Lora of Two Worlds

With the Augustburg deed in hand, Alvin breathed easier. At least Mother wouldn't be affected before she returned. He handed all three redeemed deeds to Lora, smiling:

"Until Mother returns, the inner household is yours. Your abilities, I've seen them. Do as you see fit. Anyone who won't cooperate, tell me."

"Understood. I've had Margaret summon everyone from each courtyard. We'll reassign positions by roster. Beating Laney and the others wasn't pointless, what they told us exposed gaps in the household.

Also, I'm afraid the changed circumstances will unsettle the servants. Better to let the unreliable ones go now, before they make trouble. We'll also have fewer mouths to feed."

Lora's words struck Alvin like a blade. The Odenheims, their rank unchanged, brought low by a single incident.

As Leon had said: that took deep planning.

But the ten lenders were scattered. All known Lohenheim names. Lora had suspected the Salt family, but only Sheffield the Second had taken the least valuable forests. When redeeming, he'd been warm. Hadn't even charged interest.

He nodded to Lora:

"Reducing staff makes sense. But some who've served Mother for years, don't press them. Mother would be hurt."

"No wonder Carl says you and Gareth are the ones who love Mother most. I'm doing this so Mother won't suffer when she returns."

But Lora spoke too soon.

The Odenheim household had few women, but the sons were unmarried, all living in the inner household. The brothers occupied small courtyards on either side of the central garden.

Past the garden with the lily pond, the rose garden, enclosed by hedges. Beyond it, several independent courtyards where Lora and Grandmother lived.

Plus the Count's and Countess's respective compounds. In all, about a hundred bonded servants.

Lora sat for the first time on the covered walkway outside Mother's quarters, facing the assembled household.

"You've all heard about the upheaval. Steward Weber and Susannah robbed us, inside and out. The farms are gone. The General and the young lords must maintain the household guards. Life ahead will be harder than before. So, today, I'm giving you a choice."

Before she finished, a maid in her forties stepped forward:

"My lady, you may be managing the house for now. But you shouldn't make decisions about the staff without the Countess."

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"Would the Countess's return change our circumstances? Making her do it herself, that would only cause her pain." Lora shook a sheaf of papers, smiling:

"These are your bonds of service. Those who wish to leave: the Odenheim house gives a thousand coins for travel. We'll convert your bond to commoner status. You leave freely. Those who stay and share our hardships, do your work faithfully. No one-foot-in-one-foot-out."

The staff exchanged looks. The lady had laid out terms. This was real.

A thousand coins, not a fortune, but enough. Return home, set up something small. The mansion was all they had left. Hard times ahead, everyone had feared this for days.

Those who'd planned to steal a few valuables and flee, hearing they could get clean release, stepped forward first.

"Margaret, register names. Issue travel money. Those who've received it, stand with Shawn. When all are gathered, we go to the prefecture together to convert status."

Releasing servants required a prefecture visit anyway. Might as well do it in one batch.

"My lady, you can't scatter the house's money like this! The Countess would never allow it!" The maid stepped forward again.

Margaret whispered: "That's Mistress Mellie. Blunt temperament. The Countess doesn't use her much for that reason. She runs errands outside."

Lora said nothing. She crossed her legs. Drummed her fingers on the table, like playing a lute. Not a posture a proper young lady would assume.

Mellie's face changed color: "My lady, that's improper."

"I intend to do many improper things. The Odenheim house will have many more. Those who can't adapt, leave now, on good terms. Those who stay but aren't wholehearted, don't blame me for being unsentimental."

Small girl. Sharp words. Someone had already stepped forward. The fence-sitters found their courage. Forty, fifty people filed out.

Mellie saw Lionel the steward, who'd come with the Countess from Augustburg, whose wife and child all served in the house, standing among them. She charged over, finger in his face:

"Have you no shame? You came with the Countess from Augustburg. Now the house is in trouble, you leave without even seeing her?"

"None of your business!"

Lionel Dong, beaten by the General, resentful of Weber for dragging him in, didn't want to stay. Seeing Mellie grab his wife, he shoved her. She fell hard.

"Keane, Channing, seize the man who struck someone. Twenty strokes of house discipline!"

Lionel Dong cried: "My lady, you can't go back on your word! I stepped out. I chose to leave. On what authority do you punish me?"

"Shawn, slap his mouth! He dares say I break my word? Let me ask you: do you dare say you saw nothing before Weber fled? Did he not share his spoils with you? Out of respect for your being Mother's dowry servant, and your minor offense, the house lets you go.

But you strike my people to my face? The discipline is for your wife and child's sake. Otherwise, I'd wait until you'd left the house, then charge you with assaulting a noble household's servant. Your wife and child would be visiting you in prison."

Shawn didn't go easy. Two slaps. Then Keane dragged him off for the beating.

Lionel Dong's wife and child knelt, trembling. No one dared plead. Everyone knew the Countess was gentle. No one expected her daughter to be a firecracker.

But, oddly, several who'd stepped out now stepped back.

Mellie, helped up, knelt before Lora. Bowed her head to the ground:

"Thank you, my lady. I'm the Odenheim house's servant. Where the Countess is, there I'm."

Lora sighed inwardly. She said, evenly:

"Margaret, once the travel money is distributed, have Shawn escort them out. They may not reenter the house. Those who shared rooms with them, pack their belongings and deliver them to the prefecture gate."

She looked at Mellie:

"Mistress Mellie, you know the staff better than I. Who's capable, who has special skills. Work with Margaret today on a new roster. Bring it to me tonight for review."

Mellie hadn't expected this. Her nose stung. Her eyes blurred. But she smiled:

"This servant obeys."

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