I return to the kitchen after my half hour of being confined with deranged Desmond. I don’t know how John can spend day after day and hour after hour with that man. Well, to each his own I suppose. My short-heeled boots click as I enter the kitchen and cross its marble floor. The two new maids are waiting for me, their eyes down-turned. One of them is looking quite disheveled. Her brown hair has escaped from its bun, and her blouse & skirt are wrinkled and mussed.

I immediately lay into her. “Patience, when I hired you did I not tell you that you are expected to look neat and tidy at all times? See how nice Mary looks? Take her appearance as an example of how you’re expected to look. I don’t I knew you’d be trouble after taking pity on you and hiring you. I knew I should have chosen that nice lass from Painswick.”

The girls exchange pained looks and I mentally smile. They are wondering what excuses they can give and also debating about telling me the truth. Mary shakes her head at Patience, but she is ignored. “Ma’am, it’s not my fault! That John Spindler who works for Master Desmond accosted me in the scullery. It’s God’s own truth!”

I sigh an exaggerated sigh. “Patience, you are skating on very thin ice here. You are not prepared for your evening’s work, so you try to sully a good man’s name. That is unacceptable.”

“But she’s speaking the truth, Miss Erzsebet. He made me watch him defile her!” Mary interrupts me.

I shake my head. “Mary, I thought you were above these lies. I had such hope for you. For your falsehood you will polish all the silver tonight before you may go to bed. Patience, for trying my patience, you shall go and fetch Master Desmond’s tray from his supper. And in his presence I want you to apologize to Mr. Spindler for spreading your lies about him.” Her pretty face flushes and her dark brown eyes widen in shock and dismay, but she has sense enough to hold her tongue. “Report back to me when you are done. I have other tasks for you to complete for me as well.”

Both girls curtsy and trudge off to their assigned tasks. I allow the dark smile I’ve been holding back to emerge. These two will be prime donors for one of my baths. Their youthful beauty reminds me of when I was young and innocent myself. Lucky for me, I have discovered that their blood in my bath helps me recapture my youth. People have assumed I am much younger than my 35 years, due to the innocent blush of youth on my cheeks and the dark vitality of my long brown hair.

Still smiling, I am about to go seek out Edmund when Cook stops me with news from the village. “Erzsebet, have you heard the latest? A lady and her man and maid servant have just checked into the Cross & Cowl. Shawn sent word up to the house. He tells me that she comes from London.”

Shawn is Cook’s son who helps run the inn and tavern. He is a man of no morals whatsoever, and I have the feeling this will be helpful in the not-to-distant future. “A lady traveling alone with only servants? Interesting. Did Shawn say who she was?” I smile wickedly. Cook is one of my most trusted helpers here at Drakesheath.

“Lady Amalie Delbeath Rochester. Her brother is the 4th Earl of Delbeath.”

“Very interesting news. Thank your son for me Cook, and please let him know that any news of her business in our little shire will be rewarded. Have you told Edmund about this yet?” She shakes her head in the negative. “Fine, I will let him know. I am on my way to find him now. Please send Patience to find me when she returns. John Spindler is already helping prepare her for me.”