Brimsley and Reynolds

Chapter 13

Brimsley made his way to the kitchen. He had learned quite a lot about the ways of a palace, and one was that somehow, kitchen staff always knew where everyone was. It was defiant to the ways of nature, seemingly magic, but somehow it never failed. He was extremely glad when he heard Ms. Burnard would be the head chef at Buckingham House, as she was one of the only members of staff who ever treated Brimsley like he wasn't an outsider. 

His nose was bombarded by a myriad of smells as he pushed open the two large kitchen doors. He was looking for The King, at the request of The Queen. It was Coronation Day, but somehow The King had managed to disappear. "Good Morning Ms. Burnard, happy Coronation Day," Brimsley greeted the head chef. Somehow, no matter how worried he felt, Ms. Burnard had a calming aura that always made him feel comfortable.

 "Mornin Brimsley. Sorry about all this craziness, but like you said, it's Coronation Day!" He nodded his head, smiling. 

"I was wondering if you knew where The King went, I haven't seen him all morning and The Queen is growing worried," He asked quietly. 

Ms. Burnard leaned in, "Some of my sous chefs said they saw Reynolds going under the stairs, I'm not sure about The King though," Brimsley thanked her and swiftly headed to find Reynolds. If The King was not with him, he would surely know where he was. 

Why would Reynolds be under the stairs, Brimsley couldn't help but wonder. What, or who, was drawing him into a place he obviously didn't need to be? He tried to shake off the thought as he entered the area below Buckingham House. 

He spotted the tall blonde head immediately, sticking out like a glinting piece of gold in a miner's sifter. "What are you doing here?" Reynolds asked teasingly, "You do not come below the stairs,"

"And why are you here?" Brimsley returned quickly. 

"I need to be, I'm on an errand," An errand. Brimsley wasn't going to pretend he knew Reynolds to perfection, but he did not do errands. 

"Then I need to be," Brismley responded seriously. "I am here because you are. You hold The King and she is looking for him," 

Reynolds made a face as if he did not believe him, "I thought they were not speaking," 

"It is Coronation Day," Brimsley scolded. "It does not matter if they speak, they must be united. So where is he?" he asked in a slightly softer tone. 

Reynolds looked up in the direction the stairs rose, "The King shall be with her soon enough, he is studying his sciences in the library," he said in his usual 'on the verge of laughing' manner. 

Brimsley scoffed, "What?"

"What?" Reynolds returned, not following. 

Brimsley looked around, leaning in as he spoke quietly, eyes narrowed. "If you allow yourself another rider, do not think I care, but mind he is of the right station," he said the final part lethally. 

Reynolds laughed, "I am not...." He was still smiling, "That is not what..... There are no other riders. I am simply below stairs," he allowed the laugh to leave his words, "I am simply below stairs." He repeated softly, in a way that made Brimsley's stomach feel fluttery. "Go. Attended to your Queen. Coronation Day is a great day for her and the country," he admonished lightly.

Brimsley nodded his head, keeping his eyes on Reynolds' before beginning to walk back towards the stairs. A door creaked open, and Brimsley turned to see a tall man, appearing to be a doctor, leaning over The King. He looked familiar, but Brimsley couldn't tell why. 

The door shut as quickly as it opened, but Brimsley knew what he saw. He turned, and the look on Reynolds' face confirmed he had seen something of great importance. "Is that a physician?" Brimsley asked slowly. "Why is he being examined by a strange doctor in the cellar?" He pushed. "Why is he not being examined by the Royal Physician?"