The Midwife and the Marquess

Chapter 7: A Story

Steam wafted Maria in the face, reminding her of the cold and bitter tea she had invariably dumped earlier that morning. After Lord Granfell had left the kitchen last night, she had been in such a fit that she'd stormed upstairs, quickly undressed, and went right to bed.

When she had awoken this morning—far too early for a good night's sleep—she'd hurriedly written a letter to Maude and Susie. She'd then given the letter and a penny to the post boy before he'd left. Hopefully they would get the news of her extended stay at Granfell Manor soon.

Today was another uncharacteristically warm and dry day for this early in the spring and every servant was taking advantage of the good weather. Carpets were beaten, curtains aired, and of course, every soiled strip of linen in the whole manor was being boiled, washed and hung to dry.

Maria held her hand over her brows as she looked up at the blue, nearly cloudless sky. Birds were singing high in the branches of the towering oak and chestnut trees. The wonderful smell of baking wafted from the open kitchen door, filling Maria with a sense of homeliness. Truly, it was a magnificent day, and she would have enjoyed it, if she wasn't still so utterly mortified from the night before.

Never mind that. Focus on your work.

Maria bent over the washbasin, rinsing the soapy linens in clean water. Daisy came out the kitchen door, carrying a large overflowing basket. "This is the last one," she called from behind the heap, setting the basket down on a table. Three other baskets of laundry were placed around the workstation: the aforementioned table, a large pot over an outdoor hearth, two watertight open-mouthed barrels and a laundry press.

As the women resumed the process of laundering, silence fell over the group. Maria was grateful for the reprise. Anna, whose back was turned and bent over the baskets, seemed content quietly sorting the laundry.

Daisy gave the young woman a mocking wide-eyed look before turning back to Maria. "I thought last night was a jolly time!" she exclaimed loudly. Anna jolted before returning to her work. "I was right surprised that Mr. Tardy could dance so well. I wonder where he learnt such a skill? He seemed quite eager to show off for Lady Laura. What do you think, Anna?"

Anna stood up stiffly, glared at Daisy, tossed her head back, and quietly hissed, "That man can dance with the devil for all it concerns me!" She turned on her heel and stomped away toward a log pile stacked against the kitchen's outer wall.

"What was that about?" Maria asked Daisy warily.

"Just adding a bit of fuel to the fire," she grinned, leaning in to whisper. "Anna has been smitten with Mr. Tardy for ages now, but she won't hardly speak a word to him. A heated outburst is leagues better than remaining as interesting as a cold dead fish," Daisy explained, her head bobbing as she spoke. "I have three older sisters. I know how these things go."

"Oh, is that so?" Maria remarked, a smile twitching on her lips.

Moments later, Anna returned and threw an armful of logs onto the ground before kneeling down to stoke the fire. Daisy looked thoughtful as she recommenced scrubbing the linen. "Well, it had been a lovely evening until Lord Granfell had to go and make it all sad like. What do you think that was about?"

Maria began to roll out the clean linens in the press, desiring to be far away from this particular topic of conversation.

Anna stood up and drowned several soiled linens into the boiling water with a long stick, her face no longer haughty but no less stern. Her brogue was thick as she spoke, "When I first came to work at Granfell manor nearly four years ago, there was an older maid who'd been here for over a decade. She later followed Lady Anne as her lady's maid when she married Mr. Delroy, but that's no matter."