9. Servants Receive Their Assignments

CHAPTER 9

SERVANTS RECEIVE THEIR ASSIGNMENTS

M eanwhile, in the kitchen

Most of the servants were already assembled around the wood plank dining table when Tom joined them for the evening meal. Despite having eaten only the hour before, he knew he would enjoy the camaraderie of the Ritchfield staff. Besides, after washing and changing into dry clothes, he was anxious to see Anne.

“Ah, look who’s back in residence,” Perkins said, rushing into the kitchen, his comment directed to Tom. “I have time for a quick bite ’afore I have to get back to the dining room,” he added, taking one of the remaining seats at the table.

“You left the earl and countess without a servant?” Christina asked with concern.

“Served ’em soup and then their dinner, refilled their glasses, and then her ladyship waved me away,” he said with a shrug. “I would have liked to have been a fly on the wall, but I can’t hear a word they’re saying,” he added. “They’re sitting right next to each other.”

While Perkins spoke, Tom’s attention went to Anne, who was sitting on the opposite side of the table but nearly all the way at the other end.

She gave him a grin as he took the only remaining seat on his side of the table, and the servants he hadn’t yet seen earlier that day welcomed his return.

He nodded as he glanced around to see so many familiar faces. “It’s good to be back,” he said. “Am I to understand his lordship is in residence?”

“He is,” Graves acknowledged, the butler taking the chair at the head of the table. “Showed up yesterday during a break in the snowfall. Quite unexpectedly.”

Tom leaned forward to glance down the table, his brows furrowing when he didn’t see Ferguson, the earl’s driver. “So where is his coach and driver?” Tom asked, remembering there wasn’t a coach in the carriage house when he and Bobby had put away the countess’ traveling coach.

“Ferguson went on to Wakefield with it,” Graves replied. “He has some deliveries to make at one of the coal mine offices for his lordship. Apparently the heir is there now overseeing part of the earldom’s business,” he added, referring to Michael, the oldest son of the earl and countess. “Then Ferguson plans to spend Christmas with his family, so I don’t expect him back here for a few days.”

“I hope he made it there before the weather worsened,” Tom commented.

“Yesterday wasn’t so bad,” Graves said. “Gave Mr. Ashton and Perkins a chance to cut some greens and haul them into the stable.”

“I saw them,” Tom said. “Or rather smelled them.”

“Which brings up a good point,” Graves said, clearing his throat until the conversations at the other end of the table ceased. “For those of you who were doing your jobs earlier today, you may not have been aware that the Countess Ritchfield has arrived. ”

From the few gasps around the table, it seemed the butler’s announcement was indeed news to some. “Salisbury will be acting as her lady’s maid whilst she’s in residence. As is Lady Ritchfield’s custom, she’ll be staying until after the Twelfth Night ceremony. I don’t yet have word from Lord Ritchfield as to his departure date, so everyone be on their very best behavior, and you might find something extra in your Christmas box.”

A chorus of cheers sounded.

“Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, and with her ladyship here, it means we’ll be spending the day decorating the house.” He said this last with a pained expression on his face. “After breakfast, everyone plan to help haul in the greens from the stable and then Perkins...”

“Sir?”

“You’ll bring down the trunk of supplies from the attic.”

“Yes, sir.”

“We’ll need the men to bring in the Yule log for the main hall fireplace.” A few nodded in acknowledgement. “And the rest of you can work on wiring wreaths and sprays while...” he waved a hand in a circle, “... the women make the bows and fripperies and such.”

Christina giggled as two of the other maids leaned back and made faces at each other.

“The countess will be in charge, of course, so if you have any questions about where your creations should go, please ask her and not me,” Graves went on.

A round of chuckling followed his comment before he added, “As she always does, Clara will make us all an early dinner, and then apparently we’ll have music and dancing afterwards.”

His comment resulted in a cacophony of voices, most sounding pleased with the schedule. He held up a hand to restore order. “Given the weather, I rather doubt we’ll make it to church on Christmas day, but I have word from his lordship that the chapel will be available for you to use.” He looked at Christina. “Mrs. Ashton, you see to cleaning the chapel, do you not?”

“I do, and I finished in there this morning,” she said.

“What about Boxing Day?” one of the other maids asked.

Graves lifted a shoulder, but it was Tom who said, “I’ll see to getting as many of us to Castleford as I can in her ladyship’s coach,” he offered.

“I can take a couple on the gig,” Bobby offered.

“That leaves one horse and the phaeton,” Tom commented.

“I can drive it,” Perkins said. “But there will only be room for one other person up on the seat with me.”

“And me on the back,” one of the housemaids said with a wave, as if she had done it in the past.

There was a round of laughter before Graves said, “I have nothing else.” He took his seat as the servants returned their attentions to their food and Perkins left to return to the dining room.

When the meal was complete, Tom helped to clear away dishes until he caught Anne’s attention.

“Where do I meet you?” he asked in a whisper.

“The apartment closest to the drawing room,” she whispered.

He nodded his understanding. “Half hour?”

She lifted a shoulder. “Depends on her ladyship.”

Glancing around to be sure they weren’t noticed, he said, “If I fall asleep while waiting, be sure to wake me when you come in.”

Anne gave him a quelling glance until she noticed his teasing grin. She headed up the servants’ stairs and a few minutes later, Tom did the same.