DORG by James Eden

Author:James Eden
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Arcadian Lifestyle Publishing
Published: 2012-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 21

‘My name is Asquith,’ said the distinguished-looking gent in the formal black tailcoat. A man in his lower sixties, he exuded a sense of calm efficiency. Quintessentially English, he wore a grey waistcoat, black tie and crisp white shirt under his coat. His hair had silvered around the temple and a pair of reading glasses hung from a cord around his neck, softening an otherwise austere appearance. ‘Welcome to Felbrigg Manor,’ he said, ‘your home for the next few weeks.’

Asquith stood on the fifth step of the elegant winding staircase that swept up and around the impressive entrance hall of the house. The building, constructed in the 18th century for a local Sussex land owner, had fallen into disrepair after being used as a hospital for RAF officers during the Second World War. Now refurbished back to its former glory, the house felt alive and buzzed with activity, even if most of that activity had been deliberately contrived.

‘Fifty years ago this house provided sanctuary to the bruised, the battered and the war-weary, nursing them back to health,’ said Asquith. ‘Today it welcomes those who will soon become the best butlers in the world. The finest houses of the royal, the rich and the respectable are incomplete without a classic, British, butler – something in which we specialise here at Felbrigg Manor. We are the best of the best and those who study here become the crème de la crème.’

The fifteen men and three women standing at the foot of the stairs stood stiff-backed and silent as they listened to Asquith. Although they looked as different as eighteen individuals could possibly be, in age, height, girth, demeanour and expression, they all had one thing in common: a look of determination, which made it clear that they all wanted to be the best.

‘You should look upon this experience as a sort of boot camp with manners,’ said Asquith, now flanked by two others with barrel chests who wore black waistcoats and had their white shirt sleeves rolled up to the elbows. ‘If any of you think you are already the finished packages then think again. You are not. We will transform you from tarnished copper to glittering gold. By the time you leave here you will be able to manage any household in the world. You will be able to move seamlessly amongst royalty and the most elite company on the planet with a perfect understanding of protocol and etiquette. You will never be out of work for as long as you wish to work. Indeed, we will teach you how to handle multiple job offers and attempts to ‘poach’ you with the utmost discretion and professionalism. When you have completed your training you will not be the generic stereotypes some members of the public like to imagine. Rather, you will remain as individual as you are now, bringing your own personality to the job with the refinement of the prestigious Felbrigg Manor training. This will be the last lecture you’ll hear here.

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