32
Harm's eyebrows raised in mild surprise when it was Jen and not Julia who brought him his mid-morning coffee, "Martinez gone UA?" he asked Jen with a twinkle.
Jen grinned broadly, "No, sir. I just wanted an opportunity to say how pleased I am that you took my advice."
Harm's forehead creased as he tried to think what Jen was talking about and then gave a slight shake of his head. "Obviously, I'm not firing on all cylinders this morning, but I haven't got a clue what you mean..."
"Think back to our first meeting, sir. You'd parked me overnight at the Colonel's and then picked me up in the morning... we went to your lock-up and your 'vette was gone. You thought it had been stolen, and told me that this was the second time it had happened, and I said to you..."
"Buy a Subaru! Yes, I remember now!" Harm grinned at the memory, "But how did you..."
"Martinez, sir. She was drooling over it, and wondering why it was that the Navy don't buy them for their motor pools"
"Couldn't do that, Legalman One, we are legally bound to buy American!"
"Even when the home grown products are cra... uh... inferior, sir?"
"Legalman One! Go wash your mouth out with soap and water!" Harm chuckled.
"Aye, aye, sir!" Jen grinned, and slipped quietly out of the office and returned to her desk., leaving Harm chuckling, not just over her words but over the memories they invoked, memories of a period at JAG before everything went pear-shaped. Memories however, could be a two-edged sword, and it was to stop himself slipping into a grimmer mood that he reflected with a smile that maybe, just maybe, his life was beginning to return to that happier state, and for that he knew exactly who as responsible. With a sigh he silently damned the agreement they had made not to call each other during duty hours except in case of an emergency. Still, Coates' words could be stored up until this evening when he knew that Gill too would have a chuckle at his irrepressible Legalman's pretended smug satisfaction. In the meantime however... he leaned forward and stabbed the intercom unit's call button, "Legalman One?"
"Sir?" Jen's voice came back instantly.
"Check Commander Moseley's court calendar, and if he's not in court this afternoon, pass the word that I'd like a few minutes of his time today, but at his convenience."
"Aye, aye, Sir!"
Harm released the button and sat back with a frown on his face. It really wasn't fair to expect Moseley to pick up the slack every time he, Harm, left his station, but until and unless General Cresswell set things in motion to fill the gapped posts at JAG NAVFOREUR, Mosley was the next ranking officer on station.
xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx
"So... you fly out tomorrow midday – midday-ish," Gill corrected herself, and you arrive back, when exactly?" she asked from the comfort of the couch in Harm's living room.
"Mid morning a week today, "Harm confirmed, as he brought the tray with coffee-pot and mugs from the kitchen.
Neither Harm nor Gill were particularly in favour of midweek dates, but with Harm's imminent trip to DC, they had agreed to make an exception, so Gill had arrived more or less straight from the office, stopping en route to pick up her overnight bag and a change of clothing from her room in the Mess, and had arrived at Northolt in time to help Harm preparing dinner. Now, the meal consumed and the kitchen set to rights Gill was checking that she had the details of Harm's forthcoming week at her fingertips.
"And once you get to Washington?" She asked.
"I get met by Bud Roberts and/or Harriet, overnight with them, and then head for Charlottesville family court at zero dark hundred hours, where I meet up with AJ and do battle with Judge Smith, win the case, and start the ball rolling to get Mattie over here.
Gill looked sharply at him, for all the certainty in his voice and the confidence with which he spoke, the still remained a dark shadow in his eyes. Gill sent a silent prayer heavenwards that Harm's confidence was not misplaced; if, by some awful mischance, he failed to win his appeal she knew that despite what ever face he might present to the world he would be devastated. He would, of course, remain as Mattie's legal Guardian, but that would still be insufficient to allow him to bring her to the UK, and if he couldn't be with her, there was every chance that he would be stripped of his guardianship and Mattie would disappear into the system.
Gill took a sip of coffee before she asked gently, "Harm, have you thought about what you 'll do, what Mattie might do, if you lose the appeal?"
Harm nodded, a grim expression on his face, "Yes, of course. It's something they drilled into us at flight school, prepare for the worse, that way there shouldn't be any unpleasant surprises. But, I have a feeling that this is going to work out okay. I'll have the former Navy JAG in my corner, plus testimonials from Bud and Harriet Roberts, from Jen Coates, and then of course Mattie will be there to speak for herself, and she is now old enough for the courts to accept that she knows what she wants. Most of Judge Smith's objections have been nullified by my appointment to London, the only sticking point I can think of is the question of suitability of the accommodation, and to counter that I have a folio of photographs taken of the house. The doors, both internal and external, are wide enough to take a wheelchair, and the only work that really needs to be done is fitting ramps to the external doors "
Gill frowned, "But the bathroom is on the first, excuse me, the second floor, how is Mattie supposed to cope with the stairs?"
"Well, there is a WC down here for her to use during the day, but at first, I can see that I will have to carry her up and down stairs as required."
"That's all very well," Gill agreed, "while you're here. I know that you're not going to be tearing off across the world on a regular basis any more, but there is still the chance that you'll have to… I don't know what you call it, go on attachment somewhere?"
Harm nodded, his facial expression once more taking on a grim aspect, "it's unlikely, but yes, it could happen. If it does, then I'm sure Jen will cover for me in the future, just as much as she ever did for us in the past. Besides which," his face relaxed into a grin, "there's this rather lovely English girl, whom I hope will make friends with Mattie, and be able to step into the breach as well."
"Oh yes?" Gill chuckled, "are you going to introduce her to me?"
"Mattie?" Harm asked in totally spurious innocence, "Of course I am!"
"No… I meant when do I get introduced me to this lovely English girl?" Gill chuckled again.
Harm regarded her levelly, "Yes, it's probably time you did meet her!" He put his coffee cup down on the tray and stood holding a hand out to Gill, "Come on then, I'll take you to meet her!"
A somewhat mystified and chagrined Gill got to her feet. She had been certain that Harm was referring to herself, but now a mountain of doubt assailed her, especially as Harm took her by the hand and led her out into the entry hall, but then, just as she was certain he was reaching for the door handle, he took her gently by the shoulders and turned her to face the full-length mirror by the door.
"Gill Shephard, I'd like you to meet a certain lovely young English girl, whom I am most sincerely hope will become at Mattie Grace's friend!"
A gurgle of surprised laughter burst from Gill's lips, "Clown!" she scolded him.
"Gotcha!" Harm grinned into their reflection.
"You did not! I knew what you were doing all the time!" Gill said mendaciously.
"Yeah, right!" Harm drawled, just before he bent his head nuzzling aside her silken hair and dropped a gentle kiss on the spot where Gill's slender throat merged into her shoulder.
Gill closed her eyes and shuddered in ecstasy, "if you knew what that did to me, you'd be a damn sight more careful about doing it!" she mock complained.
"So, it has some sort of effect on you?" Harm asked in all innocence, but with a far from innocent gleam in his eye.
"Damn straight!" Gill sighed emphatically, and then added in accusatory tones, "But you damn well know that!"
"Umm... No, I didn't know that... But it sounds as if there might be some interesting possibilities, so why don't we take this discussion back to the couch and then you can explain to me just what sort of feelings you get?"
Gill twisted around to face him, and leaned back against the support of his hands on her hips, her eyes dancing with mischief as she said, "It's a good job that I know you're an addict, and that addicts will say what ever it takes to feed their addiction, otherwise I could be grossly offended that you are lying to me just about as fast as a dog can trot! But, it's not a bad idea!"
xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx
"A new toy, Jennifer?" Harm asked on Thursday morning, as he settled himself in the passenger seat of the Navy sedan.
Jen straightened up from where she had been adjusting the SatNav's position on the dashboard, "No, sir," she grinned a little self-consciously, "it belongs to Julia – Yeoman Two Martinez. I'm happy about driving over here now, but I'm not entirely confident of finding my way around yet, so..."
"So..." Harm agreed still with his grin in place, "I don't need to navigate for you?"
" Nuh-huh," Jen shook her head as she checked her mirrors, concentrating on pulling out into the stream of traffic, and then as the car picked up speed, she suddenly remembered where she was, with whom she was speaking, and what she had just said, "Oh! I'm sorry, sir! It's just that I was concentrating..."
"It's okay, Jennifer, I wasn't thinking about filing charges!"
"No sir, but that doesn't excuse my..."
"But your concentrating on the road does, and I'm totally happy that you're doing so!
"Yes, sir." Jen agreed, realising that it was pointless to continue the discussion and letting the subject die a death.
Harm knew full well what his Legalman was up to, and sometimes wondered if she realised that in unguarded moments her face exactly expressed her thoughts, and gave a silent prayer of thanks that Jen had given up the poker playing of her earlier days, announcing a she had back at Falls Church after a heavy and losing night that poker was a dumb game and she couldn't be bothered with it any more, so with a slight, secret grin, he settled back to enjoy the half-hour drive to Heathrow.
xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx
it was nearly 10 hours later, that Harm felt the wheels of the airliner bump into the tarmac at Dulles International airport, making it about 2000 hours by his body clock, but about 1500 hours local time. And once again, he hadn't really enjoyed the flight, due, he was honest enough to admit to himself, mostly to the fact that he wasn't flying the plane.
Still, it could have been worse he had insufficient air miles to work an upgrade from economy class, and the checking in clerk at Heathrow had merely arched a delicate eyebrow at his inquiry into the possibility of a free upgrade. Fortunately, it had only been a few minutes after take-off that one of the flight attendants, a vaguely familiar red-head, had stopped next to his seat
"Mister Rabb, isn't it?" She had asked.
"Yes, is there something I can do for you?"
'Oh, God yes!' Martie Cahill thought fervently, but managed a cool professional smile, "The other way round, sir. You're too tall to be comfortable in these seats; there's a couple of seats spare in Business Class, I'm sure you'd be more comfortable there?"
"Thank you..." Harm's eyes flicked to the woman's name badge, "Martie. Yes, that certainly would be more comfortable! Thank you very much!"
So as a result of Martie's not totally disinterested kindness Harm had arrived at Dulles in better shape than he'd feared. And only having his carry-on bag with him, was one of the first passengers to clear immigration and customs and make his way out into the arrivals area of the terminal, where his height acted as a beacon to Harriet Roberts and Mattie who had come to meet him.
Harm was almost crushed by the fervour of Harriet's hug as she smiled mistily at him "Welcome home, Sir... uh... Harm!"
"Nice to see you again, too, Harriet!" Harm almost wheezed as he felt the air being pressed out of his lungs, but he still managed a smile and kiss on Harriet's offered cheek before he added, "But you'd better let me go, before Mattie gets jealous!"
"Oh... of course!" Harriet blushed, but still smiling through her tears of joy, as she reluctantly released the tall Navy captain, who immediately dropped to one knee to beside Mattie's wheelchair to accept her no less fervent embrace, "Hi Squirt, been behavin' yourself?" he demanded, to be answered by a second anaconda-like hug and a further quick burst of tears.
Harm almost felt like indulging in a few tears of his own, but he stifled them as he buried his face in Mattie's riotous curls and murmured, "Happy tears, Squirt?"
"Uh-huh," Mattie nodded and sniffled, experiencing once again the almost overpowering sense of security and safety she felt every time that she was in Harm's company.
"So... how about a happy face to go with them?" he suggested in a teasing voice.
"This is a happy face!" Mattie retorted as she leaned back to look up at Harm, a grin of sheer joy spreading over her tear-tracked face.
"Yeah, that's better!" Harm agreed as he rose to his feet dusting off his knee and turned to a beaming Harriet.
"No other baggage, si... uh... Harm?" she asked.
"Nope, travelling light this time!" Harm affirmed, "this is it!"
"Well, then... shall we go? The van's on level two across the walkway, near the elevator."
"Suits me!" Harm agreed poking up his carry-on, "Want a push, kiddo?"
"Nah, it would give me a crick in the neck trying to look up at you!" Mattie grinned, "It's easier if I'm beside you!"
"So... no Bud this evening?" Harm asked Harriet as he clamped Mattie's chair to the van's floor.
"On his way back from an investigation at Norfolk," Harriet clarified the situation as she belted herself into the driver's seat.
Although he was certain that Harriet wouldn't have left her children unattended in the van, Harm cast another quick look round the van's interior, "The children?" he queried.
Harriet allowed herself a grin as she waited for Harm to buckle up, "At home; we got one of the Yeomen, Marcy Hill, from JAG to come and babysit for us."
Harm nodded, "Of course you did!" he said with a slightly shame-faced grin, and settled back for the twenty-five minute journey to Piedmont Street.
Harriet turned the van the drive and as she applied the parking brake said unnecessarily, "Well, we're here!"
Harm paused in the act of undoing his seat belt, and twisted his head to face her, one eyebrow arched delicately "We are?" he asked in mock surprise.
"Ooh! Men!" Harriet fumed between gritted teeth, and then flashed a look of loathing into the van's interior, "And you are not helping, young lady!" She scolded a giggling Mattie.
"I'm not?" Mattie replied, perfectly mimicking not only Harm's tone of voice, but also his feigned expression of surprise.
Harriet glowered at each of them in turn, before her own giggles overtook her, "This is… So unfair! Two on one just isn't right, the least you could do is tag team me!"
"Never mind, Harriet," Mattie consoled her, "If past performance is anything to go by, then it won't be too long before we have an opportunity to double team Harm!"
Harriet threw a speculative glance in Harm's direction, "Yes…" She said slowly, "That's probably very true."
Harm grinned as he slid open the side door to the van, "I knew it wouldn't be too long before it became pick on me day!"
It took only a few seconds for Harm to unclamp Mattie's chair and rig the ramp to allow the teenager to roll down onto the drive, which she did, keeping control of the chair by riding the brakes all the way down the ramp. Harm grinned down at her and with a nod of his head towards the ramp leading up to the porch, he asked," Want a push, Mats?"
Mattie threw him a scornful glance, and wheeled away to line up with the ramp, turned to face it, took a deep breath, flexed her shoulders started to roll. Harm held his breath as he watched, and then felt Harriet's hand grip his forearm reassuringly, "She'll do it, Harm. Even if she gets it wrong the first time, she won't quit, and she won't ask for help. Of course, sometimes she gets so tired that we have to come out to help her, but she really hates that, and sulks for days afterwards!"
"H'mm..." Harm thought for a second or two, and then grinned, "Wing man and RIO!" And then catching Harriet's mystified expression explained, "Even the hottest pilots out of top gun need their Rio and their wing man, Mattie just needs to be reminded about teamwork. I'm really glad she's trying to be as independent as she can, but she still needs to realise that she's got a lot of work ahead of her before she can stand on her own two feet – and I mean that both literally and figuratively. Besides which, sulking is a poor way of showing gratitude for all you've done for her." He nodded decisively, "I will have that conversation with her!"
"Don't be too hard on her Harm," Harriet remonstrated, "she's no burden, she pulls her weight around the house, and she is a marvel with little AJ and Jimmy, that leaves me free to concentrate on the twins when I need to. So, the odd sulk isn't too bad, and after all even without the wheelchair, she still a teenager, so there would still be moods!"
Harm had been watching Mattie's attempt to roll up the ramp, and let out a long breath he didn't even know he'd been holding as she rolled onto the porch, and his shoulders sagged slightly as he let the tension flow out of him. "Okay, I won't be too hard on her, but I really don't want her abusing your hospitality," he said as he shouldered his carry-on and started up the steps to the porch.
Harriet smiled up at him, "it is nothing of the sort, Harm. Ninety-nine point nine per cent of the time she is an absolute joy to have around the house."
"Finished talking about me?" Mattie challenged them as they stepped onto the porch.
"Just about," Harm smiled easily.
"Oh, don't mind me," Mattie grinned up at him, "You just carry right on if you want, after all, while you're talking about me, you're leaving everybody else alone!"
Harm reached out and ruffled Mattie's curls, "Why thank you 'most to death, Miss Grace!"
All three were still chuckling when Harriet opened the door and ushered them into the house. As they entered the living room Harm was practically swarmed by little AJ, and afterwards nobody was very clear is whether Harm had picked him up or AJ had climbed up Harm's tall figure until he was in a position to wrap his arms tightly around Harm's neck and give him a smacking kiss, much to Harriet's chagrin, which she expressed with a horrified, "AJ Roberts!"
Harm chuckled, and swatted AJ playfully on the bottom, "It's okay, Harriet, he's just pleased to see me – aren't you champ?"
"You bet!" the little boy exclaimed nodding emphatically. "Have you come back perm... permetly... uh... permalentny?" he then asked hopefully.
"No, not yet , Tiger," Harm said gently, "This is just another short stay, and I've got a lot to do, so why don't I put you down for a few minutes, so I can say hello to Jimmy and the twins!"
He gently lifted AJ down and then dropped to one knee, "Howdy, partner," he said gravely to Jimmy, who had hung back and was regarding this tall intruder dubiously, "Remember me? I'm Harm..."
Jimmy nodded, "Yeah, I 'member... you took us all swimming an' gave us ice-cream." He paused for a few moments, "Are you going to take us swimming again?"
"Gee, I don't know... I'd sure like to... but that's up to your mommy and daddy to say, and we haven't got Jen with us to keep you guys in line..." Harm said, a frown creasing his forehead, 'but more importantly,' he said to himself, 'we haven't got Jen to help Mattie in and out of her swim suit.'
Jimmy's face fell and he pouted with disappointment, "Uh-huh..." he said disconsolately, moving Harm to respond.
"But I tell you what, I'll ask your mommy and daddy, and if we can't go swimming, we'll do something else, okay?"
"'Kay..." the younger Roberts son agreed, a shy, hopeful smile spreading across his face.
Harm stood and moved to the play area of the family room, where the twins stood, grasping the bars of their play pen, as if they were prisoners confined to a cell, and once again, Harm squatted to bring himself down to their level, "Hey you two," he said softly as they regarded him gravely, and then as Nikki ventured a smile, he reached a finger through the bars and gently tickled her tummy, while Matthew continued to look suspicious. "I see, that you don't remember me," Harm said gravely, but that's okay, we'll get to know each other better a little further along the way!"
"Harm, I'd like you to meet Marcy Hollis, Yeoman Two." Harriet interrupted as Harm stood up and became aware of a very tall, very slim, dark haired and rather plain-faced young woman uncoiling from the couch. "Marcy's taken over Jen's baby-sitting duties when she can – in fact Jen recommended her to us! Marcy, this is Captain Rabb, the FJA for NAVFOREUR, Jennifer's boss," she added in explanation.
"Sir!" the young woman snapped into a brace.
"Stand easy, at ease and please take a seat, Yeoman Two," Harm smiled, trying to put the obviously nervous young petty officer at ease, "Your brother, wasn't it, who bought Jen's car, before she left?" he added, as his memory frantically sought to recall where he had heard her name before.
"Yes, sir!" Marcy replied, and then relaxed, "He bought it for demolition derby and the darn thing conked out within yards of the start! Jen was lucky she got rid of it when she did!"
Harm smiled, "If you don't mind, I'll tell her that when I get back to England!"
"No need, sir, I've already e-mailed her to tell her!" Marcy smiled again, and it was the sort of smile that transformed her face, Harm noted, making her seem quite pretty.
"Does she need telling to answer you?" he asked.
"No, sir! We e-mail each other a couple of times a week... I like to think of her as a friend, sir!"
"And she's a very good friend to have, I speak from experience, and I'm sure Mattie will back me up!"
"Damn straight!" the teenager replied, drawing a gasp from Marcy and an anguished "Mattie!" from Harriet as the blonde and brunette both threw a desperate glance at a very interested AJ Roberts. Mattie blushed, and with an apologetic look at Harriet muttered, "Sorry! I just kinda forgot..."
"Well, please don't!" Harriet answered, "The last thing I need is to have to go and see AJ's principal because he's been repeating things he heard you say!"
"I really am, sorry, Harriet," Mattie said, and she truly did sound remorseful, "It won't happen again!"
Harriet heaved a long suffering sigh, "Yes, yes, it will..." she sad sadly as she shook her head in exasperation, but Harm wasn't the only one to see the glint of amusement in her eye.
"So... I'm off the hook?" Mattie asked ingenuously.
"Oh... I s'pose so!" the harassed blonde admitted.
Harm stepped in, "And I know just where you got that 'it won't happen again' line from too!" he said sternly.
"Yeah, how is Jen?" Mattie asked eagerly, as she manoeuvred her wheelchair alongside the armchair Harm had selected.
"Jen's fine... she's moved off base into an apartment about forty minutes from the Embassy, and..." his eyes twinkled in anticipation, "it looks like she's finally started dating!"
"About time too!" Harriet exploded, bringing smiles to everybody else's face.
"So who's she dating?" Mattie dug deeper.
"Well, I'm not one hundred per cent certain, but it looks like she's dating the First Sergeant of the Embassy security company.
"A Marine?" Harriet objected, "and Jen? I don't see that lasting ..." she concluded sadly, "And the last thing that girl needs is another broken heart," she added tangentially, causing Mattie to look at her with renewed interest.
"I think this time it might work out," Harm said judiciously, "after all, he is kinda house-trained."
"Huh, what sort of Marine is ever house-trained!" Harriet scoffed.
"The Victor Galindez sort?" Harm replied, with a devilish grin as he lowered the boom.
"Victor Galindez..." Harriet frowned until the shoe finally dropped, "Gunny? Gunny!" she squealed. "Jennifer Coates is dating Gunny?! Jennifer Coates and Victor Galindez. Well!"
"It certainly looks like it!" Harm confirmed. "But he's not a Gunny any more."
Harriet pumped down in the other armchair, as if her legs would no longer support her. "Jennifer Coates and Victor Galindez..." she repeated, but this time In a reflective tone, "Well... he is semi-civilised, and Jen is a strong character, so... yeah, it might work..."
"Uh... confused teenager here!" Mattie interrupted, "but who is Victor... whatever his name is?"
"Victor Galindez – and that's First Sergeant to you, unless and until he says other wise – used to be the Admin NCO at JAG HQ, and a first rate behind the scenes investigator. He also used to be a sheriff's deputy and he still had a lot of contacts on the law enforcement business, which at times proved to be ad... uh... darned useful!" Harm hastily corrected himself.
Harriet shot a gimlet-eyed glance at Marcy, "Did you know about this, Marcy?"
"Umm... I'll take the fifth on that, if you don't mind ma'am," Marcy grinned, "And if you'll excuse me, I need to get going, I don't want to miss the bus back into DC..."
"You'll do no such thing!" Harriet protested. "You'll stay and have dinner with us, and then Bud can drive you back to DC! After all, it's his fault you're here. If he hadn't gone to Norfolk, then you could have enjoyed your day off without worrying yourself with this brood!" Harriet indicated her beloved children with a deprecating sniff and and a sweep of her arm. Then she paused, her forehead wrinkling, "But where's your cycle? I didn't see you arrive, but I assumed you'd stowed your gear in the hall closet?"
Marcy shook her head, a glum expression on he face, "It's in the shop, ma'am. Some dumb car driver wiped me out on the corner of Wisconsin and M a couple of days ago."
"You weren't hurt?"Harriet spoke with quick concern.
"No, ma'am. I wasn't travelling very fast, and my gear protected me, but I do need to buy a new helmet, and the exhausts and panels got scuffed up a fair bit..."
"What do you ride?" Harm asked as he looked at the young Yeoman with renewed interest.
"You probably won't think much of it, sir, it's a two thousand two Honda CB500 twin sports tourer..."
"Why wouldn't I think much of it?" Harm frowned as he inquired.
"Well, sir, no offence meant, but most guys your age seem fixated on Harleys or Indians..."
"And they were pretty good cycles when they were first designed," Harm agreed, "but they're stuck in a rut an haven't kept pace with technological, and particularly ergonomic advances. And as a matter of interest, my last bike was a BMW 800ST – a real crotch rocket, according to Harley snobs! And the Honda is a decent middle-weight. Straight twin, isn't it?""
"Did the guy who hit you stop?" Mattie demanded fiercely, before Marcy could answer.
"Yeah, he stopped. We exchanged details, and then Metro PD showed up and breathalysed us both. Neither of us was drunk, it was the same old, same old..."
"Let me guess," Harm interjected, "'Sorry Pal I didn't see you'!"
"Got it in one, sir!" Marcy exclaimed, warming to this new officer who had swung into her orbit. She had been a bit wary of talking casually with a full Captain, but he seemed to be an okay guy, and certainly wasn't standing on any ceremony...
"I think that's about enough gossip for now," Harriet said as she cocked an eye at the clock. "Harm, you're in the same room as last time, and your grey suit is freshly cleaned and pressed in the closet, together with a new white shirt and a naval aviation neck tie. You know where the bathroom is, so if you want to freshen up before dinner, go right ahead. Marcy, I'd be really grateful of you could continue to keep an eye on my monsters, and Mattie, I could do with some help in the kitchen!"
Without realising it, Harriet's voice had taken on the tone of command, (she was Household Six, after all) and her auditors were all aware that suggestions from a senior officer were tantamount to commands, so the three broadly grinning recipients of her orders exchanged an amused glance before replying in chorus, "Aye, aye, ma'am!"