The Ghost of Winn Peterson

33. Winn

14 December

Evie's tale, before I forget too much more of what she said:

"How amusing, that I should have once more left to enlist the help of a man! Hopefully, this one doesn't take it upon himself to marry you, yes? Don't look so terrified; this one doesn't possess nearly an ounce of the horror my beloved does. How I loathe him (we were at this point, I shall immediately interrupt my retelling, hiding in the tea room where she, Atticus, and I had previously hidden to speak. It wouldn't do to always hide in my room when we had important matters to discuss, and so Evie was able to speak a little more freely where we were less likely to be observed. It may or may not be important, but I felt the need to share it. Never mind me)! I tell you, Winn, if you really did have to marry the Lord, then you should be most grateful for it.

"At any rate, I doubt he seeks anyone's hand in matrimony. He's much too old to be concerned with such things. He told me he was only the third of five boys, and so, marriage wouldn't do with him. A blessing, he called it, to not have to worry about the estate or inheritance or family affairs much. His brothers left him alone to his fancies - horses and fencing, if you can believe that last one - as long as they could control the flow of money in and out of the house.

"I digress! It's really not an interesting story, Winn - I travelled in the worst snow I've ever had the misfortune of stepping in, was welcomed onto the property, and we chatted privately for a day. Yes, I was wondering the same thing. Why on Earth would someone who possessed so much land of his own bother coming down this street and peering in at the house indeed! I did ask him, if you'll be keen on listening (I interrupt myself once more to explain that I asked Evie about a thousand questions, so my retelling is only slightly jarring). Now, you've a disability of your own. How do you feel, being restricted to one sort of activity because of it? Rather miserable, yes? Imagine that pain, but once you'd tasted the freedom of your own life ahead of you, your own hobbies and passions. This is the Lord's struggle - so, while he may no longer be capable of riding as he once was, he still enjoys a walk, which he demonstrated - much to my pleasure and annoyance! - after I arrived. The grounds really are lovely, but don't let me become distracted. Only know that you would marry that man in an instant if you saw the gardens. To answer the question as to why he was wandering along our ill-fated street, he was looking for somewhere new and easy to walk. You saw how long it took us to drive down to his home. I can't imagine where he started his walk, as he didn't say, but he wasn't used to the houses along this way, and was quite pleased with what he saw.

"How fortunate for him, that you answered the door! Well, our little Atticus did, but you showed him around, and if we're to believe him, which I think we ought, if we want any of his help, not one other house was available or cared to let him in. And to see him in a cane! Consideration seems an easy thing to come by, but never let yourself scoff at it! Look where your friendliness has gotten us.

"After Lord DeCourt guided us back inside, he left me to myself for a little while in his study, something he claimed he hardly used unless he had to. I think he went off to find something warm to drink and clothes that weren't covered in snow, and I took the oppourtunity to see what selection he had at his disposal, thinking if we had to stay in this horrid town forever, you might be persuaded to visit for the library one day. What a magnificent collection! He had books from hundreds of years prior, all neatly lined up against the walls. Nothing you'd be terribly fond of, outside of their mere presence. Quite a number of books about horses and horse care and horse racing and on and on. There was a wall devoted to tracing the family history, which I am not ashamed to admit I combed through. Our new friend is related to the Queen! There are quite a bit of leaps and bounds between the two, so he's by no means royalty, but how fascinating!