The room was still dark when he woke, but the shapes around him were all wrong and for a moment, Bill felt disorientated. It took a few moments for him to remember where he was, once he registered the unusual sounds in the background. A soft rushing sound rose and fell, and as dawn began to streak the sky, a cry of a gull shrieked through the sky. Levering out of bed, Bill reached for his dressing gown and stumbled his way towards the window, peeking out through the curtain.
The sight that met him gladdened his heart. Down the street which faced the front of the guest house, on the horizon, the sea was clearly visible. The sky was lightning across the horizon, the strong streak of gold capped by soft icy blue, deepening to indigo across the sky. Bill usually saw the dawn sky from the seat of his tractor, but this, with a warm tawny gown and soft carpet beneath his bare toes, was far preferable.
"Are you awake love?"
"I am, darling, that I am." Bill turned back towards the bed to greet his wife, who like him was used to long years of early rising. "And it looks to be a fair one, from the sky. Clear as a bell."
As he spoke, his eye fell on the little tray set on the table in the bay window, containing a sugar bowl and two fine china tea ups. A small hand written card was propped up.
"Early morning tea available from 6am. Please ring."
"Would you like a cup of tea, Darling?"
"Ooh, that sounds just right Bill. I'll feel a rich as Lady Grantham, having tea in bed!"
Bill smiled and turned back to the tray. Ring? Where was the bell?
"Where's the bell, do you see it?"
Well used to life in the big house, Beryl knew exactly what she was looking for. Not a small metal bell on a tray, but a household bell, which would sound in the servant's quarters. "See the hanging piece of fabric aside the curtain? Give it a pull. And then do pass my dressing gown, it wouldn't do for anyone to find me in my nightie."
Bill obediently gave it a pull, smiling to himself. He pulled back one of the curtains to watch the sun rise, and then returned to bed to sit beside his wife. This being on holiday lark was just champion.
…
Downstairs, the kitchen was stirring into life. The cook, Mrs Johnson, started work at 6am, stoking up the range and setting up what was needed for breakfast in the dining room at 8am. The family and their workers breakfasted earlier, and in simpler fashion. They saved the full cooked breakfast for Sunday morning after coming back from church.
This morning, there was a change to the usual routine though. Before Mr Bates had even emerged for his morning coffee, there was a gentle tap at the door. Turning around, Mrs Johnson was surprised to see little Miss Bates, in her Sunday black dress.
"Good morning Mrs Johnson."
"Well, good morning Miss Bates. You're up early this morning."
"Daddy says I can help to serve the breakfasts this morning, since we have special guests staying."
Mrs Johnson smiled to herself.
"Did he indeed. And my, aren't we looking all grown up this morning."
"Mummy said you would have a spare apron and cap for me to wear, like a waitress…"
Suppressing her chuckles, Mrs Johnson went to look one out of the drawer.
"Well, let's get that hair brushed back and pinned up out of the way. Come over here, dear, away from the food prep."
A few minutes with the hairbrush and pins and Josie was looking very smart indeed. The cap stood up straight and the apron was settled around her.
"There we are now … smart enough to be serving in Betty's tea room. Now … what would you like for your breakfast miss? Toast and jam? Or Cornflakes?"
However, before there was time to decide, a sharp bell rang from the noticeboard. The tab above room six had flicked to orange.
"Good gracious me, it's been sometime since a guest wanted morning tea. Room six, that will be the Masons…"
Josie's ears pricked up.
"Uncle Bill and Mrs Patmore?"
"Mrs who?" Mrs Johnson was briefly scandalised by the utterance of a different last name for the female guest sharing room six.
"Mrs Patmore. That was her name when she worked with Mummy and Daddy, at the Abbey. She's married to Uncle Bill now."
The penny dropped and Mrs Johnson was able to thread the pieces of the puzzle together.
"I remember now, yes indeed. The cook from the big house. Cooks and Housekeepers are always Mrs, or at least they were in those days."
"Is that why you're a Mrs, Mrs Johnson?"
"Bless you dear, but no, I'm a Mrs because of Mr Johnson. Now..." she swirled the hot water out of the china pot and spooned in the tea leaves, topping it up from the steaming kettle and setting the tray with a small jug of milk and the strainer in its little holder. "I'd better take this up before I get started down here…"
"Mrs Johnson? Could I take it? And have my cornflakes when I come back?"
"Oh I don't know dearie … are you sure you can carry it? It's a long way…"
"I've taken Mummy cups of tea on a tray, I never ever drop them."
"Oh, righty-ho then, it will let me get the first batch of toast on. Let me get that door for you…"
Mrs Johnson smiled as she watched the little girl go down the corridor, diligently carrying the tray out ahead of her. She was a darling little thing, strong willed but kind hearted. Just like her parents. She'd need both toast and cornflakes when she came back…
…
Bill and Beryl were sat chatting and enjoying the sunrise when the little tap came at their door.
"That must be the tea," Bill heaved to his feet.
"Do you want me to get it?"
"Bless you no dear, it's only three steps to the door…"
Outside, Bill was met with a charming sight. It took him a moment, but only a moment, to place the little blonde girl with a gap toothed smile who was holding the tea tray.
"Well hello there, my dear Josie…"
"Good morning Uncle Bill! I've brought the tea tray for you…"
"And very welcome it is too… Would you like me to take that?"
"Yes please, it is a bit heavy…"
"Well now…"
Josie remembered Daddy's first rule of the guesthouse, which applied to all of the guests, even the special ones. Keep the conversation short and pleasant, don't stay too long.
"I can't stay long Uncle Bill. I need to go and help Daddy get ready to serve the breakfasts. But I'll see you in the breakfast room later…"
"You will do my dear, and thank you for the tea."
She turned after a beaming smile and headed back down the corridor.
Bill turned and came back into the room.
"Well my dear," Bill set the tea tray down gently and set the cups ready to pour. "I think the serving staff here are even more charming than those the Grantham's hired at the Abbey. A very sweet little blonde waitress just brought our morning tea tray."
"Well, did she now … how old is that child these days, I've lost count…"
"About seven or eight I think. Just at that adorable gap toothed stage."
"And the tea will taste all the sweeter for that smile. Ah, thank you pet…"
Beryl settled back against the pillows and accepted the tea cup from Bill. This truly was luxury.