Chapter 5
Sofia left Annabel with Mary to help her unpack her many trunks and arrange her gowns, petticoats, bonnets, shawls and boots to her satisfaction.
'As I only have a few things to put away, I suggest that you remain with Annabel who's not used to looking after herself.'
'Yes, miss, but I'll come back to you when I'm done.'
Annabel looked somewhat put out by this announcement. 'I can't possibly manage on my own. I wonder if you'd be so kind as to ask our benefactor if he intends to employ the necessary staff to make our lives comfortable?'
'I'd be happy to if I knew exactly what you think we require. Having Mary to myself these past two days has been a luxury I'm not used to.'
'We need chambermaids, someone has to empty our commodes every morning and it should be girls that we know. I also think that having the same maids take care of the four of us would be ideal. We'd get to know them and they'd become loyal to us.'
'Right, how many of these chambermaids do we need?' Sofia asked.
'Two should be sufficient. However, your sister and I will require our own dresser as will your middle sister. You already have Mary to take care of you.'
'Let me get this straight, Annabel. You wish me to go downstairs and ask politely for us to have two ladies' maids. He's also said he's going to arrange for a team of modistes to come here to take our measurements and then make us whatever we need to be respectable.'
Annabel laughed. 'I don't need anything, but you and your sisters require half a dozen day dresses, three for the evening, something to travel in, a riding habit as well as bonnets, gloves and footwear to match.
Goodness me, we're going to have such fun.
I hope you'll allow me to help you choose as I believe I've more knowledge of what's fashionable. '
'I'm relying on you to do exactly that, my friend, but I think I'll ask James if he'd be kind enough to obtain for us a copy of La Belle Assemblée and Ackerman's Repository so my sisters and I can see for ourselves what might suit us.'
'I haven't seen either of those magazines for an age, they didn't have them in Switzerland. I imagine that whoever's employed to dress the three of you will bring copies of what's current,' Annabel said.
Something quite extraordinary occurred to Sofia. 'Do you think that having the Earl of Avon as our guardian will elevate our own status, so we too are part of the ton?'
'I should think so indeed. However, as I am illegitimate, rejected by my family, I shall remain always on the outside of society.
' She ran to Sofia and hugged her. 'Don't look so upset, dearest, I care not for such things.
I'm alive, surrounded by friends, and safe from that monster.
It matters not that I can't participate in the same things that you and your sisters will be able to. '
'I can assure you that none of us will take part in anything that you can't be included in. If that means no assemblies, no soirées, not coming out, then so be it.'
Sofia didn't remain to hear the protests at this announcement but skipped through to the adjoining bedroom, then the sitting room. This was as big as the drawing room at Hilltop House and her own domain was equally impressive.
Something was bothering her about their arrival. So far, they'd seen no staff at all apart from the grooms and coachmen. Was this deliberate or did the earl, she found it difficult to think of him by his first name, run his house differently?
She barely glanced around the beautiful room she'd been allocated, scarcely noticed the stunning view, she was determined to get answers to her questions. As she turned to go there was a knock on the door.
'Come in,' she called and the door opened.
'His lordship has sent me to give you these, Miss Brotherton,' a nervous footman told her. He was holding a neatly folded parcel of what looked like men's breeches, shirt, waistcoat, jacket and cap.
'Thank you, I didn't expect to get these so soon. Exactly where will I find Lord Brotherton now?'
'He'll be in his study, Miss Brotherton.'
'And where might that be?'
'Would you like me to take you there?'
She smiled and the young man blushed. 'Yes, that would be extremely kind and much appreciated. To whom am I speaking? I like to know the names of everyone I come in contact with.'
'I'm Billy, miss, but I doubt you'll learn everybody's name. I reckon there's over a hundred working here if you count those working outside as well.'
'I intend to learn them all when I meet them. Now, if you'd be so kind as to hand me those items we can go and find my guardian.'
She took them from him and tossed them on the bed to be dealt with later. She was smiling as she made her way downstairs eagerly anticipating the pleasure of taking out one of the horses that her guardian kept in his stables.
Billy led her down the long passageway but instead of descending on the magnificent wooden staircase he turned left and they went down by a smaller one.
'The study is the last door, miss, the one opposite us is the secretary's office, the next is the estate manager's. His lordship's man of business is adjacent to the study.'
'Thank you, it's good to know these things.'
The footman vanished through a hidden door. Sofia walked to the study but after hearing voices inside decided it wouldn't be polite to interrupt. At the end of the passage she was delighted to find herself only a few yards from the enormous black and white chequered entrance hall.
She opened the closed double doors that she'd passed earlier and was astonished at the size and luxury of the drawing room she'd revealed.
There were at least a dozen groups of immaculately upholstered chairs, two fireplaces and there were french doors set in the centre of the wall of floor length windows that opened onto a terrace.
That could be investigated later – what had caught her eye at the far end of the room was a magnificent piano its lid open and the keys exposed as if someone was about to play it.
It must be twice the size of the one that she'd played at her previous home.
She must investigate, maybe even run her fingers experimentally along the keys.
The double piano stool was perfectly situated for her. She smoothed her gown beneath her and began to play. As always, she was lost to the music, forgot everything about her.
At the end of the piano sonata composed by Beethoven she opened her eyes to find the earl standing no more than a few feet from her.
'That was quite magnificent, Sofia, I've never heard it played better.'
She should have thanked him for his praise but instead said something else entirely.
'How are you here? I would have seen you if you'd come through the doors.'
He grinned and stepped aside showing her that the window behind him was open.
She laughed. 'I can't believe that you climbed into your own drawing room through the window. How extraordinary. In fact, sir, everything about you and this household is out of the ordinary.'
'I heard you playing from my study had to come and see if it was you or Annabel. This is my home and if I wish to climb in and out of windows that's entirely my prerogative.'
'I'm so glad you're here as I've a request to make as well as needing an answer to a question or two.'
'Then, Sofia, we shall sit somewhere more comfortable. Why not on the terrace?'
She followed him to the central french doors and then outside. There were several groups of seats conveniently arranged and he headed for the ones nearest to the door.
Once they were seated – him lounging back with his long legs extended, still in his riding clothes – and she sitting neatly as she'd been taught as far away from him as possible, he smiled and opened the conversation.
'Annabel believes that the four of us will require two chambermaids to take care of us and our four rooms as well as two dressers – I have my own but my sisters and Annabel will require assistance.'
'The matter's already in hand. My housekeeper, Bedford, is confident she has girls that will fit your requirements.'
'Forgive me if you think I might be impertinent to say this, sir, but as there are no ladies in this household how can any of the girls have the necessary skills and knowledge to deal with my sisters and Annabel?'
He sat up so abruptly she flinched. 'A good point, my dear, and not one that I considered. I assume my housekeeper's competent to find what you need – there must be suitable girls in the neighbourhood eager to work here.'
'Thank you, that has solved the most pressing point. My question might seem odd to you but why have I not met Bedford or any other of your staff? It's as if the house is being run by ghosts.'
'I hadn't noticed the footmen were missing until you mentioned it. As you won't be involved in any of the domestic arrangements of my household, I didn't see the necessity for you to meet the housekeeper or my butler, Foster.'
'I see,' Sofia said when in fact she didn't see at all. 'When will my sister Colette be arriving here? As her employment as a governess is in Duke Street, I imagine she could be here by this evening.'
'No, tomorrow. I wish to collect her myself and have no intention of returning to Bath today.' He was smiling but his eyes said otherwise.
'What time do we dine? I cannot dress for dinner as I don't have the wherewithal in my meagre wardrobe.' She hadn't meant to sound abrupt but knew that she had done so.
'I prefer to eat at six, I don't change unless I have guests. I don't eat luncheon, but one will be served for you and the others if required. Breakfast is made to order so there's no set time.'
'Thank you, that's exactly what I wanted to know. One more thing, sir, might I be allowed to play the piano whenever I wish?'
Now his smile was genuine. 'Please do, Sofia.'