English Trifle

by Josi S. Kilpack

  “So he’s a bat keeper in California, then?” Austin asked once the door had shut behind Liam.

  “He’s a supervising zoologist in Oregon,” Breanna clarified. “He’s very well-respected in his field and has been a great asset to the Washington Park Zoo. He’ll be greatly missed.”

  Sadie liked that despite the changes in their relationship, Breanna was still defensive of Liam.

  “Missed?” Austin questioned.

  Breanna paused and Sadie could practically read her thoughts. Did Austin know Liam was planning to stay in England? If not, Sadie didn’t think they should be the ones to spill the beans.

  “When he becomes earl,” Sadie quickly answered. “He’s done a lot for the exhibit; he’ll be hard to replace.”

  “Oh, yes, I’ve no doubt he’s invaluable,” Austin said with thinly veiled sarcasm. He took another sip of wine, seeming to relax a little bit. As he swallowed Sadie imagined that his mood could switch back and forth just as easily as the wine was draining from his glass. She wanted to take full advantage of it as long as she could—even if his attitude couldn’t always be trusted.

  “Did you and Liam know one another as children?” Sadie asked, hoping to get more information. “You’re close to the same age.”

  “He’s a few years older,” Austin confirmed. “But we spent time together when he lived in London—at least before we went to school. I went to Harrow in Middlesex; Liam attended Gordonstoun until he went to the States.”

  Sadie nodded, although she would never understand how parents could send their children away for school. There were so many facets of English life—at least among the nobility—that Sadie simply couldn’t make sense of. “So then you knew Liam’s mother?” Sadie asked.

  Sadie thought she noticed a slight stiffening in Austin’s shoulders, but couldn’t be sure. He was so hard to read.

  “As much as any boy knows the mother of a playmate,” Austin said. “I remember she talked strangely.” He half-smiled at the memory, then seemed to drop it as soon as he realized what he was doing. “And she wouldn’t dress for dinner—I’m not sure why I remember that but it stands out in my mind, her wearing jeans to a dinner where everyone else was dressed up.”

  “She didn’t like it here very much, did she?” Breanna asked. “In England, I mean, not necessarily Southgate.” She pushed the last of her beans up against the remaining potatoes and then mashed them all with the back of her fork, not looking at Austin at all.

  Austin, on the other hand, watched her closely. “I don’t believe they ever lived at Southgate,” he said. “William took over his father’s seat in the House of Lords and they lived in London. As to whether she liked it in England or not, I’m not sure I can say. I believe she didn’t understand the kind of future she’d chosen when she married William.” He picked up his glass again and swirled the dark liquid around in the glass.

  “How did she and William meet, anyway?” Sadie asked. Liam had never been very forthcoming about his parents’ relationship, and Breanna had said the divorce was very difficult for him, so Sadie hadn’t pressed Liam for the story. Austin, though, seemed perfectly willing to talk about it.

  “Well, as I’ve heard it, William’s father was devoted to the earldom, which naturally spurred William to distance himself from it. William, like most heirs, was reared almost as if he were the earl already—educated, tutored, raised up in the expectations of his role. William took it all with a grain of salt. He defied his father and went to Yale instead of Oxford. William had a generous allowance, so after his schooling, he traveled a good deal, coming back to England once or twice a year, and having no desire to help run the earldom which his father had immersed himself in after the countess died. William loved America and eventually met Liam’s mother there, married her without telling his family, and had a son. It was quite the scandal, according to my grandmother.”

  “When did the earl die?”

  Austin’s head snapped up. “What?”

  “The earl,” Sadie reiterated—maybe he’d had more wine than she thought. “William and your grandmother’s father—when did he die?” Maybe she was sounding indelicate. “I mean, when did William become earl?”

  Austin nodded his understanding and relaxed again. “I think Liam was four or five years old when they moved back to London.”

  “The earl had had a stroke, right?” Sadie asked.

  Austin nodded and swirled the wine in his glass. “William returned and assumed the role of earl. A few months later, his father died and William became the ninth Earl of Garnett.”

  “It seems like that would have been hard for William,” Breanna suggested. “To leave the life he had and suddenly be an earl.”

  “I’m sure it was difficult, but he’s fulfilled his role quite well for having taken so many tangent courses before then.” He took a long drink of his wine.

  “I’ve wondered,” Sadie asked carefully, “could he have refused it?”

  “Refused the title?” Austin asked, somewhat surprised at her question but trying not to show it.

  Sadie nodded. “Yes, I mean he traveled the world, married an American—it seems like he wasn’t all that interested, even if he did accept it when the time came for him to do so. But does an heir have to take the title?”

  “I suppose not,” Austin said, his tone thoughtful. “The Peerage Act was passed through Parliament in the 60s and made it possible for people to renounce their title if they wanted to. But as far as I know the only people who have denounced it are those who, for political reasons, did not want the title which would keep them out of certain political offices. Renouncing did not affect their heirs and the title simply waited for the next generation to reclaim it. However, there is still the matter of holdings, land, estates, business interests, investments, and non-profit organizations that come with most titles. Even if a title is disclaimed, someone needs to take responsibility for the holdings and, although there is always the option of appointing trustees to do the work, I haven’t yet heard of anyone, regardless of how much they don’t want a title, not being happy to take over the money.” He smiled. “So I suppose the answer to your question is, yes, William could have disclaimed his title. But why would he? Despite his wandering soul, William was an Englishman. He’d been raised to his station, and when it called for him, he fulfilled his duty.”

  Breanna had listened intently, but now she laid her fork on her plate. “I think I’ll go up to bed,” she said, giving a fake smile to Sadie and Austin as she pushed away from the table. Grant moved to the door to show her out. Sadie wondered if Breanna’s last hope—that Liam could simply say “no” if he chose to—had been shot down.

  “I’ll be there in a few minutes,” Sadie said, already turning back to Austin. As much as she wanted to offer comfort and sympathy to her daughter, Austin’s honesty was surprising and she meant to take full advantage of it while she could. He might not get drunk tomorrow and afford her such a good opportunity again. However, he pushed away from the table as well, teetering just a little bit as he gained his feet.

  “England is playing West Germany tonight,” he said briskly. “I’d like to catch the second half. Have an enjoyable evening.”

  Chapter 18

  ~

  Sadie scowled as he left the room, leaving Sadie alone with Grant. But perhaps that was yet another opportunity. “Grant,” she asked after taking the last couple of bites of her dinner.

  “Yes, madam,” he said in his nasally butler-voice. Sadie wondered if they were taught that tone in butler school—right after how to stand for an hour without slouching while people ate.

  “Mrs. Land was cooking a chocolate torte—do we still get it for dessert?” She worried she was being rude, and yet Austin had been ruder and it hadn’t seemed to affect any of the staff.

  “I’ll go see,” he said. He left the room and Sadie looked around the expansive dining room. If she knew more about design she was sure she’d be impressed and know what to call the ca
rved ceiling design and color palate of light green and blue. As it was she found it very pretty, for lack of a better word, but cold.

  Grant returned and set a plate of chocolate torte in front of her. She smiled up at him even though the torte was tipped on its side. Apparently, without Mrs. Land around to ensure proper presentation, no one else thought about it. She wondered if he’d had to cut and serve it himself.

  “Thank you,” she said sincerely before picking up her fork. “Breanna, Liam, and Austin will be mad they left so soon.”

  She cut her first bite and chewed it slowly. For having been frozen a few hours earlier, it was alright, but it wasn’t wonderful. In fact she wasn’t sure she’d eat it if she hadn’t requested it, necessitating that Grant go all the way downstairs to get it for her. Grant remained at the door and after a few bites, she decided to try to strike up a conversation with the man. With Mrs. Land gone she needed another resource for information. She hoped he might be a bit more open to it than he’d been earlier. Maybe she was getting tired, but it seemed worth a shot. She’d be careful not to ask anything specific about John Henry or Mrs. Land so as not to earn his ire.

  “So, Grant,” she began, turning slightly in her chair so she could make eye contact, though he avoided it and stared intently at the wall across the room from where he stood. “How long have you worked here?”

  He seemed to argue with himself before answering, finally saying. “I have worked for Lord Martin nearly fifteen years.”

  “Oh, wow,” Sadie said, raising her eyebrows. “That’s a long time. He must be a good boss, er, employer.”

  “Yes, madam,” he said.

  “And how long has the other staff worked here?”

  He didn’t answer for several seconds, during which time Sadie watched him expectantly. “Madam, it is improper for me to have such a conversation with you in regard to staff members.” He made eye contact then, but only briefly. He didn’t look happy.

  “Oh, I didn’t mean to be rude or do anything improper,” Sadie said, smiling sweetly and hoping perhaps it would break through his crusty exterior. “I was just making conversation. I guess I don’t know the rules very well.”

  Grant paused for several seconds before he finally spoke—giving Sadie the impression that he’d used that pause to consider whether or not to speak at all. “If I may say so, madam, the only rule you need to be aware of is that the staff and the family, along with their guests, are not friends with one another. The staff is here to serve, and the family provides that opportunity. The guests are simply partakers of the hospitality offered by both. When a staff member steps outside of those boundaries, allowing a guest of the household to assist in the preparations of a meal, for instance, they face the prospect of being removed from their position entirely, which then affects the livelihood not only of themselves, but also of anyone they are supporting. The family also suffers as they are forced to find a replacement for the staff member who has shown that, regardless of their dedication to the work they do, they do not respect the boundaries. Therefore, it is in the best interest of all parties for the family and the guests to function within the parameters of their circumstance and allow the staff members to do the same.”

  Well, Sadie felt sufficiently browbeaten and was without words on how to respond to the lashing she’d just been given with a most proper British tongue. “I-I’m very sorry,” Sadie said, feeling repentant. “I didn’t mean to get Mrs. Land in trouble.” She looked up at Grant who remained stoic by the door, though she sensed a measure of satisfaction in his countenance. “Was Mrs. Land fired on account of me?”

  “No, madam, Mrs. Land was not fired. Her son had a bit of trouble with the law and was unable to come to see her. She went to spend the holiday with him instead. The situation I used as an example was simply hypothetical. However, if Lord Melcalfe had discovered you and Mrs. Land in the kitchen, she very well could have been out of a job. Indiscreet staff members do not last long in this line of work, and while I came up with a solution to this particular situation, if not for the standard two-day holiday, it would not have worked. In a word, we were all very lucky.”

  Sadie looked at the remaining torte on her plate, but what had been somewhat appetizing a minute earlier was not at all appetizing now that she realized the risk she’d caused for Mrs. Land. She pushed away from the table. “Thank you, Grant. I understand.”

  “Of course,” he said, bowing slightly as she passed him in the doorway.

  At the top of the stairs she ran into the dark-skinned security guard, who stood as she approached. She smiled politely and took the hand he offered to her.

  “Good evening, Mrs. Hoffmiller,” he said.

  “Sadie,” she corrected him. “ ‘Mrs. Hoffmiller’ makes me feel old. I’m afraid I don’t remember your name.”

  “Manny Heshad,” he said. He smiled, revealing white teeth that looked even whiter against the cinnamon tone of his skin. “If you need anything, I’ll be here.”

  Sadie thanked him and continued on her way to the room she and Breanna shared. When she entered the room, Breanna was digging through her backpack, emptying most of the contents onto the bed in the process of looking for whatever it was she was looking for.

  “Is everything all right?” Sadie asked as she shut the door behind her. For good measure she locked it as well.

  “Everything’s fine, Mom,” Breanna said without looking up.

  “You just seem, um—”

  “Overwhelmed?” Breanna offered sarcastically. “Tired? Stressed out? Worried about not getting back to school in time for the first day of my final semester?” She let out a huff at the end of her comments and clenched her jaw, still digging through her backpack.

  “Confused over your feelings toward Liam?”

  Breanna’s hands slowed. “I don’t want to talk about it,” she said, finally pulling out her pajamas that had been expertly packed by being scrunched into a wad. Breanna shook them out but it did little to help the wrinkles.

  “I know,” Sadie said. “So I’ll leave it alone, but you know you can talk to me about anything, right?” She wanted to bring up the argument between Liam and John Henry that Breanna had kept to herself, and yet it felt a little like beating a dead horse at this point. Breanna knew Sadie was unhappy about that and she’d apologized.

  Breanna closed her eyes as if considering that. “Sure,” she said. Without making eye contact she turned toward the bathroom, “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  While Breanna changed, Sadie positioned, opened, and sorted through her luggage in order to find her facial kit, hand lotion, slippers, socks, and pajamas—purple flannels she’d made herself. She liked a larger top and smaller bottom, which meant she’d have to buy two pair of store-bought pajamas to be truly comfortable. Instead she made her own. They were nicely folded so as not to get wrinkled like Breanna’s were. She rearranged her things while considering how best to start the day tomorrow. She wanted to make the most of her time before they were sent to London.

  When Breanna came back into the room, Sadie announced her plan to make breakfast in the morning.

  “Did Austin say you could be in the kitchen?” Breanna asked, looking up at Sadie as she pulled back the covers from the bed.

  “Well, I figure I’ll wake up early and just get to work. What is he going to do, kick me out?” She considered telling Breanna about her conversation with Grant but chose against it for fear that Breanna would agree with the butler. “Think about it, Bre, this is my chance to cook in a real English kitchen—I’m going to make crumpets.” She smiled widely at the idea.

  “Maybe you should at least talk to Liam first,” Breanna said with none of the enthusiasm Sadie felt her announcement deserved. Breanna climbed into the bed and threw most of the two dozen pillows onto the floor. Sadie hoped the cases weren’t real silk. “Austin already told you no.”

  “I know,” Sadie said with a single shoulder shrug. “But it’s not his house. I’d just like to surprise ever
yone and save them from takeout for breakfast.”

  Breanna burrowed down into the covers. “I still think you ought to get permission. And besides, you shouldn’t be sneaking around by yourself.”

  “Sometimes repentance is better than permission,” Sadie replied, stepping out of her shoes. “And I don’t want to get anyone in trouble by asking. Besides, they’ve got security guards posted all over the place—you met Manny, right? And, I thought I’d make my Wake ’Em Up Breakfast Casserole—how does that sound?”

  Breanna’s eyes brightened, but only slightly. “Real food,” she said with a sigh. “I’m not sure I know what it tastes like anymore. What time are you planning to get started?” She reached for her phone on the nightstand and flipped it open.

  “Early,” Sadie said as Breanna began texting. “Before anyone gets up who can tell me not to do it.”

  “Don’t you mean us? Before anyone gets up who can tell us not to do it?” Breanna asked, looking up from her phone. “I’m going with you.”

  Sadie hedged. “Well, I know it’s been a hard day for you, and it’s not healthy to handle so much stress on less than adequate sleep. There’ve been studies, you know.”

  “Nice try.” Breanna put her phone in her lap and picked up her watch that she’d set on the bedside table. “What time?”

  “Five,” Sadie said.

  Breanna nodded and spent nearly a minute programming the watch before putting it back on the nightstand and picking up her phone again. “Be sure and wake me up, okay?”

  “Sure,” Sadie said on her way to the bathroom to get changed, picking up the notebook on her way. Sure was a great word, a wonderful way to give a positive but noncommittal answer. She closed the door behind her while coming up with the justification she’d use for not waking up Breanna in the morning. In addition to the fact that Breanna seemed intent on reining Sadie in, there were just times when she preferred to cook alone.

  Chapter 19

  ~