Part 1: Cruxton Abbey, August 1912
With some trepidation, Paulson rang the dinner gong for the evening meal. At least, he reflected, it was just the family this evening, if it had been a larger affair with guests, there would have been hell to pay.
The family processed in to the dining room. The Right Honourable Robert Sciuridan, the sixth Earl of Rattington, escorting his mother, Violet, the Dowager Countess. Behind him his wife, Eulalia, Countess of Rattington, and his eldest daughter, the Lady Barbara, and then his two youngest daughters, the Lady Erin and the Lady Melissa.
Paulson followed them in, accompanied by two footmen, Thomas and James.
The family were seated, with due ceremony, then Paulson stood to attention behind Eulalia, and coughed gently. “If it please your Ladyship...”
“Yes, Paulson?”
“I regret to inform you, my lady, of an enforced change to this evening’s menu. I fear that the planned Coburg pudding has been spoiled, and that we have had to substitute a simple King Charles II Syllabub.”
“Spoiled, Paulson? How?”
“Unfortunately, my lady, the kitchen maid failed to give it her due attention and I fear it was burned in the oven. Mrs Fridges, the cook, is beside herself!”
The Earl chipped in. “I say, Paulson, this is most irregular! It’s all very well for today; I’m sure we can rough it with a bowl of syllabub, but tomorrow we have guests! His excellency the Brazilian Ambassador, and His highness Prince Shevak of Yuwait, heir to the Sultan of Yuwait! We couldn’t possibly present them with Syllabub!”
“Indeed not, your Lordship, I am very sorry, sir. Please accept my assurances that the miscreant maid is being dealt with.”
The Dowager put down her lorgnettes, through which she had been regarding the menu card with some disfavour, and pierced him with a glare. “In my day, she’d have been horsewhipped for such a crime!”
Paulson bowed. “Your ladyship, I understand that Mrs Evans, the housekeeper, is administering a very similar punishment at this very moment.”
The Lady Barbara smiled, wondering if she could invent some pretext by which she could go and observe proceedings. Sadly, she could not, so she contented herself with picturing it in her imagination as she allowed James to place a bowl of consommé in front of her.
With some trepidation, Paulson rang the dinner gong for the evening meal. At least, he reflected, it was just the family this evening, if it had been a larger affair with guests, there would have been hell to pay.
The family processed in to the dining room. The Right Honourable Robert Sciuridan, the sixth Earl of Rattington, escorting his mother, Violet, the Dowager Countess. Behind him his wife, Eulalia, Countess of Rattington, and his eldest daughter, the Lady Barbara, and then his two youngest daughters, the Lady Erin and the Lady Melissa.
Paulson followed them in, accompanied by two footmen, Thomas and James.
The family were seated, with due ceremony, then Paulson stood to attention behind Eulalia, and coughed gently. “If it please your Ladyship...”
“Yes, Paulson?”
“I regret to inform you, my lady, of an enforced change to this evening’s menu. I fear that the planned Coburg pudding has been spoiled, and that we have had to substitute a simple King Charles II Syllabub.”
“Spoiled, Paulson? How?”
“Unfortunately, my lady, the kitchen maid failed to give it her due attention and I fear it was burned in the oven. Mrs Fridges, the cook, is beside herself!”
The Earl chipped in. “I say, Paulson, this is most irregular! It’s all very well for today; I’m sure we can rough it with a bowl of syllabub, but tomorrow we have guests! His excellency the Brazilian Ambassador, and His highness Prince Shevak of Yuwait, heir to the Sultan of Yuwait! We couldn’t possibly present them with Syllabub!”
“Indeed not, your Lordship, I am very sorry, sir. Please accept my assurances that the miscreant maid is being dealt with.”
The Dowager put down her lorgnettes, through which she had been regarding the menu card with some disfavour, and pierced him with a glare. “In my day, she’d have been horsewhipped for such a crime!”
Paulson bowed. “Your ladyship, I understand that Mrs Evans, the housekeeper, is administering a very similar punishment at this very moment.”
The Lady Barbara smiled, wondering if she could invent some pretext by which she could go and observe proceedings. Sadly, she could not, so she contented herself with picturing it in her imagination as she allowed James to place a bowl of consommé in front of her.