The End and The Beginning Part 1

Posted on Sun Jun 23rd, 2024 @ 12:31pm by Mrs Millicent Price & Peter Stone & Clara Brown & Mr Ralph Compton & Mr David Fitzroy
Edited on on Sat Jul 6th, 2024 @ 9:21am

1,406 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Death of a Monarch
Location: Downstairs, Thrushstone Park
Timeline: January 23,1901, 0600 Hours

The familiar ring of the bell at the Thrushstone Park’s service entrance roused Peter from his wakeful slumber at the table in the Servants Hall. Peter had been a footman for a little over a year, learning at the side of Mister Compton.A footman’s morning was reserved for clearing the family’s mess from the previous night, glasses, bottles, and the like. The house maids took care in cleaning and resetting the rooms, while the kitchen maid was tasked with cleaning and lighting fires before the family started their day.

Peter’s usual work was light this morning. The family was not in their usual mood with the news of the Queen’s illness. And so he had taken the opportunity to sit and read before the servants breakfast. He had barely finished a paragraph before beginning to nod off, only to be pulled back to reality by the sound of the back door bell.

After a moment of sleepy confusion, Peter stood and made his way to the back door. He was greeted by the mail boy, a stack of newspapers tucked under his arm and a number of small envelopes in his hand. “G’morning Colin.” Peter said groggily to the redheaded teen. “Good news today?” He asked, holding out his hands for the morning delivery.

Colin shook his head. “Afraid not.” He handed Peter the stack of newspapers first, the unmistakable headline stared them both in the face. ‘The Queen is Dead.’ The words looked almost surreal to the two young men, who had only ever known the rule of Queen Victoria.

Peter placed the papers under his arm and took the pile of envelopes too. “Thanks Colin. I’d better get in.” He offered a weak smile and then turned back into the house, allowing the door to shut behind him. “Mister Compton!” He called as he rounded the corner to the Butler’s pantry.

“Good morning Peter. Have the papers arrived?” the Butler asked. Catching the younger man’s face he added. “What is it?”

Peter looked worried as he took the papers and held them out to Mr. Compton. “It’s happened.” He said solemnly. “Last night.” He looked down at his feet, unsure how he was feeling in the moment.

The jingle of her keys preceded Mrs. Price’s appearance by a few moments. “Come now, Peter, it can’t be as grim as all that.” Her appearance in the open doorway casting a long shadow into the Butler’s pantry. Her eyes narrowed at the large printed headline. She was silent for a beat, before she shook her head dismissively. “Long live the King.” Her tone was unmistakably mournful.

The footman bowed his head respectfully at the Housekeeper’s words. “Long live the King.” He repeated in time. “I had better get those ironed.” He said, indicating the newspapers.

“You’re right, the family will be up soon.” Mrs. Price had a way of sounding nearly maternal when speaking with the younger staff. She tried to smile as she checked the small silver watch that hung from her chatelaine.

With that, Peter moved silently out of the room and down the corridor towards the servants hall.

Mrs.Price took a small step closer to the Butler as they were alone. “So the Queen has died.” She said with a slight sigh. “I suppose the family will have to go south for the funeral. His Lordship will be expected as a former member of the new King’s household.”

Ralph nodded. “Let's get breakfast out the way and then the lady's maids and valets can sort the packing. I suspect they won’t need too many of us to come down as well. Entertaining will be limited during the time of mourning. So we can sort out a deep clean of things in the house while the family is in town.”

Mrs.Price smiled wearily. “We shouldn’t hold up breakfast.” The Housekeeper led the way towards the servants hall where many members of staff were already congregating after having begun the morning work. Breakfast was typically a more casual meal for the staff, many of whom would be taken from the meal early to attend to the needs of the family.

David Fitzroy sat at the table in the servant’s, sipping his morning coffee. He glanced at the last bite of toast and marmalade on his plate and contemplated finishing it off. He suspected that the Marquess would be ringing for his morning service any moment, and that would be David’s cue to go up and prepare His Lordship for the day’s undertakings.

Movement out of the corner of his eye caught his attention. Mrs. Price had stepped into the dining hall and her look told him everything he needed to know.

Hawkins, getting ready to head up to dress Fredrick after convincing the cook to make him a hangover elixir, caught the same look. He found himself straightening up when Mr. Compton followed her in.This was serious.

Mrs. Price took her place and stood behind her chair. She looked around at the gathered servants. “It’s a sorrow filled day.” She announced. “The Queen is dead. Long live the King.” She was the eldest of the staff, and so keeping up many of the traditions and protocols fell to her.

Clara, the maid, hung her head and held back tears. Though she held no strong love or admiration for the Queen, she was always sad when hearing of someone dying.
David bowed his head for a moment, taking in the news. He’d never known life without The Queen on the throne. He wondered if His Lordship had the news yet…

He looked at his plate again and erred on the side of caution, choosing to drain his coffee cup and pass on the last bite of toast. He stood and excused himself from the breakfast table; if he timed it just right, he could get in a smoke before the Marquess called for him.

Mrs. Price sat in place and tucked into her plate of eggs. She reached for her teacup and brought it to her lips. She took a short sip and then set it back on its saucer. “We will need to stay on high alert.” She spoke with a soft but authoritative tone. “The family will certainly be travelling in the next day or so.”

“Who all will be going with them?” Asked Clara, clearly eager to know if she would be visiting London or not.

“Not likely they’ll be taking you or I.” The footman, Peter, having finished ironing the papers and setting them out on the trays and made his way to the table. “Besides, they have you looking after her ladyship. I don’t think she’ll be joining them.” He spoke very matter of factly as he reached for a slice of toast from the tray in the middle of the table.

“Perhaps spend less time speculating and more on getting breakfast done and then I am sure his Lordship will speak to us about who will be required to come down to the capital,” Ralph said sharply. He loaded his own plate lightly and sat down next to Mrs Price.

As the Butler sat the first bell began to chime. Beneath the swinging brass bell was a matching name plate that had the words ‘Dressing Room’ embossed on it.

“Peter, would you fetch Mr. Fitzroy and tell him his lordship is ringing?” The Housekeeper said, her voice was somewhat sweet considering the news they’d all just had.

“Yes Mrs.Price.” The young man responded, taking a bite of toast before sliding his chair back to go find the Marquess’s Valet.

Another bell, this one labelled ‘Emerald Bedroom’, began to swing. The sound was ever so slightly different than the last.

“That’ll be her ladyship.” Clara said, pushing back from the wooden table and hurrying towards the kitchen to fetch the Marchioness’s breakfast tray. The mistress didn’t eat much at the moment, but the routines and traditions were important, or so said Mrs. Price.

More bells began in succession. ‘Garnet Bedroom’, ‘Ruby Bedroom’, ‘Sapphire Bedroom’. All swinging, all ringing. That was the end of breakfast for the valets and maids. All of whom left the table and hurried off to attend to the family’s needs

 

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