The Training of Scarlet Worthy (11 page)

I have to start somewhere,
I thought.
It might as well be Cook.
I found Cook’s file and opened it to the summary page that was attached to the left side of the file jacket. On the right were a few individual sheets of paper. I turned my attention to the summary.

Former Name: Simone Defray

Hometown: Paris

Date of hire: June 13, 2010

Position: Head Chef

Education: La Cuisine de Paris

Collared: May 20, 2012

Collared Name: Cook

Yearly Pay: Invested

My mouth dropped open.
What does "collared" mean, and why is she not called Simone? Why is there a former name? Why was her yearly pay blank?

I turned my attention to the papers on the right side of the folder. There were actually two papers, both of them spreadsheets. Each line on the sheet was dated, and following the date, the incident that prompted a notation and following that, the initials of the person making the notation.

I scanned a few items on the spreadsheet. One read,
fine meal, cook rewarded with evening off,
another read,
silver spoon at dinner soiled, Cook scolded during general assembly.
Each of these items were initialed THB.
Who is THB?
I thought.
I'll need to do some research, but it’s probably my predecessor.

One item on the second page caught my eye. It read:
Insolent tone observed in cook's voice, general indifferent performance, twenty four hours of restrained quarantine and appropriate discipline administered.
It was initialed
JSR
- My Lady herself.

I was stunned.
What did all of this mean? What is my role in all of this?

I opened several more folders and lay them side by side to compare to cook's folder. Hers was unique in that her summary page was on pink paper and the Manor Crest was stamped in the center of the page.

Once again I was left with more questions than answers. I busied myself for the rest of the morning going through files and otherwise organizing my work area. I set up the computer to my liking. I verified that all of the accounting programs were in place and I studied the entries.

The woman whom I replaced knew what she was doing, I thought. Her work is precise and it follows the generally accepted practices,
I'll bet she and I would hit it off.
She is the mystery woman placed as CEO at one of Lady Julia's companies.

My aggressive will to perform kicked in, and I set about working as skillfully as I could. I vowed to win the same praise from My Lady as had my predecessor. I wanted Lady Julia to grant me the same honors as I had received from Mount Holly. I wanted her to praise my work, but most of all - I wanted her to touch me again.

I was in my element with the computer and the accounting numbers. It was noon before I looked up, my vigor interrupted by a knock on my office door.

"Who is it?"

"It is cook Mademoiselle. I have your mid-day meal, may I enter?”

"Come in cook, the door is unlocked."

The small and dainty French woman tip-toed into my office, carrying a covered platter. She wore a long white apron over her simple black skirt, her blouse white, long sleeved, and like me it had a tall collar that was so popular in the Edwardian era, and apparently required in this household.

"Over here cook, place the platter here on my desk. I've been reading your personnel file, and I have some questions of you before you leave."

Cook placed the platter on my desk, and turned to go.

"Stop," I said. "I said I have questions."

She turned to face me.

"Why does it have the name Simone Defray on your file, and what does it mean - date collared?"

"Please don't ask Mademoiselle. My name is cook. Please dismiss me to go from here."

I was losing patience with the little woman. I needed some answers, any answers. Nothing was adding up, and Cook's reluctance was annoying.

"Damn it cook," I rose from my desk and stood directly in front of her. "I want you to answer me – NOW!"

She was trembling, and in such a state she fell to her knees. "Please Mademoiselle, I am not permitted to discuss my status in service here at the Manor. Lady Julia would be angry with me. I would be punished for speaking about such matters."

The woman was trembling. She took the hem of my skirt and with a pleading gaze she looked up from her position of submission directly into my eyes. She kissed the hem of my skirt, and whispered. "I beg of you Mademoiselle Sibyl."

I motioned for her to rise. She stood, and in a final act of gratitude she took my hand and kissed it, then the little woman darted like a mouse out of my office.

I ate my meal in silence. Cook had done well, a nice chef’s salad, elevated in a silver dish, the greens fresh and crispy, as I like them, and a variety of meats and cheeses. I was hungry and the salad hit the spot. I would remind Cook that I was an American, and that in the future I would have ice in my water glass. Other than that it was a fine meal and it set with me well to begin the afternoon pouring through the files and the computer journal entries.

It was about midafternoon when I sat upright and stretched.
Time for a ten minute break,
I thought. I had noticed a "computer unit number" on each one of the files, hand scribed on the bottom corner of the staff summary page. I swiveled in my chair. Typed "staff computer unit number" into the search box. A long series of numbers populated the screen and each number was "clickable."

The numbers were also arranged in subcategories for Housekeeping, Laundry, Stables - I concluded that apparently all of the various support units for the Manor were itemized.

I clicked Housekeeping, and to my delight, it opened a page that included names and photos of all of the Manor staff who maintained the order and cleanliness of the Manor Estate House.

This is fun
. I thought.
I can become familiar with the staff and also connect the names to the image of the people. That will save hours of introductions, besides I'm loving the aroused wickedness of the voyeur in me.

I felt that familiar tingle between my legs, and I clamped my knees closed in response. I actually giggled out loud. I pulled my chair closer to the monitor and squinted.

Each of the photos of the housekeepers included a close up of their face and a full body photo. They were all dressed alike in Edwardian maid’s attire. In each photo their hair was piled on top of their heads, and across the crown lay a lace headpiece, pined in place with a bow in the center, their dresses neatly conservative and black. The cuffs and collars were crisp, starched and white. The uniform was completed by a full white apron to the knees, cinched at the waist.

My heavens
, I thought,
how tiny was each maid’s waist, and look how the aprons flare out so dramatically over their hips. No doubt, clearly they are laced in corsets, the strict fashion of the era
.

The apron rose over their breasts, twin sashes draped over each shoulder and crossed in the back where the apron was secured at the waist with a large bow.

All of the maids were young, many looking to be fresh out of school - perhaps twenty or twenty one years old. It seemed odd to me. They were my contemporaries in age, yet they all reported to me. I marveled at my surprise. I’m actually welcoming the opportunity to manage at my young age. I promised myself again to make the best of it.

After all,
I thought.
Lady Julia had encouraged me to take charge of my staff. I would begin on my first day, I would let them know that there was a new boss in town.
I giggled at my bold new authority.

“You little bitch Sibyl.” I said the words out loud, and I smiled at the sound of my commanding tone of voice.

There were many photos to study. I took my time, trying to attach the names with the faces. My attention fell on the photo of a young Asian girl. She was beautiful. Her features were sleek and seductive. My hand brushed against the computer mouse and the image enlarged.

This is so cool,
I thought.
I can zoom in on my staff.
When the picture was at full close-up, I recognized a name badge pinned to her apron. Her name was Autumn and next to that the Manor Crest. I clicked to the next photo, and I thought I had made a mistake. It was the same girl. I zoomed in to see the badge.

I squinted. "Well I'll be,” I said. “Twins, they’re twins, one is named Autumn and the other's name is Summer."

Autumn and Summer were exact duplicates in size and features and dressed as they were, they looked like living dolls. They each wore pink ribbons around their necks.
What’s with the ribbons?
I thought. I sat with fascination. I could hardly wait to begin my round of introductions.

I turned my chair to face the credenza. I scanned the top looking for the phone. There was none. I looked back at my desktop, thinking perhaps I had overlooked it. Nothing there resembled a phone either. I began opening drawers in my desk. The one on the top left proved to be the one that held the secret. The drawer was a facade. Inside a panel of buttons all of which were inscribed with either staff names or the departments of the entire Brighten Manor Estate. I felt a tingle of power as I ran my hand over the console. Everyone at the Manor is here for me. I thought. Every single one of them is at my fingertips.

"Let's see how this works. I'll begin with...." I paused and struck the button. "I'll begin with - Cook!"

There was a buzzing sound.

"It is Cook Mademoiselle Sibyl. May I please be of service?"

"Yes, I am finished with my lunch now, you may collect the tray."

"As you wish Mademoiselle. I am coming."

It seemed as if a mere five or ten seconds past. Then a tiny rapping on my door, my back angled to the entrance to my office.

"Come in." I said.

I could hear the faint tip-toe shuffle of cook stirring behind me.

I spoke without turning to face her.

"From now on cook, I want ice in my water. Do you understand me?"

She issued a faint whisper. "Yes Mademoiselle."

I was feeling the adrenaline of raw power. "I'm disappointed in this last presentation Cook. You can improve."

"Oh Mademoiselle, how? What did I do to displease you?"

She was standing next to me. I glanced at her. She was ringing her hands in anguish. I let her stand there in such a state. I thought about what My Lady had said when we arrived at the stables. She was right.
Let the tension mount,
she had said,
and let them squirm.

I let cook stand at attention for a full minute. I swung my chair to face her. Her eyes were moist and pleading, her face an open question.

I held out my hands, my palms turned upward. She took them in her own small hands and to my surprise and my wonder, she dropped to her knees before me. She sat back on her heels waiting for me to give her instructions. I felt that familiar tingle again between my legs. It was exhilarating to watch her submit so completely to me.

I let go of her hands, and she dropped them to her lap. She lowered her head and focused her eyes on her neatly folded hands.

Suddenly Lady Julia's voice echoed from my monitor.

"I see you're busy with your staff Sibyl," She chuckled. "But that is not the purpose of my call. I will be away from the Manor for two days. I'm visiting Lady Bradstreet. We have a livestock transaction to complete. If there is an emergency, Madison can reach me. Continue with your session."

There was a click and she was gone. I turned my attention to Cook. She had not budged from her kneeling position. I cupped her chin in my palm and raised her head so that we made eye contact. I began to pet her cheek and I spoke in a sweet and gentle voice.

"I like it when my staff performs at the highest level. So little cook, from this point forward, I am going to insist on nothing short of excellence. Is that clear to you."

"Yes Mademoiselle, I understand."

"When you first served me, there was a single rose accompanying my dinner service." I straightened the shoulder straps of her apron. "There was no such personal treat with my lunch today. It makes me feel as if you didn't prepare my meal with the same level of care and enthusiasm. Was it your intention to disappoint your Mademoiselle?"

"Oh no, Mademoiselle, forgive me. I will try harder....."

I interrupted her petition. "Trying is not good enough for me Cook. Trying suggest that there may be a failure in your future. You don't want to fail me do you sweet Cook, or to fail the Manor? And I'm sure that you don't wish me to report our conversation of this morning to Lady Julia."

I pinched her cheeks between in my fingers, and I smiled down at the submissive girl. "I also presume that you would not look forward to having me provide some form of correction. Is that not also true?"

"No, no, please no, Cook will be good Mademoiselle. I promise Cook will please Mademoiselle always." She whispered through her French accent.

"Then we are in agreement Cook. Make sure that all of your kitchen staff is also advised of my explicit instructions and my expectations. If they disappoint? You disappoint - are we clear on that point?"

"Yes Mademoiselle, Cook she understands. May I be dismissed now?"

"You may go Cook, and from now on, I wish that all staff address me as Mademoiselle. See to it."

She bowed, cleared my dishes in silence, and left quietly, closing the door behind her with such grace that I was not sure if she had truly gone. But she was gone, and I had made my first successful meeting with a member of my staff. I was excited. I stood, and I danced about in my grand office. I twirled in circles, stopping only to run my hands over the leather bound books on my expansive shelves. I stopped my giddy dance to gaze out of my bay window. I marveled at my view, the lawn drifting down to a small pond. I could see ducks and geese floating on the surface. I was truly a Princess and I was on a path to insure that I would have the Manor run my way, as I wished it to be run - ship shape. I would be the best personal assistant Lady Julia could have ever imagined. She would praise my efforts to all of my staff at Brighten Manor. I would make her proud of me.