Charnswell Park

Valet War

William Brandon, Earl of Charleston was sitting at his large mahogany desk, His Lordship was scribing letters to the people which had come to the memorial of Bradford and Lawson, the scratching of the quill upon the paper. Lord Charleston looked up from his finished Letter to Lord Kirby, Lady Kirby and their son, The Honourable Rickard Sinclair and gazed around the room until his eyes landed upon Mr Leopold Graves as he was standing in the small Library near His Lordships desk, "How are you settling in?" Lord Charleston asked his valet.

"Very well, My Lord but that is unless His Lordship feels differently?" Mr Graves asked.

"No complaints?" Lord Charleston asked.

Mr Graves smiled and he nodded his head, "No, My Lord but if I had any complaints then I should take them to Mr Westfall," Mr Graves moved closer to Lord Charleston at his Mahogany desk folding a letter, "not to you, My Lord," Mr Graves said.

Lord Charleston laughed as he grabbed an envelope from off the pile at the front of his desk, "You are probably right, Graves," Lord Charleston lightly wrote the name Lord Reginald Sinclair, Viscount of Kirby, before he placed the letter into the envelope and placed with the rest that he had already done, "and the house has not worn you out with all the endless amount of stairs?" Lord Charleston asked.

"I like Charnswell Park, My Lord. This is a great house and I like it as a place to work," Mr Graves said.

"What happened?" Lord Charleston asked as he looked at his Valet's wooden cane in his right hand.

Mr Graves rolled the wooden cane which he held under his left hand, "It is only an old war injury because after I left the army, I had a spot of bother and then after i got through that it was about a year ago that my knee began to give me a spot of bother as a bit of shrapnel had moved but it is fine, My Lord, there is no problem as i'm still able to walk on it," Mr Graves said.

Lord Charleston began to write another letter to Sir Maxwell, Lady Porter and Sir Oliver Porter, "And you would let me know if you left that it was all to much for you?" Lord Charleston asked.

"I will, My Lord but I don't believe that their won't be," Mr Graves said.

Lord Charleston looked back down to the letter which he continued to construct for The Baronet of Redwood and his family for their support and attendance at the memorial. Mr Graves stood in the small library as Dale wondered into the room carrying a tray with tea and sweets upon, "Tea, My Lord," Dale said as he placed the tray upon the cabinet near the couches and fireplace.

"Thank you Dale but Mr Graves can see to the tea," Lord Charleston said.

Dale nodded his head before he crossed the library to exited the door into the Great Hall leaving Mr Graves to tend to Lord Charleston as he waited for orders.

The Charnswell Park rear courtyard was busy as the constant flow of daily deliveries arrived, Miss Callahan was standing to the side of the courtyard resting against the wall having a cigarette as Jeffrey Birch moved into the courtyard passing the men as they shuffled deliveries from the back of the wagon to the Charnswell Park rear door, "Jeffrey," Nathan Emerson, a hall boy called as Jeffrey walked passed him towards Miss Callahan.

Miss Callahan watched as Jeffrey crossed the courtyard and over to the Lady's maid, Miss Callahan where she offered him a cigarette, Jeffrey took the cigarette before he rested his back against the wall beside Miss Callahan, "Where have you been?" Miss Callahan asked.

"I went down to the village to send a telegram as if you don't know," Jeffrey said.

Miss Callahan pulled a box of matches from the pocket of her dress, "Oh pardon me for living, Jeffrey," Miss Callahan struck a match from the box to lit the cigarette for the first footman, "well the lawyer didn't stay long," Miss Callahan informed.