Misperception

Chapter 10 - At the villa Rosamund

I arrived at the villa Rosamund at 9:30 AM, Sir Rupert introduced me to the butler Mr Winters and the cook Mrs Pryce, who is a middle aged widow and looks very much as a cook. Mrs Pryce is half French and speaks with a sweet accent and deep voice except when she addresses her assistant Nelly the kitchen maid. My luggage was taken to lady Mariah's apartment by the order of the count, and I took my apron and went to the kitchen. I had to borrow Sally's apron with its painted giant loaf of bread as I didn't want to go with a new apron that will raise suspensions about my mission at the villa Rosamund. A serious cook that I pretend that I'm must cherish her apron, a new one would give the impression that I don't spend much time cooking, so why exactly I'm here. 

Mrs Pryce asked if I had my breakfast, I said yes thank you so she took me to staff parlour downstairs to arrange with me exactly what dishes I want her tips on. Sir Rupert gave me the privilege of choosing the menu for the two days of my visit. Mrs Pryce offered me a cup of hot tea and fresh scones and we sat to discuss the dishes of today's dinner. I expressed my interest in her chicken curry dish that I tasted last week when I dined with Sir Rupert and gave her enough compliments to gain a big smile from her. The kind cook started calling me m'lady as I was introduced to her as lady Jane the granddaughter of lady Isabella whom she knows very well, at that moment I found the opportunity to gain more favour with her as I said "Please Mrs Pryce just call me Jane of Dr Austin if that is alright with you, I don't use the lady title in my daily life and I'm afraid I might not respond to the estranged title and you might think I'm being rude." 

I gained the liking of the snobbish cook as she started to ask me medical questions. Then I got to the interest of the parlour occupants over time. Somehow they thought I'm an alien creature, knowing my grandmother and I her only granddaughter with a very opposite character got them all intrigued and curious to talk to me. There were an old butler, a valet who somehow perform the duties of a personal assistant, one footman studying to be a teacher, two chambermaids responsible for the second floor one of them is studying to be an accountant, two parlourmaids responsible of the ground floor one of them is studying to be a seamstress and practicing her trade on the rest of staff, the cook and her protege the kitchen maid, a gardener, and a chauffeur. 

The gardener and the chauffeur are never in the house so they are easily observed if one of them went to lady Mariah's apartment. The indoor plants are taken care of by the maids and that is why it will be strange to find the gardener inside the house. If there is festivities in the house or in case of multiple guests extra staff are brought on from a professional company and they are strictly observed by Winters the grumpy butler, if no guests residing in lady Mariah's apartment which is very rare the apartment is locked in time of parties and holidays. 

The chambermaids dust and clean the empty rooms once a week and all the four maids must finish their basic duties inside the house by lunch time at one PM and never to be present in the house unless they are called for. At 9 PM the maids turn down the beds in the occupied bedrooms and supply fresh drinking water and some light snacks then retire. The butler and valet never retire before the count, and the kitchen staff retire after cleaning dinner.

The only person whose presence in the ground floor is acceptable is the butler, and the footman during meals. So I got the idea that the only persons who can acceptably be seen in lady Mariah's apartment are the chambermaids, Mrs Pryce who performs the housekeeper duties might go there in rare occasions if some curtains or other furniture covers need renovations. When I commented on how I liked the fabric colours in the apartment, Mrs Pryce's mouth turned sideways and said "They are getting old and fainted, you should have seen them when they were new. We leave everything as it is since Lady Mariah went to America as she gave instructions against changing anything until she comes this Christmas. If anything annoys you doctor I can try and manage to change it just tell me as I didn't go upstairs for months." I assured the lovely lady that nothing whatsoever annoys me and I love my accommodation.