Page 70 of A Marquess' Season of Secrets
“No, not at all,” Cook assured. “These girls get lazier every year, especially once ideas of marriage enter the mind. Kitty is the only young girl who hasn’t expressed a need to marry. The others keep fluttering their eyelashes at every young man who enters the estate.”
“Hopefully, it’s merely talk for now,” Juliana replied, although she wasn’t confident of her words. “May I take a fresh roll? Kitty will not mind a stale one, but I would like to treat her to something better.”
“Take one, but do not let the other servants know. They will all start demanding fresh bread every morning and complain bitterly if they do not get their way. They know I am too kind-hearted to complain to Mrs Black about them. Oh, before I forget, I shall need you to serve breakfast today.”
“Is Thomas not available?”
“He has also fallen ill. Kitty would have usually done it in his stead, but she is ill. You are the only one I trust to behave accordingly in the duke’s presence. These other girls stare at him like lovestruck fools. A handsome face often befuddles the brain of simple girls.”
“I shall return as soon as I give this soup to Kitty.”
“See that you do. Don’t forget the roll.”
Juliana thanked the woman and took the roll before making her way to the servants’ stairwell. She found Kitty sitting up in bed and looking miserable with a shiny red nose and watery eyes.
“Is that food?” she asked, coughing slightly.
“It certainly is. Bone broth with bits of vegetables and a fresh roll. I asked Cook not to add any offal because I know it sometimes disagrees with you.”
“It does, but I still enjoy it. Thank you kindly for seeing to me, Isabella. I doubt the other servants would have done this for me. They’re good people, but sometimes you cannot expect too much from others.”
“Well, you can always expect to receive help from me. It’s the least I can do for the woman who helped me so much when I first came here. There is no better friend than you, and while I would love to stay here with you, I must get to work. Cook has asked me to serve the family today.”
“Is Thomas not available?” Kitty asked.
“He is also ill.”
“Goodness! It seems everyone has fallen ill. Best you be on your way, but be sure to come and see me when you have the chance. I shall be rather bored on my own. Mrs Black forbids any sickly servants to move around the house.”
“She has to think about the family’s health,” said Juliana. “Perhaps I shall see you around midday.”
Juliana left the young woman in slightly higher spirits and went straight to the kitchen to assist Mary Calendar since the other Mary was still ill. It was surprising that both had not fallen sick because they shared the same room, but perhaps Mary Calendar was heartier than her fellow servant.
The smell of cooking meat met her nose as Juliana neared the kitchen, which she found rather strange. The duke and his sister only had cake and toast with jam or preserves for their breakfast and nothing else, not even eggs.
“Thank goodness you have arrived,” Cook exclaimed as soon as Juliana entered the kitchen.
“I need you to toast the bread, dear. Not too dark, mind you. Just a lovely golden colour. Mary Calendar has stoked the fire to just the right heat, but she has to see to the hot chocolate as Mr Eden has his first cup in bed. He will be asking for it soon.”
“I take it that the meat is also for him?”
“Yes. Mutton chops and thin slivers of beef tongue are his preferred breakfast foods. The tongue is cooling, but I still need to put the plumb cake in the oven and cook the eggs. Thank goodness, I baked the pound cake before I retired for bed, or I would have had much to do today.”
Cook was indeed frazzled as she returned to her mixing bowl and added sugar to the flour. Juliana did not wish to distress the woman with unnecessary conversation, so she thinly sliced a loaf of day-old bread, buttered both sides liberally, and got to work toasting them over the fire.
The duke enjoyed his toast with fig preserve, which carried the story of the only feud in the household between Cook and Mrs Black. The housekeeper had been accustomed to making the preserves, but when Cook won the competition for the best preserves in the county, Mrs Black’s sweet creations were set aside.
It caused a rift of colossal proportions, or so Kitty described it, but the women were eventually able to agree.
Juliana helped Mary Calendar put all the food in dishes and platters before moving to the drawing room with the breakfast tray. Her arm muscles had developed significantly since working for the duke, making the tray a comfortable weight rather than an accident waiting to happen.
Juliana would hate to drop such a carefully prepared meal and silently thanked Kitty for helping her work up her physical strength. Female servants were likely stronger than most gentlemen, which was rather amusing when one thought about it.
The image of a female servant lifting the chair of a sitting gentleman filled her mind and made her chuckle at the absurdity. The thought stayed with her until she entered the drawing room, where her smile quickly faltered.
“Good morning, Isabella,” the duke greeted. “I am glad to see that you have not fallen prey to whatever illness is plaguing the servants.”
“Good morning, Your Grace. Providence has looked kindly upon me and allowed me to continue with my duties. Will you be eating alone?”
