Devastation: A Beauty and the Beast Novel (15 page)

“And her reaction?” I asked.

“As you might imagine. But after the initial
shock, she gave me direction on how to soft boil the eggs for
everyone’s breakfast.”

“Well done. You might not need to return to
the kitchen tomorrow, though,” I said, holding up the note.

He took it from me, scanned the contents,
and frowned, studying first me then Father.

“You are both considering this, aren’t
you?”

I sighed and nodded. Alec looked at
Father.

“With respect, your eldest daughter has
shown her true nature again and again at the expense of both of
you. For you, I will allow this, but if she causes trouble, she
will leave as quickly as Mrs. Wimbly, family or not.”

“I completely agree,” Father said.

“Then, I should go speak with Edmund and
Bryn,” I said, standing.

“Take Swiftly with you,” Alec said.

I agreed and left. Before seeking out
Swiftly, I found Kara and Mr. Crow at the table in the kitchen. If
they had been conversing, they stopped when I arrived.

“Good morning,” I said. “Do you both have a
moment?”

“Of course,” Mr. Crow said.

I sat beside him.

“It seems word has spread of our need for a
cook. I received a letter this morning with a possible replacement
but wanted to speak with both of you first. Mrs. Wimbly wasn’t
agreeable, but she cooked well. I’d like to see an agreeable and
competent person fill the position.” The sister I knew now was not
that person. I wondered at my reasoning, then, for considering her.
Because we needed help. Any help. Yet, I would not subject Kara to
another version of Mrs. Wimbly. If Bryn would only reserve her bad
temperament for me alone, things would be fine in the kitchen.

“Miss Hovtel?” Mr. Crow said.

“My sister’s husband has asked that we
consider her for the position. However, I do not think she would be
suited for head cook. I would prefer to see that position go to
Kara.”

“Me?” Kara said, her shock plain.

“Yes. You understand the workings of the
kitchen and the staff. You work well with others. My sister has
never had to direct anyone else.” Not true. She had directed me
plenty. But I wouldn’t allow her to use Kara like that.

“My greatest concern as we approach the
feast is keeping the expenses low. I propose that all kitchen
purchases go through Mr. Crow, who can report weekly spending to
Lord Ruhall.” My bigger fear was that Bryn would find a way to
filch coin from the estate, and I faulted that concern on my
tarnished esteem of her character.

“Bryn does know how to cook and, with the
knowledgeable direction you can provide, will be a fit
addition.”

“I look forward to meeting her,” Kara
said.

“As do I,” Mr. Crow said, standing. “May I
walk with you for a moment?” He offered me a hand up and indicated
the outer kitchen door.

He didn’t speak until we were on the path
outside.

“Miss Hovtel, your presence here is an honor
and a delight.”

I smiled at his kind words, until I noted
his very concerned expression.

“With respect, I watched your family for
several days before you came to live here the first time, and I saw
your hesitation just now as you spoke in the kitchen. Surely I am
not alone in my concern regarding your sister’s employ.”

“Mr. Crow, you are far from alone. That is
why I will not offer her the position of head cook and why I want
purchasing to go through you. I trust her to cook, but little else.
If you find her manner offensive or abrasive, Lord Ruhall and my
father both insist she then be dismissed in the same fashion as
Mrs. Wimbly.”

He exhaled in relief.

“Very good.”

“We need the help, Mr. Crow. If not, I would
not choose her.”

“I understand.”

At the front of the house, I caught sight of
Swiftly.

“If you will pardon me, I best catch Swiftly
and visit my sister. The sooner she arrives, the sooner we will
have the help we need.”

After parting ways with Mr. Crow, I caught
up with Swiftly and told him of my need to visit Konrall
immediately. He turned and walked with me toward the gate.

“And what so urgently calls us to Konrall?”
Swiftly asked.

“I need to speak with Edmund. He would have
Bryn work in the kitchen with Kara.”

“Do you think that wise? I mean no
disrespect with the question...”

“It is only right that you question what
concerns you. The enchantment taught you that, and I find no
offense in it. It is wise to replace Mrs. Wimbly immediately. Time
will tell if Bryn was the wisest choice.”

He nodded, and we walked the rest of the
distance in silence. Konrall seemed quieter than I remembered.
Possibly because the schoolhouse remained closed. I needed to speak
with Alec about that. The bakery doors stood open, but we found the
front store empty when we stepped in, just another element to the
uninhabited feel of Konrall.

I rang the bell at the counter and
waited.

Edmund appeared from the kitchen after a
moment, and he smiled widely when he saw me.

“Benella. Welcome. Did you receive my
letter?” His hopeful expression firmed my decision.

“I did. It’s the reason behind my visit.
Lord Ruhall and Father were agreeable to hiring Bryn, not as head
cook but as an assistant. Is she here?”

“Bryn,” he called in answer. She came down
the steps a moment later. When she saw me, her face closed of all
expression.

“Yes?”

“Lord Ruhall will hire you as an assistant
cook,” he said. Where the news excited him, she revealed no
emotion.

“When does he want me to start?” she said,
looking at Edmund when she reached the bottom step. Her middle was
just a bit thicker.

“Immediately if you can,” I said.

“She can,” Edmund said firmly.

Bryn turned away from him, still without
even a glance at me and marched out the door. There, she
stopped.

“Where’s the wagon?”

Swiftly arched a brow at me. Edmund caught
the look and flushed.

“Pardon us for a moment,” he said before he
strode out the door, grabbing Bryn’s arm on the way. They moved off
to the side to speak in hushed tones. Her shoulders stiffened to
whatever he said, then she pulled her arm away and started down the
road.

Edmund watched her for a moment before he
came back in.

“Thank you for giving her a chance,
Benella.”

“I didn’t do it for her,” I said with a
slight smile. “Enjoy your day, Edmund.”

He smiled in return.

“I will.”

Bryn had managed a healthy distance by the
time Swiftly and I stepped out, and I was glad to let her keep it.
We trailed her, and I witnessed her first glimpse of the estate.
Her steps faltered for only a moment then doubled their pace toward
the front door. Mr. Crow opened it before she reached it. When he
closed it behind him and pointed to the left, I knew he would see
her settled in the kitchen.

“Thank you for accompanying me,
Swiftly.”

“Whenever you have the need, Miss Hovtel,”
he said with a wink.

I grinned and moved to the front steps as
Mr. Crow and Bryn disappeared around the side. For the rest of the
morning, I helped clean wherever Egrit pointed.

Midday, I eagerly joined the others in the
kitchen where a kettle of stew and a stack of bowls waited on the
table. The children and Mr. Roost were already there. Mrs. Palant
spoke softly to her son and daughter while Egrit sat by Tam. The
mood of the room was relaxed and pleasant. Mr. Crow stood near the
butcher block, watching Bryn as she ladled portions into three
bowls and set a loaf of bread on a tray. As soon as she finished,
Mr. Crow picked it up.

“I can take it,” Bryn said quickly. Mr. Crow
frowned at her, but she didn’t seem to notice.

“There is a setting for you,” he said,
looking at me, “if you would care to join your father and Lord
Ruhall.”

I nodded and followed him from the
kitchen.

“How did she do?” I asked.

“Fair. She questioned Kara about Lord Ruhall
but asked nothing about you or your father.”

I chuckled. Lord Ruhall was of interest in
her eyes, and we were not.

“How did Kara deal with her
inquisition?”

“Her standard answer was, ‘Why should a cook
know that?’”

“I like Kara.”

“As do I,” he said with the barest of
smiles.

When we reached the library, Mr. Crow set
the tray on the table and left.

Father, unaware of the world around him,
continued to read. I doubted estate business kept him at his seat
all day. The rows upon rows of books would tempt even the dullest
scholar. Leaving him to his peace, I made my way to the study.

Alec likewise focused on a book and didn’t
immediately look up at my approach. With his brow furrowed in
concentration, he absently rubbed his jaw. A healthy coating of
stubble rasped his fingers. He’d removed his jacket and loosened
his neckcloth. The sight of him thus made my middle warm, and I
wondered again about the marks on his shoulder.

“Mr. Crow brought a tray,” I said
softly.

He looked up and warmth filled his gaze for
a brief moment before it disappeared.

“Did you visit your sister?” he asked,
standing.

“Yes. She helped prepare the midday meal
under Kara and Mr. Crow’s instruction. Instead of biscuits, we have
bread.”

He looked mildly interested.

“What were you reading?” I asked as he
marked his page and stood.

“A book of basic arithmetic your father
borrowed from Mr. Roost.”

“Ah.”

“Yes, ah. I have a man of estate who insists
I must know the arithmetic to check my own records.”

“I won’t live forever,” my father said from
the other room. “And your next man might not be as honest.”

“He hears everything,” I said in a mock
whisper. “Years of teaching.”

Alec chuckled and walked around the desk
toward me. When he reached me, he set a hand on my lower back and
guided me to the library.

“I’m ready for a break. Let’s eat.”

* * * *

After a pleasantly drawn out meal with
Father and Lord Ruhall, I carried the tray back to the kitchen.

Bryn was washing dishes, and Kara was
absent. I brought the tray over to the sink and set it near the
other dirty bowls.

“What is it you do here?” Bryn asked without
looking up.

“I clean,” I said, surprised she spoke to
me.

“And eat meals with Lord Ruhall.”

“With Father. Lord Ruhall chooses to join
him.”

She nodded slightly, straightened, and wiped
her hands.

“Could you wash for a bit? I need to sit,”
she said.

“I’m afraid, Miss Hovtel is needed
elsewhere,” Mr. Crow said from his office, making me start.

Bryn gave an almost inaudible sigh and went
back to washing. I turned to look at Mr. Crow, and with a
conspiratorial wave, he shooed me from the kitchen.

* * * *

The next morning I woke with a stretch.
Exhausted from a day of beating mattresses, I’d collapsed on the
bed fully dressed. I had no recollection of Alec joining me; yet a
blanket covered me, and my stockings were off.

I washed my face and went in search of food.
In the kitchen, Kara and Bryn were already hard at work.

“Good morning, Miss Hovtel,” Kara said when
she spotted me.

Bryn looked up and frowned at me.

“Really, Benella. Your dress is wrinkled
like you slept in it. You’re in a Lord’s house now. Go change so
you at least
look
respectable.”

I pressed my lips together. I was
respectable, wrinkled dress or not.

“Bryn, go see if Tam has fresh milk for the
children,” Kara said.

Bryn dusted her hands on her apron and
walked outside.

“Are you hungry?” Kara asked once we were
alone.

“Very. Is there anything ready?”

“I can boil an egg for you. The biscuits
will need another half an hour. There are also a few apples Tam
picked yesterday. They should be ready for harvest tomorrow or the
day after.”

“I’ll take an apple and come back later for
a biscuit.”

She grabbed the apple, and I held up my
hand. With a grin, she tossed it to me.

“Thank you, Kara.” Before Bryn could return,
I hurried out of the kitchen and found Egrit in the laundry
room.

“What will we work on today?” I crunched
into my apple. The juice was only slightly tart and, in my opinion,
perfect.

“Mrs. Palant is dusting the parlors in the
ballroom so they remain clean. You can dust the front sitting room
if you’d like. I am going to go through the second floor bedrooms
that have been aired and cleaned.” She had three of the large vats
filled and lit a small fire under each.

“What is the water for?”

She straightened with a laugh.

“Benella, you are wearing yesterday’s dust.
It’s for our baths tonight.”

The idea of a bath in one of the large vats
had me eagerly heading toward the sitting room. The sooner I
finished the day’s work, the sooner I could bathe. Once I eyed the
room and recalled it had taken three of us more than a day to clean
it, my enthusiasm faltered. With a sigh, I took my dust rag and set
to work.

Several hours had passed when Mr. Crow found
me.

“Miss Hovtel, your assistance is needed
immediately.”

I eagerly set down my rag and followed him
from the room, hoping the assistance brought me to the kitchen. The
apple had long since disappeared.

My anticipation of food dwindled as I neared
the kitchen and heard a familiar voice. Blye stood in the center of
the kitchen with her back to us when we entered. But she quickly
turned at the sound of our steps.

“Why can’t Bryn stop to talk to me?” she
asked me. Annoyance painted her face.

I glanced at Mr. Crow who stood just
slightly behind me and to my right. His focus remained on Blye. Why
had he brought me here to deal with her? Facing Blye, I forced
myself to relax and tried to forget our last, hurtful
encounter.