Page 64 of A Marquess' Season of Secrets
“Oh dear me,” cried Cook. “This will simply not do. I cannot have a sick maid preparing the food! What if you infect the duke or his sister?”
“If you tell me what you wish to purchase for your grandson, I can buy it when I go to the butcher,” Juliana told her. “I have to see him tomorrow about our next order of beef and pork. When do you need the gift?”
“By the end of the week,” Cook replied. “I have Sunday afternoon off and wish to spend it with him. It would be a relief if you could buy the gift. I’ll write the description of the toy and give it to you later this evening.”
“That settles it,” said Juliana. “Would you all excuse me? I need to speak to Mrs Black before I begin my duties.”
Juliana put her spoon away and washed her hands before leaving with the sound of Cook scolding Mary March for falling ill in her ears. Smiling, Juliana shook her head and made a mental note not to spend too much time in the young maid’s company. The last thing she wanted was to fall ill and be forced into her little room until she was better.
It would also mean not seeing the duke for several days, which was certainly not an option for her. Juliana enjoyed speaking to him no matter how briefly the moment was and looked forward to spending some time in his study while she cleaned it.
The library, study, and his parents’ memorabilia room were her personal responsibility, and sometimes she made the floral arrangements if Kitty was too busy elsewhere.
Juliana’s other duties included helping Mrs Black with the ordering and purchasing of food and other household items and going through the account books to ensure that all was well. She enjoyed the work she did, but she knew it would one day come to an end.
How can it last when my memories increasingly indicate that I am not of lowly birth? I see myself in elaborate gowns, pretty walking dresses, and wearing accessories that no servant could ever afford to have without saving their meagre wages for years or stealing them.
At first, Juliana had wondered if the memories were merely wishful thinking on her part, a need to be more than she was so she could have something in common with the duke. It hadn’t taken long to realise that wasn’t the situation.
Her mind was continuously filled with flashing images and odd memories that troubled her due to their lack of clarity. There was no use having a snippet of memory when she had no other information to make sense of it and draw conclusions that could help her.
While Juliana was glad that her memory was returning, she sometimes wished the details of her life before the accident would remain shrouded in mystery so she could continue to work at Stratford Manor.
In short, Juliana lived in contradiction every day as she fought for her memory to return while trying desperately to suppress it. It was no wonder that she could barely eat or sleep these days.
Juliana knocked on the housekeeper’s door, entering once she heard the woman’s usual, “Come in!”
“Good morning, Mrs Black,” Juliana greeted. “I trust you slept well?”
“As well as can be. Take a seat, Isabella. I need to discuss our orders for this week as I’ve had to make some changes. Mr Eden will be coming to stay for a few days, and thus we must accommodate him. The duke’s friend is not a fussy drinker, but he is certainly a fussy eater who would rather go without eating than try something new.”
“How can someone so good-natured be that difficult?”
“His disposition and belly are not tied together in matrimony, my dear,” the housekeeper replied. “Although I suppose his belly does have some bearing on his disposition at times.
However, ’tis best that we keep the foods he enjoys. I’ll have to speak to Cook about the menu, but I can do that later. She knows Mr Eden well enough to cater for him.”
Juliana dipped a quill pen into the inkwell and wrote down whatever Mrs Black said, only pausing to give suggestions here and there. The housekeeper respected Juliana’s ideas and encouraged her to speak where necessary, often taking her advice and giving praise where it was due.
Kitty maintained that Juliana had cast a spell on Mrs Black because the woman had thawed around her edges and smiled at least twice a week, if not more. If one spent enough time observing and listening to others, interacting with them amicably became a simple matter.
“I think that is all for now,” Mrs Black announced. “I’m sure you wish to get on with your other duties.”
Juliana nodded, sliding the list to the housekeeper. “I wish to ask the duke if I could organise his parents’ room according to date, artefact, and country. I believe it would make more sense that way.”
“I know nothing about such things, but I am confident the duke would appreciate it. Speak to him after he has broken his fast, or ask Mr Johnson what time would suit the duke. He knows the master’s movements better than the duke himself.”
“Thank you, Mrs Black. I best start in the library if I wish to have any time to do the room. Well, provided that the duke gives permission to change things around.”
Juliana left the housekeeper after a brief conversation about cheese and asking Mr Stevens about their wine stock. Mr Eden was fond of both and was known to carry his own cheese if a household did not have a specific type. These peculiarities made the man an interesting fellow and one worth observing whenever Juliana had the opportunity.
Mr Eden provided insight into the duke’s character, helping her see a lighter side to the person she highly respected. The man was sure to spend time in the library as he was an avid reader, although he detested the term ‘bookish.’ He found it insulting and felt it was only used for insipid gentlemen who had nothing interesting to say and bored their audience into an early grave.
Juliana met Mr Johnson coming from the library with a book in hand. It was likely a request from the duke, who often liked to read in the mornings before his breakfast.
“Good morning, Mr Johnson,” she greeted cheerfully.
“Good morning,” the man returned stiffly and went on his way.
