Writer's note:my first idea was to make everyone younger at the beginning since there is an obvious time gap between the book and the tv show. Now, I'm thinking about making them about two years older and avoid jumping in time too often. Just in case anyone was wondering about the timeline.

Because I don't know about the law on child labor in England, but I'm guessing 12 years old is too young to be working in a kitchen… In Québec, you can work at 14 with an authorization from your parents and without it at 16, so putting Jane and Pepper at 14, Rake at 15 and Jester and Smithy at 16 makes more sense.

« Mr. Gardener, are you there?»

Jane got out of the greenhouse, getting a bit annoyed. As a squire, she had duties to perform and this morning, she was supposed to collect autumn's vegetables. Except that Mr. Gardener was nowhere to be found…

« Doesn't seem so… I'll just have to find something to do, I guess…» she whispers to herself.

« Well, I guess you can pick potatoes in that section.»

Jane looked to her right and see a lanky boy with a wheelbarrow.

« Sorry, I needed manure for the pumpkins,» the boy continued. « You are Jane, right?»

« Yes. Sir Theodore sent me to help. Is Mr. Gardener around?»

« I am around you, I guess…»

Jane looked at him with disbelieving.

« Funny, she replied. « I remember Mr. Gardener to be much older!»

« Oh, you are talking about my grandpa! He is not around.»

« So… do we have to wait for him?»

« I really don't think we should wait. He won't be back in the next few days. He hurt his back again. The garden will be a mess by then… There is so much to do in fall!»

« Sorry to hear that! Do you still need my help?»

« Sure! Let me show you where the baskets are. You can start with the potatoes then I'll show you how to collect the squash properly. It can be a bit tricky if you don't know them well.»

« OK, thanks… What is your name? I suppose your friends don't call you Mr. Gardener?»

« Oh, I don't have many friends, really, but Jester does call me Rake!»

« Rake for a gardener, really?»

« It suits me, don't you think? I always though Drake was too rough for me. Rake is much better! »

« If you say so… Rake,» added an unconvinced Jane as she took the basket handled by the boy.

They worked in a relative silence. If Rake wasn't the best for conversing with fellow humans, he sure had a lot to say to plants! As exhausting as the task had been, Jane did appreciate the calm of the garden and its keeper. That is until the twelve strokes of noon were heard…

« Oh no! Quick, Jane! Let's put everything it the toolshed and let's get clean! Pepper is going to be so mad if I'm late again!»

« What? Who? Rake!»

But the boy was already in the said toolshed. A few minutes later, they had both cleaned the garden as well as themselves. Rake led her to the table right outside the kitchen. She could see the back of the blacksmith's son's head and hear the characteristic sound of small bells. Since she usually eats in the grand hall with her family or her fellow squires, she hadn't realized this table was destined to the staff. Jester saw them first and quickly got up to welcome them.

« Good midday, Milady knight! How nice of you to grant us with your presence for this lovely meal!»

« Good day to you too, Jester! I was working with Rake in the garden this morning. I don't want to intrude…»

« Nonsense! You are more than welcome at this table! Right, Smithy?»

« It's fine by me … as long as Jane isn't bothered by people who throw their soup around when they get excited!»

They turned their attention to the older boy, who was indeed covered with vegetables. Before anyone could move, a girl with long black hair quickly laid the two bowls she was holding and held a rag to the unfortunate teenager.

« I cannot leave you boys for two minutes! Jester, you are impossible! Go get another rag and clean out your mess! Now! Really, all this food spoiled! Such a shame!»

« Thank you, Pepper,» said Smithy.

He gave her back the soiled rag. As she processes back to the kitchen, she suddenly realized Jane's presence.

« Oh, Miss Turnkey! Is there anything you need?»

« Well, I was working with Rake…»

« And of course, he invited you over, so you don't eat alone since the knight's meal is already over! He is such a sweetheart! Sit down, Petal, and eat before it gets cold! I will be back with new portions! It is a delight to have the famous Jane at our humble table!»

Jane took one of the bowls and sat in front of Rake.

« She sure seems at her place in the kitchen!» she told him.

« Isn't she great? And her vegetable soup is even better! She can elevate our vegetables to a masterpiece!»

« How long has she been working here? I though the caterer was a certain Mrs. Salter?»

« Verbena is Madam's daughter,» answered Smithy. « Her mother always took her along with her, but she stepped up this summer. She oversees the staff's meals all by herself now.»

Jester jumped back in the conversation while cleaning the table.

« She even redid the menu with an old cookbook I found in the library! I swear I have no idea how she managed! Those recipes made as much sense to me as a German textbook to a blind Japanese man!» Everyone made a face at that dubious comparison. « Pepper truly lives for cooking!»

« It shows! The food truly improved this summer! Not than it was bad before … but I can see why Rake didn't want to be late!»

« Well, Pepper hate serving cold food,» added the shy boy. « And I'd hate to deceive her.»

Jane, Jester and Smithy busted out laughing at the gardener's candour, right when Pepper pulled herself a chair at the end of the picnic table.

« Can someone tells me what is so funny?» she said.

Her question was met with even more laughter from the trio.

« I really could get use to this,» thought Jane.