“Don’t let them intimidate me. Right,” Sophie said, feeling ill.
She’d had Letty before, but now, she was on her own.I’m not ready for this.
“You need to show me where I am to meet the housekeeper, Jenny.”
They left the room and turned right, and Sophie got her first look at her new home. The walls were teal green with a stripe that ran along the middle in gold. The lower half of the wall was rosewood paneling. Paintings hung in a neat line, and a narrowwhite marble table with delicate legs held a clock, vase, and candelabra.
“It’s stunning,” Sophie whispered.
“Look up,” Jenny said.
She did and swallowed to ease the tightness in her throat.How can this be my home? How can I be mistress of all this?
The ceiling was a darker teal with delicate gold patterns around the edges.
“Good morning, my lady,” Ribble said, appearing before them.
“Good morning, Ribble. I am to meet with Mrs. Pitt.”
Something flickered briefly across his eyes and was gone before Sophie could identify it.
“I will take you to a parlor and bring her to you, my lady.”
“Just take me to her office, please, Ribble,” Sophie said.
He didn’t look happy with her request but nodded just the same and led her down some stairs.
“The Countess of Coulter,” he said, entering a small room. “Mrs. Pitt and Mrs. Gumbrill,” he added, pointing to each woman. He then bowed out of the room quickly.
“My lady,” Mrs. Pitt said. “It is not right for you to be here.”
“I have no problem with being belowstairs, Mrs. Pitt,” Sophie said, smiling at the housekeeper. She was a small, slender woman dressed in pale gray with a neat white lace collar. In fact, neat described Patrick’s housekeeper very well. Her hair was pulled back in a neat bun, her nails were neatly filed, she wore neat, nicely polished black shoes, and the only thing that was at odds to her neat appearance was the huge bunch of keys around her neck.
Mrs. Gumbrill was her exact opposite. Large of girth and height, she had a bullish expression on her face and wore an apron smeared with food, which was completely understandable, as she was the cook.
“Well, it is lovely to meet you both, and of course I have no wish to interfere with the running of this wonderful household. My husband assures me that without both of you, Garland Hall would not be the place it is today.”
Mrs. Pitt’s expression eased slightly. Mrs. Gumbrill remained stone-faced.
“I will be guided by you ladies as to what changes are needed going forward.”
“We don’t need changes,” Mrs. Gumbrill added.
Stay calm, Sophie.
After several more suggestions that had been squashed by both women, Sophie felt her anger rise. They weren’t rude but not polite either.
“Do you both enjoy your positions?” Sophie said suddenly, which had both women nodding.
“We have been here since the earl was a boy,” Mrs. Gumbrill added, raising her chin, as if Sophie doubted her.
“And I understand that change is not easy after so many years, but I am the new mistress here at Garland Hall. I suggest you take today to think about that and what you wish to discuss with me tomorrow. I shall inform you of the time and location of that meeting.”
“Of course, my lady,” Mrs. Pitt said quickly.
Sophie looked at Mrs. Gumbrill. The woman bobbed a curtsy but did not speak.
“That went well,” Sophie muttered, leaving the room.
