A Girl Called Foote by A. E. Walnofer

Author:A. E. Walnofer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: coming of age, england, maid, servants, 19th century, mischief, 1800s, baronet, classes of society
Publisher: A. E. Walnofer

Dismissing Wells

~ Smith

Another guest visit evaluation, thought Smith, making the familiar trek toward the Lady’s parlor. Why she wanted to impress that ridiculous fellow, I’ll never know.

She rapped sharply on the door.

“You may enter,” came the barely audible response.

Once she was in the room, Smith could see at once that all was not well.

Ugh…what went wrong this time?

The Lady’s mouth was pulled together more sourly than usual and her eyes danced around as if she wasn’t sure where to look. Instead of reclining on her favorite settee, she was seated behind the writing desk.

She’s feeling pious, which means I ought to appear repentant though I have no idea what for.

Smith stood before her, head slightly bowed, hands folded together. “Lady Clyde?”

What ax is about to fall and how close to me will it land?

“Sit,” the Lady commanded.

Ugh, it’s that bad, is it? Smith wondered, lowering herself into the especially short chair placed before the desk.

“Sir Buffant nearly sank his teeth into a mess of bird droppings.” Lady Clyde announced, her steely eyes finally settling on Smith.

“Lady?”

Lady Clyde’s voice took on the tone that irritated Smith the most, one of forced patience with a sharp undertone. “The peaches, Smith. The peaches offered to our guest in a fine silver bowl as he sat upon one of our silk brocade chairs. They were covered in bird droppings.”

Her eyes bore into Smith’s, and she began to nod her head. “It was the ginger-haired girl, Wells, who brought them in. This cannot be.”

“Yes, Lady Clyde,” Smith murmured.

“This cannot be,” Lady Clyde repeated, turning to the window.

Smith waited, familiar with her mistress’ tendency to pause for effect though her insistent declarations sometimes hung in the air to be followed by nothing.

Oh, good God, thought Smith when silence had continued for about five seconds. And how do you expect me to keep the birds from shitting?

“What would you have me do, Lady?”

“Only what must be done, Smith!” Lady Clyde was now well into her wide-eyed indignant stage.

A loud sigh accompanied by a wave of the hand is surely next, thought Smith as she waited to hear what it was that ‘must be done’.

“Dismiss her; she is not fit to serve in this household,” the Lady announced and then sighed loudly and fluttered her hand. “Offering filth to our guests…”

Dismiss her? But who would replace her? wondered Smith, incredulously. And be replaced, she must be! There is far too much work in a house this size for our staff to be reduced even by one!

Smith nearly voiced these thoughts, though of course in a modified manner, but one look at the Lady’s face told her that her input was not wanted. Smith sighed internally and said, “Of course. When shall I speak with her?”

“Immediately.” Lady Clyde opened a drawer in her desk and pulled out a little velvet bag.

So it does still exist, thought Smith, eyeing the bag.

Loosening the drawstrings, Lady Clyde dug into it, pulling out a collection of coins which she held out to Smith.

“This, of course, is not her full-year’s wage, but she is not to expect more.

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