My curiosity would have to wait. Nature called. I tucked the empty bottle into my pocket and turned my attention to the tilted toilet. The paint had long ago peeled, and the dozens of holes in the wood allowed more ventilation than I cared to think about. I sighed, puffed out my chest, and marched onward.
A hole with a bucket awaited me. The squire certainly didn’t let his guests’ bottoms be spoiled by plush seating.
I hurried through my duties and stepped out just as a rear door on the ground floor opened. Miss Cornelia appeared, and she started before recognizing me. “Good evening, Mrs. Holt,” she greeted me as she curtsied.
“Good evening, Miss Cornelia,” I returned as I shut the door. “I think I owe you an apology.”
She blinked at me. “An apology?”
I nodded at the house. “I heard your master a few minutes ago. He didn’t sound very happy.”
Her hand flew to her throat, where she still wore the scarf. The young woman’s face fell, and she dropped her gaze to the ground. “Oh. You heard that.”
“Some of it,” I mused as I walked up and clapped my hands on her shoulders. She jerked her head up and her frightened eyes stared at me. They were big puddles of aspiring tears. She looked like someone who just needed a hug.
So I pulled her into a great, big, warm one.
She stiffened for a bit before melting into my arms. A sniffle escaped her, and she buried her face into my chest. I didn’t move. If she wanted to hide her sniffles, that was what I’d let her do.
“He’s not much fun to work with, is he?” I guessed.
Another sniffle. “No.”
“How long have you worked for him?”
“Since I was twelve.”
“And you’re what now?”
“I turned nineteen last fall.”
I winced. “That’s a long time.”
“Yes…”
An idea struck me that was so brilliant I almost pulled the young woman into a jig. Instead, I drew her to arm’s length and grinned at her. “Why don’t you come with us to the capital? You could find a job there. I’m sure you’re good at lots of things.”
She wiped a loose tear from one eye. “I…I do like cooking.”
My eyebrows shot up. “Really? Because I like eating. Do we get to try some of your cooking while we’re here?”
She bobbed her head. “Oh, yes. My master has commanded me to make my special chocolate pudding dessert.”
Our tender moment was interrupted by the rumble of my stomach. We both dropped our eyes to my gut. Miss Cornelia choked on a laugh while a faint blush rose in my cheeks.
I sheepishly smiled at her. “It looks like my stomach likes that idea.”
She grasped my hands and gifted me with a great big smile. “Then I’ll be sure to put in extra chocolate!”
“Are you sure your master will approve?” I teased her with a wink.
Her eyes twinkled as she shook her head. “No, but I shall do it anyway. If you will excuse me, I must hurry through this and make the pudding!”
Miss Cornelia slipped past me and over to the tilted toilet, but paused with the door clasped in one hand. Her back was to me, and I noticed she was slightly stiff. “Mrs. Holt?”
I turned to fully face her. “Yes?”
Her shoulders shrank a little as she turned her head to one side so that one reluctant eye fell on me. “May I…may I call you Grace?”
