Read Online Magic Below Stairs by Caroline Stevermer - Free Book Online Page A

local servants.
    To his surprise, Rose, one of the few local maids Bess was not related to, slapped his wrist and burst out laughing. “Chimney sweeps! Don’t remind us!” Still giggling, Rose turned to her sister Nancy. “Dreadful flirts, they were. How many did they send us?”
    â€œLost count after three,” Nancy said. “Could have been an army of climbing boys up in those chimneys, with all the noise that lot made.”
    â€œNot surprised,” muttered Bess. “I doubt either of you can count past three.”
    Fortunately, neither Rose nor Nancy heard Bess, but their giggling attracted Mr. Kimball’s notice. “When were the chimneys last swept? It was last done thoroughly while Lord and Lady Schofield were away on their grand tour of the continent,” Mr. Kimball said. “However, the household accounts show that there was a sweep here just a few months ago.”
    â€œJust the one.” Rose giggled piercingly.
    â€œAh, but a good big one, he was,” said Nancy. “Big enough to shift any amount of soot.”
    â€œKept us dusting for days, he did,” Rose agreed. “Thought my lungs would go black with it.”
    â€œCould have been a coal miner.” Nancy giggled. “We won’t want a fuss like that with Lord and Lady Schofield due here any day. Imagine them walking in on us with the house full of soot.”
    â€œWe have plenty of time to prepare for their arrival,” said Mr. Kimball. “I’ve had a letter from town. Lord and Lady Schofield find themselves unexpectedly detained. Before you ask, I don’t know for how long. They don’t know themselves, I suspect. Time enough for another proper sweeping of the chimneys, though.”
    â€œThey won’t stay in town long,” Bess murmured to Frederick. “Not with Mr. Grant here. They will miss his fancy cooking.”
    â€œI must arrange for a smaller sweep this time,” Mr. Kimball said.
    â€œWhy smaller?” Frederick asked. “Wouldn’t it be better to engage the biggest one you can find?”
    â€œStrength is all very well in its way. But the smaller the sweep, the cleaner the chimneys, for a climbing boy can go higher than a grown man can, and is better by far at cleaning the narrow places.”
    â€œMind you don’t send up one too small,” said Nancy, “or the spiders will eat him.”
    â€œRose, if you can’t stop giggling, you may be excused from the table.” Mr. Kimball looked annoyed. “Your squeaking puts me off my food. You too, Nancy. The rest of you, mind your manners.”
    â€œYes, Mr. Kimball. Thank you, Mr. Kimball.”
    Under her breath, Bess added, “The squeaks put me off too,” but only Frederick heard her.
    Very little put Frederick off his food. With Mr. Grant at Skeynes, the meals could not be faulted. Frederick thought the household did itself very well, despite its remote location. Some supplies came from London, but the eggs, cream, beef, bacon, and mutton were all from the home farm, and all of the best. After two weeks of it, Frederick’s livery began to seem tight all over.
    â€œYou do look as if you’ve been stuffed,” Bess observed, when he asked her about it. “I’ve grown a good bit myself. I asked Mrs. Dutton about it, and she sent me to see Hetty, the seamstress. But letting down a hem is much simpler than tailoring a jacket as fine as yours.”
    â€œShould I go see Hetty?” Frederick wondered. “What if she can’t make it fit me again?”
    â€œTry Mr. Kimball first. He likes your work. If Hetty can’t help you, he may even send to London for new livery.”
    â€œNever,” Frederick said. “What if they sack me? I was given my first position because I fit the livery. No one ever said anything about outgrowing it.”
    â€œMr. Kimball wouldn’t sack you for that, although there are some households