“Oh, Millie, that is quite a story,” Theodora said. “I am sure your mother must be grateful for your help, but she must miss you very much.”
“Oh, aye, she does,” Millie agreed, “but I make more money than I would in Yorkshire, so she says I am more help here than I would be at home.”
“Well, I am certainly glad to have you here. Your culinary skills would certainly be wasted in a factory.” Millie beamed, and Theodora turned to Bess, who was taller than Millie by quite a bit, and lean. Her fingers were long with dirt under the nails.
“How about you, Bess?”
“Oh, I was raised here, ma’am. Me dad is the gardener, Harry Doyle. He’ll be meeting you tomorrow, I expect.”
“Do you help him in the garden, then?”
“Aye, I do. I love the garden.”
Ah, Theodora thought. That explains the dirt. “That sounds wonderful. I’ve never worked in a house as fine as this,” Theodora admitted, grateful she didn’t have to lie about that, at least. “I will need to learn from you how things are done.”
Bess and Millie both puffed up proudly, and Theodora suspected no one had ever sought their opinion on anything. Millie, naturally, spoke first. “Well, I am in charge of the scullery, of course.”
Millie looked so proud Theodora wanted to laugh, but that would offend the girl. Instead she smiled and listened to Millie’s exposition on the workings of the scullery and ate her soup.
Bess was less forthcoming, saying only she did as was required by the cook.
“Very well, thank you both. Millie, I think that perhaps you should do some more cooking, don’t you? This soup is quite delicious. What did you put in it?”
“It’s me mam’s recipe. It’s got chicken, potatoes, carrots, whatever else Bess was able to get from her da. Don’t rightly remember everything, and it’s never quite the same way twice. Me mam always made it when one of us was sick. I made it yesterday, since Lady Julia had the sniffles, but she’s better today.”
Theodora seized on the mention of the family. With Millie so chatty, she could get some information from her.
“Tell me about them, Millie. Are they pleasant to work for?”
“Oh, they are ever so nice. Lady Longley is beautiful, with her auburn hair, and she’s very kind. She comes downstairs sometimes, to talk to the cook, and she always comes up to see us if we get sick. Lord Longley is funny, he is, he likes to laugh. He’s in the stables a lot, telling jokes with the grooms. Lady Julia is sweet. She is always bringing hurt animals into the kitchen.”
“Into the kitchen!” Theodora exclaimed.
“Well, yes,” Millie said matter-of-factly, “since she usually needs some space to tend to them, and with the babies she finds she needs milk and such to feed them.”
“Oh, I see,” Theodora said, although she didn’t, really. Her own mother would have had a fit if she’d brought a wild animal into the house. Her mother had drawn the line at dogs, the smaller the better. Even cats needed to stay outside in the stable.
“How old are the children?” Theodora asked. From what had been said thus far they seemed quite young.
“Oh, Lady Julia is about fifteen, I think, ma’am.”
Theodora’s eyes widened in surprise. “And the other children?”
“There’s just Lord Jonathan, but he’s full grown,” Millie said, a slightly dreamy look in her eye. Old enough to dally with the maids, Theodora thought, although it certainly did not seem as though the maids would mind.
“And what is he like?”
Bess, who had been silently watching the entire exchange, chimed in. “Lord Jonathan is ever so handsome. But he’s very serious. More serious than the rest of the family put together, I’d warrant.”
“Why is he so serious?”
Bess thought for a moment. “Maybe because no one else in the family is? Especially Lord Longley. The man never met a stranger. He likes everyone, and everyone likes him. Her ladyship is a bit more practical, but she has a fun side, too. She and his lordship are always laughing, and I’ve seen ’em kiss a time or two when weren’t no one looking.”
Bess grinned at Millie, who giggled, but Theodora felt immeasurably sad. She had hoped she’d find a love like that, before her first season, before Lucien came along and swept her off her feet and into the scullery. She sat back and put down her spoon. Her bowl was not quite empty, but she was suddenly so very tired.
“Thank you, girls. This has been most instructive. Now let’s clean up, and I think we should be getting to bed. If you could show me around the room?”
“Yes’m!” Millie jumped up and flitted about the kitchen, telling Theodora where to find bowls, cutlery, and knives. Theodora was not surprised to find the kitchen extremely well-equipped. The stove was the very latest, Millie proudly pointed out, sent from London only a few months ago. She went on to say the last cook had insisted upon a new stove when people complained of her cooking. She said it was not her cooking that was the problem, but the stove. “But then the stove came, and the food was even worse. Turned out Mrs. Brown’s brother worked for the stove company, and Mrs. Brown got money or something from him for ordering it. Her ladyship gave Mrs. Brown the sack right after that. Oh, never seen her so mad, I haven’t. Then she got rid of Mrs. Brown’s stove and ordered another.”
Theodora could not suppress a grin. “Goodness. It sounds very complicated. I assure you I have no connections to stove companies. The stove I used in London was much older than this one, and the food came out just fine. I hope that I can please her ladyship.”
“I am sure you can,” came a genteel voice from behind them, and all three whirled around.
Millie and Bess immediately curtsied. “Good evening, your ladyship,” they said in perfect unison.
Caught off guard, Theodora just stood, staring at the woman in front of her, until Bess tugged at her skirt. She curtsied quickly and was almost afraid to look up.
“Mrs. Milsom, is it?” Lady Longley came closer, and Theodora rose. Her ladyship was several inches taller than she, and quite possibly the most elegant person Theodora had ever met. Her auburn hair was swept back and piled atop her head in a style that looked effortless, but Theodora suspected was anything but. Her eyes were a deep green, very warm and kind.
“Yes, my lady,” Theodora finally said.
“Mrs. Appleton told me you were here. I understand you left your last position rather suddenly?”
“Yes, my lady.” She told the lie she had told earlier, hoping she was telling it the same.
“I am sorry you had such a challenging day. I hope that you were welcomed courteously when you arrived?” Lady Longley arched an elegant red eyebrow at the maids.
“Yes, my lady!” they squeaked.
Theodora couldn’t help but smile. “Yes indeed, my lady. Everyone has been very kind.”
“Excellent. Well, we are delighted to see you. Would you like a day to rest before you start? It is very late.”
“Oh, no!” Theodora blushed at her own impertinence. “I mean, no, thank you, my lady. I would like to start tomorrow, if you please. I prefer to be busy.”
Lady Longley gave her a grateful smile. “Very well. I shall look forward to tasting your contributions at table tomorrow morning, whatever you would like to make. We typically breakfast at eight. You and I will speak later tomorrow morning to plan the menu for the week, if that is agreeable to you?”
“Yes, of course, my lady. Thank you.” Theodora curtsied again.
“Good night then, Mrs. Milsom, Millie, Bess.”
“Good night, my lady,” all three women chimed.
As Lady Longley turned to leave, Theodora could not help herself. “My lady!” she called.
The countess turned, an expectant look on her face. “Yes?”
“Thank you. For taking a chance on me. You cannot possibly know how grateful I am. I will not disappoint you.”
The countess smiled. “Of course.” She turned again and glided out of the kitchen.
/>
There was a moment’s silence. Theodora looked at her new charges and asked, “Does she do that often?”
Millie and Bess exchanged a mysterious glance and giggled. “Yes’m. You’ll get used to it.”
Theodora took a deep breath. “Well, then, let’s tidy up and get to bed. We’ll need to be up early to get breakfast started.”
“Yes’m,” the girls chorused.
****
Theodora arrived in her room a short while later to find a nightdress neatly folded on the bed, slippers tucked underneath, and her own clothes dry and pressed, hanging in the wardrobe. She sat heavily on the bed, surprised to find tears sliding down her cheeks. It was the first time she had cried in years, since the beatings became more regular and she had realized she needed to turn off her emotions to survive. She wept for a long time.
Chapter Seven
Jonathan and his father were finishing their whiskies together when his mother strode into the parlor.
“Well, I’ve just met the new cook,” she said.
“What? The new cook is here?” Jonathan raised his brows.
His mother passed behind the settee, stroking his father’s shoulders with one long, elegant finger and came around to sit beside him. “Yes, she arrived this evening. She must have been the woman you saw on the side of the road, Jon, as we were coming home. Mrs. Appleton said the woman was soaked through when she arrived.”
“But I thought you said she wasn’t expected for a fortnight?” Jonathan felt a bit fuzzy-headed. The woman from the road was in the house?
“She wasn’t, but apparently when she told her employer she was leaving, she was thrown out of the house with only the clothes on her back. She had nowhere to go, and no time to write to tell us she was coming today instead.”
“Doesn’t that strike you as odd, Mother?”
“Of course, it’s odd, Jonathan,” his mother said, with exaggerated patience. “But it happens. There is many a mistress who is so offended when a trusted servant gives notice that she acts impetuously.”
“Impetuous is one word for it, I suppose,” his father mumbled. “Poor woman.”
His mother smiled and patted his father on the knee. “You are so kindhearted, my darling.”
Jonathan rolled his eyes. “You two. You never think the worst of anyone, do you?”
His mother frowned. “And you are too inclined to do exactly that, Jonathan. She seems an innocent girl—certainly the skinniest cook I have ever seen.”
“Isn’t that a sign she may not be who she claims to be? When have you ever seen a skinny cook?” Jonathan stood and began to pace.
His mother put a gentle hand on his arm. “I realize, Jon, as your sister so graciously pointed out earlier, that my intuition has not served me well in recent months as far as our cooks have been concerned, but there is something about this woman. I think she has been terribly ill-used by someone, perhaps her last employer. When you meet her, as I assume you will tomorrow...” His mother gave him a look that made it clear he’d better not rush downstairs when she left the room. “You will see what I mean. I think we should give her a chance to prove herself.”
Jonathan’s father stood and reached down to pull his mother up beside him. “Your mother is right, Jon. If she is a terrible cook we can let her go, of course, but there is no harm in giving her an opportunity.”
Jonathan smiled wryly at his parents. “Very well, I can see I am beaten for now. Just, well, lock your door tonight, please?”
His mother was about to protest, but his father placed one strong arm around her and winked. “We always do, Jon.” The two of them left the room, bodies pressed together, whispering words only they could hear.
Jonathan watched them go, a certain amount of envy creeping into his heart. He knocked back the rest of his drink and stared into the fire.
****
The next morning Theodora was awakened by a knock on her door from Millie, who called her downstairs. Six o’clock, according to the clock on her bureau. Despite all the events of the previous two days, she had eventually fallen into a very deep and restful sleep. She hopped out of bed and glanced out the small window, charmed by the view it had been too dark to see the night before. Durham Cathedral loomed majestically over the valley, and through the lush leaves of the trees, she could just glimpse the River Wear flowing beneath it. So different from her view in London, but it reminded her of her childhood in Northumberland. So close to home, and yet so very far away.
She dressed quickly, happy to be wearing her own clothes. She washed her face in the basin on the bureau, combed her hair, put it into a long braid, and wound it around on top of her head. She tucked it under a cap, which had also been left for her the night before, slipped on her shoes, and went downstairs. Bess or Millie had already lit the stove, and a kettle was whistling merrily atop it. She poured the water into the teapot one of the girls had set on the table. At her insistence, Bess and Millie joined her at the table, and the three of them enjoyed a quick cup of tea and a breakfast of bread, butter, and jam. Theodora had forgotten how good butter was when it was freshly churned, and she nearly melted with delight as she ate.
All too soon the food was gone, however, and they got to work. She had decided to do a simple breakfast—poached eggs, sausage, bacon, roasted tomatoes, toast, butter, and jam. She also decided to try a hollandaise sauce for the eggs. It was one of her favorites, and she had to admit to herself that perhaps she was showing off, just a bit. Bess and Millie assured her the family would be overjoyed. They regaled her with tales of previous cooks while they worked, and she couldn’t remember the last time she had laughed so hard.
An hour later, Mr. Fairfax came down, and he was offered tea and bread as well. He was followed by Mrs. Appleton, and the twin footmen. They had tea and chatted with the housemaids, Rossie and Florrie. Theodora busied herself with breakfast preparations and let the conversation flow around her. In her contentment, she forgot what she had done to get here.
Then the last two members of the household staff entered the room. Theodora watched Miss Dove and Mr. Derrick out of the corner of her eye as she poached the eggs. She had seen their type before; many of Lucien’s colleagues at the bar had had the same look about them. Conniving, greedy, full of ambition heedless of cost. She had disliked them both on sight last night, and it was clear the feeling was mutual. Mr. Derrick looked at her as if trying to gauge how useful she could be, and Miss Dove clearly saw her as a threat. To what, Theodora was not sure, but her feelings of peace from a few minutes earlier had vanished.
Fortunately the pair was soon called away to dress Lord and Lady Longley. From the collective sigh of relief when they left, it was clear the rest of the staff shared her opinion, but nothing was said. Not long after that, the bell for the breakfast room rang, and the footmen and Mr. Fairfax departed with Theodora’s first meal, the housemaids left to tend to the bedrooms, and Millie went upstairs to clean out the grates. Bess went to find her father in the gardens, and Mrs. Appleton disappeared into the pantry to check inventory.
After the whirlwind of activity, Theodora was relieved to find herself alone. She tidied up for a bit and mixed some dough for bread, enjoying the quiet and familiar tasks. Setting the dough aside to rise, she sat and poured herself a cup of tea. Although she was hard-pressed not to reflect upon the differences in her situation from a mere two days ago, she was more interested in making a good impression, so she turned her attention to the menu for the rest of the day.
It had been a mild summer, if unusually wet, Bess had said, and the garden was producing very well. She expected to meet the gardener shortly and hoped to discover what the most seasonal items were. Living and cooking in London gave one an odd sense of what was seasonal; often by the time the food arrived there, it was not at its freshest. She looked forward to sampling fresher food unsullied by a trip in a railway carriage.
“So, this is the famous Mrs. Milsom, I presume?”
The low voice startled The
odora out of her reverie, and she jumped out of her chair and dropped her cup, spilling tea all over the table. The source of the voice was tall, with blond hair that just brushed his collar. He had pale eyes the color of the early morning sky. She realized with a feeling of vague unease that this was the face she had seen peering at her out of the carriage on the road yesterday.
He was regarding her as if she were some sort of scientific specimen, and continued, “The cook who is hired without an interview, who appears in the dead of night, two weeks early, with no notice?”
He looked at her expectantly, and she suddenly knew who he must be. Before she could stop herself, she blurted, “And you are the son and heir, I presume?”
His eyes widened, and he seemed about to deliver the set-down she knew she deserved, but then a little smirk touched his lips. “Touché,” he said. “I suppose that was rather rude. Shall we start again?”
Theodora blinked. That was not at all what she expected.
His eyes twinkled with amusement. “Very well, I’ll go first. Jonathan Tenwick, Viscount Caxton, at your service.” He bowed with a flourish.
“Th...Um. Mrs. Milsom. My lord.” She curtsied gracefully and rose to find him looking strangely at her again. “May I help you, my lord?”
“No, I simply wanted to meet you. You will, I hope, be happy to learn that today’s was the best breakfast we’ve had in months. Years, perhaps. My father nearly swooned with delight at his eggs, which were completely without shells.”
“I am pleased to hear it, my lord.”
“I, too, was happy. The hollandaise was sublime. If you cook like that every day, I will grow quite stout in no time.”
“I...I suppose I wanted to impress her ladyship,” Theodora admitted quietly.
Stirring Up the Viscount Page 4
