Jasper still kept a gentle smile pasted on his face (and man, his face muscles were already tiring, how did Francessa do this so well as a child) as he gazed at the housekeeper warmly. He had to conduct more investigations first before he ran about accusing Francessa's household of neglecting her and pilfering her silver.
"I would like to rest now," Jasper said, giving a delicate sniff. "It has been a tiring day. Bring my favorite treats."
"My lady?" Housekeeper Mindy asked worriedly, for Lady Francessa hadn't indulged in snacks for a long time out of her own free will. Usually, she ate them only when Lilian begged to play house with her mother. All the cake holders had been taken away by other servants.
"Escort me to my room and get me a lemon cake," Jasper said imperiously because he didn't want the servants to know that he didn't know where he slept, before remembering he was supposed to be polite. "Please."
"Yes my lady," Mindy said, bowing low while she fretted internally. Lemons were out of season! She didn't replenish the lemon essence either! She thought she never had to do so with her lady's death, but who could guess that her lady would walk out of a coffin?
"I'll lead you to your room," Mindy continued, wondering if she should risk pointing her to the wrong room, just to check if her lady was truly in charge of her faculties. It wasn't like things could be made any worse for her. Once her lady realizes that her stores were empty and her coffers were hemorrhaging money, Mindy would be hauled to the constables and duly punished!
If her lady didn't see anything wrong, then perhaps Mindy could still lie her way out of this mess.
Mind made up, Mindy decided to lead Jasper to the guest rooms. They were still well-furnished enough, for the late Lord was fond of entertaining guests, particularly of the female variety, especially in front of his wife. Mindy was once also one of the late Lord's secret flings, but she was quickly replaced with younger, more beautiful women.
If her Lady hadn't lost her mind, she would straight up refuse to step in that corridor!
Jasper meanwhile discreetly looked around the house and frowned. Other than the gentle disrepair, he could have sworn that the main bedroom chambers weren't located here! He had visited years ago, but surely a manor couldn't be renovated so extensively.
Unless… Francessa was on such poor terms with her husband that she elected to sleep at a whole different wing altogether?
Possible, but unlikely. If Francessa was ill, she should have remained in the master bedroom, where she would be most comfortable. Guests like visiting doctors would be sent to the guests bedroom instead.
Jasper narrowed his eyes. He had to test the loyalty of this housekeeper.
"Forgive me for asking, Mindy," Jasper said gently as he stopped behind her, fluttering a hand. "But why are you bringing me to the guest rooms? Are you perhaps… confused about my status?"
Mindy froze, immediately breaking out into cold sweat. Her lady knew! She didn't leave her wits in the coffin!
Jasper smirked discreetly at the sharp intake of breath and her quick stumble. Clearly someone wasn't telling the truth. He caught her by the arm easily to stop her from falling, pulling her to his chest.
"My lady!" Mindy cried out, flustered at their proximity and from the way her lady's eyes seemed to peer into her soul. "My apologies for tripping!"
Jasper, forgetting for a moment he was stuck in a woman's body, leaned closer to her, nearly brushing his lips to her ears. This was how he usually got women to spill their secrets without bloodshed.
Unfortunately, he was in a woman's body, and this action of his just unnerved Mindy further. Why was her Lady acting like… a… lover of women?
Did her husband's neglect and abuse cause her to prefer the fairer sex?
"You are forgiven," Jasper said easily, "but you haven't answered my question yet, why are you bringing me to the guest rooms?"
Mindy flushed at the way her lady still refused to let her go. "I… I… your room isn't clean yet!" She hastily replied, quickly thinking of an excuse. "We were… in the process of clearing your room after your funeral. But you came back, so we'll need time to put things back first before you return to your room. It's for your comfort, my lady."
"How efficient of you," Jasper said dryly, raising his eyebrow. "Truly, what would I do without such an efficient housekeeper?"
Servants nowadays were becoming more impertinent - in the past, he was treated like a servant, and he would never have escaped this sort of mischief and deliberate sabotage without a severe beating.
Francessa had been too lax with their behavior, or they had gotten disrespectful in her sickness, believing that she would be too ill to stop them. That thought made his blood boil.
How had his childhood friend been treated so poorly in her own home, by her own servants?
Mindy flinched. Her Lady was obviously upset with her actions!
"Bring me to my chambers anyway," Jasper demanded, "I wish to see what my room has become."