Oliver Twist and the Mystery of Throate Manor by David Stuart Davies

Author:David Stuart Davies [Davies, David Stuart]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Publisher: Sharpe Books
Published: 2020-03-16T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY

Lizzie Barnes, the cook/housekeeper at Throate Manor, was surprised to discover her mistress, Lady Throate walking through the kitchen door. This never happened. On no previous occasion had the grand lady ever deigned to descend those well-worn stone steps into the nether reaches of the manor to visit the vaulted kitchen. This unique event caused Lizzie Barnes’ heart to race. She could not conceive of any reason for this. She felt sure that it must presage ill tidings of some kind. It was part of Lizzie Barne’s nature to always think the worse would happen, that every dark cloud had an even darker lining. This negative view stemmed from her unhappy youth and nothing that had happened in her life since had managed to dislodge this dour and nihilistic view of existence – her existence at least. She had her secrets and God forbid Lady Throate should learn of them.

The presence of this imperious wraith in her domain could only mean one thing: something was wrong. Had she somehow displeased her ladyship? Was she about to be sacked? Sent on her way. Thrown out into the world once more without money or a roof over her head. History repeating itself? Suddenly she realised that she was crying. Her eyes had watered, and tears began to fall gently down her rosy cheeks in an anticipation of the tragedy that was about happen to her – whatever it was. Lady Throate observed this but thought no doubt the woman had been peeling onions or leaning too closely over a steaming pan. These menials did this sort of thing. She certainly did not acquaint Lizzie’s strained features or moist cheeks with emotion.

‘Ah, there you are,’ said her ladyship, as though the cook had been hiding behind a mound of vegetables.

‘Yes, ma’am,’ agreed Lizzie, wobbling slightly giving the impression that she was about to curtsy but had thought better of it.

The surreal conversation continued when Lady Throate suddenly uttered the word ‘Soup!’ in exclamatory tones.

‘Soup?’ queried Lizzie.

‘Yes. I gather Doctor Benbow has recommended soup, healthy life-giving soup as a restorative for my ailing husband. Soup that will bring him back to us whole and healthy… well reasonably so.’

‘Oh, yes.’

‘And you are preparing it now?’

Instinctively, Lizzie Barnes glanced over at the large pan on the oven with its gently undulating contents. ‘Yes, yes, I am. Vegetable soup with a sprinkling of ham fragments. That should build the master’s strength up.’

Lady Throate observed the pan and wrinkled her nose in distaste. ‘I am sure it will,’ she commented without much conviction. ‘Let me sample the broth.’

Lizzie raised her eyebrows in surprise. ‘You want to taste the soup?’

‘Yes. Go fetch me a small dish.’

Somewhat flustered at this request, Lizzie hurried off to the crockery cupboard to carry out this request. All this was very strange to her. Not only had Lady Throate never set foot in the kitchen before but she had previously refused to partake of anything as lowly as vegetable soup. On returning with a china bowl, she found her mistress standing over the simmering pan and stirring it.

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