I can’t even remember what this exercise was supposed to achieve…

The house didn’t like her, Susanna was sure of it, which was upsetting, because it was a lovely house.

And yet, its dislike of her dogged every moment of her stay. The way the hallway rug seemed to fold itself up, just enough for her to trip, immediately after James’ mother had walked smoothly over the exact same spot. And the way the winter wind slipped its icy fingers into her bedroom, even with the windows and curtains closed, keeping her sleep restless. And the way this morning, an uneven paving stone in the pathway through the kitchen gardens had sent her tumbling into the tomatoes.

Thankfully neither James, nor his mother, had seen that mishap, but she’d grazed both palms, and one cheek had a long scratch from one of the canes holding up the plants, And, of course, she had the juice and flesh of at least ten tomatoes soaking her dress. It would never recover, and she wasn’t sure the tomato plants would either.

So, now, she was sitting on the settle by the fire in the kitchen, being fussed over by the housekeeper. “I’m so terribly sorry about the tomatoes.”

“Not to worry my dear, we have a surplus this year anyway.” The older woman paused, looked her over, then added. “Probably why the house tipped you into that bed, rather than the strawberries.”

“It does do all those things on purpose?”

“Oh yes, and it’s taken a liking to you.”

If this was liking… “What does it do to people it doesn ‘t like?”

“Absolutely nothing. It’s trying to save you from a lifetime with the young master and the mistress.” The housekeeper looked around, then leaned in. “They’re not good people. Especially not when they have power over someone.”

Interesting news, although not entirely unexpected. Both James and his mother had a certain reputation in town. Nothing spoken openly, but whispers and hints.

“How do you manage? They presumably have a great deal of power over the servants.”

The woman smiled. “We’re servants of the house, not the family. The distinction is small but important, and the family has learned to respect it.”

Susanna smiled back. “I do hope the lessons were painful.”

“Very at times. Now they focus their attention on finding new family to torment.”

“This is very useful information, thank you. It gives me some new ideas on how to proceed.”

“You’re not going to leave?”

“Oh no, not now. I have a far better plan.” She addressed the air as much as the housekeeper as she said. “James is courting me because I have an utterly obscene amount of money, and he’s about two minutes away from debtor’s gaol. He thinks marrying me will give him my fortune. Unfortunately for him, it will remain mine even after marriage, and when I die, it will go to various charities. He can never get his hands on it.”

The kitchen fire flared a little brighter and Susanna went on. “But I’m wondering if it’s worth all the fuss and bother of a wedding. If we can find a way to make the family’s lives uncomfortable and unhappy, I may be able to persuade him to simply sell the house to me.”

The house creaked.