Snug in a Snowstorm

by Cynthia Moore

  “There must be a misunderstanding,” Miss Hatch commented in a worried tone when the portal remained closed. “They were expecting us, surely?”

  “Perhaps they are out collecting the Yule Log and no one is here to answer?” Jane whispered as she pulled her cloak closer to her body.

  George shifted back and forth in a nervous manner. “The butler should remain at his post if they be expectin’ Lady Isabella.”

  Isabella knocked once again. “Please open the door.”

  Suddenly, the sound of the bolt being lifted from the inside reverberated to where they were standing.

  “At last!” Miss Hatch gasped, sounding as if she had been holding her breath.

  The heavy wooden door slowly opened. A short balding man stood on the threshold. He peered out at them in the darkening gloom. “Who are you?”

  “Lady Isabella Porter and my companion Miss Augusta Hatch. My groom and my coachmen will be bringing our carriages to the stables and our bags to the house shortly.” She paused for breath. “We encountered a large rock just before arriving. My coachman is checking the damage. Can you show me to my room?”

  “We weren’t expectin’ no company. The family has gone to London.”

  “What? I don’t understand. There must be some mistake. I was invited here by Lady Clayton to spend the Christmas holidays with her and her family.”

  The man frowned at Isabella. “Lord and Lady Forster left yesterday morning. The birth of Lady Clayton’s baby was expected within hours of their departure. You should have received a note informing you of the change of plans.”

  Miss Hatch shivered at Isabella’s side, prompting her to take sudden action. “Can we continue this discussion inside? We need to warm ourselves, my good man. I will decide what is to be done.”

  The man reluctantly moved backward and opened the door wider. “There be no regular servants. The butler, Jasper and Mrs. Jasper, the cook, are not here. Lord Forster let all those with family in the area go away for the holidays.”

  Isabella strode into the hall, quickly followed by Miss Hatch and Jane. She looked around and noted a single candle lit on a nearby sideboard. The room was quite drafty as well. The situation they found themselves in was very awkward. It appeared Christmas would be celebrated in quite an unusual fashion this year. She turned to her groom, who was standing outside waiting for her instructions. “George, if the carriage can be moved, have John take it to the stables in back. Edward can drop our bags here on the front porch. Rub the horses down and feed them. We must rest before beginning any journey back home.”

  “Yes, my lady.” He turned and walked away to be quickly swallowed by the heavy mist.

  The man shut the door and turned to face Isabella. “My lady, I’m simply the caretaker. The only other servants here are my wife and one groom to see to the horses.”

  Isabella frowned as she realized the true extent of their predicament. “What is your name, man?”

  “Joshua Quentin, my lady.”

  “Mr. Quentin, you must have observed the worsening weather outside. We cannot travel any farther today. We will need to spend the night here and will also require a light supper. I assume your wife is cooking for the three of you?”

  Mr. Quentin looked uncomfortable and shuffled his feet before answering. “My wife came down with a bad cough yesterday evening. She be too sick to leave her bed today.”

  Isabella studied the caretaker intently. His eyes appeared very bloodshot and he swayed on his feet as he stood waiting for her instructions.

  “Have you been drinking, sir?” Miss Hatch’s outraged voice broke the silence in the entryway.

  “No, no ma’am. It’s…it’s just my wife kept me awake all night with her coughing.” Mr. Quentin rushed to answer.

  Isabella took off her pelisse and hat and then hastily pulled off her gloves and dropped all the items on a nearby table. “It appears there is no time to stand on ceremony. We are all tired, cold and hungry. Mr. Quentin’s wife is ill. Augusta, I want you to go to the drawing room and sit down. I will have a fire built there and bring some tea to you as soon as possible. Jane, when our bags arrive, please bring my herbal case to me.”

  “Yes, my lady.”

  “Mr. Quentin, please show me to the kitchen.”

  “This…this is highly irregular, my lady,” he said with hesitation.

  “I’m aware of that, sir. But I can cook and I have something that will help your wife’s cough. To have those two things taken care of would substantially improve the situation we find ourselves in, would it not?”

  “Yes, it certainly would, Lady Isabella.” The man suddenly looked more awake, as if Isabella’s words had energized him. “Please follow me.”

  Isabella entered the large kitchen at the back of the house moments later. She studied the vast countertops providing plenty of space to work and a sizable sink, which at this moment was filled with dirty dishes. In the far corner, she was gratified to see a Rumford range very similar to the one Isabella had in her own home. She saw a clean apron hanging on a hook by the window and quickly put it on.

  “How much food do we have on hand? I will be cooking for several people tonight.” Isabella walked to an inset in the wall that she assumed led to the larder. She stepped inside the large cool space and was gratified to see several pieces of beef and three chickens as well as what appeared to be a large goose hanging on hooks from the ceiling. Other baskets on the shelves were amply full of potatoes, carrots, onions and turnips. Several loaves of bread were also nearby.

  “We have plenty to eat, even a Christmas goose, my lady, seeing as how Lord and Lady Forster were expecting to entertain everyone here this Christmas. Sorry about the mess, my lady.” He pointed to the sink. “Me wife was took sick right after we finished the evening meal. I haven’t had a chance to clean up.”

  “I will see to everything.” Isabella turned to the little man who was standing close by, rubbing his chin with his hand in a nervous manner. “You said you are the caretaker. Do you and your wife live in a house on the property close by?”

  “Normally we do, my lady. But the housekeeper, Mrs. Bask, went to visit her daughter. She offered her rooms for us to stay in in the meantime.” He looked a little uncomfortable as he stared across the room at the kitchen door. “She thought it would be more convenient for us to watch the house by living inside it. Lord and Lady Forster agreed. Now, with my wife so ill, I’m sure she’ll regret her kind offer.”

  “Allow me to check on your wife. Are the rooms across the hall?”

  He hesitated. “Yes, my lady, but I wouldn’t want you to catch her sickness.”

  “You’re not to worry, Mr. Quentin. I have an extremely strong constitution. I’m often in contact with people who are ill when I administer my herbal remedies. Except for a bout of sickness when I was a child, I’ve always had exceptionally good health.”

  “As you say, my lady. This way, please.”

  Isabella followed Mr. Quentin out of the kitchen and down the hallway to a doorway at the back of the house. The caretaker stopped to knock on the door before opening it.

  “Dear, I have someone here to see about your cough.”

  “Oh…oh, won…wonderful!” The feeble voice called out before the sound of harsh coughing rang out from inside the room.

  Isabella strode through the open door. She observed a tiny frail lady lying in bed against the pillows with a lace cap slightly askew on top of her head. “Mrs. Quentin, I’m Lady Isabella Porter, a close friend of the family. I am quite familiar with all sorts of herbal remedies. I know of just the thing that will ease your cough.”

  “I…I’d be very grate…grateful, my lady,” the woman struggled to answer between coughs.

  “As soon as my bag can be located, I will fix you a ginger tea amply laced with lemon. In the meantime, try to rest.”

  “Thank…thank you, my lady.”

  Isabella strode out of the room with Mr. Quentin at her heels. “I must see if my maid
has located my herbs. Could you build a fire in the drawing room for Miss Hatch and perhaps in our rooms as well?”

  “Yes, my lady. Right away.”

  As the little man hurried away, Isabella turned toward the front entry and walked quickly to the front door. She would check to see if the bags had been brought inside. Just as she was about to put her hand on the knob, someone jiggled it from the outside.

  Chapter Three

  “Open up, Jasper!”

  Isabella hastily opened the door. “May I be of…Gerard?”

  “Yes, it’s me.” He moved past her and shut the door. A dusting of powdery snow fell from the collar of his heavy coat. He stared at Isabella with obvious exasperation. “What in blazes is going on? The front porch is covered with bags of all sizes, Jasper is not here to answer the door and you greet me wearing the cook’s apron.”

  “It appears the note that informed you of the change in plans never reached either.” Isabella made a point to hide her feelings of relief when she realized Gerard would be on hand to assist her with this rather astounding state of affairs. For some reason that she would think about later, she was hesitant to be in a position of obligation to him.

  “What note?” Gerard shook the frozen slush from his caped coat and placed the garment on top of her recently discarded pelisse.

  “It seems that your sister’s baby decided to arrive early. Your parents were informed of the fact and they left for London yesterday. Apparently a missive was dispatched to each of us telling of their intentions. I never received anything and obviously neither did you. I arrived here a short time ago to find only a caretaker in residence, his wife who is sick with a bad cough, and a groom to take care of the horses. We are all tired, cold and hungry. I plan to fix a meal for us tonight and will return to my home tomorrow morning.”

  “Quentin is in charge?” Gerard reached up to loosen his cravat and then he removed his other garments, leaving on only his shirt, breeches and boots.

  “Yes. What…whatever are you doing?” Isabella glanced at him and then could feel herself begin to blush as she noticed the outline of Gerard’s muscular chest clearly visible through his shirt. She hastily looked toward the floor and in doing so got a glimpse of his firm thighs encased in formfitting breeches. She quickly refocused her gaze and attempted to study the frieze of dancing cherubs that decorated the domed ceiling above them.

  “The snow is coming down quite heavily, no one is going anywhere for a few days. It’s obvious you need assistance. I’ll bring the bags up to your rooms. My valet has gone with my coachman to the stables. He should join me momentarily.” He turned toward the door.

  “Wait.” Isabella’s voice shook as she realized she was stuck in close quarters with Gerard for an extended period of time. Well, she wouldn’t concern herself with the awkward situation now. There were many things to be seen to first. “I need my herbal supplies to fix a special tea for Mrs. Quentin’s cough.”

  Gerard held the door open and indicated that she should precede him. “Take whatever you need.”

  Isabella was momentarily astounded as she observed the pile of bags that were gathered on the porch. Equally surprising was the sight of the thick white blanket of snow that was rapidly covering everything outside. She refocused on the bags and glimpsed the black leather handle of the satchel she required. She hastily moved forward to pick it up. “My groom should also be available to help you.”

  Gerard bent over to grab a few of the cases. “Don’t concern yourself, Isabella. Because of the scarcity of servants, I’m sure all of us are going to have to pitch in and do things we normally don’t do while we are here.”

  Still, Isabella hesitated, somewhat unsure of how to act with Gerard at present when their roles were changed in such an extreme manner. “Well, I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me.”

  Gerard followed her into the house. “I know where to find you. Let’s try to make the most out of this Christmas together.”

  “Yes, yes, that would be wise.” Turning away to make her way down the hallway, Isabella frowned in confusion as she replayed Gerard’s last words in her mind. Was he planning some kind of mischief to make the holiday more memorable? She certainly wouldn’t put it past him to do something to put her in an embarrassing position once again. Perhaps that was why she was hesitant to be under any obligation to him. She took a deep breath as she entered the kitchen. There was no time to worry about Gerard and what his plans were at present. She must attend to Mrs. Quentin’s cough and then provide a tea in the drawing room and supper to follow for everyone. She needed to focus on the many tasks ahead.

  She placed a large piece of ginger on the cutting board and sliced off a substantial amount. Isabella took a pan, pumped some water into it and placed it on the range. The water soon came to a boil and she dropped the slices of ginger into the pan. A few minutes later, she poured the whole concoction into a teapot and added a few bits of dried lemon rind. She placed a cup and saucer on a tray next to the hot beverage.

  “Lord Malden sent me to inquire if you need assistance, my lady.”

  Isabella turned around when she heard her maid’s voice. “Yes, I do, Jane. Please find Mr. Quentin and ask him to take this tea to his wife. Tell him to advise her to drink as much of it as she can. Her cough should subside in a short period of time.”

  “Of course, my lady.”

  “When you have finished doing that, inform Miss Hatch that I will bring tea and sandwiches to the drawing room in a few minutes.”

  “Certainly, my lady. I believe Lord Malden is conversing with her at present.”

  “Excellent.” Thankfully, she wouldn’t have to worry about Augusta getting lonely for now. Isabella strode across the room to the larder and once again studied its contents. She chose a loaf of bread and two large cucumbers, obviously grown in a hothouse, and took them to the counter. She sliced everything up to make bite-sized morsels and boiled some more water for tea. Once the water was hot, she made the beverage in another teapot and placed it and the tiny sandwiches on a tray. Adding some small plates, cups and saucers and serviettes, she took everything to the drawing room.

  “Here is some meager refreshment for both of you until I can finish our evening meal,” she announced as she entered the room.

  “Isabella, please sit down and join us. You must be exhausted,” spoke Miss Hatch in a worried voice.

  Strong, male hands covered Isabella’s as she gripped the tray. Gerard looked at her with a concerned expression on his face. “Let me take that. Come over here by the fire. You need to have something of substance before you cook a meal for so many people.”

  Isabella walked slowly toward the hearth. There was no possible way she could sit down and enjoy a cup of tea at this moment. She must make herself understood. “There is so much to be done. I’m afraid if I sit down I won’t have the energy to get up again. Please allow me to return to the kitchen.”

  “It pains me to see you work yourself in this manner,” lamented Miss Hatch. “Could Jane not fix supper for us?”

  “I doubt if Jane has ever done much work in a kitchen. But she certainly could be of some help preparing the meal,” Gerard spoke up from his stance near the fireplace mantel. “Please drink a quick spot of tea and eat something, Isabella. It will revive you. I’m sure you will need the strength later.”

  Isabella poured the hot liquid into three cups. She hastily drank her tea and swallowed one sandwich. “I must go.”

  “You’re working yourself too hard,” sighed her companion.

  “I will send Jane to you,” Gerard told her in a grave manner as Isabella backed out of the room.

  Isabella turned away without comment and hurried down the hall to the kitchen. It was gratifying to know they were both concerned about her energy level but there simply wasn’t time to rest. She reminded herself that she would need to make the Arnica salve for Augusta later as well. She went into the larder to retrieve two of the chickens and placed them into a large pot of b
oiling water and quickly seasoned the liquid with sliced potatoes, onions and carrots. While that was cooking, Isabella searched for preserved lemons, flour, sugar and eggs. With a sigh of relief when she located all the ingredients, she quickly began making lemon tarts for dessert.

  While the tarts were baking, Isabella decided to tackle the dirty dishes left in the sink. Just as she was placing the first clean dish onto the sideboard, Jane hurried into the room. “My lady, I’m sorry. I was organizing your garments. Lord Malden told me you needed assistance.”

  “I was fine getting the meal prepared on my own. But I’m very glad to see you now. Please help me dry these dishes. When that task is done, the food should be ready. I’ll need you to make certain the table in the dining room is set for three people, the fire is lit and then you may call the men from the stables as well as Mr. Quentin to come into the servants’ quarters for their meal. I will require your help to serve the food.”

  “Of course, my lady.” Jane picked up a clean towel that was folded neatly in a nearby cupboard and began to wipe the wet plates.

  The dishes were finished quickly with Jane’s eager assistance. Isabella sent her to the dining room while she busied herself with the final preparation of the food. First, she carefully spooned out some of the liquefied fat from the cooked poultry for use later in making the ointment with the Arnica petals. Then, for convenience sake, she placed both whole chickens on two separate platters with the vegetables arranged to the side of the poultry. She put equal amounts of the freshly baked lemon dessert on two different plates. Isabella heard the kitchen door open.

  “Please take these dishes to the servants’ quarters and eat your meal there, Jane. I will deliver the rest of the food to the dining room.”

  “Jane and I will take care of it. You go to your room and change for dinner.” Gerard’s voice rang out in a no-nonsense manner. “I have no doubt you would like to freshen up and compose yourself after working so hard to produce this delicious-looking food for all of us.”