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They walked further along to a clear opening. It was most certainly the kitchen, the freshly roasted chicken and the baked scones revealed as much. Suddenly, yelling could be heard behind a large wooden door. Fenella grimaced in embarrassment. She opened the double door, holding it for Eloise to enter.
“Walter says this, and Walter says that, he also said the storm would come and go after a few hours. It’s been days. How are we going to get to our families for Christmas?” a woman grumbled to herself.
“For goodness sake, let the boy sleep and leave me be in peace, woman,” an accented man calmly replied.
Eloise gulped, taking in the scene in front of her. A man in his late forties stood over a large table, hard at work cutting vegetables into small slices, dicing them so rapidly, she could barely see his hands moving at all. The woman, on the other hand, stood by a bucket of water, washing an endless pile of dishes, a glaring scowl rolling across her cheeks. Each of them had sleek, brown hair, pale white skin, and were short in height—they almost appeared like siblings were it not for their stark age difference.
“This is Osmont and Sally, and the one lying down back there is Ralph,” Fenella whispered as she inched closer. Eloise hadn’t noticed the younger one by the corner. “Should I announce your presence, Milady?”
“Quietly if you do, I think he’s asleep,” Eloise chuckled.
Fenella stepped forward in the kitchen, clearing her throat and straightening her posture. “Lady Ellie is here. She wanted to meet you all, so please—be respectful in her presence.”
Eloise expected Fenella’s words to go unheard and travel outside the room. But to her surprise, the commotion suddenly halted and was replaced by an awkward silence with a grimace of shame on Sally’s face.
Osmont bowed respectfully, still looking as indifferent as before. “My Lady.”
“Oh dear, I apologize you had to see that,” Sally added, more enthusiastically than Osmont, “It’s just with the weather—the storm. But oh, never mind that, how wonderful it is to finally meet you, My Lady.”
“I’m in a similar predicament, so I understand.” Eloise smiled softly but tilted her head in question the moment the rest of the maid’s words registered. Finally? She had been here only for three days, seldom leaving the comfort of the guestroom, yet it seemed a whole lot more people knew of her presence.
Sally must have sensed her confusion as she quickly followed up with, “Oh, I don’t mean no offense by that. It’s simply that His Grace has been in such a pleasant mood of late, so I assumed you must be the reason, My Lady. Osmont here has also been excited with your arrival,” she added, “He finally has an opportunity to prepare new dishes.”
Eloise blushed a little as the memory of her kiss with the Duke the previous night returned to her mind and rushed through her being. Was she truly the cause of his pleasant mood? Her stomach fluttered at the thought. Then in a bid to not make her bashfulness any more obvious, she turned to the cook to avoid addressing the comment. “Ah, Mister Osmont, I wanted to thank you personally for the dinners these past few days. They have all been such a delight.”
The ghost of a smile glossed over his face, and judging from Fenella and Sally’s expressions, it seemed a rare reaction from him.
“Are you English?” Eloise asked. “Oh, I hope I don’t sound impolite, I simply noticed some dishes I’ve only ever read of before.”
“He’s from France, My Lady,” Sally spoke out after a small silence.
“Oh, how delightful, I’ve always wished to visit France, it sounds like a wonderful place. Unfortunately, it’s only my fourth time outside of London.”
“And you’re stuck in here with us,” Sally noted, “It’s a pity, My Lady, you really would have enjoyed the county surrounding Richmond Castle, I’m sure. We could have shown you around, we were all looking forward to spending time with our…families this Christmas.” She gave a soft sigh as she turned back to her dishes.
Eloise smiled in sympathy. They all had families to get back to, families that perhaps waited a whole year for some of them. And the way things were heading, they would be trapped alongside her for the rest of the week.
She took a seat on a tiny, wooden chair nearby, watching as Osmont ransacked the room for various ingredients, while Ralph remained by the corner beside a shoe shining box, arms folded, taking a light nap. He seemed to be the youngest of the lot.
“Watch this,” Fenella whispered to her as she pointed to Ralph. “The Duke of Richmond has decided to grace us with his presence,” she declared loudly.
“Oh, for goodness sake Fen—” Sally said.
“Where—” Eloise started, her gaze rushing to the door as her breath hitched in her throat.
The young boy, too, jumped to his feet in shock, tossing the shoebox aside and struggling to hold himself together. “Your Grace, it is an honor, I…” he stuttered a moment, then rubbed his eyes. “Fen! Come on, it isn’t funny!”
“It is. Every. Time.” Fenella burst into laughter, with Sally soon joining her. Even Osmont let out a soft chuckle which caused Eloise to giggle a little too, secretly thankful no one had noticed her reaction.
The boy shook his head in bother, but then turned back to the door and smirked. “Oh, Greg, how long you been standin’ there man?”
This time, Fenella froze up, like a rabbit caught in the glare of a poacher’s lamp. Eloise turned to the door too, but there was no one standing there, and Ralph erupted into an uncontrollable laughter, as did Sally and Osmont; the cook holding his belly in amusement.
Fenella scowled at the others for laughing at her expense, then turned and faced away to hide her coy embarrassment.
After everyone finally calmed down, Sally spoke once more. “So. Is it true you’ll be staying here for a few extra days, My Lady?”
Fenella turned to look at Eloise too as she bit her nails in anticipation.
“It is beginning to look that way, unfortunately. I had some…urgent business to attend to as well.” Eloise felt her stomach churn at the thought of what was likely to occur back in London if she were to stay here much longer. “I guess it’s just a waiting game now.”
Sally moved to the left counter to grab more dishes until something must have dawned on her as she turned to face Eloise again. “My Lady, perhaps you should speak to Walter. He’s quite theskilled rider. I’ve heard that some of the stallions are trained to navigate through snowy roads. I’m sure he’d be more than up for the challenge.”
Suddenly, a tinge of optimism overtook her. Could it truly be that simple? “Where can I find Walter?” Amid Eloise’s eagerness, Fenella’s shoulders slumped in disappointment.
“He’s probably outside checking on the livestock, should be returning soon, though. He’ll be at the game larder then.”
There was a glimmer of hope once more. She might yet escape…But with how everything was starting to pan out at the Castle, she wasn’t sure she wanted to anymore.
