Jane pushed through the door of the kitchen. Sweltering heat swarmed her face escaping out the door behind her to the cool room. The hum of men and women discussing work and personal issues while footsteps echoed in the large room. The clank of as the men of the kitchen dumped silverware on the massive dark wooden counter.
The room was large and supplied enough to feed the entire King's army. The amount of men and women working in the space and throughout the house was enough to maintain the Palace of Whitehall. Jane always wondered how the Duke made his money. He did not seem to have any extended family. It was rumored that his title was given to him by the King, not by birth.
She did not know much about the Duke. She had never seen him in person, and he was never able to properly interact with Eleanora. They met for the first time at the altar, their communication limited to letters. Their vows being the first words spoken to each other. Not unusual, but for Eleanora it was a disaster. Eleanora was stuck in Paris for the majority of their engagement, visiting some of her old contacts she gained while she was preparing to take over her father's company. She was expected to smooth over the transition of her brothers take over, and her new life as a wife.
Jane felt bad for the Duke, he received much of her anger in those letters. The ink reeked of venom. Her cold words cut deep into a man who had not even met her. Jane was pretty sure Eleanora was trying to scare him off. Much to Eleanora's dismay, his responses were always cool and calm. If the Duke wished to have a fruitful marriage, he would have to approach Eleanora differently.
"You cannot be serious?" Asked an all too familiar voice.
Standing in front of the pile of silverware sat the young housemaid. Her mouth gapped. "I have to clean all of these?"
The young man held the now empty box in his left hand. Jane was surprised to see his right arm missing. A nub of gnarled skin where his elbow used to be. "If the mistress asked to lay out the silverware and good plates for dinner all must be cleaned for all guest." He informed.
"I told you it will just be her and the master of the house. She just needs two sets cleaned." She was exasperated.
"No Lady of a house request her fine silverware to be cleaned for just two people." His doubt thick. "You must polish all of it. Plus whatever else she asked you to do." He looked to Jane waiting for her to speak.
"That includes the folding the linens and laying out the plates." The girl sounded as if she would cry as she repeated the Lady's request. Unaware Jane was behind her.
Jane finally stepped forward. "The Lady also request you dust the drawing room. She wishes to have afternoon tea with the Master of the house." Jane kept her sympathy back. "If you wish to please the Lady, I suggest you get started instead of gaping at me like a fish."
The girl's mood suddenly switched. She looked angry. "It's just her and the master. Why do all this for a simple meal?" She looked at the one armed boy.
He shrugged. "You must have been brought in after she met the staff. She requested that if one thing is cleaned that all things be cleaned. A room swept, then all rooms swept. A dish washed all within that collection. A spoon polished." He looked pointedly at the pile in front of her.
The girl looked back and forth between the boy and Jane. Then pushed away from the table. She crossed her arms and stared at the wall. She reminded Jane of a child throwing a tantrum, like Eleanora when she was young.
Jane signaled for the boy to return to his work. He swung his half arm waving goodbye with a phantom hand.
Jane did not remember him the day the mistress made the trip to London. It was a brief trip, one that Eleanora complained at length about.
"This city reeks, and the men and women do not know how to work or keep their city clean." Her tone directed to the dead dog on the side of the road.
"I am sure it is not that bad my Lady" Jane tried to sooth her.
Eleanora turned an angry glare on her, one she had not seen since she was told she could not attend her brother's baptism.
"I have been reduced to watching children clean and make sweets for my husband." She fanned away her boiling anger.
"Lady Eleanora it is not ideal, but it is your duty. One that should be simple enough, based on your history." Jane reasoned with the Lady.
Eleanora gave her an icy glare, then scoffed. "Fine." she used her fan to point at Jane. "But I will be ruthless and expect the best from this staff. You are to set an example, I will have a house the country will envy. You hear me?" She was not asking if she understood, she wanted reassurance. She needed Jane to assure her she could handle it. Eleanora did not handle failure.
Jane remembered her promise to Lady Eleanora. She contemplated leaving the young house girl to figure out how the world worked, especially in this house. She groaned inwardly as she pulled the stool in front of the large pile of silverware.
The young girl could hear metal gently tap against the wood repeatedly. She could see Jane polish each spoon quickly and efficiently. She moved as quickly as a hawk, her hands blurred.
"You're helping me?" the girl asked in rude disbelief.
Jane ignored the girl's attitude. "Someone has to, we would not want you quitting and creating a reputation for this house." She was more worried about Lady Eleanora. Jane kept working waiting for the girl to pull up a chair and begin her work. "Once we are half way through this you should go instruct the girls upstairs to clean the plates. That way you can dust the drawing room." Jane continued to focus on her quick work.
The girl was trying to keep up but fumbled every few moments. "The girls upstairs will not help me they have their own work to do." Jane pushed out her bottom lip.
"Well, if you intend to complete all the work by yourself before the hour is up, then do not ask them."
The girl scoffed. "It is too much I could never."
Jane interrupted. "Then I suggest you find a way to make those girls want to do your job."
The girl chewed her cheek absently as she considered what Jane had suggested. "If everyone is as scared of the mistress as I," She hesitated. "Then they would certainly jump at any task she said to do?" She did not stop her work she just let the question hang in the air. Waiting for Jane to say no. Jane stayed silent. Until half way through the pile, the girl quietly scooted the chair fluffed her skirts, but then sat back down. Wringing her hands like dough she chewed her upper lip. Then she got back up and walked toward the servant's stairs.
Jane smiled as she finished the task. She had to admit the girl caught on quickly. Maybe the Lady was on to something, push a girl a little she just might become a woman.
Jane pushed away from the table to go help the Lady freshen up for dinner. As she placed the silverware back in the box she stopped at the sound the master of the house enters the kitchen. His gentle voice complimenting the cook as he browned the meat. He walked slowly toward her direction. As he approached her he smiled warmly. His smile was more sincere than Eleanora's, Jane noticed.
"My Lord you are early." Jane acknowledged.
He nodded at her quick analysis. "Yes, I made my business short today. Is she ready to see guest?" He asked as he pointed up, referring to Leanora still in her bed chambers.
"She will be down shortly sir, for the meal. She also wishes to have tea with you tonight. If you are free?"
He nodded as he examined the box filled with the houses most expensive utensils.
"I would be happy to." He hesitated on his way out watching his staff at the door. Not watching them as a Lord critiquing their work, but admiring them. Jane could not shake the feeling he was not used to seeing them this way.
It was something she would have to ask about later the master of the house was home much earlier than planned. Now she just had to make sure the dinner goes well tonight and she keeps Eleanora away from the wine, or she might let something slip.