Christine hadn't thought he'd leave so soon, but she supposed that was the way of a Duke that had as much land as the King. One tended to have to travel.
Part of her wanted to go with him, but she barely had two dresses to wear, ever since the completion of her first gown, her other two (Besides her wedding gown.) had mysteriously "disappeared".
She didn't ask where they went, though she thought she saw them going through the laundry when she was receiving an in-depth tour of it's system. It didn't feel worth the battle to get them back, and she wasn't particularly fond of them anyways.
Lady Giry was wasting no time in training Christine. They had been slowly combing the castle, teaching Christine of the careful system that kept everything in place, she was also learning the mannerisms of the upper court. When she wasn't learning to be a duchess, she being fitted in her clothes. When she wasn't being fitted in her clothes, she was trying to find suitable people to interview for the position as a maid.
Needless to say, she didn't think this was the time to take an extended leave. Next time, certainly. But not now.
So, she smiled as brightly as she could as she waved goodbye to Erik when he rode off, ready to tour his lands. She hoped he found great success. She knew that he had picked all his vassals himself, and she guessed he was a good judge of character, so it was unlikely that any of them would rebel, or be neglectful. Still, she worried. She had heard far too many stories of lazy, but ambitious vassals that tried to poison their lords so that they might become a noble.
It rarely worked out that way, but Erik would still be dead, and she would be a widow. It was his authority that gave her the power she had now, she doubted that it would last long after his death.
But it was unlikely. She tried not to think too much on it.
So she continued fitting, learning, working as much she could. She liked being busy. She interviewed several girls under the guidance of Lady Giry, Meg was hired.
Christine had a cot set up in her room for Meg to sleep on. She didn't want to have her sleeping on the floor. Meg thanked her profusely, but Christine would hear none of it. She had spent many a night sleeping on the cold floor in her old home when she had directly served Lady Valerius, and while she did not resent her for it, she would not allow the same inconvenience to her own maid.
It was nice, to have someone to help with her into her new dress, someone she could trust to send on small errands and deliver messages. She was also an enormous help in Christine's first real test as a lady.
Eight days after Erik left, Meg ran to Christine, and said that there was a problem.
One of the three cooks the castle had had been selling food to one of the local merchants. The food had been paid for by Erik, and she was selling it for twice that to another for no cost to herself.
Lady Giry was visiting another smaller building and was an hour away, unable to help her.
The woman stood proudly in front of Christine in the kitchen when she approached her, unashamed for what she had done. The other cooks, maids, servants all stared at her, ignoring their work as she surveyed the impeccable kitchen. There was a small crowd outside the kitchen, mostly stable boys and a few ladies.
They were waiting for Christine to answer. Waiting to see how she would enforce her power. It was a test. Christine knew it was no coincidence that it had been revealed while Lady Giry had been away. If she waited until Lady Giry returned, it would show that she could not take charge herself.
She took a deep breath and spoke. "Why do you sell the Black Duke's meat?" She asked softly. "Does he not provide enough for you?" Once, she had caught one of the servants selling their crops because she was not paid enough to feed her family. Christine found that half the time, there was a reason for thieving beyond greed.
The woman reddened, her lips pressed together as she stood ever straighter.
"You may answer freely. If you are not being provided with enough, simply let me know."
The cook shook her head. "His grace is most generous." She said shortly.
"Well, then why do you steal his food and sell it?" Christine allowed her voice to harden.
The woman swallowed.
"Do you wish to speak of this in private?" Christine questioned, her hand went up to tug the strings her new few lined cape down from her throat.
"No." The woman said shortly. "I was selling it because I wanted more money."
Christine sighed deeply, fingering the ends. "You were aware that you were breaking law?" She questioned.
The woman reddened father, her face a deep scarlet. "Yes. I- I knew that his Grace would not approve."
Christine pressed her lips together. "I will have to punish you then." She decided, then hesitated, and turned to Meg, just behind her. "How has she been in her service?" She asked her.
Meg bowed. "She has been working here for eight years your Grace, I don't believe she has caused any complaint before."
Christine nodded, turning back to the thieving cook. "I understand you made ten silver coins on your last sale, it will be taken away. Your pay will be cut for two months. In addition, you will receive five lashes. I also expect you to speak with father Jules on your sin." Father Jules was the priest for the building Christine had seen earlier. She liked him, though he seemed a little young to be a priest to her.
Christine surveyed the kitchen. "Who else knew about this?" She asked. "I will investigate farther, she cannot have been the only one to know."
An awkward silence ensued. Everyone exchanged glances, Christine thought she saw guilt among some of them.
"All those who do not reveal themselves and are discovered will receive five lashes publicly and have their pay cut for two months as well. Those who reveal themselves will only have their pay cut for a month, with no more said. If you wish to do it privately, you may request my company. Nothing will be said to anyone else."
Suddenly one of the kitchen maids stepped forward. "I knew." She added quickly. "I didn't have anything to do with it, but I didn't tell anyone either."
Christine considered her. "What is your name?" She asked.
"Sylvie, your grace." She looked barely seventeen, her face was pale.
"Thank you Sylvie." Christine said. She looked over the rest of them. "Will anyone else step forward?"
Two others stepped forward, one of the other cooks, and a kitchen boy. She thanked them and collected both their names so that she might spot them in the ledger. No one else confessed.
Christine turned to leave, when suddenly she heard someone hiss behind her.
"Witch. You're not even a real lady."
Christine turned, seeing the cook staring at her in hate, her face twisted in an expression that looked almost frightening. "I must keep order within the castle whether I am a lady or not." She said as calmly as she could manage. "I do not expect you to love me, but I do expect you to do your duty, and to not break the laws set by his Grace. If you do not approve of my position, you may take it up with his Grace after he returns."
The woman's fists clenched, then loosened. "Very well." She said tightly.
The flogging had only the main cook. As far as Christine and Lady Giry could tell, no one else had participated. Christine did not enjoy floggings, but as she was the one who was ordered them, she felt her responsibility to attend.
Once it was finished, the cook was sent to her bed. She would be allowed rest, but would be required to work the next day.
Lady Giry said she had handled it well. "Are you used to handling such things?" She asked Christine during dinner.
Christine shrugged. "People from the village used to come to me to ask for help in deciding matters. I didn't often have problems with my own staff, we were too small and tight knit, I think."
Lady Giry nodded, sipping from her cup of wine. "Crowds and time breed thieves." She said. "We don't have things like this very often, we're so new. But it is only a matter of time."
"I wonder what she wanted the money for." Christine said thoughtfully.
"Wine, clothes, new shoes." Lady Giry shrugged. "She is not married, but is in her thirties. Perhaps she hoped that if she had enough money she could convince a man to marry her."
Christine shifted guiltily in her seat. "Yes, perhaps."
"We don't all have rich dukes to sweep us off our feet." Nadir joked. He was sitting to the right of Christine. He had been traveling with his wife during the incident and hadn't been there either.
Christine laughed thought of all her friends, two weeks journey away, still all working for their food. Meanwhile, she was recieving a whole new wardrobe and living in luxury. She thought of Lady Valerius, laying in her bed, her mind gone and ill every other day.
"No, no we don't." She noted softly. "I was very lucky."
Reviews make authors happy. :)
