---
"'Ere mate have you heard?" Fred exclaimed in glee to Joe as he bounded down the corridor to meet the other footman coming out of the footmen's room on his way to dinner that evening.
"About the extra duty I'm now doing this evening" Joe snapped, brushing some dust off the sleeve of his jacket "Too bloody right I have, and you can wipe that smug grin off your face mate cos let me tell you, who's going to be doing it for the next…"
"No! Not that!" Fred cut in impatiently "Although yeah, bad luck mate!" he added with a grin "No it's old Jarvis and Mrs Ryan!"
"What about them?"
"They're you know…! It's all round the house now!"
"What are you talking about?" Joe asked in confusion "Have you been raiding the wine cellar this afternoon?"
"Jarvis and Mrs Ryan…. They're together….you know!"
"No I don't!" Joe retorted "And anyway…how do you know?"
"Will saw 'em earlier in town. He was taking the long way back from town so he could stop off for a cheeky pint without being caught and guess who he saw." Fred declared matter-of-factly as they arrived in the lower servants' hall where the usual pre-dinner clamour seemed more animated than normal with Mr Adams nowhere to be seen.
"Well so what if he saw them together" Joe retorted dismissively "They left together and probably met up again after whatever they were doing in town. It's just Will stirring things as usual, you know what he's like."
"Oi, you taking my name in vain again Joseph!"
"Not at all William!" Joe retorted, "Just been hearing about your latest rumours to do the rounds."
"Ahh it's not rumours mate. Gospel this is!" Will said knowingly before taking his seat at one of the benches.
"Whatever Will, you're worse than a kitchen maid when it comes to gossiping. You're like an old woman!"
"Nah this is true I tell you!"
"What, like the time you tried to convince us all that Georgie boy and Susan were a couple!" Joe scoffed, laughing as both of them in question turned round to glare at him. "So you saw Jarvis and Mrs Ryan together in tow, what does that prove………..nothing!"
"Nah this was different, I saw them earlier on in town together and didn't think anything of it like you said. But then later on, when I was heading back, I came back round past the old town hall…"
"Because you'd been shirking your duties at the pub no doubt William." Charlotte suddenly cut in with a disapproving look at the footman.
Shrugging off that remark, Will carried on "Anyway, when I was coming back I saw them again, walking out the park with a load of others, looked right cosy they all did."
"So what." Joe retorted, determined not to give Will credit again for some made up gossip "Might have been some people they both know in Tappleton. Don't prove anything."
"Ahh Joseph my boy that's where you're wrong!" Will replied triumphantly, leaning back in satisfaction as he noticed more and more of the others craning forward slightly in anticipation. "You see, when I came out of the lane to head back here, I was real close to them but didn't want them to see me so ducked into some alley near that pub. Anyway, I didn't catch the end of their conversation but as the other group headed back into the pub, one old lady started cooing away about how it was such a pleasant afternoon and oh, didn't they make such a lovely couple those two!"
"Nooo, she didn't!" Susan gasped, clapping her hands over her mouth in astonishment.
"Oh she did!" Will replied smugly "So there you go, sly old dog isn't he Mr Jarvis, all this time we thought he didn't really like Mrs Ryan, yet he's been shacking up with her on the quiet for god knows how long!"
"Don't be so crude William" Charlotte snapped primly "I'm sure there's a perfectly innocent explanation for it all."
"Oh come off it Charlotte" Will scoffed "I know what I heard and I know what it means!"
"Well fancy that." Susan said, looking round the table to gauge the others' reactions "I always thought it might happen though." She announced knowingly, having got over her initial surprise rather quickly.
"Oh yeah Susan!" Fred called out mockingly "Kept that one nicely to yourself didn't you!"
"Shut it Fred!"
"Well we know what they've been doing together all those evenings recently then don't we!" Fred added, raising his eyebrows with a grin as he looked over at Will.
"We certainly do!"
"I still think there's something else going on." Charlotte retorted stubbornly "Your mind is just permanently in the gutter William, that is your problem."
"Fine, don't believe me, you'll be eating your words soon enough." Will retorted "And anyway, they have been getting on a lot better recently, even I've noticed that, now we know why……oh and apparently both of them turned up late for breakfast the other day, obviously slipped in a quickie before breakfast!" he added lewdly, grinning as Charlotte sent him her most reproving glare.
"Oh leave off Will" Grace cut in suddenly "I think it's quite sweet really if it is true. And anyway" she added as she took her seat opposite George "You're just jealous cos you're not getting any!"
"Story of your life eh Mr Forest!" Mr Adams cut in suddenly, appearing from the doorway, as the footman was about to retort to the contrary "Right, settle down you lot, it's like a bloody cattle market in here." He snapped as he made his way to the head of table as everyone scraped back their seats to stand while grace was said, no one noticing the figure in the shadows on the balcony that slipped back out of sight and into the corridor.
---
Storming away from the hall balcony, his face like thunder, Jarvis made his way down to the kitchen as quickly as possible, scattering before him any stray servant that dared get in his way.
Flinging open the door to the kitchen, Jarvis caught sight of the chef frantically rushing around his kitchen in the midst of dinner preparations.
"Mr Kraus" he barked, "May I have a quick word."
"Now Mr Jarvis?" Felix asked, stopping in his tracks and looking round in slight astonishment at the butler.
"If you have a minute." Jarvis retorted, his tone indicating that the chef did indeed have a minute or two to spare, as he turned smartly on his heel and marched out of the kitchen.
"Honestly Mr Jarvis" Felix muttered to himself, wringing his hands as he glanced anxiously back at his beloved cooking "Can this not wait until after dinner?"
Pulling open the door to one of the nearest storerooms, Jarvis ignored the chef's question as he held the door open. Shutting the door behind Felix, Jarvis turned round to face the glaring chef.
"Well? This had better be worth it Walter?" Felix said, leaning back against the wall and looking over expectantly at the butler.
"They know Felix." Jarvis retorted in a very clipped voice after a few moments of silence.
"Who knows what?" Felix demanded "What are you talking about Walter! I have dinner to get back to, you will not be happy if the Earl has his supper spoiled because of your dramatics!"
"The other servants Felix" Jarvis snapped "They know somehow about….about Mrs Ryan and I, our…"
"Ohhh, your engagement." Felix said in realisation as the butler continued to glare at him "But how?"
"That is precisely what I was wondering" Jarvis retorted crisply "you were the only person besides Mrs Ryan who knew, and, as I do not think that good lady has been spreading such gossip about herself, I decided to come and see if you knew anything about it."
"What" Felix spluttered in indignation "You think I….you think I have been wasting my time spreading your silly little rumours eh?"
"Well who else knew?"
"You think that I have nothing else better to do than to gossip with the kitchen maids no?" Continued the chef in his rant, his accent becoming more and more pronounced "I, who have more culinary genius up my sleeve than the entire of this county has ever contemplated, would idle away my time gossiping like a maid? Is that what you think?"
"Alright Felix, you've made your point!" Jarvis retorted, glaring back at the still fuming chef who had now gone slightly puce in colour and was fanning himself with his chef's hat.
"The very idea of it." Felix muttered.
"Well how has it got out?" Jarvis demanded. "I haven't told anyone."
"How do you know they know?"
"I overheard that little twit Forest in the dining hall" Jarvis muttered, clenching his fist as he recalled what was said "I didn't hear all the conversation but I caught enough."
"Could someone have seen you today in Tappleton?"
"I don't think so, I didn't see anyone we knew when we were……oh shit!" Jarvis suddenly trailed off before looking up at the chef in realisation "Adams sent Forest into town today, he was probably there this afternoon about the same time we were…..damnit!" he added, smacking the wall next to him in frustration.
"I think that may be the answer." Felix muttered somewhat smugly.
"Bloody hell." Jarvis muttered more to himself "What am I going to do?"
"What do you mean?"
"You know what gossip is like in this bloody place Felix. It'll be round the whole flippin' neighbourhood by tomorrow morning." Jarvis fumed.
"Ahh you don't know tha.."
"Of course it will Felix!" Jarvis retorted agitatedly, running a hand through his hair distractedly "Bugger…..this was just what I didn't want to happen."
"So what are you going to do about it then?"
"I don't know….I don't know." Jarvis muttered, trying his best to pace up and down the small storeroom "I suppose it might just all die down?" he suggested, looking up at the chef who merely raised an eyebrow at that. "Well it could do." Jarvis retorted "By this time next week they'll be gossiping about something else."
"Yes, but what are you going to do about this week's gossip?" Felix asked smartly, folding his arms across his chest and leaning back against the wall.
"Maybe I'll leave it a day or two…"
"Walter" Felix began warningly "You have to at least tell Flora, what if she hears the rumours herself, and what if it his lordship gets wind of it?"
"Oh I know Felix..." Jarvis muttered, clenching his fists in frustration "I just….damnit I just was hoping to keep it quiet for a bit lon…"
Jarvis suddenly broke off as voices of two of the kitchen maids were heard as they made their way down the corridor to the kitchen.
"Who'd have thought it eh?" One of the maids said, the glee at such juicy gossip evident from her tone "Dark 'orse ain't she! Always going on about us minding ourselves round blokes and then all this time she's been shacking up wiv old Jarvis!"
"I know, you'd never have thought it from the way she always carries on and……Mr Jarvis sir!"
"Ladies" Jarvis uttered icily, stepping out properly into the corridor, a barely concealed livid expression on his face "I don't believe you can have heard about my new policy….I'm docking wages every time I catch servants idling away their time in gossip and slander…….currently at a rate of a day's wages for every minute wasted…."
"No sir, sorry sir." Both maids managed to squeak out, looking down at the floor to avoid the butler's furious glare
"Well now you know and I suggest you get back to work immediately and keep any future urges you have to gossip suitably muted."
"Yes sir, of course sir." They mumbled before scurrying off down the corridor as quickly as possible in case the butler's temper suddenly snapped.
"Well I think that should keep them quiet for the next ten minutes or so." Felix quipped as he also emerged from the storeroom, watching the hurriedly retreating maids.
"I'm going to find Mrs Ryan." Jarvis muttered "If you see her, tell her I'm looking for her. And if you catch any more little tongues wagging then….then bloody cut them out or something." He yelled darkly as he stormed off down the corridor in, if possible, an even fouler mood than before.
---
However the housekeeper proved too elusive for the butler that evening and so it wasn't until the following morning after morning prayers had been said that he was able to catch up with her. Waiting until the lower servants had begun to disperse about their chores, Jarvis muttered in her ear to meet him in his office as soon as possible.
"Mrs Ryan" the butler murmured automatically as she shut the door to his office a few minutes later "Ahh there is something we need to discuss…..Something…I had hoped wouldn't happen for a while." He continued, glancing up at the housekeeper.
"Nothing serious I hope?" Flora said in concern.
"No, no……..it's just……someone saw us yesterday in town with my relatives Flora" Jarvis replied quietly "Now there are rumours about us all round the house."
"Oh my goodness." Flora murmured, going noticeably paler as she slowly sank down to perch on the edge of the butler's desk chair.
"I know."
"So that's what all the…I had a feeling something was going on, I just couldn't put my finger on it." Flora mumbled, half to herself.
"Why…Have you heard anything?" Jarvis asked quickly, concerned she might have overheard some similar comments to the ones he had caught yesterday.
"No, no" Flora replied softly, staring half-vacantly out the window "I just…something was up I could tell." She added, recalling the way conversation had stopped very abruptly when she had entered the dining room that morning and the interested glances and sniggers from the lower servants that she had thought she must be imagining. "It all makes sense now."
"I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault; we couldn't have avoided that meeting yesterday."
"No I know" Jarvis muttered "Bloody relatives, why the hell did they have to be so damn nosy. I knew it wasn't a good idea." He ranted, pacing over to the window and scowling out over the grounds.
"So what are we going to do?" Flora asked tentatively after a few moments' tense silence.
"Well we have two options really." Jarvis said gravely, turning back round to face the housekeeper "We either do nothing, hold our heads up high and hope they get bored and start gossiping about something else soon. They have nothing on us really but I'm sure you know as well as I do the way that rumours spread in this place…"
"Or?"
"Or we try and forestall the gossip by announcing that we are…that we are engaged. Hopefully that will satisfy the gossips for the meantime but will end the speculation that I am sure is most diverting at present."
"How…how bad are the rumours?" Flora asked hesitantly after a moment or so, but, on glancing up at the butler, his expression told her all she needed to know. "It's just going to get worse if we leave it isn't it." She added softly, knowing full well what the answer was, a slight shudder running through her body as she imagined what people would be saying about her.
"I'm afraid so." Jarvis replied gently.
"When will you announce it?"
"I'll see how things are today, but probably tomorrow after morning prayers."
"What about his lordship?"
"I haven't decided." Jarvis said, a slight frown creasing his brow "We can't leave it too long in case he hears it from someone else."
"No you're right." Flora murmured.
"I might wait a little longer before telling him though," Jarvis mused "Approach him when he's in a better mood than he was this morning."
"So tomorrow after prayers." Flora repeated quietly a few moments later, a small feeling of dread creeping over her at the thought.
"Yes."
"That's what we must do then. I…..I should probably be going." Flora murmured slowly, standing up from her chair and looking anxiously over at the butler "Thank you for telling me Mr Jarvis."
"Not at all Mrs Ryan." Jarvis replied quietly as she made her way over to the door. "Flora" he suddenly called out as she opened the door, "I'm sorry…..I never wanted this to happen either." He said seriously, glancing up as she paused on the threshold before nodding slightly, a weak smile appearing briefly before she turned and left the room.
---
Shutting her bedroom door behind her with a firm click, Flora Ryan leant back against it, closed her eyes and let out a deep sigh of relief. Thank the lord this day was finally over, at one point after lunch she had felt like it was never going to end. Dinnertime had definitely been the worst as by that time the rumours had most certainly reached the upper servants' table judging by the amount of interested looks and whispers that had occurred when both she and the butler had entered the room. Shuddering slightly, she recalled some of pointedly snide remarks that had been thrown her way including one smart-alec valet who had enquired whether or not she was under the weather when she had refused dessert. God knows what the man was implying, probably trying to discover if she had had a late bout of morning sickness.
Shaking her head to try and dispel all thoughts of house gossip and scandal, Flora pushed herself off the door, glancing at the clock that lay on the mantelpiece. It wasn't that late, after all, she had escaped the dining room as soon as was polite to avoid all the knowing looks and whispers. Walking over to the dresser in the corner, she pulled out the letter she had started from a drawer. Now was as good as any to maybe try and finish it, and she didn't think sleep would be soon in coming after the day she'd had at any rate.
Sitting down on the stool, she looked down at what she'd written. It was the start of a letter to her sister but that was all it was, the start of a letter; just the address, date and a single sentence hoping that this letter found her sister in good health. Sighing softly, Flora propped her chin up on her hand as she absentmindedly picked up the pen and dipped it in the inkwell. She and her sister had always been close; when they were younger it had always been the two of them. They were the nearest siblings in age in the family and told each other everything, every little secret. Even when Flora had moved over to England they had stayed close, writing at least every month, and then Ada had moved to London a few years after Flora had done so and allowed them to meet up from time to time.
However, somehow Flora couldn't find the right words or the right way to let her sister in on this one particular secret.
She needed to tell her something though, as she planned on going to stay with Ada and her husband for a bit once she left Taplows. Knowing her sister as she did, Flora imagined she would have more than a few questions to ask about her sudden change of fortune if Flora just turned up on the doorstep unannounced, having left the security of her job.
How also did she explain about Walter? Ada had always hinted she thought there was more going on between the two of them than Flora let on, despite Flora's reticence on the subject.
What was going on anyway between her and Wal…. Mr Jarvis, she suddenly reminded herself sternly. This was not the time to let staff gossip go to your head, stir up those suppressed fantasies, and imagine that, just because the lower servants happened to think so, she had any sort of claim on him. Whatever it was, she just hoped that announcing their engagement would make things better in the long run in terms of servants gossip, something she secretly wasn't so optimistic about. She could remember how much lower servants loved to gossip about their superiors, especially when it concerned affairs such as these. The notion that her and Mr Jarvis had been conducting an illicit affair under their noses would be the juiciest gossip that had circulated the Taplows' rumour mill in quite a while. In fact, the few snippets of conversation she had caught today, hastily stopped whenever she entered a room, confirmed her suspicions exactly.
Sighing heavily, Flora put her pen back down and moved the letter aside. Maybe she would leave it until she was feeling more in the mood to write. Picking up the candle, she moved it over to her bedside table. Getting ready for bed, she could only send a silent prayer to the almighty that today was an exception and things would improve from now and on and even, if possible, get back to somewhere approaching normal.
----
"Well…I didn't see that one coming." George muttered the next morning after the senior servants had left the hall after morning prayers. "Dark 'orses ain't they the two of them…engaged!"
"I know" Joe agreed as they made their way over to Adams in the corner "Not really Jarvis's style to announce something like that in public. Normally doesn't say a word about anything personal."
"Yeah, wonder what made him do it?"
"Probably heard all the rumours going round yesterday." Joe replied "Wanted to try and clear stuff up maybe and stop all the gossip, it was going round like wildfire yesterday…. helped on its way by Will."
"What's that?" Will asked as he turned round, his ears pricking as he heard his name.
"We reckon that's why Jarvis announced their engagement. He got wind of your gossip and had to do something."
"Hmm yeah maybe" Will mused "Although there might be another reason they're announcing an engagement so soon!"
"What do you mean?" Joe asked in confusion.
"Ahh come on Joey boy! Don't be naïve! I'll bet they haven't just been discussing wedding plans together these past few weeks!" Will retorted, winking knowingly at the other footman "What are the odds…Mrs Ryan's up the duff and Jarvis had to quickly say they were engaged to save face eh?"
"Yeah I dunno Will…"
"It does seem a bit sudden though" one of the maids, Betty, joined in. "I mean, first we had ever 'eard of it was Friday and then suddenly this morning, bang, they're engaged! Something funny going on if you ask me!"
"Exactly!" Will said triumphantly "I bet I'm proved right before Christmas. Remember that when you pass on your congratulations mate… You heard it here first!"
---
Following the butler out of the servants' hall, Flora kept her head held high and tried to block out the buzz of gossiping servants that could be heard the moment they stepped out into the corridor. Walking some way down the corridor, Jarvis paused outside the door to his office, where the noise from the hall could no longer be heard.
"Well I think it would be optimistic to hope that this will stem all the rumours and talk." The butler murmured awkwardly, glancing briefly up at the housekeeper, who was still looking rather pale.
"Yes…"
"But hopefully things should get better in time and settle down fairly quickly."
"Yes I hope so Mr Jarvis." Flora replied softly, fervently praying that the butler would be proved correct "Was there anything else?" she added when the butler continued to shift uncomfortably and not make any move to go into his office.
"Ahh there was actually something I wanted to ask you…" Jarvis muttered, glancing up and down the corridor to check no one else was in sight before taking a step towards her. "I was wondering whether you still had my…. ummm….my ring?" he added quietly.
"The engagement ring? Of course" Flora replied "I wouldn't misplace something like that" she added a touch indignantly, a spot of colour appearing on her cheeks at the butler's words.
"No no of course Mrs Ryan." Jarvis replied hastily.
"In fact I have it here," she added, reaching into her dress pocket for the little black velvet box "I picked it up this morning; I was going to ask you whether you wanted it back or not."
"Thank you" Jarvis murmured as he took the little box from her hand, running his thumb gently over the top "However……. I think in order to make this look more convincing it might be better if you had it back." he said quietly, offering the box back to the rather surprised housekeeper.
"What….do….do you mean I should wear it?" Flora stuttered slightly as she took the box back from him.
"Yes" Jarvis said "But not immediately" he added hastily as the housekeeper went to open the box, "I haven't spoken to the Earl yet, so it would probably be best if we wait until then. We don't want any awkward questions from his lordship before then."
"No, that's true" Flora said softly, as she slipped the box back into her pocket "Do you know yet when you're going to…"
"Talk to his lordship?" Jarvis finished for her "I'm not sure, I can't really leave it too much longer now that the other servants know. I'm waiting to hear back from Mr Riley though…I'd like to wait until then, just so we know things are more definite."
"Why? Things aren't likely to change are they?" Flora asked, suddenly concerned about the butler's hesitation.
"No, no." Jarvis assured her hastily "Mr Riley said he would be seeing my great-uncle's solicitor when they returned through London and would pass on anything I needed to know once he had done so."
"Oh I see" Flora murmured, somewhat reassured for the moment.
"I'll let you know when I do hear from him."
"Thank you Mr Jarvis…..I will see you at lunch." Flora added as the butler bowed his head slightly in reply, before turning the door handle to his office.
"Yes….and I hope that…that this morning makes things better." Jarvis murmured somewhat vaguely, pausing on the threshold to his office.
"As do I Mr Jarvis." Flora replied fervently, nodding at the butler before turning away and carrying on down the corridor towards her office. "As do I."
Pushing open the door, Jarvis watched the housekeeper's retreating figure as she made her way down the corridor before shaking his head slightly and marching briskly into his office. Sitting down at his desk, the butler pulled out his spectacles, holding them up to the light for inspection before cleaning them on his waistcoat.
"Come in." he called out in answer to the sharp knock on the door. "Mr Adams." He said automatically, glancing up briefly as his under-butler entered the room.
"Good morning sir" Adams said smartly "And congratulations too sir." He added just as the butler was about to say something.
"Thank you Mr Adams." Jarvis muttered, giving his spectacles a last quick polish before putting them on and opening his accounts book at the correct page.
"She's a beautiful woman if you don't mind my saying so sir," Adams continued, oblivious to his superior's discomfort on the subject as Jarvis squirmed somewhat awkwardly in his seat, not taking his eyes off the page in front of him. "I hope you'll be very happy together."
"You're very kind Mr Adams." Jarvis retorted abruptly, hoping Adams would get the hint to stop talking, however the under-butler seemed quite content to pursue this topic of conversation.
"You did keep it very quiet though sir, quite a surprise for most of us."
"Yes well I'm sure you know as well as I do how fast gossip can spread in a place like this." Jarvis replied through gritted teeth, keeping his eyes focussed on the book in front of him and hoping he wasn't going to get this from everybody for the rest of the day.
"You've given the lower servants enough to talk about I'm sure anyway!" Adams remarked in some amusement, recalling some of the snippets of conversation he had caught both that morning and the previous evening.
"Well then I am sure I can rely on you to make sure that work, and not gossip, is what they are focussed on." Jarvis retorted icily, turning around to lock gazes with his under-butler for a loaded moment or so. "Now shall we turn to earning our keep for the morning Mr Adams….the footmen's rota for the weekend…"
---
Later that week, Flora was hurrying up into the main house from the still room one day after lunch, having hastily discarded her apron en route in her office. She hadn't been expecting the Earl to summon them both to see him quite so soon as she knew the butler had only spoken to him about their engagement that morning. He had received a letter from Mr Riley the previous morning and had decided to wait until the following day to mention it to his lordship. As she approached the Earl's study, she slowed down to try and get her breathing back to normal as well as to try and quell the sudden feeling of nervousness that had crept up on her. What would happen if the Earl flew into one of his tempers, accused them of having an affair behind his back and threatened to throw them out on the street there and then?
Rounding the corner before his lordship's study, Flora caught sight of the butler, pocket watch in hand, pacing up and down in front of the study doors.
"Mrs Ryan" he greeted automatically, putting his watch back in his waistcoat pocket.
"Sorry it took me a while, I was all the way downstairs in the still room when he rang" Flora babbled "And then I had to…"
"It's no matter Mrs Ryan." the butler cut in swiftly, "I only just got here myself, thought it would be best if we went in together."
"Yes…of course" Flora murmured, patting her hair to make sure it was all still in place.
"After you Mrs Ryan." Jarvis said gallantly, holding the doors open for her before following her in.
Pausing slightly to wait for the butler to shut the doors behind him, Flora made her way over to where the Earl was seated at his desk, busily engaged in writing a letter.
"Jarvis, Mrs Ryan?" He said after a few moments, putting down his pen and finally looking up enquiringly at the pair of them.
"You rang for us sir?" Jarvis prompted after a moment, as the Earl continued to look up at them questioningly.
"Ahh yes, so I did." the Earl said, frowning slightly in realisation "Well I'm sure you know why I have called you here…" he continued, pausing slightly as both butler and housekeeper nodded in acknowledgment. "Mrs Ryan.." he said, turning to address the housekeeper "Jarvis here tells me that the two of you are recently engaged and wanting my permission to continue here at least until you are married, is that right?"
"Yes, your lordship." Flora murmured respectfully.
"And how long will this be?"
"We're not sure yet sir" Jarvis cut in "We haven't decided on a date yet."
"I see…and what about afterwards? Do you want to continue working here or are you here to put in your resignations?"
"We'll carry on here for as long as it takes to find suitable replacements" Jarvis replied diplomatically "As long as that is agreeable to you of course sir." He added smoothly.
For a moment, both the butler and housekeeper waited anxiously as they watched the Earl fiddle with the pen in front of him, frowning to himself as he did so as he seemed to mull over what had been said.
"Hmmm well this is all a bit irregular" he muttered, almost to himself "Can't quite say it is what I've been hoping for but I suppose there is nothing much I can do if you're determined to do it one way or another."
"Do we have your permission then sir?" Jarvis asked slightly insistently, wanting to be sure he hadn't misunderstood what was being said.
"Well I can't very well do without the two of you immediately…so yes, I suppose so." the Earl said grudgingly, causing both the butler and housekeeper to let out the breath that both had unconsciously been holding. "I don't want this becoming too public though." he added sharply "Don't want to give every jumped up servant all sorts of ideas about getting engaged all of a sudden eh."
"No, of course not sir." Jarvis said smoothly, glancing up at Flora who was also trying to smother a wry grin at that comment. Their employer clearly had very little idea of the nature of servant gossip or quite how fast this particular piece of news had spread around his household that week.
"Good" the Earl said emphatically, leaning back in his chair "I don't want hordes of other servants lining up next week to announce their engagement to me as well!" he added, snorting in amusement at his own joke.
"The utmost discretion your lordship." Jarvis replied earnestly, keeping his best butler mask of sincerity on his face.
"And I want to approve anyone you call for interview." His lordship added as an afterthought
"Of course sir, we will keep you fully informed."
"Good…..well if that was all."
"Yes sir….and thank you." Jarvis murmured, bowing slightly as the Earl nodded his dismissal at the two of them before returning to the letter in front of him.
Letting out a sigh of relief as she left the room, Flora turned to the butler as he closed the study doors behind him.
"Well thank god he agreed." Jarvis muttered once they were out of earshot of any passing servants.
"I know" Flora murmured "I had the most awful feeling he was going to say no."
"Yes I did too." Jarvis agreed, looking up at her in slight surprise "Seems our doubts were unfounded though."
"Yes."
"Ahh well this makes things a lot easier" Jarvis sighed "Not much of a congratulations from him though eh!" he added, smiling over at his housekeeper.
"No, definitely not." Flora agreed, a genuine smile lighting up her face as she recalled the very reluctant expression on the Earl's face as he had given his grudging approval "I think he thinks we might start a trend among his staff as well!" she added with a giggle.
"Yes" Jarvis said in amusement "well that would be interesting to see at any rate! Perhaps a little unlikely though…"
"Yes I think so." Flora conceded.
"But luckily for his lordship though!" Jarvis quipped with a grin as they reached the back staircase down to the servants' quarters.
"Exactly" Flora replied "I will see you at dinner Mr Jarvis."
Nodding in reply, Jarvis watched her make her way down the stairs before turning and heading off to the silver room to check on the footmen, humming cheerfully to himself as he went.
---
However, if Flora had thought that this brief interlude with the butler was a sign of better things to come for her, then she was mistaken. It had been over a week since Mr Jarvis had made the announcement about their engagement but it seemed to Flora that the amount of gossiping had only increased since then, the junior staff having not found anything else to amuse them since then. She was getting thoroughly sick of the barely stifled giggles and whispers that went round any room that she happened to walk in. Morning prayers had also become nearly unbearable as she could see every pair of eyes in the room intently flickering between her and butler, greedily looking out for any look or contact that passed between the two of them. Just the thought of having to go through that every day for the next few weeks sent a wave of nausea through her immediately.
Shaking her head somewhat determinedly to try and rid herself of these negative thoughts, Flora strode purposefully down the corridor towards the servants' hall, intending to try and find some of her more elusive housemaids to check that all the chores she had set them after lunch had been completed satisfactorily. Pausing in the corridor, she was just about to enter the room when she caught a snippet of conversation that made her stop dead in her tracks.
"You not finished all that sewing yet Susan?"
"Oh give over Betty," Susan protested as the other maid wandered over to where she was sitting "Did you not see how much Mrs Ryan gave me."
"Well everyone else has finished theirs!" Betty pointed out slyly.
"Then she must have given me more," Susan retorted defiantly "She was well moody about it as too. Probably overheard me saying she looked all peaky at morning prayers."
"Oh come off it Susan," Grace cut in, jumping to the defence of their housekeeper "She didn't look any different at prayers this morning than she has done any other morning recently."
"I still think she did" Susan muttered sullenly to herself as she carried on with her sewing.
"Well what do you think is the matter with her?" Grace replied good-naturedly "You don't think she's got morning sickness surely?"
"Well it could be," Susan retorted "It was a bit of a shock engagement announcement, one minute they were going about as normal, then all of a sudden they're getting married."
"Ah you've been listening to Will too much." said Grace dismissively.
"Nah she might be right you know" Betty piped up "Eh Susan, Mrs Ryan hasn't slipped any of her dresses into your sewing pile has she? Any sudden alterations needed maybe!" she added with a smirk as all the others burst out laughing "No wonder it's taking you so long to get through it all today!"
"Ooh you don't think she would get us to do that do you?" Susan gasped.
"Well if she tries that one then you know where she can stick it," Betty retorted coarsely, plonking herself down on the bench next to Susan "That is definitely not in our duties and I'll tell her so if she wants."
"Ah you wouldn't, all talk that is."
"I would too," Betty retorted indignantly "I'm not frightened of 'er I'm not."
"Yeah but what about Jarvis, think he'd have a few things to say if you start slagging off his fiancée don't you?"
"Nah, he can't say anything, not after the way they've been carrying on…"
Not waiting to hear any more, a shaking Flora Ryan stepped out of the shadows and back out into the corridor. There was no way she was going into that room just yet, instead she turned on her heel and headed off in the direction of the butler's office.
---
A few minutes later, a still shaking Flora Ryan arrived at the butler's office door. Pausing for only a secondor two, she knocked briefly on the door before abruptly flinging it open and marching inside.
"Mr Jarvis…we need to talk," Flora uttered breathlessly.
"Mrs Ryan," Jarvis replied in surprise, looking up immediately from his desk upon the sudden interruption of his peace "Do come in." he added to himself as the housekeeper paced over to the window. Sensing that this was not something he was going to be able to deal with in a matter of seconds, the butler put down his pen and removed his spectacles, turning round in his chair, he waited for the housekeeper to fill him in on what was troubling her.
"I ……I can't do this any more Mr Jarvis," she blurted out after a moment or so.
"What?" Jarvis said in confusion, getting quickly to his feet. She couldn't mean their arrangement could she? What was he going to do if she suddenly pulled out? "You don't mean…"
"Yes…yes I do," Flora retorted, whirling back round to face the butler "I can't stand it any longer."
"But…but, we knew it would be difficult for a bit," Jarvis stuttered, totally thrown by her sudden change of heart, "We've just got to ride it out a bit lon.."
"A bit difficult!" Flora cried, cutting him off mid-sentence, "You have no idea how it's been for me these last couple of weeks or so."
"Well it can't have been that bad," Jarvis said placatingly, however this merely served to agitate the housekeeper even more.
"Not that bad!" Flora retorted agitatedly, "I have people whispering about me behind my back, everyone thinks they know what has been happening between us and god knows what kind of sordid rumours your footmen have been spreading about the place."
"I'm sorry, I…" the butler murmured but the housekeeper carried on as if she hadn't heard him.
"It's not as bad for you. From what I've heard people saying, you've come out of this rather well… all you seem to get are congratulations and a pat on the back." Flora continued brokenly, catching the butler's slight wince as he acknowledged the truth of what she was saying. "Whereas I…"
"Flora I know it seems horrible at the moment," Jarvis cut in gently, "But it has to get better soon."
"Does it?" Flora implored softly, holding his gaze for a moment, "I can put up with the rumours and whispering, that will die down eventually I know, but when people are laughing at me to my face do you know how that makes me feel?"
"It must be horrible." Jarvis murmured softly.
"It feels like I'm losing everything I've worked so hard to get here. Some of my girls can barely contain their giggles whenever I walk into a room and….and if I haven't got any respect here then what have I got," Flora said, her voice almost a whisper, "The things they have been saying about me….what I overheard just now…" she broke off suddenly, wrapping an arm protectively around herself as she gave a small shudder before turning to stare out the window.
"I am truly sorry Flora," Jarvis repeated softly, moving to stand a few feet away from her, "I hadn't realised what it had been like for you…you should have told me sooner."
"Well I'm telling you now," Flora shot back quietly, "I just….I just don't know if this is all worth it….it seems like this whole plan is running away before my eyes and there's nothing I can do to stop it…"
Swallowing nervously, the butler took another couple of steps towards her. If he wasn't careful he'd be left with his well-laid plan in tatters if Flora pulled out now. He couldn't help the feeling of guilt that was also welling up inside him. If was honest, he really hadn't given too much thought to how the announcement of their engagement would have affected her. He had heard a few whispers about the place when he had entered some rooms but most of them had seemed to stop abruptly once the servants realised that the butler's surprise engagement had in no way relaxed his attitude towards insolent junior servants. Flora was correct in saying that really the only thing he'd had to deal with was the congratulations from the rest of the staff and the odd knowing wink, nudge and a 'you sly dog you' from the valets.
"I know it seems that way Flora," Jarvis said softly "I really hadn't expected things to turn out like this when I first asked you. It does seem rather surreal."
"That it certainly is." Flora replied, a slight note of bitterness entering her voice.
"However can I ask you just to give it a little more time?" Jarvis asked cautiously, watching as the housekeeper's figure stiffened slightly.
"How much more time?" Flora murmured, turning round to lock gazes with the butler.
"Not long I promise," Jarvis reassured her, "Just another week or so, see if things do improve.."
"And if they don't?"
"Well if they don't then we can go from there," Jarvis replied evasively, "But I will do my best to ensure they do. I'll have a word with Mr Adams, see if he can reign in the lower servants a bit. And if I catch anyone saying anything, I'll come down on them like a ton of bricks, set an example to the rest of them."
"I…I don't know," Flora murmured anxiously, twisting her ring nervously round on her finger and looking everywhere but at the butler.
"Please Flora," Jarvis asked softly, finally catching her gaze and pleading silently with her, "Just one more chance, after that I promise, no more."
Looking up at the butler's pleading expression, Flora felt herself relenting, she knew she should be strong, follow her head and just say no, that that was it, she had had enough……but when he looked at her like that it was impossible to refuse him anything. "Just one week longer," she eventually said reluctantly, trying in vain to suppress the small flutter in her stomach when the butler smiled warmly back at her. "But after that…"
"Of course," Jarvis replied sincerely, "Just one more week."
---
The opportunity for the butler to try and salvage his plan and reassure the housekeeper of the soundness of it came sooner than either had anticipated. The following morning, the butler was making his way down to breakfast slightly later than usual, having been delayed by a sudden emergency with the footmen. Glancing in annoyance at his pocketwatch as he arrived at the dining room, Jarvis went to push open the slightly ajar door before pausing momentarily while still out of sight on the threshold.
"Is it going to be a short engagement then Mrs Ryan?" he heard one of the valets enquire snidely of the housekeeper.
"I…we haven't quite decided on dates yet?" the housekeeper muttered and the butler could almost picture her look of embarrassment as the rest of the room went very quiet.
"Well it was a bit of a shock announcement I must say," the valet continued smoothly, "there aren't going to be any more 'surprise announcements' at morning prayers are there?" he added as some of the others struggled to suppress their sniggers.
"I…I don't know what you're implying." The housekeeper stuttered indignantly.
"Oh nothing, nothing," his lordship's valet said quickly, "I was just thinking Christmas is such a romantic time to have a wedding and…."
"We'll make sure to bear your advice in mind then when setting a date." Jarvis snapped icily, pushing open the door and entering the room properly causing all those seated at the table to suddenly jump round in their seats.
"Ah Mr Jarvis," the valet said hastily, going rather red in the face, "I was just complimenting your lovely fiancée and enquiring when the happy day was going to be?"
"I'm sure you were," Jarvis retorted, fixing the hapless valet with a glare while he helped himself to breakfast, "However I am sure you will all forgive us for keeping you in suspense for a bit longer. We haven't actually set a date yet."
Enjoying the rather stunned silence that greeted that remark, Jarvis glanced up at the other end of the table to where the housekeeper was now looking slightly less embarrassed.
"No thoughts at all on when it will be Mr Jarvis?" one daring soul enquired tentatively.
"Nothing solid yet no," Jarvis retorted, "Perhaps a summer wedding might be nice though….what do you think Mrs Ryan?"
"A summer wedding sounds lovely," Flora murmured, flashing the butler an appreciative smile as the other table occupants sat digesting that little piece of information.
"Or even next autumn maybe," the butler mused, enjoying the looks of barely concealed astonishment on some of the faces round the table.
"That would give us more time to plan it…" Flora added, joining in the game.
"Exactly," Jarvis replied, "Important to plan it properly, we're not in any huge rush after all are we." he added pointedly, watching as several people's eyebrows shot up in surprise at that comment.
"No indeed Mr Jarvis," Flora murmured, smiling gratefully at the butler who returned her smile warmly as the conversation around them turned to more mundane household matters for the remainder of the meal.
----
It was a few days later that Flora was making her way along the main street in Tappleton, humming softly to herself as she went. Breathing in the crisp air, she couldn't help contain the smile that broke out across her face; it was good to be out of the bustle of Taplows, if only for an afternoon. It wasn't her afternoon off but she had convinced the butler that she had several pressing errands in town that she couldn't possibly delegate to anyone else. The butler, who seemed anxious to keep her as happy as possible at the moment, had agreed with only the tiniest reluctance.
Glancing up at the town clock tower, she realised she still had some time to spare before having to head back to the house. Crossing over the street, she pushed open the door of the local draper's, smiling her greeting to the draper who looked up from his conversation with another customer on hearing the jangle of the door.
Wandering around the shop as she waited for the draper to finish his conversation, Flora reached out, softly fingering the piles of fabrics that lined the shop walls. Lost in her own thoughts, Flora took a moment or so to realise that the young lady had left the shop and that the draper was now addressing her.
"I'm sorry Mr Roucewell," Flora exclaimed, turning round to face the draper properly, "I was miles away."
"Yes I could see that my dear," the old man chuckled, "Sorry to keep you, that was young Miss Cooper, she's going to be married next month you see, she came in to see if we had all the measurements we needed. Bless my soul, haven't seen anyone quite so excited in ages, poor thing could hardly get her words out for excitement the first time she was here!"
"Yes she seemed very happy," Flora murmured in agreement.
"Yes, so lovely to see," the draper said wistfully, leaning back on his counter, "But what about you!" he suddenly exclaimed.
"Me?" Flora said in surprise.
"Yes! You're engaged as well aren't you….to the butler….Mr, oh…Mr.."
"Jarvis," Flora said automatically, "Umm yes I suppose…yes I am." Flora stuttered, going rather red in the face.
"You don't sound very certain about it!" the old man laughed "Are you sure!"
"Yes I am," Flora replied more firmly, "I'm sorry, it's all still a bit new…it's taking a while to get used to it."
"Of course, of course," the draper nodded understandingly, "I'm sure you'll get used to it soon though, everyone does, you do make such a lovely couple though if you don't mind my saying so! Very well suited I always thought and I was very pleased to hear of your engagement…..ohh is that why you're here, of course…" he suddenly said, realisation dawning on his face.
"Ohh no, no," Flora said quickly as she realised what the old draper meant, but he was already up and off darting around his shop with surprising speed given his age.
"Now you're lucky you are, I had this sent down from London only the other week and it has been absolutely flying off the shelves, must be the season for weddings perhaps…. but I think you should be in luck as I have enough to make up a lovely dress in your size, something a little bit special…."
"No, Mr Rouncewell…"
"Too traditional?" the draper cut in, putting the material back on the shelf and whipping out another one as if from nowhere, "I know what you mean, well I have this one, not quite as showy mind, but would suit your complexion down to the ground and for just a little bit extra I could easily whip up…"
"No Mr Roucewell please," Flora managed to squeak out, taking advantage as the draper paused mid-sentence, she hurriedly continued, "I'm afraid Mr Jarvis and I have yet to set a date so I'll be back nearer the time I think…"
"Of course my dear," he said, patting her hand gently as he replaced the material, "I'm getting a little ahead of myself as usual I'm afraid."
"No it's fine, I just wanted to see if the material I ordered last month had arrived yet?"
"Ohh yes, yes," Mr Rouncewell exclaimed, moving to the back of the shop, "Here it is," he said after a few moments, reappearing at the counter holding a wrapped parcel, "I'll put that on your account then Mrs Ryan."
"Thank you very much Mr Rouncewell," Flora replied, taking the parcel and moving over to the door, wanting to be out of the shop as quickly as possible, "Good day!"
"Good day my dear!"
Breathing a sigh of relief as she stepped outside the shop, Flora began to briskly make her way over to where the trap was waiting for her. She hated that everyone now seemed to know about the butler and her, she was used to servant gossip spreading fast but she hadn't expected all the shopkeepers to know quite so quickly. The old draper's comment about her and the butler being well suited had unnerved her merely because he was not the first to say it, far from it. No matter what awful gossip she had heard circulating about the two of them, no one had expressed surprise that they were apparently a couple. In fact it had rather been the opposite, most had accepted it instantly with some going so far as to say they had been waiting for it to happen for a while now.
What amazed Flora was that the butler had not picked up on this, or if he had, he was choosing not to mention it to her. Although, Flora thought, it wouldn't surprise her if he hadn't even thought that anyone might question them as a couple, let alone ponder the fact that everyone seemed to find it so natural and expected. Sighing to herself, Flora tried to put all thoughts of the butler out of her head as she arrived back at the trap was helped up onto it by the driver before it rattled off down the road back to Taplows.
----
Bloody hell! Why did this have to happen now!
Sinking down into his desk chair, Jarvis rested his aching head in his hands. Just when everything was going so well, something had to come along and completely screw it all up. Fishing out the now rather crumpled letter from his inside jacket pocket, he re-read it again, as if by once again looking over it, the words would somehow have magically altered. Glaring in annoyance as the same words continued to stare mockingly up at him, Jarvis swept the letter onto the floor in frustration, before picking it up again, balling it into his fist and flinging it across the room in a sudden fit of temper.
Leaning back in his chair, the butler continued to glare at the offending ball of paper that now lay over in a corner of the room. Just what the hell was he going to do now?
He should really have foreseen that they would need a marriage certificate to claim the money. It had just seemed too good to be true and he mentally kicked himself for not having anticipated this latest spanner in the works.
Everything had been going so well. He had woken up in a good mood, it had been a lovely bright, crisp late autumnal day and he had thought nothing could spoil his mood……until that morning's post arrived. A letter from his great-uncle's solicitor congratulating him on his engagement, adding at the end, so that he had nearly missed it the first time he read it, that he was most looking forward to doing business after the wedding and reminding him to bring along the wedding certificate when he came to claim his inheritance. After all, the old man had joked, he wouldn't want to forget that little bit of paper now would he!
From then on, the day had gone steadily downhill; the Earl had been in a most petulant mood, his footmen especially incompetent, and to top it all off it had also started to rain, the steady downpour now accurately reflecting his very sour mood.
The housekeeper for one had certainly noticed his less than jovial countenance and had subtly enquired after lunch whether or not everything was alright. Unable to tell her the real reason for his disquiet, the butler had brushed her off with a muttered comment about lots of paperwork and not enough sleep, assuring her he would feel better after a good night's sleep.
He had absolutely no idea how he was going to broach the subject with Flora; he had barely come to terms with it himself, let alone thought about how he was going to drop this one into conversation. In all honesty, he didn't really want to think about it too much. Pretending to be engaged was one thing, actually getting married was quite another matter altogether and he was fairly sure Flora would have one or two things to say about it before agreeing. He wasn't even sure what he wanted to do himself. When he had first got that letter from Mr Riley all those weeks ago, he had never envisaged he might end up walking down the aisle himself. Did he want to get married? And to Flora? Shaking his head as his mind conjured up some rather perturbing images of the two of them engaged in some of the more enjoyable aspects of married life; the butler opened his bottom desk drawer to pull out a half-full bottle of whisky. Now, if ever, was certainly the time for a nightcap.
----