Charnswell Park

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Lord Charleston sat at his desk in the large Charnswell Park Library. His Lordship was sorting the papers which were on his desk and the small stack of novels. Mr Benjamin Westfall also stood beside his Lordship, "My Lord, the plain fact is that Mr Graves through no fault of his own is not able to fulfil the extra duties that are expected of him because he can't lift, he can't serve a table as he his dropping things all over the place and on a night like tonight, he should act as a third footman however as it is My Lord, we may be required to have a maid in the Dining Room," Mr Westfall expressed.

"Chin up Westfall, we have got worse things happening in the world," Lord Charleston said.

"Not worse then having a maid in the Dining Room serving the Duke of Handelburg," Mr Westfall said.

Lord Charleston looked up from the two novels which were in his hands into the direction of the Butler, "You are determined?" Lord Charleston asked.

"It is a hard decision, Your Lordship, every hard decision but the honour of Charnswell is at stake," Mr Westfall said.

"Don't concern yourself, Mr Westfall, I know all about hard decisions when it comes to the honour of Charnswell," Lord Charleston knelt down and patted his Old English Sheepdog, Ares, "Don't I boy?" Lord Charleston said.

Mrs Mills was heading down the main Basement corridor towards the store cupboard were she was opening the cupboard for Mrs Sherwood but the housekeeper stopped when she heard a sigh and the bashing of cases hitting one another. Mrs Mills wondered back towards the luggage closet where the door was slightly open and when she pushed the door open which was where she found Dale Harper putting some cases upon the table that was in the centre of the room, "Dale, I hope you are not letting Jeffrey take advantage of you as he is only a footman much the same as you," Mrs Mills said.

"It is manageable, Mrs Mills however I enjoy keeping busy because it takes my mind off things," Dale said.

"What things have you got to take your mind off because if your homesick there is no shame in that," Mrs Mills said.

"No," Dale said.

"That means that you come from a happy home and there are quite a number of others here which would be quite envious of that," Mrs Mills said.

"Yes, Mrs Mills," Dale said.

Mr Graves had just reached the dressing room of His Lordship as the sound of the dressing gong chimed through the house. Mr Graves opened the door from off the second floor gallery which was when he found Lord Charleston was already standing in the room with his back to Mr Graves. Mr Graves began to dress His Lordship for the family dinner.

Mr Graves had assisted Lord Charleston into his evening dinner tails which was were Mr Graves began to brush His Lordship's tails and he turned the brush to the top of the wooden dresser, "Yes, that is not exactly," Lord Charleston turned to face Mr Graves, "have you recovered from your fall this morning?" Lord Charleston asked.

"I'm very sorry for that this morning, My Lord I don't know what happened but believe that it had something to do with my Cane," Mr Graves said.

"The thing is, Graves I said that I would give you a trial and I have managed to do but if it were only up ti me but it is this question of a valet's extra duties," Lord Charleston said.

"You are enquiring about whether about serving a table when the house is entertaining a large host?" Mr Graves asked.

"That and carrying things which you can see that Westfall, can't be expected to compromise the efficiency of his staff," Lord Charleston said.

"I understand, My Lord, of course I do but might I make a suggestion as to when an extra footman is required that the cost for his services are deducted from my wage," Mr Graves suggested.