His Saving Grace by Heather Gray

Author:Heather Gray
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Astraea Press, LLC
Published: 2013-07-28T21:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

"Your Grace?" Rupert's words broke into her thoughts. "There are six girls from the village coming today."

"Are they all looking to become a lady's maid?"

Rupert, his face impassive, replied, "You need to hire a lady's maid as well as a housemaid and a cleaning maid to help with the laundry and dishes."

"Are there any other positions that need to be filled?"

"I'm sure Mrs. Pembroke would appreciate it if the cleaning maid could also assist her in the kitchen. Other than that, no." Rupert shook his head. "We brought a driver and footman from Stafford. The driver will also act as groomsman while we're in residence." After a short pause, he said, "If you plan to do much entertaining, then perhaps we will need more staff."

Grace shook her head. "I have no need to entertain, but I do wonder if the village has a seamstress. It appears I need a wardrobe."

"Unfortunately, there's no seamstress nearby. There would not be enough business to support one. We have come to a humble place."

"I suppose all these girls are in need of the work, and a job here at the castle will be a lifeline to any one of them." Maybe doing something good for someone else will make this day seem less wretched.

"That is likely so, Your Grace."

She nodded and said, "I'd like to meet each one of them individually. Is there a salon downstairs I can use?"

Rupert nodded and said, "I'll see to it."

****

She was exhausted by the emotion of the day and interviewing the girls, the youngest of which was barely twelve. Later that evening, Grace sat at the kitchen table with Rupert and the Pembrokes. "I can't abide Edith. Don't ask me why, but something about her personality grated. Seeing her in my home on a daily basis would be worse than living downwind from the stable." Rupert, who held a list of the girls, drew a line through Edith's name.

"Elsie is so young. It seems she should be in school."

Mrs. Pembroke spoke up and said, "We don't have one of those fancy schools in the parish, Your Grace."

Intent on her duty to select the household staff, Grace said, "I liked Margaret. She struck me as quite friendly."

Mr. Pembroke muttered something, and Grace watched husband and wife inquiringly. Mrs. Pembroke glared at her husband and said, "What Mr. Pembroke means to say is that Margaret is quite friendly, but sometimes she's friendly to the wrong people. She might be a distraction for the male servants."

Grace glanced back and forth between the Pembrokes before telling Rupert to cross her name off the list.

It's a shame. I liked her, but it wouldn't do to alienate the existing staff.

Suddenly realizing what Mrs. Pembroke had said a short time ago, Grace asked, "There's no school?"

"I didn't mean any harm, Your Grace. There's nowhere for the children to learn their letters and numbers and the like. Most of them will grow up to be farmers or will follow in their parents' trade, or maybe get an apprenticeship, so it's never mattered.

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