Page 5 of The Sisters of Sea View
Sarah retrieved more paper. “I had better start another list.”
Emily said, “I shall write advertisements for the newspapers and take care of correspondence.”
“Thank you, Emily,” Sarah replied. “Although you may have to help with the guest rooms as well.”
She huffed. “If I must.”
“Advertisements?” Her mother’s brow furrowed once again. “I had not thought of that. Must we alert everyone to our need to supplement our income?”
“I don’t think you need to include your surname in the notices,” Fran Stirling said. “Using the name of the house and describing its lovely situation and commodious furnishings will suffice.”
“Well, that’s a relief.”
Miss Stirling added, “It’s a pity the Sidmouth guidebook was printed a few years ago. A listing in that would help—it’s quite popular. But newspaper advertisements can also be effective, although they are more costly.”
Mamma changed the subject. “Which meals will we need to provide?”
They all looked at Miss Stirling.
She replied, “Breakfasts certainly, and probably dinner as well—at least several nights a week.”
Their mother groaned. “Mrs. Besley won’t like that. She is not as young as she once was and threatens to retire once a day as it is.”
“I will talk with her,” Sarah said. “See if I can smooth the way. And perhaps you might help devise the menus, Mamma? You were always so good at that.”
“Happily.”
No one asked Sarah what she would do, for they all knew she would do the lion’s share.
Leaving Mamma to rest, Sarah and Emily walked with Miss Stirling through the main-floor common rooms—dining and breakfast rooms, drawing room, parlour, and library, and then up the long flight of stairs to the bedroom level, discussing needed repairs, changes, and purchases for the bedrooms, water closet, and bath-room, like new towels and bed linens.
Opening one of the old door latches, Miss Stirling said, “You should have locks installed on the guest rooms. The last thing you want is someone to say their valuables have gone missing and try to hold you accountable.”
“Do you know someone who could help us with that?”
“Oh yes. I know the very person. Mr. Farrant is quite handy that way.”
Sarah ended up writing a shopping list as well as a list of tasks and projects, which would certainly reduce their already limited funds.
She hoped they would not live to regret the outlay and prayed their efforts would be profitable in the end.
———
Later that day, Sarah went belowstairs to look through Mrs. Besley’s collection of cookery books.
With the elderly cook’s blessing and guidance, Sarah was soon preparing her first batch of drop biscuits, about the easiest recipe she could find inThe Art of Cookery Made Plain and Easyby Mrs. Glasse. The sweet biscuits consisted of only three ingredients: eggs, sugar, and flour, well-combined and dropped onto floured sheets of tin.
While Sarah figured out how to crack eggs without shells ending up in the bowl, their old manservant, Lowen, chipped sugar from the cone for her and grated it fine.
Within the hour, Sarah’s arms were sore from stirring and her face hot from looking into the oven to watch the pale biscuits rise and color, trying to gauge when they were done.
Hoping to be efficient, she stepped to the table to stow awaythe ingredients, but soon a burning smell brought her scurrying back to the oven, too late. The sight of the blackened mounds in their even rows disheartened her. Sarah began to understand why it was difficult for Mrs. Besley to produce flawless baked goods while having to prepare so many other dishes besides, especially with only Jessie to help her in between her cleaning duties.
Sarah was determined not to give up. After being more vigilant with the next tray, she soon scooped a dozen sugary biscuits onto a rack. They were unevenly brown and, after a taste, proved to be a little tough, but certainly edible.
Mrs. Besley and Lowen each ate one with weak murmurs of approval—and great slurps of tea. Despite the imperfect results, Sarah felt inordinately proud of herself.
It was a beginning.
