Therefore, she had briefed the staff on exactly how they would interact with Mr. Grimsby.
The would-be butler had informed Mrs. Right, and the rest of the staff, that they were to gather together in the kitchens during the quiet hour before the preparations for dinner would commence. He’d ordered a tea tray, which she supposed made him feel very liberal. Of course, he frowned at the copious amount of milk Thomas added to his cup, which wasnotvery liberal of him. Everybody knew Thomas liked his tea very milky.
Mr. Grimsby sipped his own tea and set it down with deliberation. “First, be aware that Lady Marchfield has been the soul of transparency with me. I know all.”
Mr. Grimsby’s eyes drifted toward Mrs. Right.
“Very kind of her ladyship, I’m sure,” Mrs. Right said.
“I rather think it was,” Mr. Grimsby said. “A soldier of any worth likes to know as much as possible about the battlefield he ventures into. I have been apprised of what has gone on so far, including the departures of the two less-than stalwart butlers who have preceded me. I will inform you that your experience withmeis to be markedly different.”
They all stared at Mr. Grimsby, keeping their expressions neutral.
“Markedly,” he repeated. As he got no response to repeating himself, he went on. “I expect a strict hierarchy. I am at the top, naturally. Orders flow down from me, to be distributed through regulated channels. I brook no nonsense!Iam in charge, and my least directive is to be carried out with alacrity and precision.”
“No,” Mrs. Right said, pleasantly smiling.
Mr. Grimsby’s teacup clattered onto his saucer.
Charlie and Thomas both raised their cups to their lips to hide their smirks. Cook folded his arms. The kitchen maid looked wildly back and forth between Mr. Grimsby and Mrs. Right as if she attended a play at the theater.
“Pardon me? No?” Mr. Grimsby said. “What can you mean by such a ludicrous response?”
Mrs. Right smiled indulgently. “Oh dear. The word has thrown you off. Well, I do apologize for that. Here is a handy trick I often use to remember its meaning—no is the opposite of yes.”
“Mrs. Right,” Mr. Grimsby said darkly, “I warn you to refrain from defying me. I will not tolerate such audacity and impertinence.”
Mrs. Right sipped her tea. “What will you plan on doing about it, I wonder?” she asked.
“Do about it?” Mr. Grimsby asked.
Mrs. Right thought it a very reasonable question, though it seemed to make Mr. Grimsby red in the face.
“Do you not think I have the power to dismiss you if necessary?” he sputtered.
“No,” Mrs. Right said with a snort of laughter.
Mr. Grimsby threw his napkin on the table. It was apparent that he was not accustomed to being defied.
“I warn you, I will speak directly to the duke, if I am pressed to it,” Mr. Grimsby said. “Do not press me to it.”
That was too much for everybody. All at table but for Mr. Grimsby heaved with laughter.
Mr. Grimsby rose with a dignified expression and straightened his cuffs. “I think you will regret this insubordination, Mrs. Right.”
He strode from the room. She called after him, “I rarely regret anything, Mr. Grimsby.”
“I think we’ve made a good start on it, Mrs. Right,” Charlie said.
“Aye,” Thomas said, “he got foiled at every turn.”
“Markedlyso,” Mrs. Right said.
“Do you think he’ll actually try it on with the duke?” Cook asked. “Mr. Grimsby seems a bit more stalwart than the last two fellows.”
Mrs. Right shrugged. “Who knows? Though, I suppose his head will blow off his shoulders when I join the duke for a brandy in the drawing room or I’m invited in to play Fact or Fib. If I know Lady Marchfield, she won’t have told him anything about that—reflecting too shameful on the family, she’d think.”
They all nodded at the genial prediction of Mr. Grimsby’s head blown off his shoulders by way of brandy and Fact or Fib.
“Now remember,” Mrs. Right said, “whatever Mr. Grimsby orders you to do, either refuse to do it, or if it’s something that really needs doing, do it differently than he asked. If he attempts to dismiss you, just laugh at him and stroll away. As for myself, I believe Mr. Grimsby may find bits of Dales’ nettles in his bedding this evening.”
They all laughed heartily over that idea and had a very pleasant tea.
