Winslow's Web

by Jeanie P Johnson

  "Now Alain," it was Alden's soothing voice. Usually he had a way of calming Alain, but this time she only glared at him when he spoke. "This is no way to act. If Miss Winslow has proof, we will certainly investigate it before we come to any conclusions. At least, give her a chance to prove herself before you start making such rash statements."

  Alain gave Alden a stony glare, while Katie sat back and took in everything with mixed emotions. She wondered about the attention Alden was giving Katherine. He seemed quick to come to her defense. Before Katie had a chance to analyze the situation any further, James Langdon entered the room with a small black case in his hand. He hardly glanced at any of them as he put the case down on the table.

  "As you know," he began in a mater-of-fact way, "when Katherine disappeared, the Winslow Jewels disappeared at the same time. Some thought perhaps Katherine was kidnapped and the jewels stolen also, but I am the only one who knows the real story."

  He was interrupted by a thin wiry old man who Katie hadn't noticed lurking in a shadowy corner. "I do not understand how you think you can prove anything! Katherine fell down a well when she was a child. Her body was recovered. Everyone knows she is dead." By his statements, Katie realized that this must be Alain's uncle, Justin Yarnell.

  "There was no proof that it was Katherine. The well wasn't even on the property. How could she have wandered that far away from home? Unless someone took her and threw her down that well, and I'm here to state that it never happened! My sister, Katherine Gail, was worried that very thing might happen to her daughter by the hands of that despicable brother of yours, Charles Yarnell. He would go to any length so his own flesh and blood would inherit everything. He was a lazy man, and since he had gambled away his own wealth, and had nothing of his own to leave his child, he felt that the Estate should be split between them. Everyone knew that! When my sister refused to compromise the Winslow wealth to be squandered by him through his own daughter’s inheritance, he decided to take matters into his own hands. That is when all those accidents began happening to my innocent niece here!"

  He was interrupted at this point by Alain's furious wails. "How dare you say such things about my father!" she shrieked.

  Alden stepped forward to calm her, placing his hand on her shoulder. "Please Alain, try to control yourself and let Mr. Langdon present his evidence."

  Alain pulled herself free from Alden’s hand with a shrug of her shoulder. She took him in with a scathing look, but did not protest as she watched on. A disgruntled glare marred the beauty of her face.

  James cleared his throat and continued. "As I was saying, Katherine would not split the inheritance. Of course, my sister loved both of her daughters, and was willing to provide a tidy sum for Alain when the time came, but her daughter, Katherine, was a Winslow and the Winslow Estate was rightfully hers.

  "When all these unusual accidents began to happen, my sister could not help but fear that her daughter might be killed and so she entrusted her into my hands. She said if I would care for her daughter until the danger was over, she would see to it that I was handsomely provided for myself. She gave me all the jewels that would become Katherine's, so Charles wouldn't be able to get hold of them, and I took the girl away into hiding with me.

  "Katherine planned to send me money for our support, but when she died, and her husband also died, I was forced to sell most of the jewelry. However, I saved her emeralds, and though I planned to save the crest broach also, to prove her identity, regrettably there was a fire and in the confusion the broach was lost. I will not bore you with the details of the mishap, but suffice it to say I only managed to save the emeralds and so the only proof I have are these." He motioned to the case. "But they should be sufficient," he added as he opened the small black box.

  All eyes were on the box as he lifted the lid, and it was apparent that everyone was impressed when their eyes lit upon the jewels that lay against the black velvet. Even Katie recognized the emerald necklace that she had seen painted in such detail around the neck of the lady in the portrait.

  The lawyer stepped forward and lifted the case, examining the jewels more closely. "They look real enough," he said, "but we will have the jeweler take a look at them just the same. You all know that this necklace was designed especially for Katherine Gail by Lord Winslow. The jeweler will have a record of the design."

  "The emeralds prove nothing!" Alain exclaimed. "He could have gotten them some other way. Perhaps he stole them, or copied them. If she is truly the heiress, why didn't she return sooner? After all, my father died and was no longer a threat to Katherine's life."

  "Because, my dear girl," James explained with a little exasperation in his voice, "your uncle Justin Yarnell became your guardian, and I was afraid that perhaps the same thing would happen all over again."

  "I resent that accusation!" Justin Yarnell piped up. "And my brother Charles never laid a finger on the girl!"

  "Uncle Justin is right! You have no cause to say such horrible things about my father." Alain chimed in. “No one ever had any proof that my father was trying to harm Katherine. It was only my mother's suspicions. I understand that she was having a case of nerves, and was never taken seriously. Who knows what kind of stories have been made up which you expect everyone to believe?"

  "There are too many things that coincide with Langdon’s story, Alain," Alden pointed out. "This girl even looks like Lady Katherine Gail Winslow! Her painting hangs in the hall. Perhaps we should compare their likeness, and see if she looks at all like her mother, or the child in the portrait."

  Everyone agreed, and the small group followed Alden and trooped out into the hall to examine the portrait. There was no doubt that Katherine Gail had a very strong resemblance to Lady Katherine Gail Winslow, who stared silently back at them from the canvas.

  Katie thought inwardly, if only the woman on the canvas could talk, all of this would be straightened out and then there would not be so much contention about the whole ordeal.

  Alain couldn't deny the fact, as they compared the portrait and the pleased look on Katherine's face, that in truth, the new arrival did look like their mother. Still, Katie couldn't help catching the puzzled look on Alden's face as he looked at the portrait and then back at Katie herself. Could he see the resemblance that Maggie had seen, and that James Langdon seemed to recognize in her also?

  For a moment their eyes locked, his questioning, hers unsure. She looked quickly in the other direction. "I'm sorry," she said abruptly, "but I must get back to my duties. Do pardon me," she excused herself and hurried down the hall, thankful to be able to escape Alden's steady gaze.

  Katie had no sooner turned the corner, when she ran into Maggie, almost knocking her down.

  "What is going on?" Maggie wanted to know. "You haven't been running into anymore ghosts have you? You look a little upset."

  "No, Maggie. There are no ghosts! I did run into my father, James Langdon, though, and we had an interesting conversation."

  "I would be very careful, if I were you," Maggie warned. "I saw James Langdon watching you last night from an upper story window when you were in the garden. When he left, I followed him to see what he was up to. I never could trust that boy! Unfortunately Alain caught me and told me to stop snooping around, so I went back to my room. She doesn't like me to wander around the house, you know. Thinks I'm bothering people. I never bother anyone! Do I bother you Katie?" She didn't wait for an answer.

  "Anyway, just about then, we heard you scream and we all came running to see what happened, so I never did find out what James was so intent on doing when he left the hall window that overlooks the garden. I was in my room across from him, and was wondering what he was doing up on the servant’s floor. That was why I noticed. I too was wondering what you were doing down there, but I guess now we know."

  "I didn't realize that anyone was watching me," Katie sighed. "I looked to make sure there was no one to see me, but I guess I didn't think to look up."

  "I was trying to figur
e out why James was so intent on watching you in the first place. And what was he doing up on that floor?"

  "I think he must have recognized me when he drove up. He saw me in the stable yard and I'll have to admit that I was staring at him. Maybe he wanted to take a longer look to make sure his eyes weren't playing tricks on him. He must have figured I was a servant, considering I was in the stable, tending to my horse, when we ran into each other. Nevertheless, I just had an encounter with him in the hall, as I mentioned, and I think we understand one another now."

  "That must be why he was so upset a few minutes ago when I saw him. He seemed very irritated to find that I was still around, too. When I asked him what he was up to, he told me I was a meddling old fool, and had better mind my own business if I wanted to stay around."

  "What did you say to that?" Katie raised a curious eye brow.

  "Laughed in his face, of course, which seemed to unnerved him." She gave a chuckle at recalling his discomfort. "I've been around her long enough to watch out for myself. Much longer than James Langdon has, so who is he to threaten me? I am not afraid of James Langdon!"

  "Now that you mention it, he told me to stop snooping around also. I didn't think much of it at the time because I wasn't really snooping, but why should he be so worried about someone snooping if his story is authentic? His explanation sounded legitimate to me, and goes right along with what you had told me earlier, so why does he act like he has something to hide?"

  "Knowing James, nothing would surprise me. There may be more to all of this than meets the eye, but there is nothing we can do about it. No one ever listens to me and you are only the seamstress, so no one will pay much mind to your opinion either. However, since James Langdon seems to suspect us of snooping, maybe that is just what we should do!"

  "As long as he doesn't catch us at it," Katie confided.

  "We will just have to be very careful," Maggie responded.

  "What are you two up to? Don't you have some chores to do Katie? And Maggie, haven't I told you to stop wandering around the halls bothering people?" Alain sounded agitated. There was no question about her being upset and under strain.

  "Are you all right, Alain?" Katie suddenly felt sympathetic towards her. "Is there something I can do?" She could see that Alain was close to tears, and was afraid she would break into hysterics, as was her custom lately.

  "They are all conspiring against me!" Alain breathed, with despair in her voice. "I know she is an impostor, but what can I do?"

  "No one is conspiring against you, Alain," Katie reassured her.

  "Oh yes they are! They all want to take everything away from me. Katherine will get everything, and Alden will get Katherine. I will be left with nothing."

  Katie stiffened a little at the thought of how things were going to change now that Katherine Gail was to take over the household. She, herself, might not even be able to stay if Katherine decided she was of no further use. The thought of having to leave Winslow Hall and perhaps not being able to see Alden or Alain again made her even more sympathetic to Alain's problems. She put her arm awkwardly around Alain's shoulder and tried to comfort her.

  "Don't worry," she encouraged, "I'm sure things will turn out well." Only the words sounded hollow even to her own ears, and she feared that events would grow worse before they got better.

  Alain pulled away from Katie’s arm. "She's not my sister! How many times must I say that before someone will believe me?" Alain wailed. "I know she is not my sister...but...but I can't prove it yet!"

  Katie stopped short and stared at her. "If she is not your sister, then who is she?" Katie was starting to feel exasperated with Alain’s theatrics. “And what do you mean...you can’t prove it yet?”

  "That's...that's just it. I don't know! I haven't found out all the answers yet. However, I do know that she is not the heiress of Winslow Hall." Alain looked at Katie full in the face with defiance, and then her eyes widened and she started to back away. "This is none of your affair! Why am I even telling you this? Go back to your duties!"

  Katie grabbed Alain's arm. "Do you know something that Alden doesn't? What have you learned Alain?"

  "She'll never get away with it!" Alain insisted, as if she hadn't heard Katie. Then she stopped suddenly and looked back at Katie as if seeing her for the first time. "Oh...it is nothing you should concern yourself with. Even if I told Alden, he probably wouldn’t believe me. Everyone seems so delighted that my long lost sister has returned. They don’t care what I think."

  "I can understand your reluctance to accept your sister, considering the circumstances, but I, myself, am convinced with her story. It is exactly the same thing Maggie told me when I first came here."

  "Maggie!" Alain exploded. "What does Maggie know?" Katie suddenly realized that Maggie had disappeared down the hall while the two had been talking. "She is probably working with them! She is forever babbling on about her poor Kathy and how she will return some day. She even has the audacity to suggest that my father killed my mother. She claims he pushed her down the stairs. How can they all say such horrible things about my father when there is no proof? Katherine's body was recovered from an abandoned well, years ago, but no one in this house can accept the fact that she is dead!

  “They are all against me, Katie! I will have to put a stop to all of this. I will think of the right way to do it and then we shall be rid of that...that...whoever she is, who calls herself my sister!"

  "Now, Alain, you are just tired and upset with all the changes that are coming on so suddenly. You will feel better about it after you've had some rest and a chance to think things out. Perhaps you had better lie down for a while and let your nerves settle a bit."

  "Yes...yes I think I will. You are rather very understanding, Katie." She looked at Katie for a long moment. "I wish...I only wish...but no, it would probably be all the same anyway."

  "What do you wish, Alain?" There was a look in Alain's eyes that confused Katie. She had never seen a tender side of her cousin, and yet she seemed to look at Katie tenderly now.

  "I just wish things were different. You seem like such a nice person, I feel I can trust you. What if you were the missing heiress? Would you just kick me out the way Katherine want's to?"

  "I don't think she is trying to kick you out, Alain. If I were the missing heiress, I would be happy to discover that I even had a sister. I have lived all alone with my mother all my life."

  "But you would gladly marry Alden. I've seen the way you look at him. You would marry him and forget about me."

  "Since that is not a problem we have to deal with, I don't see why you bring it up." Katie was dismayed that her feelings for Alden could be read so easily by Alain.

  "Don't you see? It matters not whether it is you, or the other impostor, or even my real sister! Whoever chooses to claim to be the heiress will only think of what they have to gain, not what I have to lose."

  Katie thought, is that how I would be if I were the one? It was a hard question, because no matter how Alain felt about a long lost sister, she was bound to lose everything if there was a rightful heiress to claim Winslow Hall.

  "There is no use asking questions that have no answers," Katie insisted. "Let me help you to your room."

  Alain seemed to give up on proving any point and nodded. Katie walked with Alain to her room. She followed her into the sunny, yellow bedroom and turned the covers back on Alain's immense four-poster bed. "Why don't you lie down and rest for a while?" Katie suggested again. She helped Alain off with her dress, instead of summoning her maid, and after she was sure Alain had finally calmed down, she left her to rest.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  A week had passed since Katherine had swept into the unsuspecting lives of those at Winslow Hall. In spite of the proof that had been presented, it did not seem to change Alain’s attitude about her unwelcome half-sister. She seemed set on refusing to accept Katherine, or her uncle’s story as authentic.

  Katie watched the household through indifferent e
yes as they tried to adjust to the new set of circumstances. All the help seemed confused as to who was the true mistress of the house, and wasn’t sure who they were expected to take orders from. Some seemed stubbornly loyal to Alain, and Katie noticed how Katherine would do little subtle things to overturn Alain’s orders to the household staff.

  Katie tried to stay out of the confusion and went about her own duties, keeping to herself as much as possible, but she could not help but feel a certain kind sadness for Alain. She paused as she passed Alain's room, deciding to stop and consult Alain about a new gown she was starting for her. Katie tapped lightly on the door. A muffled, "Come in," filtered through the panel door, and so Katie entered the room.

  Alain had been spending long periods of time in her room ever since Katherine had arrived and Katie felt her heart tug as she looked on the obviously miserable young lady. Because Katie was only thought of as the seamstress, she felt any sympathy she had to offer would not be received very well, by Alain, though.

  Alain sat slumped down on her bed frowning at the floor. She looked blankly up at Katie as she entered the room.

  "There is no hope for me, you know." The despairing sound of Alain’s voice took Katie by surprise.

  Alain was usually defiant and had never spoken so personally about herself to Katie before. She sounded so depressed, as though she had given up all hope of ever regaining her previous position as mistress of Winslow Hall.

  "She will probably turn me out of my own home!" Alain pouted.

  "Maggie tells me that you have the summer house," Katie’s attempt to console her went unnoticed.

  "The summer house is just a cottage, compared to Winslow Hall!" Alain snapped. "It would never be the same and it is not fair. She has no right...!” Alain’s face puckered. “You know what she is planning to do right this very minute?" Alain didn't give Katie a chance to answer, but continued on as if Katie wasn't even there. "She is going to throw a ball! She claims it is for the purpose of acquainting herself with the local gentry. She says they would have been her friends if she had not been deprived of being raised in her rightful place. She is inviting everyone who is anyone both far and near, which is something not even I have been in the position to do. If I tried a trick like that not all would come, but since she is a novelty, a mystery in the offering, she could probably lure the queen herself to a mere luncheon if she chose to do so."