I'm sorry, I'm not even writing up to my own standards right now... I'm a little worn-out... but hoping you'll enjoy anyway! Thank you again for all your wonderful reviews... Especially to the guest who mentioned that their family loves The Slipper and the Rose and so found these stories... so glad you enjoy! If anyone has suggestions or something they'd like to see in this story, feel free to comment on it... I may or may not use suggestions but it would be appreciated! As aforementioned, I am worn-out and, consequently, so is my imagination. Fear not, I have a vision for this story, but still, ideas for details or little plot twists are welcome!

Chapter Nine

Goldilocks and Ginger

It began with a crash… a crash and an instant cry for Sarah. Of course, everyone always turned to Sarah whenever anything went wrong. And wrong was certainly right for an entire bucket of water had been spilled over the stone floor. As if that was not enough, Ms. Smythe who had come presumably to help, but secretly to criticize, slipped and dropped the tray she was carrying. Sarah's first thought was for the bread in the oven… the bread that was supposed to be rising. But she came anyway, holding back a sigh of impatience.

Ms. Smythe was picking herself up off the floor with a red face. Searching about for the culprit who had overturned the bucket, she marched over to let off a tirade of angry words while Sarah surveyed the damage and began to gingerly pick up the shards of glass from the mess. It would have to be a glass tray that Ms. Smythe had dropped.

Really, Sarah thought, she needn't be so angry at Danny for dropping that bucket when all this glass that she dropped herself is a much worse problem.

Danny was only eight and small for his age. But he knew how to stick up for himself. Unfortunately, sticking up for himself only earned him a further lecture on the evils of being impertinent and talking back to his elders.

As she knelt on the floor to scrape up the glass and the soggy tarts, Sarah was startled and then annoyed by a deep voice behind her.

"Need help, Goldilocks?"

"Thank you, Mr. Jack, but I'm perfectly capable."

He laughed and bent down beside her.

"Maybe you are. But I'm not going to pass up the chance to help you, anyway." So saying, he pushed her hands away and picked up the glass himself. For a moment Sarah sat back with a sigh of resignation, then she stood and went to find the mop.

"Here you are, Mr. Jack. As long as you're making yourself useful, you might as well finish mopping this up." He took the mop, staring at her with a curious grin, then set to mopping with a vengeance while she hurried to survey the rising bread.

Unfortunately, the rising bread was rising no longer. It had fallen completely flat. Sarah sighed wearily. She had expected that… the many crashes in quick succession had destroyed the entire batch. She would have to start again… she cast a nervous glance at the clock. Nearly time for the noon meal. At least there was yesterday's bread… she could serve that and the staff could go without for just one meal.

"Oh, Sarah!" Millie cried in an undertone as she leaned over, cheeks flushed and eyes shining. "He… he talked to you! What did he say?"

"What?" Sarah frowned in confusion. "Who?"

"Him… what is his name?" Millie nodded toward Jack who was just finishing with the mop.

"Jack… I guess…" Sarah shook her head. So this was who Millie had been talking about the other day… Good luck to her, then.

"He's coming this way!" Millie squealed, breathless with excitement while Sarah stared at her in surprise. Millie had never acted like this before.

"Cleaned up all ship-shape and Bristol-fashion," he presented her the mop.

"Thank you," Sarah answered stiffly, taking the mop. Millie poked her discreetly and Sarah gasped, not so discreetly. But she took the situation in command. "Have you met Millie Davidson? Millie, this is our new butcher, Mr. uh… Jack..." So saying she retreated to put the mop back into the closet. But, apparently, Millie was not able to hold his attention long, for suddenly Jack was at her side again.

"So, do they ever give you a day off, Goldilocks?"

"People do need to eat every day," Sarah answered, stepping back. "And I've told you my name before."

"Right. But Goldilocks sounds better than Miss Foster, don't you think?"

"No, I don't think so."

"But back to my question, eh? The festival in the village is next week and I thought you would go with me."

"You mean… the harvest festival?" Sarah searched her scattered thoughts for a plausible excuse. She did want to go but… not with Jack.

"Sure do."

"I… well… I had already planned on going with someone else." That was somewhat true, at least, since she had hoped to find someone to go with her. She just hadn't gotten around to asking anyone yet. All at once, she was struck with an idea. "Why don't you ask Millie?" she continued, slyly. "I know she wants to go very much indeed, but no one has asked her yet."

Although Millie was halfway across the room, she somehow heard this. She looked up quickly, her eyes shining with hope.

"Fine." he shrugged in resignation. "If that's the way you want it, I'll ask Ginger." While Sarah was trying to process the fact that he had just called Millie "Ginger", he leaned closer and added in an undertone, "I'm not finished with you yet, Goldilocks. Remember, I have my eye on you."

Sarah watched him go back to Millie with a sigh of relief. Then, remembering his last words to her, she shivered, involuntarily. Why must he insist on bothering her, when she was so obviously uninterested when Millie, who was clearly in love with him, was consequently ignored by him? She did not, however, have long to ponder on this, for she heard the clock chiming for noon and hurried to carry the trays to Will who was now entering the kitchen.

"Are you going to the harvest festival?" she asked quietly as she handed him the tray.

"Not exactly planning on it… but I might. Why?"

"Would you take me with you?" There. Not exactly how she had hoped it to happen… she wished dreadfully that he had asked her instead… but at least it had happened. Will looked surprised for a moment, but then he smiled… and turned back into the dining room. Sarah felt hurt that he hadn't even answered. In a moment he was back.

"Let's try this again. Sarah, will you go with me to the harvest festival?"

"I'd be glad to," Sarah laughed.

I've been binge-watching Andre Rieu youtube videos all day long. Literally all day long... While folding approximately ten loads of laundry. Now I have the second waltz going in circles through my head and when I close my eyes all I see are socks and towels. But as sick as I am of laundry, I'm still not sick of Andre Rieu 😋 Musical hero!

P.S. I just got a violin and am desperately trying to imitate Andre Rieu... unfortunately, I can't even come close. (duh, should've known that...) So I watch his videos either to console myself or to make myself feel inferior... not sure which. But what wouldn't I give to go to one of his concerts?!