"A satisfactory visit do you not think so Walter?" Felix inquired of the butler one evening. They had just finished dinner after seeing off the remaining visiting servants from that weekend's entertainment. The Earl had decided to throw an impromptu spring gathering and as such the previous week had been even more hectic than the usual Taplows rush in preparation for a big event.
"Hmph, I suppose eh," Jarvis acknowledged grudgingly "Just glad to be business as normal though."
"I think you are having just a little case of the sour dates, is that not the expression no?" Felix said softly, looking amusedly up at the butler.
"Sour grapes Felix," Jarvis snapped "and why exactly would I have a case of that eh?"
"Hmmm, let me think….maybe because that rather fetching ladies' maid who was here this weekend was not quite as receptive to your advances as you may have hoped!" Felix replied with a grin.
"I don't know what you're talking about Felix." Jarvis muttered before standing up and walking over to the window.
"I think I do my friend!" Felix teased "I saw you trying your hardest to 'work your charms' on her, but she was having none of it!"
"I was simply being hospitable," Jarvis replied curtly "a concept that you clearly have not heard of in Prussia."
"Whatever you say my dear Walter, but just let me ask you this; how long has it been since you last had any….shall we say…. fun, with a lady?" Felix questioned, raising an eyebrow as the butler whipped his head round to glare at him "Unpaid for that is!" he added with a wicked grin, watching in amusement as the butler's face went even redder at the impudence of the chef's comments. "That long eh!" Felix continued smugly. "Oh dear Walter, you seem to be losing your touch!" Felix baited delightedly as the butler appeared on the brink of exploding with outrage.
"I am not losing my touch Felix!" Jarvis snapped back coldly. "I wasn't even really trying this weekend." He muttered moodily.
"Fine then," Felix retorted, a look of macabre delight entering his expression as the butler took the bait, "prove it!"
"What are you talking about Felix?" Jarvis retorted irritably. "What do you want me to do? Go and seduce the Earl? Or heaven forbid, seduce our wholesome housekeeper, Mrs Crossley?" he snorted contemptuously.
"Not quite!" Felix replied enigmatically "However I will choose the lucky woman. It needs to be a bit of challenge yes!"
"You're being ridiculous," Jarvis muttered as he took a long swig of his drink "and anyway I refuse to do it to any of the Taplows staff, you know what gossip is like in this place."
"Oh you never know Walter! One of the visiting staff next weekend may take your fancy?" Felix retorted smugly, sitting back contentedly in his chair and holding out his glass as the butler rose to his feet to get a refill.
"Hmph, doubtful," Jarvis snorted "all men coming next weekend apart from one; a Mrs Ryan. And knowing my luck I'll wager next month's wages that she's a real old frumpy cow." He added despondently as he passed the chef his now full glass and sat back down to stare moodily into the fire once more.
- - -
The weekend arrived more quickly than Jarvis would have liked as the conversation with Felix kept lurking in the back of his mind. However he had resolved that the chef was being absurd in suggesting he was losing his touch when it came to the ladies. Alright so lately there had been a bit of a dry spell and the previous weekend hadn't exactly gone according to plan with regards to that rather attractive ladies' maid, but that was nothing but a temporary setback and he didn't need some juvenile challenge of Felix's in order to prove himself.
It was the Earl's cousin, Lord Mansfield, who was visiting this time for an indefinite period, much to Jarvis's dismay, as this would mean putting up with extra staff as his lordship always insisted on bringing a cohort of staff with him each time he came to visit.
Around mid-morning Jarvis began to make his way down to the courtyard in order to be present when the visiting staff arrived. He was not in the best of tempers as the Earl had been particularly trying this morning and as such the butler was in no mood to hang around in the windy courtyard and wait for the tardy arrivals.
Ten minutes later and glancing impatiently at his watch and tapping his foot on the ground, the butler was about to turn around and go back into the main house, muttering about wasting his precious time standing around outside, when suddenly someone shouted they could see coaches approaching.
After greeting the occupants of the first coach, namely the butler and a couple of valets, Jarvis moved over to the second coach which had just pulled into the courtyard, hoping to get the tedious business of meeting and greeting over and done with. The housekeeper should be in this carriage and he was hoping against hope that this Mrs Ryan would not prove to be as troublesome as the last visiting housekeeper; she had constantly interfered with his staffing arrangements to the extent that he had to have very stern words with her telling her to keep her nose out of affairs that didn't concern her.
Sighing in resignation at the thought of having to deal with that all over again, Jarvis moved determinedly into place, fixing a welcoming expression on his face as Joseph opened the door to the carriage. Waiting a couple of yards away from the carriage, Jarvis watched as a woman was helped down the steps. She was younger than he thought she'd be, a lot more attractive as well he noted; in fact there was something almost familiar about her…..
"Mrs Ryan, pleased to meet you. I'm the butler here, Mr Jar….." he trailed off, his well-rehearsed greeting abandoned all of a sudden as he realised who the woman standing opposite him was before pulling himself back together to finish his sentence. "Ahem, excuse me Mrs Ryan….Mr Jarvis." He added, his voice slightly strained as the blood appeared to be draining rapidly from his face.
"Mr Jarvis, pleasure to meet you, I apologise for our slightly late arrival, one of the horses lost a shoe just after leaving Bath and that delayed us a little, I hope we haven't put you out too much." Flora answered politely, looking at him in some confusion as the butler seemed to have taken an instant dislike to her and was now glaring at her, his jaw clenched and the vein in his neck pulsating vividly.
"Nothing we can't cope adequately with Mrs Ryan." Jarvis replied curtly "Our housekeeper Mrs Crossley will be with you shortly to show you your quarters and anything else you need to know. We'll be having a meeting after luncheon to discuss staffing arrangements for the duration of your stay." he added before turning abruptly on his heel and heading back into the house, indicating for him to follow as he did so.
"Thank you Mr Jarvis." Flora murmured as she hastily followed this very strict butler into the main house, quite surprised and confused by the very hostile reception she had just received. It was true they were later than they had said, but it was only by twenty minutes and it really had been unavoidable. Mr Jarvis really had seemed to have seen something he didn't like about her she thought in confusion…..And yet, there was something naggingly familiar about the man storming down the corridor in front of her. Flora couldn't help the feeling she had met him before but the name Mr Jarvis had rung no bells. Shaking her head in confusion, Flora turned her thoughts to the hectic business of sorting out their luggage and also the impending arrival of their lordships later that day. Maybe she would find out later what she had done to merit such a greeting and whether she had met intriguing Mr Jarvis before, Flora mused as she threw one last look at the other end of the corridor where the butler was berating one of his hapless footmen for some misdemeanour.
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That afternoon the upper servants meeting with the visiting servants was just drawing to a close and people were beginning to make their way towards the door to go about their various duties. Gathering up her pieces of paper, Flora stood up and began to walk towards the door before realising she was missing one of her lists and so turned back towards the table to pick it up.
"Walter how many is it for dinner tomorrow night again?" Felix suddenly asked of the butler causing Flora to freeze in her tracks and look up in astonishment at Jarvis.
Walter! No it couldn't be! She was sure his last name wasn't Jarvis but…………oh god it was him. How could she have not recognised him instantly, and no wonder he had been so cold towards her since she arrived, he had clearly known who she was.
"Is everything alright Mrs Ryan?" Felix suddenly asked in slight concern as the housekeeper seemed to have gone very white all of a sudden as she was staring at the butler.
"Ye…yes Mr Kraus, quite alright thank you, I really now must…" she trailed off as the butler now turned round to look at her as well, for a moment their gazes locked and Jarvis realised she now knew just who he was. Breaking their gaze, her cheeks now flaming with embarrassment, Flora grabbed the list she was looking for off the table and bolted out the door without a second look back at the butler who was now glaring slightly at the doorway she'd just fled through.
"What on earth was all that about?" Felix asked in some bemusement.
"Nothing" muttered Jarvis, walking over to the mirror and straightening his cravat.
"What do you mean nothing! Of course it was, and you've been acting strangely around her all day. Do you know her from somewhere before?" Felix probed. "You do Walter don't you, come on tell me!" he continued as the butler gave a non-committal grunt
"It was years ago; New Year's Eve party, wouldn't expect her to remember, it was nothing." Jarvis reiterated.
"Well it didn't look like nothing to me; she couldn't get out of this room quick enough."
"We had a slight…..miscommunication if you will, but it's all in the past now." Jarvis stated with an air of finality, hoping to end this conversation now, however the chef had a slight frown of concentration on his face.
"Oh she's not THAT New Year's Eve maid is she!" he suddenly asked in delight as Jarvis turned to glare at him "The one you told me about recently; 'the last time someone properly turned you down' if I recall properly!"
"She might be" Jarvis retorted through clenched teeth "but as I said, it's all in the past now."
"Well you hardly seem as though you've forgotten it, and it didn't look as though she had either. Oh and this is perfect timing!" Felix suddenly exclaimed "She can be the one Walter!"
"What are you talking about Felix?"
"Oh come on Walter, you remember our conversation of a couple of nights ago. She's perfect; she's here for a long period of time, she's attractive and you obviously did think she was at one time, and best of all it provides the perfect opportunity for you to settle the scores perhaps!"
"I can't believe you're still thinking about that ridiculous bet, do you not think we are a little old to be doing such things." Jarvis retorted haughtily as he now made his way over to the door, signalling that this conversation was now over.
"Oh you are tempted my friend and to give you something else to think about, I will bet my next month's wages that you cannot bed her by the end of the visit!"
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Late the next evening Jarvis was making his way through the servants' quarters after finishing his duties for the night. He had been trying to avoid thinking about Felix's suggestion yesterday, after all it was hardly a very gentlemanly thing to do and surely he was too old to be playing foolish games such as this. However he couldn't deny the fact that part of him was very tempted indeed to try, it did still rankle with him that she had turned him down all those years ago and made him look a fool in front of his colleagues and this provided a brilliant solution to get even as it were. Suppressing the slight feeling of guilt he felt at this, he suddenly stopped as he spotted the lady in question sitting by the fireside in the deserted dining room. Deciding if he was going to do this he may as well take the plunge now, Jarvis took a deep breath and pushed open the slightly ajar door and knocking gently as he did so.
"Mrs Ryan" he called out softly, causing her to start and look up from her book.
"Mr Jarvis," she replied, somewhat surprised to see the one person who had seemed to be at pains to avoid her since she had arrived at Taplows and who she had also been avoiding since her realisation yesterday "can I help you at all?"
"Forgive the intrusion Mrs Ryan, I was merely wondering if we could have a few words?"
"Of course Mr Jarvis, do come in." said Flora, putting down her book and turning to face the butler as he came into the room properly, blushing slightly as she realised it was the first time they had been alone together since she had arrived at the house and intrigued as to what he could possibly want to discuss with her and why he wasn't looking nearly as hostile as before.
Coming into the room and closing the door behind him, Jarvis walked over to the mantelpiece, fiddling with the clock there to cover his nerves before turning to face the housekeeper. "I wanted to apologise Mrs Ryan. I realise my attitude towards you since your arrival has been rather short of hospitable and I was hoping we could begin again?
"Of course we can Mr Jarvis, that would be lovely. I was beginning to wonder whether I had done something wrong or if it was because of what happened in London…well surely you remember, I did want to apologise for…."
"No need Mrs Ryan, no need," Jarvis cut in swiftly, he didn't want to bring all that up again "ten years is a long time, it's all in the past now."
"It was a long time ago wasn't it." Flora murmured, smiling up at the butler, relief obvious on her face at having apparently sorted that situation out.
"It was indeed," Jarvis agreed "and I think we should move on from that topic of conversation. What book are you reading there?" he added out of interest taking the seat opposite from her.
"Oh this, it's just a book of poetry by Tennyson, I was sent it recently by my sister and this is the first real opportunity I've had to read it."
"Ahhh Tennyson, fantastic stuff I've got a book of his poetry myself, he was appointed Poet Laureate not too long ago wasn't he." said Jarvis conversationally as he picked up the book and began to flick through it "'Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all'" he quoted "master of love poetry Tennyson.
"I wouldn't have put you down for an admirer of love poetry Mr Jarvis!" Flora asked with a hint of a smile.
"Well there's lots you don't know about me Mrs Ryan" Jarvis retorted in a slightly teasing tone "Give me Shakespeare or Tennyson any day when it comes to love poetry rather than any of that romantic claptrap you find written by some of these women authors."
"You do not approve of women writing then?"
"It's not that I don't approve Mrs Ryan, it's just that I generally find male authors more suitable to my tastes. In fact I've just finished an excellent book by this up and coming author, George Eliot I think his name is, I'll lend it to you if you'd like."
"That's very kind of you Mr Jarvis, thank you." Flora replied softly, a genuine smile lighting up her face.
"Not at all Mrs Ryan, anything I can do to make your stay all the more pleasant."
"Thank you once again Mr Jarvis" Flora replied as the butler waved her thanks away before rising from his seat.
"Don't mention it, and now I will leave you in peace to your poetry. Good night Mrs Ryan."
"Good night Mr Jarvis." she said softly as he bowed his head slightly towards her before turning to leave.
Marching back from the kitchen ten minutes later, Jarvis once again tried to ignore the reflexive feeling of guilt he felt as he thought over the conversation he'd just had with the chef. If she never found out then what harm could it do, it was just a bit of fun that was all, he told himself as he opened his office door, just a bit of fun.
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