Page 58 of A Marquess' Season of Secrets
Mr Stevens had taken care of the drinks, ensuring that the cellar was well-stocked, Mrs Black and Cook had finalised the menu after a brief discussion with Lady Stratford, all the ingredients had been bought (Juliana had done this herself), the dinnerware and glassware had been counted and the silverware polished—
Mrs Black laughed, interrupting Juliana’s thoughts. “Dear me!” the housekeeper exclaimed. “I can see the wheels turning in your head. Perhaps asking you will only serve to bring you added stress.”
Juliana smiled, her cheeks turning slightly pink. “I must admit that I am concerned about the evening, but no good can come of fretting. I simply have to believe that all will go well.”
That was easier said than done, but showing just how fearful she was could cause Mrs Black to feel doubtful about Juliana’s planning. After all, this was her first dinner party, but it oddly didn’t feel that way.
Juliana had experienced some familiarity while putting the evening together bit by bit and had even enjoyed it to some extent. It was yet another piece of the puzzle of her former life, but she didn’t know where it fit just yet.
Mrs Black picked at imaginary lint on a cushion, smoothing the velvet until it all looked uniform. One could see that the cushion wasn’t on her mind from the perfunctory nature of her movements, leading Juliana to wonder if the housekeeper was the one who was most worried about the night ahead.
“I have tried my very best, Mrs Black,” she told the older woman.
“I’m certain you have, dear,” the housekeeper agreed. “To give the honest truth of the matter, I am not concerned about the evening ahead. I have looked over your plans and noted your organising skills which I find commendable.”
“Is something else troubling you? We haven’t had another vendor attempt to swindle the duke out of more money, have we? I looked over the account book just this morning and found nothing amiss, but perhaps I missed something.”
Since discovering the candlestick maker and the vegetable vendor’s trickery, Mrs Black had given Juliana the task of looking over every penny spent on the household to ensure that no one could cheat them again.
“No, ’tis nothing like that,” said Mrs Black. “Has Kitty spoken about her brother’s condition lately? I would ask her directly, but I do not wish to upset her. She has been rather overcome by worry and has not shown her usual cheerful disposition.”
“She received a letter this morning, and he seems to be doing much better. He can sit up longer, and his appetite is slowly returning. It’s a great relief to Kitty, and she hopes to see him soon.”
Swift relief entered the woman’s face, puzzling Juliana. Mrs Black’s concern for Kitty’s brother seemed odd, especially when she had never seen him before. Kitty’s family were from Cornwall, well over two hundred miles from Oxfordshire. Kitty often complained about how far away her family was and religiously saved money for her yearly trips to the county.
“I’m happy to hear that,” the woman said, smiling. “It’s such a terrible thing when one is away from their family and cannot simply take a carriage ride to see them. Family is essential to one’s existence.”
Mrs Black excused herself, leaving Juliana with unanswered questions. The housekeeper came across as an unapproachable and strict woman, but Juliana had recently learned that was merely Mrs Black’s façade.
One could not see her caring side unless one looked carefully and did not take her scoldings to heart. The same could be said for the butler, but Juliana was yet to see him smile.
It had become her goal to make everyone laugh because it was the quickest way to put anyone into a good mood. The only two servants who had yet to show their lighter side were Mr Stevens and Mr Johnson, but she still had hope for them.
After taking a last look around the room, Juliana made her way to the dining room to once more ensure that all was ready. The furniture and floor had been polished earlier this morning, the drapes changed, all the paintings had been wiped, the carpet thoroughly swept, and the walls inspected for any unsightly marks.
The tablecloth had not been laid yet, and would only be put on the table just before dinner to avoid unforeseen accidents. Mrs Black had suggested the cloth be removed and replaced with a new one before dessert, but Juliana had respectfully argued that with twenty courses to be served to a party of sixteen, there should be at least four tablecloth changes.
There was nothing worse than sitting with a dirty tablecloth for nineteen courses, especially if some guests used it to wipe their hands.
Juliana paused outside the dining room as the memory of a portly gentleman seated at a dinner table entered her mind. A vague feeling of disgust overcame her as she watched him wipe his fishy hands on a pristine tablecloth.
Juliana had the distinct notion that the man was not someone she particularly liked and was unimpressed that she had been seated next to him. The memory left her as quickly as it had come, but there remained a lingering fish scent about her that had her striding for a window and leaning out of it as she took a large breath of fresh air.
“I certainly hope you do not plan to jump out of the window before the evening,” said Lady Stratford behind her.
Juliana pulled back inside, turning and curtsying to the woman. “No, My Lady.”
“Good, because I need you to wait on my friends and me when they arrive. Lady Sophia and Lady Margaret will be coming earlier to get ready for the dinner party, so I need you to prepare three guest rooms for me.”
“Three, My Lady?”
“Yes, three. Miss Henrietta will arrive at the given time for the dinner party, but all three of them will spend a few days with me. I am hoping their prolonged presence will influence my brother to choose a bride by the end of this week.”
Lady Stratford had said nothing about any of the guests coming to stay, and Juliana had hoped to remain in the kitchen while the other servants served them. She simply did not wish to see the women that the duke’s sister had selected for him.
There was the danger of comparing herself to the evidently beautiful ladies, which was firmly an unwanted result. Juliana had no right to have these thoughts and feelings and was indeed distressed by them.
“Have you heard a word I said, Isabella?” Lady Stratford asked.
