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Authors: To Love Again
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certainly stay. He would reserve judgement on his valet. The sound of childish laughter outside his door made him smile, the movement of his lips pulled on his scars reminding him that he might have recovered on the inside but his appearance was permanently damaged.
* * * *
Within a few days Stansted Manor began to emerge from its dilapidated state. Emma had been delighted to discover that most of the problems were superficial, a vigorous application of vinegar and brown paper on the windows of the rooms that were in use soon had them looking as good as new. It would take more than the few people she had to effect a total change.
Mr Bucknall had not demanded to see her, not appeared in the kitchen, in fact had remained remarkably elusive. William informed her that their employer was busy overseeing the long neglected estate, had already dismissed the estate manager and appointed a local man to run things for him.
Mr Foster was rejuvenated and, as she and he were effectively in charge of the house, had taken to visiting her in her parlour during the morning to discuss what needed doing.
"It is Sunday tomorrow, I wish to attend church with my children and any members of staff who would like to come with us. Do you think it necessary to speak to him, to obtain his permission? Also, I should like to take on half a dozen more inside staff and I am sure that a further two or three footmen would be beneficial."
"The master has never been a churchgoer, I should not bother him with such trivialities, Mrs Reed. These decisions are best left to us. On the matter of more staff, that's something I do need to discuss with him. As butler here, it is my prerogative to ask him such things."
That was all very well in the normal run of things, but Mr Foster was absent minded, came back frequently to ask her the same questions, having forgotten what he was supposed to be doing before he had accomplished his task. "Thank you, for your kind offer, Mr Foster, but as I am the one who has instigated the changes it behoves me speak to Mr Bucknall. If there is to be any unpleasantness it is far better it is directed at me, than at yourself."
"As you wish, my dear Mrs Reed. I must admit I am finding it more difficult nowadays to remember my duties." His bushy grey eyebrows vanished under his hair. "I do declare I have forgotten something most important. The master gave me three parcels and I had strict instructions to deliver them to you three days ago. I misremember where I put the wretched things."
It took the combined efforts of William, Mr Foster and two parlour maids to discover the missing items. Tilly and Ann rushed in and placed the objects on a table in Emma's parlour. "Good heavens, what have we here?" Each rectangular object was securely wrapped in calico and then string had been tied around it. She had not the heart to send the two girls away, they were agog with curiosity. "There, I believe I have the first parcel open, I…" her voice trailed away and she stared in incredulity at what Mr Bucknall had given her.
"Oh my! I've never seen the like, madam. Such beautiful material, it's the exact colour of your hair and shimmers like gold." Tilly stretched out a tentative fingertip and stroked the fabulous silk.
"There must be some mistake. Why should Mr Bucknall give me such an extravagant gift?" Her heart was pounding, she could think of only one reason why he should wish to reward her in this way. He knew about her night-time sojourn in his bed and was, in his own clumsy way, making amends. "However lovely the cloth, I must return it, it is of no use to me. Silk is for ladies not housekeepers."
"Please, Mrs Reed, will you not open the other two? It would be a pity to return all if one of them would make you something new."
Ann was quite correct. She was in desperate need of new gowns, the village shop did not stock material, it had to be ordered in especially by their customers. With quick snips of her silver scissors she undid
* * * *
Within a few days Stansted Manor began to emerge from its dilapidated state. Emma had been delighted to discover that most of the problems were superficial, a vigorous application of vinegar and brown paper on the windows of the rooms that were in use soon had them looking as good as new. It would take more than the few people she had to effect a total change.
Mr Bucknall had not demanded to see her, not appeared in the kitchen, in fact had remained remarkably elusive. William informed her that their employer was busy overseeing the long neglected estate, had already dismissed the estate manager and appointed a local man to run things for him.
Mr Foster was rejuvenated and, as she and he were effectively in charge of the house, had taken to visiting her in her parlour during the morning to discuss what needed doing.
"It is Sunday tomorrow, I wish to attend church with my children and any members of staff who would like to come with us. Do you think it necessary to speak to him, to obtain his permission? Also, I should like to take on half a dozen more inside staff and I am sure that a further two or three footmen would be beneficial."
"The master has never been a churchgoer, I should not bother him with such trivialities, Mrs Reed. These decisions are best left to us. On the matter of more staff, that's something I do need to discuss with him. As butler here, it is my prerogative to ask him such things."
That was all very well in the normal run of things, but Mr Foster was absent minded, came back frequently to ask her the same questions, having forgotten what he was supposed to be doing before he had accomplished his task. "Thank you, for your kind offer, Mr Foster, but as I am the one who has instigated the changes it behoves me speak to Mr Bucknall. If there is to be any unpleasantness it is far better it is directed at me, than at yourself."
"As you wish, my dear Mrs Reed. I must admit I am finding it more difficult nowadays to remember my duties." His bushy grey eyebrows vanished under his hair. "I do declare I have forgotten something most important. The master gave me three parcels and I had strict instructions to deliver them to you three days ago. I misremember where I put the wretched things."
It took the combined efforts of William, Mr Foster and two parlour maids to discover the missing items. Tilly and Ann rushed in and placed the objects on a table in Emma's parlour. "Good heavens, what have we here?" Each rectangular object was securely wrapped in calico and then string had been tied around it. She had not the heart to send the two girls away, they were agog with curiosity. "There, I believe I have the first parcel open, I…" her voice trailed away and she stared in incredulity at what Mr Bucknall had given her.
"Oh my! I've never seen the like, madam. Such beautiful material, it's the exact colour of your hair and shimmers like gold." Tilly stretched out a tentative fingertip and stroked the fabulous silk.
"There must be some mistake. Why should Mr Bucknall give me such an extravagant gift?" Her heart was pounding, she could think of only one reason why he should wish to reward her in this way. He knew about her night-time sojourn in his bed and was, in his own clumsy way, making amends. "However lovely the cloth, I must return it, it is of no use to me. Silk is for ladies not housekeepers."
"Please, Mrs Reed, will you not open the other two? It would be a pity to return all if one of them would make you something new."
Ann was quite correct. She was in desperate need of new gowns, the village shop did not stock material, it had to be ordered in especially by their customers. With quick snips of her silver scissors she undid
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