"Did you see the size of those guards?" Douglas, one of the Footmen said as he came through the kitchen. The kitchen was a bustle of activity. Ms. Marthe Donnet, the Head Cook shouted orders to the prep cooks while the Maids and Footmen went about their work.
"All of them are huge, except that hot lady." Layton, another Footman added. "The one who guards Mr. McCorrigan?"
"Long, dark, voluminous hair. Light skin, slim, with the Cleopatra-shaped eyes?" Douglas asked.
"Yes!" Layton said.
"Very hot." Douglas replied.
"Did you notice the color of her eyes though? The iris is black. I have never seen anyone with black eyes before." Layton said.
"I thought black eyes weren't humanly possible." Marcy, one of the maids jumped in while she sautéed vegetables on the stove.
"Well, goes to show you we learn something new every day." Ms. Touchard said as she walked into the kitchen.
"What about the odd-looking staff that's with them?" Aida, one of the maids asked from a corner in the kitchen while she chopped off the head of a plucked duck.
"They are called Seneschal. I was informed they see to all the Household needs of our guests to include feeding them." Ms. Touchard replied.
"Feeding them? That's Ms. Donnet's job!" Caroline, the Cook's Maid said while she mixed ingredients into a soup.
"They're aware. I have been advised by Milady there are here to support and not to be in the way." Ms. Touchard replied.
"Well, I hope they can actually cook." Ms Donnet said to chuckles. "Speaking of which, Milady is to be addressed as Milady or Dr. Lewis?"
"Dr. Lauren Lewis." Ms. Touchard replied.
"She really did take on a whole new persona." Ms. Donnet said. "And what do we call her partner?"
"Bo, she said." Ms. Touchard replied.
"We are not doing that." Mr. Ostcliffe said as he walked into the busy kitchen room followed by Mr. Roch Perillard, the Under Butler. "That would be too familiar."
"I quite agree." Ms. Touchard replied.
"We shall stick to Milady with her as well." Mr. Ostcliffe said.
"Good idea. I will say that the Seneschal are very attentive where she is concerned so we need to be aware of that as well." Ms. Touchard informed.
"Do the Seneschal have names?" Mr. Ostcliffe asked.
"I didn't think to ask. I was too mesmerized by them. Frankly, I have never seen staff like them before. They have an uncanny ability to anticipate one's needs. I saw them do it with Dr. Beattie." Ms. Touchard replied.
"It's good to have Milady back home." Ms. Donnet said.
"Especially being surprised with grandchildren. The Beatties are quite elated." Ms. Touchard replied.
"You should see those children. They're beautiful." Marcy said.
"And quite the handful, I dare say." Ms. Touchard replied.
"Looks like they have an Army watching over them." Marcy said.
"Speaking of which, did you see what their army of Guards are doing outside?" Douglas asked while he prepared the serving trays.
"What's happening?" Mr. Ostcliffe prompted.
"Well, it's odd. They have Guards posted at every single entrance and exit." Douglas replied.
"That's not totally unusual. Some of our past wealthy guests have done something similar." Mr. Ostcliffe said.
"Yes, but where is their Command Post so to speak? Our past guests put up some sort of small shed or something to monitor from. They have nothing. How are they monitoring things?" Douglas asked.
"That is indeed odd." Mr. Ostcliffe said then turned to one of the Footmen. "Layton, when you showed the Guards to their rooms, did they say anything?"
"No. They just nodded, and we left them to settle in." Layton replied while he prepared the silverware for the dinner later that evening.
"Perhaps we should ask if there's anything they need." Ms. Touchard said to Mr. Ostcliffe.
"Mr. Perillard, will you see to that?" Mr. Ostcliffe directed.
"Of course, Mr. Ostcliffe." Mr. Perillard said then turned and left the kitchen.
Just then the Seneschal walked in followed by the Regnant Guard who posted themselves at the entrance. Their presence immediately halted all the hustle and bustle in the kitchen.
"We are the Seneschal. We are here to assist." The Seneschal announced. Ms. Donnet and Ms. Touchard exchanged glances.
"Hello! And welcome to my kitchens! My name is Ms. Marthe Donnet. And yours?"
"Seneschal."
"I mean, your name." Ms. Donnet said.
"Seneschal."
"How are we to distinguish one of you from the other?" Ms. Donnet asked.
"We'll know which one of us you are referring to." The Seneschal clarified. Ms. Donnet and Ms. Touchard exchanged glances again.
"Well, are you the head of the Seneschal, then?" Ms. Donnet asked.
"We operate more as a collective." The Seneschal replied.
"Like the Borg?" Hall, another Footman blurted which quickly earned him reproving looks all around.
"We are not the Borg, but resistance is futile." The Seneschal replied to the biggest grin from Hall and surprised looks from the rest of the staff.
"I take it you speak nerd?" Luella asked as she glanced at Hall while tossing a salad.
"Dr. Lewis is a fan of the series Star Trek so we have become well-versed in the subject matter." The Seneschal replied.
"Milady is a Trekkie?" Hall asked.
"Completely." The Seneschal replied.
"And you are well-versed as well." Hall asked.
"Yes." The Seneschal replied. Hall crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes.
"Alrighty then. How many Captains are there?" Hall asked.
"Six." The Seneschal replied.
"You missed an easy one there. There are five." Hall said.
"Six. We count the Captain of the Enterprise C, Rachel Garrett." The Seneschal replied.
"Putain!" Hall blurted out in French.
"Mr. Hall Epson!" Mr. Ostcliffe reprimanded.
"My apologies, Mr. Ostcliffe. I was only acknowledging they're right. Even I had forgotten about that Captain."
"Well, we could certainly use better language! This is not one of those cosmic events you attend!" Mr. Ostcliffe admonished.
"Comic Con." Ms. Touchard gently corrected.
"I'd thought I never see the day when Hall was out-geeked!" Luella poked.
"Well, enough talk about the cosmos and who sails them. We've got a dinner to put on." Ms. Donnet said.
"Flies them." Luella corrected.
"Keep chattering and these Seneschal will put you out of a job!" Ms. Donnet admonished.
"Yes, Ms. Donnet." Luella replied as she quickly picked up a bowl and moved to a nearby cutting table.
"This is Caroline. She's my Cook Maid and will get you settled." Ms. Donnet said to the Seneschal.
"Thank you." The Seneschal replied.
"Let's get a move on people! Dinner is at eight!" Ms. Donnet shouted. Everyone scattered to their stations of work.
Mr. Perillard walked into a small, secluded corridor that had a window that overlooked one side of the house where he could see a few of the Guards stationed about. He took out his cell phone and dialed a number.
"Hello?" The person on the other end answered.
"Caiden, it's me Roch."
"Our window of opportunity still in place?"
"Yes."
"Good. Keep me posted."
"Will do." Roch replied then hung up with Caiden and quickly made another call.
