After we had woken and dressed our respective charges, Betty and I persuaded Mr Spinney to let us serve at breakfast. With the housekeeper arrested and the staff in uproar, he was keen to get everything back to normal as quickly as possible, and tried, at first, to object to having two visiting lady’s maids serving in the dining room.
‘I had no issue with it when you needed to be part of your mistress’s investigation,’ he said. ‘Indeed, it was my own idea, as I recall. But in the end, it’s not right, not right at all. Lady’s maids don’t serve at table. You must see how we’re fixed now. With that woman gone, it’s left to me to take charge of the maids. With the mood they’re all in, it’s going to be hard enough to get them to do a hand’s turn today as it is, without you two doing their work for them. I can’t countenance it.’
‘Might I make a suggestion, Mr Spinney?’ I said.
‘I’m all ears, Miss Armstrong. All ears.’
‘Why don’t you ask Mrs Ruddle to take charge of the maids until you can engage a new housekeeper? Patty is more than capable of running the kitchen, as long as her mentor is nearby to lend a hand.’
‘Well,’ he said slowly. ‘That would certainly seem to be a possible solution, provided everyone agrees . . .’
‘Strong leadership, Mr Spinney, that’s all it takes. You tell them how wonderful they are, what a magnificent opportunity it is, how much his lordship needs them at this difficult time – all that old guff. They’ll fall into line quickly enough.’
‘You’re right, of course,’ he said.
‘Splendid. And now that crisis is averted, what say Miss Buffrey and I take breakfast up one last time? And then, sort of loiter within earshot so we don’t miss out on anything.’
He sighed. ‘Very well,’ he said. ‘At least you’ll be out of the way while I try to get everyone organized.’
We hurried to the kitchen to fetch the first trays before he thought better of it.
Miss Titmus and Lady Hardcastle were already in the dining room when we arrived, and had helped themselves to coffee from the great silver pot on the sideboard.
‘Ah, there you are,’ said Lady Hardcastle. ‘Why are you carrying food? Have all the staff done a bunk?’
‘We wanted to lurk in the company of our betters,’ I said. ‘Such that we might try to lift ourselves above our humble origins by taking wisdom from their learned discourse.’
‘And earwig on the gossip.’
‘That, too, my lady,’ I said. ‘Sausage?’
‘No one’s called me “Sausage” for years,’ she said, almost wistfully. ‘Oh, I see what you mean. Yes, please. Shove them down over there, and I’ll help myself in a moment.’
Mrs Beddows came into the room, wearing a high-collared blouse to hide the marks on her neck. She saw the four of us, and it seemed, for a moment at least, as though she might turn round and head straight back out again.
‘Roz, darling,’ said Lady Hardcastle. ‘How are you, my dear? Come and sit down. Let me get something for you.’
Mrs Beddows smiled weakly and sat at the dining table.
‘Here you are, dear,’ said Lady Hardcastle as she and Miss Titmus sat with her. ‘Get that down you.’
‘Thank you,’ croaked Mrs Beddows. She looked up and saw Betty and me. ‘Ah, Buffrey,’ she said. ‘Mr Waterford has persuaded me that I owe you an apology. I’ve treated you badly. I shall pay your wages until you find a new position, of course.’
‘Thank you, madam,’ said Betty. ‘You’re very kind.’
‘I can’t see you out on your ear. I shall do all I can to help. You’ll have a glowing reference, of course.’
‘Actually, Roz,’ said Miss Titmus, ‘she already has a new position. She’s going to be working for me as lady’s maid and photographer’s assistant.’
‘Is she?’ said Mrs Beddows. ‘Is she, indeed? Well, good for you. The both of you.’
Mr Waterford breezed in. ‘Good morning, darling,’ he said when he saw Mrs Beddows. Belatedly, he noticed the other two ladies at the table. ‘And good morning to you as well, ladies. How is everyone today?’
‘Passing well, Monty,’ said Lady Hardcastle. ‘Mustn’t grumble.’
‘One must not,’ he said. ‘I, er, I wonder if I could . . .’
‘Yes, dear?’ she said.
‘Well, I was going to ask if Roz and I might have a moment’s privacy.’ Looking round, he noticed Betty and me for the first time. ‘But . . . well . . . I didn’t know the room was so . . . Oh, hang it all. There’ll be a scandal no matter what, once all this comes out. Roz, darling, I want you to leave James and come and live with me.’
‘He’ll never give me a divorce,’ she croaked. ‘He needs my money.’
‘I’ll settle his hash, don’t you worry. I simply couldn’t bear it yesterday when I thought I might lose you forever.’
I, for one, was beginning to wish that he had sent us out after all, but we were saved further embarrassment by the arrival of Harry and Lady Lavinia.
‘What ho, you chaps,’ said Harry as he limped in with Lady Lavinia on his arm. ‘I say, everyone’s here.’
‘Except Fishy, dear,’ said Lady Lavinia.
‘Except Fishy what?’ said Lord Riddlethorpe from behind her.
‘Ah, splendid,’ said Harry. ‘Lavinia and I have a bit of news. An announcement, as it were.’ He stood and grinned foolishly for a moment. ‘We are engaged to be married. And you’re all invited.’
There were delighted cheers, kisses, and hugs all round as their friends congratulated them.
‘That’s ten bob you owe me, Flo, dear,’ said Lady Hardcastle when the hubbub had died down.
‘Were my romantic entanglements the subject of vulgar wagering, sis?’ said Harry.
‘Of course, dear. I’m always on the lookout for something to make you seem more interesting. You’re such a tragically dull fellow.’
‘Well, of all the . . .’ he said.
‘At least I bet on you popping the question,’ she said. ‘It was Flo here who doubted your resolve.’
‘Strong Arm!’ he said. ‘How could you? I thought we were friends.’
‘We are, sir,’ I said. ‘I just thought Lady Lavinia would have seen you off long before you got the chance to propose.’
I ducked the slice of toast that came sailing my way.
Packing to go home is always a great deal simpler than packing to go away. There are no decisions to be made, nor is there any great need to pack with the same thoughtfulness and care. As long as it all fitted in the cases and trunks, that was fine – we were going to need to unpack it all and get it cleaned as soon as we got home anyway.
And so the packing proceeded with pleasing swiftness.
Lady Hardcastle was sitting at the desk by the window, writing in her journal as I folded a dinner dress.
‘Oh, for . . .’ I said.
‘Yes, dear? I discern that you might have a problem of some sort. Is it something I can help you with?’
‘This frock, my lady,’ I said, holding it up.