Page 64 of A Foolish Flirtation

Remembering Colfax was at the cottage with Miss Pinson, he scored out Colfax and wrote Higgins, the name of the second footman, then pulled the sash to summon him.

He did not even for one minute think that they would come, even less so when Higgins returned an hour later explaining he had been forced to leave the note for he had failed to locate either Mr. or Mrs. Nye about the place. Their young maid Corin, her hands full looking after Baby James, seemingly had no idea where they were to be found.

“What about Edna?” Jeremy asked, naming their most senior member of staff.

“It’s her day off,” Higgins responded. “She’d gone to visit with an aunt of hers.”

“Curious,” said Jeremy with a shrug. “Ah, well, I did not have high hopes to begin with. Thank you, Higgins.”

14

Emmie spent an instructive afternoon with Mrs. Cheviot. Not only did she get shown around the extensive kitchen but also the still room, the larder, and the cellars. After word was sent to Mr. Garraway, he appeared to decorously escort her around the butler’s pantry.

Both he and the housekeeper were most vexed that they could not locate a footman to show her the footman’s waiting room. “That Colfax,” Mrs. Cheviot tutted. “I might have known he was nowhere to be found. A law unto himself he is, but where’s Higgins? That’s what I want to know!”

In the end a maid called Bridget did the honors, and then accompanied Emmie and Mrs. Cheviot up to the third floor, where the servants were housed.

“It all looks very neat and tidy,” Emmeline commented at the close of the last door.

“And now, I thought we could finish up in my rooms,” Mrs. Cheviot said grandly. “Which are on the floor below. If you are agreeable, my lady, we could have a nice cup of tea and look over this evening’s menu together.”

“Of course, that would be lovely. I also wanted to have a word with you about Lottie, if I may.”

Mrs. Cheviot and Bridget exchanged glances. “Of course, milady. Bridget, do run down and fetch us hot water for the teapot. Milady, if you will just watch your step here, we’ll make our way to the second floor.”

Mrs. Cheviot’s rooms, a bedroom and her own private sitting room, were very comfortably furnished. The genteel style was very reminiscent of Emmie’s old rooms at Winkworth Street. She did not wonder that Pinky would have enjoyed a nice cozy chat there this morning.

“Master Teddy told me you had a mantel scarf,” she commented once she was settled in what the housekeeper assured her was “the most comfortable seat.”

Mrs. Cheviot looked surprised. “There now, fancy the child singling that out for comment!” she exclaimed.

“I think it is because our own rooms in Bath reminded him of your tastes.”

The housekeeper looked gratified. “Your dear friend, Miss Pinson, intimated as much. Now, why was it that you wanted to talk to me about Lottie? She has not done anything amiss, has she?”

Emmie explained that Lottie had ably helped her with her toilette that morning. “She seemed most competent, and I understand she is already fully trained for the position. I hope it would not inconvenience you too much to have her switch her duties?”

Mrs. Cheviot sucked in her cheeks. “It’s not that, milady. Indeed if you were happy to settle for Lottie’s services then that’s all well and good. The girl will be thrilled. It’s just Mr. Garraway and I imagined his lordship would want to engage one of those Parisien maids for you that’s wise to all the latest frills and folderols.”

Emmie had to hide her answering smile. “To be perfectly honest with you, Mrs. Cheviot, I do not think I will ever be ‘bang up’ to all the latest trends. I had a London season ten years ago and I did not enjoy it. I have no interest in being a leader or even a follower of fashion.”

Mrs. Cheviot looked skeptical but did not argue the point. It occurred to Emmie that she was used to an entirely different kind of mistress. Still, she was kindly and patient as she poured Emmie a hot cup of tea and passed her a menu written in a neat though rather spidery hand. It comprised of six courses and looked vastly elegant.

“I really do not know that I could improve on this, Mrs. Cheviot, so I hope you are not expecting me to refine it. It all looks delicious. I can hardly wait.”

The housekeeper sat up straighter and turned very pink. “Well, milady, I hope I am not being immodest when I say that I am used to running things pretty well on my own initiative. There was no lady in the house in the old lord’s day, once his stepsister was married with a house of her own and his own marriage was so short-lived…well. I’ll say no more about that,” she said, pursing her lips.

“I was just admiring Jeremy’s mother’s portrait in the blue salon,” Emmie said. “She was very pretty; I think he must take after her in appearance. Jeremy told me that his father had the folly built for her as a wedding present.”

“Yes,” Mrs. Cheviot sighed. “He was good at grand gestures, the old master, but he was not an easy man to live with. Sullen he was, and moody. Why, he could nurse a grievance for days! He fell out with everyone hereabouts at one time or another. The squire, the vicar, no one was safe from his temper. Now, I never agreed with what Lady Faris did, the current lord’s mother, I mean. Up and running away like she did, but I daresay he drove her to it.

“She was a gentle and pretty spoken creature. Only child she was, of a widower who spoiled her. Ill prepared, she was, for married life with the likes of him! Used to cry she did, all the time. Fair broke my heart it did to see her pining away day after day, so pale and miserable. I never should have married, that’s what she used to say, though afterward, we found out she married again and not so long after neither! But there, folks are funny.”

Mrs. Cheviot checked the teapot and, finding ample remaining, poured them both another cup.

“I had not realized until recently that Jeremy’s parents were also divorced,” Emmie admitted, lifting her cup to her lips.

Mrs. Cheviot tutted and shook her head. “A sad business it was, very sad and the old master, wicked the way it was he took her leaving. Fair tickled about it, he was! Never thought she had it in her, that’s what he used to say, and laugh. Laughed! Granted her a divorce he did, the only handsome thing he ever did by her, but she had to leave her child behind. His heir, you know, and Master Jeremy only a babe in arms. Must have broken her heart that must have done.