by Abby Ayles
The house was entirely quiet at this hour, as the servants hadn’t even begun their work for the day. Luckily some hot coals could still be found in the drawing room fireplace, and she stoked them for just a bit of heat to stave off the night’s chill.
* * *
Her first order of business was to search the shelves to find the book she was hoping for. Finding her target, she pulled down the overly used and heavily tattered volume of The Mirror of Grace, Etiquette for Fine Young Ladies by Sir George Tutor.
* * *
She would be having Lady Sophia reread this volume today for her school work. She hoped the girl would take notice of the chapters of proper dining etiquette.
* * *
Next Lady Alexandra got out her writing desk to begin the day’s work. Her first order of business would be to make a list of all the remainder of preparations that would still need to be made before the banquet. She was sure if she got the task down on parchment it would finally give her mind a moment’s rest.
* * *
She was so hard at her work, making several lists of items to purchase, the menu created, and orders to be made that she didn’t even realize when her one candlelight was replaced with the full sunrise.
* * *
The house took on its usual noise of the cook preparing the morning meal and the maid going about her task while the butler saw to the one horse in the common use stable.
* * *
It wasn’t until Polly entered the room with a cup of hot chocolate, toast, and marmalade that Lady Alexandra looked up from her work and realized how long she had been at it.
* * *
“Thank you, Polly. I hope I’m not in your way,” Lady Alexandra added as an afterthought. It was a rare thing for a member of the household to be downstairs so early, let alone taking up the drawing room. Perhaps Polly used it for some purpose or saw to it in some way, and Lady Alexandra was preventing that.
* * *
“You’re fine where you are m’lady. Your sisters will be down by the hour if you would like to join them in the dining room for a larger breakfast?”
* * *
“No, this will suit me fine, thank you,” Lady Alexandra said with a smile of gratitude for the servant's kindness in bringing it to her.
* * *
Polly curtsy and prepared to leave the room.
* * *
“Polly,” Lady Alexandra called after the young girl. “I am almost finished here, and then I have quite a list of errands to run. I will need to go to the fabric shop and pick out something suitable for the tablecloths. Then, of course, they will all need to be hemmed. It would be best to do that by hand to save the cost. But before the hemming and after the fabric I need to go to the museum and talk the menu over with the newly hired cook. It is his first day today I believe,” Lady Alexandra said, shuffling through her papers for the proper documentation.
* * *
It did still seem all befuddled in her head despite the transcription.
* * *
“No matter, on that,” she said, placing a hand on all the papers with a long sigh. “Would you be able to accompany me to the store and museum? I can assure you it won't take long.”
* * *
“Of course, ma'am. I will just see to the ladies’ hair and dressing, and then I am free to go with you,” Polly responded.
* * *
“Thank you, Polly. I know I am putting more responsibilities on you than should be for a girl of your position. I do hope with the new use of the museum we will be able to hire some relief,” Lady Alexandra said.
* * *
Even if they could find the way to pay for a second servant, Lady Alexandra knew the truth was they had nowhere to house one. Polly and the cook shared one room in the attic, and the butler had the only other one.
* * *
Lady Alexandra was confident that a new member of the staff, as well as a larger house to accommodate one, would be next to impossible.
* * *
Polly hesitated for just a moment before leaving the room.
* * *
“Is there something else, Polly?”
* * *
“Well, it’s only that,” she figeted with her hands in front of her white apron. “Today is the second Monday of the month, ma'am.”
* * *
Lady Alexandra’s eyes went wide with realization. The second and fourth Sunday of every month the servants were meant to get their wages. Lady Alexandra had forgotten entirely.
* * *
“I am so sorry, Polly,” Lady Alexandra said, setting her writing desk to the side and coming to stand.
* * *
“I wasn’t planning on saying a word, and cook told me not to, it’s only that…You see my pa is bad, really sick that is. He can’t work much anymore. My wages go to him to take care of the small ones. Going one cycle without my wages is fine enough, but two is such a burden on them. You see I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t for them,” Polly tried to explain desperately.
* * *
“Are you saying I have forgotten twice in a row? You should have come to me sooner, Polly. I feel a wretch. I promise you I will fix the situation right this moment.
* * *
Polly curtseyed her thanks though she couldn’t look Lady Alexandra in the eye. Lady Alexandra could only wonder the embarrassment that girl had suffered just to come up to her and ask for her wages. She felt a horrible person to put her employees in such a situation.
* * *
Quickly, Lady Alexandra went into her father’s study where the bank book was kept as well as the chest of bank notes.
* * *
It didn’t take her long to look over the books, record the wages and separate out the bank notes for each member of the staff. By the time she was done, however, she could already hear the sounds of her sisters coming down the stairs and into the dining room. She knew her father would not be far behind them.
* * *
As much as the man would have liked to sleep longer, and Lady Alexandra dared say his nerves could use the added rest, there was no sleeping once all four of the house’s ladies arose for the day.
* * *
Lady Alexandra wanted to finish her task quickly before her father entered the study. The last thing she wanted to do right now was explain to her father why she was giving the servants a double portion of wages a day past its usual day of dispersion.
* * *
Lady Alexandra found the butler last and paid him the dues owed with many apologies. She had left the servants’ section of the house with several more tasks at hand. Firstly, the pantry was running desperately low on supplies as she hadn’t been to the market in weeks. Upon inspection, Lady Alexandra also found that the family was down to their last box of a dozen candlesticks. She would have to go that very day to order more, or they would be eating their meals in darkness.
* * *
With the added tasks to do, Lady Alexandra entered the central part of the house heavy with guilt. She had left so much undone over these last weeks and as a result, put such a burden on the staff.
* * *
“Are you coming to the drawing room with us this morning,” Josephine asked as Lady Alexandra converged with her in the hall. “With all these extra social gatherings of the season, the mending pile has doubled. I am stitching as fast as I can, but fear I am unable to keep up.”
* * *
Before Lady Alexandra could answer, there was a knock at the door. Lady Alexandra looked at the watch pinned to her bodice. It was still quite early in the day for someone to call.
* * *
“Who could that be?” She heard her father say from behind the wall of girls exiting the dining room.
* * *
The last thing Lady Alexandra needed right now was a guest putting her father into one of his fits.
* * *
Before she could say otherwise, however, the butler came and opened the door. The Duke of Raven almost took up the whole of the do
orframe with rays of morning sunshine peeking out around his silhouette.
* * *
All the girls craned their necks to see their early visitor. The sight of him wasn’t disappointing in the least for any of the Woodley girls.
* * *
He stepped into the house dressed in fine tan pantaloons, high leather boots shining to reflect the morning light, a light cream morning jacket with contrasting navy vest, and a black velvet hat.
* * *
“I apologize for the early hour,” he said to the butler, “but I wonder if I might leave my card for Lady Alexandra Woodley,” he said most smoothly.
* * *
The butler hesitated for a moment before his eyes darted to the small crowd at the end of the hall. Raven followed his gaze.
* * *
Lady Alexandra couldn’t help but feel her breath catch as his eyes fell on her. It was as if his whole countenance, which seemed so stern and long, softened just a bit as their eyes met.
* * *
“I see,” he said to the man at his side. “Please pardon me if I have bothered you at too early of an hour,” Raven said with a bow. “I did promise to call on you and help with the preparations.”
* * *
Lady Alexandra was stunned speechless. It was her father, pushing through the girls blocking his way and coming to stand at Alexandra’s side, who spoke first.
* * *
“Your Grace, what a pleasant surprise,” he said brightening up instantly. “You are always welcome in our home no matter the hour. Come in, and we can talk in my library. Is there something you were needing?” He said all at once.
* * *
Lady Alexandra thought that for a man who had little nerves for socialization he certainly was warm and welcoming to the duke.
* * *
“I actually came to call on your daughter, Lord Grebs. It was my understanding that she was in the mind of getting some assistance on the upcoming banquet. I have come to offer my services.”
* * *
“Help?” Lord Grebs said turning to his daughter. “Help with what? You have said nothing to me about this. What could there possibly be to do anyway? Just tell the museum to get it ready.”
* * *
Lord Grebs waved his hands off like the notion of being overtaxed with obligations was something made up in Lady Alexandra’s head. She would have liked to tell her father that all the times he waved his hand in like manner and encouraged her to 'tell the museum' it meant that she was to do it all on her own.
* * *
“I think Lady Alexandra is far too modest to ask for help when she is in need of it. I only know because I had the fortune of discussing the present state of plans last night at Lord Eagleton’s house.”
* * *
Lady Alexandra really didn’t like the two men discussing her as if she was a small child.
* * *
“Perhaps you would be more comfortable, Your Grace, if we took the conversation into the drawing room?” Lady Josephine asked, hoping to alleviate this awkward situation. “What do you think father? I am sure the duke hasn’t had his breakfast yet. We could have the cook bring something in from the kitchen?” she continued, so it seemed Lord Grebs had the idea.
* * *
“Yes, you are quite right. Let us all take a seat and perhaps we can unravel the mess Alexandra has found herself in.”
* * *
Lady Alexandra balled her fist at her side and did her best to push back the tears that were beginning to sting. After all she had done thus far to keep this family afloat for all these years, her father was suddenly waking from his trance and calling her a failure.
* * *
Her gaze met Raven’s, and she was almost sure he took a step towards her sensing the distress. Quickly she looked away and followed behind her father as they all made their way into the drawing room.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Raven followed along with the Woodley family as they all entered the lone drawing room of the house. Each girl seemed to take her spot immediately out of habit.
* * *
In contrast, Lord Grebs seemed to flounder around a bit not exactly sure where he was meant to go. Along with this, he appeared to stare around the room and even commented on some portraits on the wall. When asked who made it, he was told the various child.
* * *
It was clear by then that Lord Grebs had not stepped foot inside the room for some years. Finally, he took a place in a wooden seat he pulled forward from along the wall as he invited Raven to take the high back he had used the time before.
* * *
Lady Alexandra, though clearly upset by her father’s words, had composure enough to call the maid forth to produce some beverages and cakes for their guest.
* * *
Raven wanted to tell Lady Alexandra not to trouble herself on his account. From the moment he walked into the room and laid eyes on her, all he wanted to do was come to her side and release even a small portion of her burden. As of yet, he had only seemed to make it worse.
* * *
Perhaps it was because he had finally come to the realization that the feelings he had for the lady were far greater than he had initially thought, but Raven felt a desperate need to make things right for Lady Alexandra Woodley.
* * *
She seemed even more worn down today than she did the night before. That and the shuffling of papers on a small writing desk as they entered the room told Raven that she had already been up for some time now working.
* * *
“Now, my dear,” Lord Grebs said in a placating way. “What have you found the need to concern the duke with?”
* * *
“I can assure you, she didn’t bother me in the least with the matters,” Raven jumped in before she could speak. “In fact, I suppose it was my own desires and curiosity over the process that made me intercede into Lady Alexandra’s work. If it is a problem, I will be happy to rescind my offer.”
* * *
“Nonsense. You are of course welcome to be as involved as you would wish. It is only I don’t want you to feel the necessity. I can assure you my museum is quite able to handle everything.”
* * *
Alexandra pursed her lips at the use of his phrasing again. Twice now the earl had said “his museum” as if there was a significant entity within its walls that did all the biding. Did the man have no idea that it was Lady Alexandra that was doing the hard work on the grounds while he sat back in his house?
* * *
“None the less, what is it, child, that troubles you?” Lord Grebs asked his daughter.
* * *
She stared at him for a few moments, almost in shock that he would even consider asking such a question of any of his daughters.
* * *
“It is just some tasks needed to be accomplished today I assure you and nothing more, Father. I promise I have everything well at hand.”
* * *
“Then it won’t be hard for you to tell me what they are?” he continued his probing.
* * *
“Well, I am to go to the fabric store this afternoon and pick the linens for the tables. I also need to meet with the onsite cook to go over the menu plan. He is to give me a mock sampling in a week’s time. Then the tables themselves are to be delivered later this afternoon to the museum and must be stored properly.”
* * *
“Well that doesn’t seem to be much at all,” Lord Grebs said with a chuckle, facing the duke.
* * *
“I believe that is just for today, sir,” Raven corrected the man’s thinking that once these tasks were accomplished all would be complete.
* * *
“Ah, is that true?”
* * *
“Yes, Father. The tablecloths will need hemming. I also plan to use our lecture hall chairs, but plan to cover them to make them more pleasing to the eyes. Linings and sewing will be needed for that. Then there are the f
loral arrangements, lighting that is still awaiting orders, a few more footmen to hire…” Lady Alexandra rattled off with a far-off look that told Raven she was grasping to remember it all.
