‘Oh,’ she said forlornly.
‘You don’t like black tie, my lady?’
‘Oh, I don’t care what everyone wears,’ she said. ‘I was just dismayed that it’s such a long way off – I’m starving.’
‘Shall I see if I can get cook to knock up a sandwich for you?’
‘It’s tempting, but then I shan’t want dinner. I shall have to endure.’
‘You’re a brave little trouper, my lady.’
‘I bally well am, at that,’ she said, finally deciding to pitch in and help with the unpacking. ‘Shall you be eating in the servants’ hall?’
‘I’ve been offered supper in my room,’ I said.
‘Have you, by crikey? Will you avail yourself?’
‘I rather think I shall, my lady. I quite like the idea of a peaceful evening in with a hearty meal and an edifying book.’
‘What a splendid idea,’ she said, making such a thorough pig’s ear of hanging up a dress that I gently took it from her and gestured for her to resume her seat by the window.
Once everything was put away, it was time for Lady Hardcastle to ready herself for dinner. Having ensured that she was shipshape and fully Bristol fashion, I took my leave and vanished once more into the maze of servants’ stairs and corridors.
After less than ten minutes’ wandering, I managed to find my way back to the hall, which was by now a hive of activity. Mr Spinney saw me milling about, and took a break from instructing a junior footman on the best way to remove a spot from the sleeve of his jacket to come over to see me.
‘Is everything to your mistress’s satisfaction?’ he asked kindly.
‘It is, thank you,’ I replied.
‘Splendid. Is there anything else we can do for her?’
‘No, I think everything is in hand,’ I said. ‘Perhaps you might send someone up later to put her trunks and cases into your luggage room?’
‘Of course, of course. And how about you? Is there anything we can do for you?’
‘You’re most kind. Are you absolutely sure about your kind offer of supper in my room, though? Would the rest of the staff think me too rude? I shouldn’t want anyone to think that I didn’t want to eat with you, but the luxury of an evening entirely to myself seems too good to pass up.’
‘Not at all, not at all,’ he said with a smile. ‘They’re a welcoming lot, but dinner can get a bit boisterous, and I can perfectly understand that you might not want to have to deal with that after a long day’s travelling. I’ll have someone bring you a tray when we’ve finished serving upstairs. Have you been shown to your room?’
‘Not yet,’ I said. ‘But I’m sure it can’t be difficult to find. I’ll just keep heading upwards until I find a room with my case in it.’
‘That’s the ticket. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to young Billy and his grubby sleeve.’
I smiled my thanks, and set off back the way I’d come and up the stairs. This time, though, I passed by the first floor landing and carried on upwards towards what I presumed were the servants’ quarters at the top of the house. I finally emerged into a plainly decorated, yet oddly cosy corridor, and walked towards the only open door, at the far end, on the left. Sure enough, there was my suitcase next to a sturdy iron bedstead by the window. Another bed stood nearer the door, and both had been made up with crisp fresh linen and warm-looking blankets.
I unpacked my things and settled into the armchair in the corner with my copy of H G Wells’s The Time Machine, which I thought was well overdue to be reread.
Chapter Three
I slept like a countess. If a countess had fallen on hard times and had taken to working as a lady’s maid, that is. My accommodations were at the more luxurious end of the servants’ scale, though, so I had no cause to grumble or gripe – I had slept a great deal more comfortably than many.
I readied myself for the day, and set off down the secret stairway to see if I could scare up a pot of tea for Lady Hardcastle. The approved procedure in most country houses would be for me to make my way to the servants’ hall and wait for her to ring for me, but Lady Hardcastle was unimpressed by such ostentatious displays of status, and preferred a cuppa and a chat while she gathered herself together.
The kitchen, once I found it, was alive with efficient industry, and I introduced myself at once to the cook.
‘Good mornin’ my dear,’ said the cheerful, plump queen of the kitchen. ‘I’m Mrs Ruddle. Welcome to Codrington. Did you sleep well?’
‘I did, thank you, Mrs Ruddle. And thank you for the delicious supper you sent up. I don’t know when I’ve been so well looked after. I hope no one thought me above my buttons for not joining you all down here.’
She laughed. ‘Not at all, my dear. We’d all take the chance if it was offered, wouldn’t we? So long as you’re comfy, we don’t mind at all. ’S not like you won’t be pullin’ your weight while you’re here, is it? Might be a nice little holiday for your mistress, but your work won’t stop, will it, eh?’
‘You’re very kind. And speaking of my work, I don’t suppose there’s any water on the boil for a pot of tea? I’d like to take a tray up to Lady Hardcastle, if I can.’
‘Of course, my dear,’ she said, bustling back to work. ‘I’ll get the girl to put it all together for you. Would your mistress like some toast? I bet she’d like a round of toast. I’ll get Patience to put a round of buttered toast on the tray for you. And how about you? You must be ready for somethin’. Just you help yourself at the table in the hall, and Patience will bring the tray out when she’s done.’
I sat at the table in the hall and helped myself, as instructed, to eggs, bacon, and toast. I was going to ask about the delicious tomato sauce I’d just tried when a woman of about forty, dressed in black, swept into the room. The housemaid I’d been going to interrogate suddenly remembered urgent business elsewhere and all but evaporated from the table. The woman sat down.
‘Good morning,’ she said, in an incongruously plummy voice. ‘You must be Miss Armstrong. I’m Muriel McLelland, Lord Riddlethorpe’s housekeeper.’
‘How do you do?’ I said. ‘Florence Armstrong. People call me Flo.’
‘Pleased to make your acquaintance,’ she said, and sat at the table next to me.
By any objective standard, she was extremely attractive, with a fine-featured face topped with honey-blonde hair and set with eyes of such a dark shade of blue that they might have appeared black in some lights. It was obvious, too, that in a more flattering dress than that typically worn by a housekeeper, she would have a striking figure to match the beauty of her face. Her only adornment was a delicate brooch set with tiny pearls.
‘It seems you have a hectic few days ahead,’ I said. ‘What with hosting a party this evening as well as houseguests for the week.’