“I came down to see if you had a moment for a walk in the sunshine,” Lord Northbury said. He was dressed in his ordinary at-home clothes, which today were an old pair of nankeen trousers, and a blue velvet coat that was rather out at the elbows.
“Dodging Smithers again today?” Tiffany smiled saucily at him.
“You might say that,” Percival replied. “I have no appointments today, and I’ve a mind to take a turn around the gardens before I return to my work. I wondered if you might walk with me.”
“I can watch the cake,” Grace volunteered. “And all the other foods are either cooking or already prepared.”
“Thank you, Grace,” Tiffany said. “You set my mind at ease. All the same, we must not be too long, My Lord, for it is nearing the dinner hour.”
“Come then, and take a turn about the garden in the sunshine before you must return to your labors.”
The garden was beginning to show signs of the oncoming spring. Green onion tips were showing above the mulch in one bed, while against the sunny wall where the bench was located, snow drops displayed their shy blossoms.
Tiffany was glad to see that Percival’s cheeks had filled out a little, and he no longer looked quite so strained about the eyes. “Is the building going well, My Lord?”
“Oh, the building is well enough. The land has been cleared and laborers are digging the foundations. It is the eternal discussion about policies that is annoying. How is the kitchen?”
“I think we have finally scrubbed out the last of Jones’ messes, and have proper supplies again. I hope you find the meals enjoyable, My Lord?”
“Very. And I am finding the company of the cook enjoyable, as well. I think if I had gone over one more column of figures today, I should have been tempted to set fire to all my record books.”
Tiffany laughed. “Surely it was not so bad as all of that, My Lord. At least you had a nice breakfast tea, and yet another with your guest.”
“You knew I had a guest?”
“The whole household knew, of course. You are aware that nothing you do is secret?”
“Dear me. I shall be careful to avoid going into espionage or His Majesty’s privy council.”
“I should highly recommend avoiding both,” Tiffany giggled. “I am told that neither is very safe.”
I wonder why he met with a former member of the Watch. Does he still not trust me?
“I suppose not,” Percival said. “But let us not allow such an unpleasant topic to spoil the day. Tell me, do you have plans for your next half-day?”
“Not at the moment. I don’t suppose it would be possible to borrow a book from your glorious library?”
“Not only possible, but if you will come with me into that self-same library, I would like to show you something.”
“More changes to the model?”
“No, no. Well, yes, though that’s not what I had in mind. Come now, if I say more, I will spoil the surprise.”
Tiffany, now greatly curious, followed him inside. They entered the library from the great hall side. The model of the orphanage still stood on the central table. As they passed it, Tiffany could see that some changes had been made, including more small cottages around the perimeter. In addition, some of the trees seemed to have been swapped out for taller ones.
Wedged between two large bookcases was a small door, flanked by a table with a small brass vase on top of it. “This used to be my mother’s solar,” Percival said. “Since you are not allowed to go walking out on your own, I thought you might like a small office. We have cleared out all my mother’s effects. It has come to my mind that you might appreciate some added instruction in how to keep accounts and a few other things that normally fall to the head cook.”
“Other things?” Tiffany asked, a bit startled.
“Yes, indeed, such as keeping track of paying the kitchen help, keeping track of inventory, and estimating how much it will cost to feed the household next year, using this year’s figures.”
“Oh. I already know some of that, My Lord.”
“Excellent. I am hiring another kitchen assistant so that you can spend a portion of each afternoon with Mr. Wilson, my man of business. He will instruct you in the niceties of keeping a financial journal and other details.”
“I . . . I don’t know what to say, My Lord.”
Tiffany looked around the little room. The desk was plain, and clearly smaller than the desk that must have formerly occupied the space. The chair was well padded, but modest, and suited to her size. There were several empty bookshelves around the room. A small window looked out over the vegetable garden, and there was a plain, wooden door with an interior latch that led out into that area.
