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“Not since Mrs. Poole took over aschef de cuisine. They like her.”
“The maids? Harmony’s a supporter of good causes for the working man, or woman. She’s a good organizer, too. The other girls will follow her.”
“Don’t drag Harmony into this. It’s not her fight, and it’s certainly not a winnable one.”
The door was pushed open from the other side and a frustrated guest marched out. He stepped onto the road to hail his own taxi, but there were none in the vicinity.
“Frank, what will you do if my uncle dismisses you?”
“He won’t dismiss me. I’ve been here a long time. Besides, I’m doing the job I was hired to do. I’m opening doors for guests.” He stepped up to the door and opened it. He indicated I should return inside.
I spent most of the morning helping my uncle in the foyer. I didn’t notice the time until my aunt and Flossy came downstairs carrying parasols and gloves. Aunt Lilian frowned at my uncle and he gave her a grim nod in response. They didn’t need to exchange words to communicate. Like many couples who’d been together for years, they often knew what the other meant with a mere look.
Flossy took my hand and squeezed. “Is it true, Cleo? Everyone is on strike?”
“Not everyone. Just the doormen and mews staff. I’m afraid some are blocking the street and it’s quite impossible to get a cab.”
She sighed. “That’s that, then.”
“What’s what?”
“Mother wasn’t particularly interested in going on this picnic. She’ll use this as an excuse.”
Poor Flossy. She’d been looking forward to the outing. I, however, would rather spend the rest of the day investigating. I put out my hand to my aunt.
“What shall we do?” I asked her. “Cobbit won’t take us, and any taxis that get through must be allocated to guests.” There was quite a queue forming outside, waiting for the taxis that managed to get through the traffic. “Would you like to walk to Hyde Park and see if the traffic improves there? We could carry the picnic basket between us. The porters are a little busy to help.” I watched as Goliath spoke to a guest who’d been waiting several minutes for Mr. Hobart to be free. Giving up, he'd stopped the first staff member to pass by, which happened to be Goliath, pushing a luggage trolley.
Aunt Lilian sighed. “We can’t possibly manage a basket, as well as our parasols, a picnic blanket and chairs. Besides, this entire experience has put me in a gloomy mood. I feel a headache coming on.”
“You retire, Mother,” Flossy said gently. “I’ll stay down here and help Father.”
Aunt Lilian gratefully returned to the lift, while Flossy and I turned on smiles for Mrs. and Miss Hessing, who emerged from it.
A few minutes later, I slipped into Mr. Hobart’s office and telephoned Harry. “My day suddenly became free. I think we should try to speak to Hardwick.”
He agreed. “There are matches being played at the Polo and Gun Club today. Do you think you can get vouchers at the last minute?”
“No, but I have a better way of getting through the gate. Meet me there. Wear working men’s clothes.”
I hung up, then sent a message to the staff’s residence hall before returning to my suite to change outfits.
Victor metme outside the residence hall, and together we traveled to the Polo and Gun Club, a mere ten miles from the Elms. The enormous popularity of polo meant two clubs could not only survive within close proximity to each other, but thrive.
Victor approved of my plain black dress and modest hat. It was the most inconspicuous ensemble in my wardrobe. We found Harry waiting behind a tree near the service entrance. He also wore the simple clothes of a working man along with a cap and ill-fitting jacket with patches on the elbows. He and Victor acknowledged one another with nods then we entered the estate via the gate. It stood open to allow for deliveries. With luncheon being served for special guests in the clubhouse and refreshments in the pavilion for other spectators, there was much activity with carts and staff coming and going through the gate.
In his cook’s uniform, Victor was waved through by the security staff, but Harry and I were stopped.
“They’re with me,” Victor said. “Kitchen’s short-staffed. I was asked to bring friends to help for the day.”
They gave us a disinterested glance then signaled that we could continue.
We followed Victor to the rear of the clubhouse and crossed the courtyard to the kitchen entrance. No one paid us any attention. They were too busy carrying crates laden with vegetables inside, or rolling barrels. Sturdy women in aprons and mob caps hefted baskets filled with bread on their hips, while youths trailed behind carrying eggs.
We followed the smell of roasting meat to the kitchen, where Victor sought out his friend. He found him at one of the long benches chopping potatoes. After a quiet word, the friend escorted us to a small storeroom filled with brooms, mops and other cleaning equipment.
Harry picked up a mop and bucket while I found a cleaning cloth, dustpan and brush. We listened as Victor’s friend outlined the layout of all the buildings on the estate. At this hour, Barnaby Hardwick would most likely be changing into his playing uniform, so Harry and I headed to the changing rooms while Victor and his friend returned to the kitchen. I wasn’t sure what Victor would do in our absence, but he knew how to blend in.
I waited outside the changing room while Harry entered. It galled me that I couldn’t go in, but staff weren’t entirely invisible. A maid would be noticed in an all-male changing room.
