Orphan -- Chapters 30 to 33
Chapter 30
Dinner that evening was a quiet affair. Le Tessier was wise enough not to try to coax Roxane out of her melancholy, keeping any conversational topic light and trivial, so that Roxane could reply or not, as she chose. She picked at her food, barely tasting it, and at last laid down her cutlery and sat back.
"Uncle Silas, I fear I have no appetite. If you will excuse me, I think I shall retire early."
"A moment please, my dear?"
"Of course. What is it?"
Her uncle gazed at her for a moment, his face showing only a gentle concern. He drew a breath. "I know that what I say will be of little consolation to you, my dear niece, but you know as well as I do that Alex is a man of honour. If his duties take him into danger he will face it unflinchingly. There is nothing you can do that will change that. You intend to write to him?"
"Of course. I plan to start a letter to him after church each Sunday and add to it as I can during the week, then take it to the packet office each Saturday. I know that it might be months before any mail might reach Alex, but we agreed that I should number each letter."
Le Tessier nodded. "A sound notion." He mused for a moment. "A suggestion? Keep your letters cheerful. Alex will serve his country better without worrying about you."
Roxane gave her uncle a wan smile. "I planned to do that in any event, Uncle Silas. Alex told me that a sailor far from home welcomes even the most trivial of news from those he left behind." She grimaced. "However, dear uncle, I feel far from cheerful at the moment. Perhaps a night's sleep will help, so if you will excuse me?"
"Of course. Good night, my dear. Sleep well."
"Good night."
She made her way to the kitchen. Mrs Trevelyan was sitting with her husband, sharing a moment of relaxed privacy. She smiled at Roxane.
"Yes, Miss Roxane?"
"I'm retiring early tonight, Mrs Trevelyan. Might I have some hot water?"
"Of course. I'll bring it up in a moment or two."
"Thank you." She glanced around. "Molly is not with you?"
Mrs Trevelyan shook her head. "I sent her to bed. I think she misses Mr Jenkins too much at the moment, for she lacks concentration. After all, it was but this afternoon that they parted. Perhaps she'll be better in the morning, after a night's sleep." The housekeeper fixed Roxane with a steady look. "As, perhaps, you will yourself, Miss Roxane?"
Roxane acknowledged the housekeeper's concern with a rueful smile. "Perhaps I shall. For now, 'tis me to my bed. Goodnight to you both."
"Good night."
In her room, Roxane had barely unpinned her hair when there was a tap at her door.
"Your hot water, Miss Roxane."
"Come in, Mrs Trevelyan."
The housekeeper was carrying a jug, her hands protected by a towel. She smiled. "Be careful, Miss Roxane, for the water is hot."
"I shall, Mrs Trevelyan, I shall. Thank you, and good night again."
Alone, Roxane quickly undressed and washed, then slipped her nightdress over her head. About to follow her usual habit and tie her hair back, she paused, and let it hang loose. Smiling to herself, she remembered how much Alex liked to see it spread on her pillow, but that thought brought back the memory of their lovemaking and she felt her eyes fill with tears. Resigned to her misery at their parting, she concentrated on remembering Alex's touch, his kisses, his gentle ways with her. And yes, the reckless abandon of their mutual climax. But for the moment, he was beyond her reach. Tomorrow, she vowed, I shall start my first letter to him, and I shall mention how much I liked his touch. But when shall I feel that touch again, she mused, fighting tears. Damn the French!
Next morning she broke her fast, if not with appetite, at least determination that she must not let herself waste away in misery. She breakfasted with her uncle, as was usual, and as he sat with his tea, after their meal, he fixed her with a steady look.
"You seem a little more yourself this morning, my dear. Did you sleep well?"
She grimaced. "I fear not, Uncle Silas, but I did sleep, even if that rest was not particularly refreshing. I am sure I shall be better tonight, for it was only yesterday that Alex and I parted."
"Quite so." Le Tessier paused. "Do you have any plans for today?"
Roxane paused, but an idea had come to her during the restless night, and that idea still seemed of merit in the light of a new day. She looked across at her uncle.
"Uncle Silas, my mother had begun to teach me a little about the ways of housekeeping, about cooking dishes a little more involved than the simple cookery I learned as a child, about the basics of keeping household accounts, and the like, but we had barely begun when that accursed fire killed her." She paused, and her uncle signalled her to continue. "May I ask if Mrs Trevelyan might take up where my mother left off?" She gestured. "At least then I might be able to look after any home that Alex and I may have in the future."
Her uncle nodded. "A sound idea, dear niece, and I have to say I am happy to agree, with one -- no, two -- provisos."
"And they are?"
"One, you do not come between Mrs Trevelyan and her duties, and, two, that she herself agrees on this."
Roxane smiled. "Dear Uncle Silas, I am more than happy to agree with your provisos."
"Very well, we shall see how Mrs Trevelyan feels about this. Just a moment," said Le Tessier as he rang the handbell to summon Mrs Trevelyan. She arrived in moments.
"Yes, sir?"
"Take a seat for a moment, Mrs Trevelyan, we have something to ask of you."
Surprised, but mostly at ease with her employer, Mrs Trevelyan sat, and turned to Le Tessier, after a glance at Roxane. "Now, sir, what is it?"
Le Tessier indicated Roxane. "My niece has a request to make of you."
Trevelyan nodded, turning to Roxane. "Yes, Miss Roxane?"
Roxane paused for a moment, marshalling her thoughts, then addressed the housekeeper. "Mrs Trevelyan, before my mother died in that terrible fire, she had begun to teach me her ways of cooking, more advanced than the basic knowledge I gained as a girl, and had begun an introduction to the ways of household management. It was my thought that, if you are willing, you might continue my education in these matters. I promise to try my best never to interfere with your work. In fact, in some small way, perhaps I can lighten your load." She gave the housekeeper a smile. "I have my reasons for asking you, for after all, when Captain Gilroy and I are married, it may well be that I must run our home, wherever -- whenever -- that might be."
The housekeeper sat for a moment, then turned to Le Tessier. "You have no objection, sir?"
"None, Mrs Trevelyan. The decision, though, must be yours, and yours alone."
Trevelyan nodded. "Miss Roxane, you must understand that some of my duties may involve the risk of becoming somewhat soiled. If you wish me to teach you, then you must also undertake the less savoury duties as well as the more pleasant ones." She paused. "You understand?"
"I do, Mrs Trevelyan, I do. It would be fair neither to myself or to you if I wished you to show me, or rather, to teach me, only the more pleasant aspects of running a household. If at times I must get dirty, then dirty I shall get!"
Trevelyan nodded, then smiled, a broad, warm smile. "Miss Roxane, I should be delighted to teach you." She turned to Le Tessier. "With your permission, sir?"
"You have it, Mrs Trevelyan, but as I said before, the decision is yours."
"Then my decision is yes. I taught my own two daughters, and they have both fared well with their husbands, so I think I might be able to teach you at least as much, Miss Roxane. When do you wish to start?"
"Whenever it suits you, Mrs Trevelyan. The only task I have in mind for myself at the moment is to begin a letter to Captain Gilroy, and that will keep until I have a spare moment or two."
"Very well, let us begin now. I suggest, though, that you change to one of your older gowns, lest you spill something. I have pinafores, of course, but even so, an older gown is best."
"Indeed. Allow me five minutes to change and I shall present myself for your inspection, and your tuition. In the kitchen?"
Trevelyan nodded. "In the kitchen, yes." She gestured. "You are both finished breakfasting?" she said, as she stood.
"We are, Mrs Trevelyan," said Le Tessier.
"Then I shall clear these things away. No, Miss Roxane, not you, not yet. Away and change first. There will be enough for you to do later, I promise."
"Very well, Mrs Trevelyan. I shall see you in the kitchen directly, ready and willing." she smiled. "And, hopefully, able!"
Chapter 31
Roxane enjoyed working with Louise Trevelyan. The housekeeper was a good teacher, having raised two daughters of her own, seen them married to good husbands, and was now three times a grandmother. Mrs Trevelyan was patient, polite to her employer's niece, but insisted that Roxane carry out the tasks assigned to her correctly. She started Roxane on simple tasks, and saw them mastered before she would move on.
"Why so many repetitions, Mrs Trevelyan?" Roxane asked the housekeeper one day, having already completed the task she'd been set four times.
"So that it becomes natural for you, Miss Roxane," was the smiling reply. "Learn to do the simple tasks automatically, and you will be able to think about other things while you work. Deciding what needs to be ordered, perhaps, or deciding on the meals you wish to serve during the coming days." Mrs Trevelyan paused, thoughtful. "I'll say this, Miss Roxane, for someone with your admitted inexperience, I find your appetite for learning quite inspiring."
Roxane laughed. "It has been but two weeks, Mrs Trevelyan. I fear that perhaps when I move on in my cooking, especially to those dishes with more, um, intricate preparation involved, I shall find my skills wanting and my enthusiasm waning."
The housekeeper nodded. "You will, but only at first. I think you'll find that as your skills grow what at first seemed ever beyond you will become possible, even familiar."
"But not yet?"
Mrs Trevelyan shook her head, smiling. "No, not yet, Miss Roxane. I will say this, though, I do not think it will be long before the preparation of more complicated dishes will be possible for you, not long at all."
"And I'll be able to prepare an evening meal for my uncle?"
The housekeeper nodded. "Indeed so, Miss Roxane. But not yet."
Roxane smiled back at the older woman with genuine affection. "Very well, then. What next?"
The housekeeper beckoned, and Roxane followed her into the cool store. Hanging on a hook were two dead rabbits, freshly caught that morning, Roxane knew. Mrs Trevelyan took the rabbits from the hook and led Roxane to a scrubbed wooden bench in the corner of the cool store, a nearby window admitting sufficient light for anyone working at the bench. She placed the two rabbits on the bench and turned to Roxane.
