🎂🎂🎂
INITIALLY, I was Lord Wallace’s servant, my brother my direct superior. I was therefore unaware of the goings-on of the female staff, especially those who served Lady Katrina. That’s the responsibility of the head housekeeper, who oversees all of the women employed, maids included.
“Oh, you know about the young mistress, right? Master doesn’t really dote on her.”
“Well, she’s still young, after all…”
One day, while passing through the servants’ hallway after an errand, I heard conspiratorial whispering. Are those the laundry maids? I turned toward the laundry, intending to warn the girls not to speak ill of the lady, then spotted two other maids standing outside the room, one of them glaring inside.
The glaring maid stalked rapidly toward the gossips. “What are your names?” she demanded.
“Huh, wh-what?”
“The ones who just spoke—you, you, and you. I’m asking your names,” the maid repeated in a steady but low voice.
Flustered, a laundry girl glanced at her fellow servants for help.
“Tabitha, don’t,” her companion cautioned, but she didn’t back down.
“Laundry maids answer to the head housekeeper. She must be informed of such behavior.”
“You’re full of yourself, aren’t you, despite being new. Go away,” huffed one of the senior laundry maids as she dismissed the other girls, and still Tabitha didn’t budge.
Drewett women are strong-willed. Many people say as much, probably because militarism is a huge part of the territory’s culture.
I’d never noticed it myself since I was born and raised in Drewett, but that wasn’t the case for outsiders. During my maritime travel, I learned that the topic interested others. In fact, I’d been surprised to hear that women from elsewhere, not even the commoners, did not routinely hunt and catch sparrows for dinner.
The previous marchioness was a true Drewett woman, and the senior maids under her management were just as stubborn. Many of them chose to stay after her passing, including the one facing Tabitha…
“Your mistress is being insulted and gossiped about, and you can’t even reprimand the girls who did it… I merely thought I’d take over and report them, since you seem too unassertive to do so.”
Indeed, Tabitha had gained command of the room. Placing a hand on her cheek and heaving a dramatic sigh, she said, “All right. Eri, Nelza, and Allie are their names, right? Don’t worry, I’ll be sure to report them.”
“H-How did you know their names?”
“Why wouldn’t I? I know every single maid who handles my lady’s linens.” She abruptly pulled out a handkerchief and folded it lengthwise into a long, thin strip, then lashed it through the air with a loud snap. I’d never known a tiny scrap of cloth could make such a sound.
The laundry maid stumbled back in alarm, and Tabitha countered with two steps forward.
“But more importantly”—the handkerchief cracked again—“I entrusted you with the management of my lady’s wardrobe because you’re senior staff, and yet—”
SNAP!
She took another step. “Look at all the dust on your dress. Haven’t you finished your chores for today?”
SNAP!
“What are you lazing around for? Oh, perhaps the dust is too fine for you to see?”
SNAP!
“Because you’re such high and mighty senior staff now, aren’t you?”
The laundry maid fled, eyes swimming with tears. Whoa. That was amazing!
Tabitha spun. “And you, Mr. Kofi. What are you doing here?”
I flinched at her voice. “I was going to warn the girls, but I guess there’s no need.”
“I see… I’ve always heard about the high quality of Drewett’s servants. What was that all about?”
Was that a look of accusation in her sharp gaze? Yes, it definitely was. But she’d addressed the situation so easily on her own… Not that I could have said that.
“Well, I’m sure you’ve also heard that our head housekeeper is getting on in years, and her health isn’t the best these days,” I answered instead.
“Yes, I’m aware. Is that why the servants are behaving like this? They’ll slack off without someone to manage them.”
Before his father collapsed, Lord Wallace had planned to ease into his new role as marquis. The selection of the next steward and head housekeeper was supposed to occur sometime later. Due to the old master’s abrupt death, however, the plan accelerated, resulting in the standoff in the laundry room.
But Tabitha was right. The female servants in particular had been underperforming. Without a head housekeeper to keep them in check, they were growing collectively lazy.
“If I may?” I hazarded.
“Yes?”
“Norlene, Hazel, and Edith are all suitable candidates for head housekeeper. They have the right skills and attitude. In fact, they already do many of the tasks usually done by the head.”
“…I see. If you had to choose one of them?”
“The lady should pick the one most suitable to serve her.”
“I’ll keep that in mind when suggesting this to her, but…” She glanced in the direction of her mistress’s suite, then turned back to me, chin held high. “Know that Lady Katrina is just biding her time. It won’t be long before she takes charge of the household.”
Her hazel eyes were proud, strong, and bright.