Storyteller / Shared NPC
Herschelina was dismissed and there Arden was with this very formal woman, he just knew this one had money for certain. One glance at the portrait hanging on the wall and he quailed that the woman might be angry he was wearing an eyepatch, no make that THE eyepatch of that intimidating looking fellow. No doubt the husband of this widow. But she did not bring any such thing up. Rather she asked him basic questions about himself.
"I'm Arden Summerfield, live a few miles outside of town on my folks farm. I don't come into town a lot. Oh...how much money? Well, I work for my Pa on the farm so I do not actually make any wages as such. It is not like a regular job, it is doing what is expected of a family member," he hoped she understood what he meant.
Now, Mr Summerfield, my maid Miss Colquitt seems to believe that my advertisement for a liveried 'footman' goes against the 'American democratic spirit', so, tell me, were I to offer you the position, what title would be acceptable to a patriotic Yankee? Coachman? Too feudal, still, I think. 'Driver', perhaps? I do have a Brougham gathering dust somewhere. Do you have any particular thoughts on the matter?" she asked him.
Actually Arden had no idea what a liveried footman even was? He also had not read the advertisement, he didn't read the town newspaper all that much and certainly not the ads. Coachman? Well, that was obvious - someone who drives a coach, well not a stagecoach though. As for feudal, that meant way back in the dark ages of Europe. And Brougham? No clue.
"Well, driver sounds fine I reckon. I'd be driving your coach around I take it? To be honest, ma'am, I would appreciate knowing more about the details of this here job. Hours I'd be workin', wage, that sorta thing. I know Pa will still want me to help with the farm chores. I can't up and quit on my family you know," he answered as best he could.
He came here for a dance and now it was turning into a job interview? Strange how life can be at times.
"Well, driver sounds fine I reckon. I'd be driving your coach around I take it? To be honest, ma'am, I would appreciate knowing more about the details of this here job. Hours I'd be workin', wage, that sorta thing. I know Pa will still want me to help with the farm chores. I can't up and quit on my family you know," he answered as best he could.
"Hmmm, well, I would have been willing to pay you $400 per annum but I'm afraid I require my servants' full commitment at all times. A pity, I think that you would have done quite nicely. Well, thank you for coming Mr Summerfield, I will bid you a good day." said Mrs Ashby in clipped businesslike tones. She did not rise, but she picked up a little bell and tinkled it. The alacrity with which Herschelina appeared rather gave the impression that she had been listening outside the door.
"Mr Summerfield is leaving" Mrs Ashby announced.
"Very good M'am" the girl acknowledged, bobbing a curtsey.
Storyteller / Shared NPC
"Hmmm, well, I would have been willing to pay you $400 per annum but I'm afraid I require my servants' full commitment at all times. A pity, I think that you would have done quite nicely. Well, thank you for coming Mr Summerfield, I will bid you a good day." said Mrs Ashby in clipped businesslike tones.
Four hundred dollars! That was a lot of money. This lady had to be rich. However, just that quickly she was done with him. Guess she didn't like having someone ask her questions, ones he thought were perfectly legitimate at that.
"Umm, alright then....ahh, good day to you too then, ma'am," Arden stammered.
She rang this little bell and in came Herschelina very promptly.
"Mr Summerfield is leaving" Mrs Ashby announced.
"Very good M'am" the girl acknowledged, bobbing a curtsey.
And well that was quick alright. Pity it hadn't been a part time job offer but then of course he could not have expected it would be $400 either. Still he probably would have taken that and his family could have figured out adjustments. Arden just nodded silently to the pig tailed brunette and together they exited the room back into the kitchen.
Once out of earshot, Arden just had to say, "Your employer sure seems ...........strict."
"That's too much sugar for a dime!"
Once out of earshot, Arden just had to say, "Your employer sure seems ...........strict."
"Oh yes" nodded Herschelina "Mrs Ashby must have everything just so. Took me a while to work out just how to manage her. 'Course, Mrs Lampeter gave me some tips there. When Steve came for the extra cook job, we trained her up for the interview: main problem was stoppin' her smiling like an idiot all the time. Boy does that girl grin. Course, you haven't seen that because she scared of boys. Mad about them, but scared of them, you know? Anyhow, good job you didn't want that job! Fancy sayin' you were needed down on the farm. We had Steve more or less say she'd been waiting all her life to serve Mrs Felicity Ashby and Mrs Felicity Ashby alone. That seemed to tickle her fancy."
They were back in the kitchen now and Mrs Lampeter asked with interest.
"How did you get on, Lad?"
Hersh answered for him.
"It's all right, he got out of it by saying she'd have to share him with his father"
Mrs L. shook her head with grave sagacity. "Ooooh, the Missus wouldn't like that."
The dark haired girl noticed that Carrots had disappeared again, probably beating herself up in the fruit cellar.
Storyteller / Shared NPC
Arden had asked a simple question, it was almost like an observation of his really. But this Herschelina was turning out to be quite the chatterbox. Not that what she was saying wasn't interesting at least. Apparently, according to the maid, him not getting the job was probably a good thing? Well maybe, maybe not.
"I could have used the money, that was a lot," he had to admit, "But Pa needs me on the farm. This is a busy time of the year too for us farm folk."
Entering the kitchen again, the cook now inquired how it went. He didn't need to answer, which was fine with him. Herschelina did it.
"It's all right, he got out of it by saying she'd have to share him with his father"
Mrs L. shook her head with grave sagacity. "Ooooh, the Missus wouldn't like that."
"No, she didn't," Arden shrugged.
"Well, honestly I hadn't planned on staying in town even this long, got chores waitin' for me. But at least I accomplished what I came into town for. I got me a date for the big dance.
"Thank ya, miss," he grinned at his date to be, unsure if he should actually call her by her first name, too forward maybe?
"That's too much sugar for a dime!"
Mrs L. shook her head with grave sagacity. "Ooooh, the Missus wouldn't like that."
"No, she didn't," Arden shrugged.
The plump cook just chuckled.
"Well, honestly I hadn't planned on staying in town even this long, got chores waitin' for me. But at least I accomplished what I came into town for. I got me a date for the big dance."
"Oooh yes, those all-important chores" nodded Herschelina with funny little half smile. "Now listen, come round the back here anytime you're in town before the dance, and we'll try out some polka steps and see if you are as big a whizz as you claim at the waltz. And if you've got any handsome uncles, bring one along for Mrs Lampeter!" she joked, eliciting a disapproving but excited "Oh Herschelina Colquitt, get away with ya!" from the rotund lady.
"Thank ya, miss," he grinned at his date to be, unsure if he should actually call her by her first name, too forward maybe?
"And if my sister opens the door, don't let her slam it in your face. Just say 'I'm here for Hersh' - all right?" she instructed him.