Page 37 of The Beast

Chapter Ten

Despite waking alone in bed, Beatrice was in good spirits. Even the slight stiffness to her legs and back did not lessen her mood. There was much to do and if she was to establish herself as the lady of the estate, it was best to learn the house and see what all required her attention.

However, the first thing she needed was a bath. Moments after pulling the chord to a bell that sounded in the servant’s common space, Orla appeared looking well rested.

The woman carried a tray with tea and toasted bread. “Good morning Lady Beatrice. Would ye like a bath to be drawn?”

“Aye, please,” Beatrice replied hating the warmth of her cheeks. “Has Mister Duncan come downstairs yet?”

“He ate and left early this morning. Gara said he had something to take care of.”

Curious that he’d gone. They’d just spoken the day before about remaining close for a fortnight.

By the time she bathed and ate it was late morning, and Beatrice felt as if she’d lost precious hours. She hurried into the kitchen to find Gara, but instead only Firtha was there.

“Good morning milady, what can I do for ye?” the woman asked with a bob.

“I wish to speak to Gara and learn about the duties of the household,” Beatrice said going to the window. “Is she outside?”

Firtha frowned. “No milady, she has gone to the market to make purchases to stock the larder and our pen outside.”

“Why is the larder not already stocked?” Beatrice asked going to where Firtha motioned. “It seems odd to me, ye have had two people living here.”

The woman nodded quickly. “Aye, we did at first. Keep it fully stocked, I mean. But most of it would go to waste. Mister Caelan eats last meal somewhere else most days and Mister Duncan usually eats only porridge in the morning here in the kitchen and then one meal in the late afternoon.”

It made sense, a man living alone rarely had a need for a rigid schedule only to eat alone. Beatrice sighed. “I suppose we will have to discuss what our mealtimes will be now.”

“I can show ye the house,” Firtha said, glancing from her to Orla. “It is not as grand as Keep Ross, but there are enough rooms to be confusing at first.”

Despite having walked through the house with Duncan, Beatrice was eager to see it all gain. “Very well.”

They walked out of the kitchen and went to the left heading down a hallway that led to the main great room. From there, they went to the right to the servant’s hallway. There were four bedchambers and each of the women who worked there had one. The rooms were small but much larger than what most servants could aspire to. Each had quality furniture and Beatrice liked that they also all had a window that looked out onto a wide-open field.

They returned to the great room and headed across to a short corridor that led to a parlor, a study that according to Firtha only Caelan used.

Directly across a large beautifully decorated bedchamber. The furniture, much like the one in Duncan’s bedroom had a four-poster bed and everything a person could need. Despite it, it was obvious not to be currently in use.

“Whose room was this?” Beatrice asked.

“Laird Ross. For when he visits.”

“Ah, how delightful,” Beatrice replied smiling. “My sister and her husband have their own space when they visit.”

When they returned to the opening of the short hallway and went up the stairs. Beatrice and Duncan’s bedchambers were on the left and on the right was a sitting room that Firtha informed them, Lady Mariel had planned to decorate.

Just past the sitting room was another bedroom, which Firtha explained was used by guests.

“Where does Mister Caelan sleep?” Beatrice asked.

They turned the corner and there was a set of doors, the last rooms on the second floor. “There,” Firtha said pointing to the doors. “He uses two rooms, one to sleep and the other when he has company.”

It seemed interesting to Beatrice that Caelan would take a room so far from the stairs, especially when only he and Duncan lived there.

Once the tour was done, to Beatrice it was evident that they required at least one more chambermaid and someone to ensure every other task was seen to. If she and Duncan were to have children, they’d also need a nursemaid.

“Are there any other bedchambers?” Beatrice asked. “I did not notice more than the four where ye, Gara, and Orla sleep.”

“There is one more,” Firtha replied. “Just past mine. It is a wee bit smaller, but very nice.”