: 25 December 2025

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Short Story -- Monkshood Manor: Part 14


‘Let me see,’ Althea settled back into her chair, tea cup in hand. ‘Where to begin?’

Teddy just sat looking expectantly at Mrs Winter.

‘Your great aunt and I were both a part of a special league of women. Hilda was actually my mentor when I joined and she became a great friend over the years. The league itself is responsible for a wide array of things. At home, it deals with charities that benefit the overlooked: women, children and immigrants. Both at home and abroad, it has individuals trained in diplomacy and espionage.’ Mrs Winter looked at Teddy knowingly. ‘I’m sure you can guess what category we fell into.’

‘Are you saying my great aunt — the one who somehow came to own a sentient house — was also a spy?!’ Teddy demanded incredulously.

‘Good girl!’ Mrs Winter cheered. ‘When Hilda retired, I decided to retire as well and follow her here where I served as her housekeeper. She loved your great uncle Hubert dearly. And it was by his side that she attended so many valuable functions and visited so many interesting places that she was later able to feed back information to the league about. Then he died. She was heartbroken. She needed a friend to lift her up; and after all the times she’d buoyed me, I was happy to return the favour.’

The wheels of Teddy’s mind were turning. ‘Did Lord Tottington know what my great aunt did?’ Teddy asked slowly.

‘No, dearie. The first rule of spying is to not let other people know you’re a spy.’ Mrs Winter smiled at Teddy. ‘You’ve a keen mind though, girl. I’m sure that’s why your great aunt entrusted Monkshood to you.’

‘Dare I ask you to share any fun stories from your work? Memories of my great aunt?’ Teddy asked.

Mrs Winter laughed jovially. ‘Oh the trouble your great aunt could find! But she was smart as a whip, that one, and dazzlingly beautiful. I always said it wasn’t fair that she had both brains and looks. Even when caught in awkward situations she always managed to get out alright.’

Teddy smiled. ‘She sounds wonderful!’

‘Oh, she was!’ Mrs Winter agreed. ‘There was a time when she and your great uncle were at a diplomatic dinner at the palace…’

‘She spent time royalty?!’

‘Every know and again, dear.’

At that moment, Mr Drey entered. ‘I can see the two of you are getting on swimmingly,’ he said in a voice that was slightly exasperated but also held a hint of a smile. ‘And Miss Thompson, Lady Genevieve has sent an invitation to tea for you.’

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