Jillian, too, had nothing more to say, but she was in no hurry to leave the sanctuary of the drawing room. Still, there was no need to have Janet stand beside her like a sentry.
“I’m keeping you from your duties,” she told the little maid. “You can leave me. I am perfectly well now. I just don’t wish to return to dinner quite yet.”
“My duties are whatever they tell me.” Janet indicated with her chin toward the dining room. “I can stay as long as you like.”
Jillian tilted her head at an angle and looked at the young maid with new eyes.
“Tell me, Janet, what makes you loyal to the Bradfords when they are so exacting?”
“Oh, that ain’t no reason to quit,” Janet answered. “All the great houses have similar demands. If you’re a servant, you know to work hard and follow orders. But the Bradfords have a large enough staff that no one is run completely ragged. Our quarters are clean, our wages on time. We are not punished unduly. Our wages are not garnished for petty reasons. It is honest work, and fair. Believe me, there are masters enough of whom the same cannot be said.”
“But it can still be a challenge, is that not true? My own family has managed to fare well enough since my father has a senior position, but many servants I know have struggled to get by on what they earn. What do the staff of Oakwoods wish for?”
“Oh, no, ma’am, I cannot say! It would be impertinent of me to complain, and to the master’s family, no less!”
“You have my word. It will go no further than this room.”
Janet considered these words for several moments. “Well, I suppose it would help if we got the occasional food basket when times are hard, like in winter, or after a bad harvest, or if someone is sick. The Bradfords are very generous at the holidays, especially Boxing Day, but they seem unaware of what befalls us throughout the year.”
“Does your housekeeper not know when her staff is suffering? Surely, she could suggest to Lady Bradford when further assistance might be welcome?”
Janet lifted her shoulders in a shrug. “She will know if one of us is too ill to work. As for the rest, I do not think it falls under her responsibilities.”
“Well,” said Jillian, sitting up straight, “I have just made the responsibility mine. Thank you, Janet, for giving me somethingtodo. I think I can face the others at dinner now. Whenever Lord or Lady Bradford make me feel less than enough, I shall stop listening and picture myself delivering baskets instead. It will be a treat to become acquainted with the tenants, too. They will be so much easier to talk to. And I will be better able to assist Mr. Bradford when he must take the reins from his father if I understand the needs and workings of the estate.”
She slapped her hands upon her knees and stood. “Do you know, I feel quite splendid! I think I shall enjoy my ham now, if it has not grown cold.” Jillian began to walk toward the doorway, stopped, turned, and added, “Oh, Janet, when next you have a day off, come and take tea with me at the cottage. We have much to discuss.”
“Oh, ma’am, I couldn’t possibly come as your guest! It’s not proper for…”
Jillian waved an impatient hand. “Shu-shu-shush, I won’t hear of it. At the cottage, I make my own rules.”
She sighed a happy sigh of satisfaction, set her shoulders squarely, and marched off to the dining room. Whatever had transpired in her absence would not affect her now. She had a plan. And no one would thwart it. She might not know how to set a fine table, but she knew about kindness.
Oakwoods was about to become a very well-loved place, indeed.
