The Twins secret

Ch 9 Breakfast

The next morning Lily awoke bright and early. The sun had just crested the horizon and the first rays of sunlight were casting their orange and pink glow across the heavens. As Lily prepared for to go downstairs for breakfast, she stopped at her window to admire the sunrise.

Dressed in a simple white dress and navy housecoat she entered the dining room to find herself alone. She was not surprised as her mother and father rarely awoke at the c***k of dawn without reason.

Entering the kitchen by way of the discreet connecting door, covered in damask wallpaper and wooden trim, intended to blend into the wall, Lily greeted the Monroe’s cook Brigid. “Morning Brigid, what is for breakfast this morning? Oh, the bread smells heavenly, is it almost done?” Taking a big sniff of the deliciously scented air Lily’s stomach growled in appreciation.

Sitting down at the small table meant for the staff she waited expectantly.

“Eggs, bacon, beans, black pudding, fried tomatoes and sausages with my fresh baked bread and freshly churned butter Ellie brought back from the market this morning. The bread will be ready in about fifteen minutes and Ellie will be back from the chicken coop with the fresh eggs and moment. Would you like a spot of tea while we wait miss?”

Brigid had long since given up on shooing Lily from the kitchen. Lily had appeared one morning when she was twelve or thirteen and declared she would eat with them as her parents were away for the weekend and her sisters would not be up for at least two more hours. She had shooed Lily back into the dining room and brought her out a ‘proper’ breakfast. This happened every time her parents were away or would be sleeping in. Then Lily had started coming to breakfast at the c***k of dawn when everyone, but the maids and cook were still asleep.

One Saturday about seven months after that first visit Lily walked into the kitchen to see a pot of tea and a plate filled with food waiting for her. Brigid had nodded her head towards the plate and tea and simply said “have at it!” Lily had been eating in the kitchen any chance she got ever since. She was careful to never let her mother find out, she wanted to avoid any lectures about boundaries between the help and them. Her father knew. He had never told her mother; it was their little secret.

Brigid would give her cooking lessons while she worked. Explaining how to make bread and biscuits. How to pick out the best vegetables and fruits at market and brew a good pot of tea. None of which her own mother had taught her or her sisters.

One day Lily had asked Brigid when the other staff ate as she never saw them in the small kitchen. Brigid had explained they ate in their rooms or outside to not disturb her breakfast. Lily had thought that absurd and said as much, demanding they eat when and where they normally would despite her presence.

It had taken 2 weeks but eventually Ellie, Brigid’s daughter joined Lily for breakfast. A week later Ellie had dragged their shy young maid Annie in. Two weeks after that Roy the stable hand who was crushing on Annie joined them. Soon every member of their staff was eating breakfast with Lily most mornings.

Lily had grown close with Ellie who was six moths her junior over the years. She would consider Ellie one of her closest friends. They told each other almost everything. After Lily’s sisters married and moved out Lily would often be alone for lunch and sometimes dinner. She would go searching for Ellie and help her with whatever chores she had, them chatting away happily while they worked.

When Lily walked into the kitchen Ellie was standing at the bench pulling eggs, a bottle of milk, ham and tomatoes from her large wicker basket.

“morning Brigid, Ellie” She greeted as she made her way over a course of mornings greeted her.

“ I was wondering if I could use the over to bake after breakfast?”

“that’s fine dear, long as your mother’s out. We don’t need her coming in here looking for ye, chewing me ear off fer me letting ya” Brigid said in her thick Irish accent

“what you baking Lily? Something for that Mr. Winters of yours?” Ellie asked a cheeky grin in place and eyebrow raised.

“No its for Ariadne. She went home early from the gala unwell last night. I wanted to bring her a little something to cheer her up.  I was thinking chicken soup, fresh bread and apple pie. I could bring it over to her in time for lunch”

“oh that’s sweet of ya dearie” Brigid exclaimed while Ellie lit up brightly “OH so it’s true. Everyone at the market was talking about what happened last night. Did Lord Orion really say all that to Mrs. Carter? Mary, the Carters maid said Mrs. Carter threw a fit when they arrived home last night. Broke a vase and screamed bloody murder.”

“I didn’t witness it myself; I went for a stroll with Edward round the garden when it happened.” Ellie mouthed ‘it’s Edward now’ with smirk. Lily just ignored her. They both knew Ellie would question her in private later. “All I know” Lily continued. “Is what I was told when we returned. Ariadne went home ill and Lord Arvenal came to host the rest of the gala in her stead.” Lily hated lying to Ellie, she knew Ariadne did not go home. She knew Ariadne could not go home while Orion stayed. Whether she was sick or not Lily did not know, which made her feel better as she was not technically lying about that just repeating what she was told. “Mrs Carter said somethings which Lord Arvenal found insulting and he told her as much and walked away”

“I heard all Mrs carter did was express her worry for Lady Arvenal’s health, that does not sound like a bad or insulting thing”

“I think it was more the implication that Lord Arvenal was not worried for Ariadne’s health” Lily responded with a thoughtful look “ Also I heard she said that Lord Arvenal could do without her hostessing  for them at the business meeting they were goingggg……..” Lily trailed off; she had just remembered what Lord Arvenal had said about them leaving first thing in the morning. She did not know if that was the truth or just a way to stop Mrs. Carter delivering her horrible apple cobbler, Lily knew how much Ariadne hater both Mrs. Carters company and cobbler so it could well have been just an excuse. But if it wasn’t Lily’s plan to drop by and talk to Ariadne and bring her food was shot.

“I just remembered, they said they were leaving first thing this morning for their country estate.” A sigh escaped Lily “there is no point cooking for her if she will not be home”

Lily sat down heavily at the kitchen table dejected. Brigid brought her over a plate and cup of tea and Ellie joined her with her own breakfast.

After breakfast and quick promise to catch up with Ellie, Lily made her way back to her room, still pondering what to do about the twins. Surely, they were worried about who she would tell, if she would keep their secret. She wanted to assure them she would. She wanted to keep her friend….. Best friend? She was not sure what to call Ariadne. The twins were away on expeditions for long periods of time, so they barely saw one another, but whatever level of friendship they had despite this, Lily wanted to keep.

Sitting down at her desk an idea came to her. If she hurried, she could send them a letter. It was still considered early. Lily doubted any of the gala attendees other than herself were awake this early on a Sunday morning.

With that in mind she put pen to paper. Four scrunched up attempts later, she could not seem to put her thought down in any form of coherent letter. One last shot she thought.

Dear Ariadne,

I hope this finds you well.

We have a lot to discuss.

When you are next free would you join me for afternoon tea?

Regards Lily

P.S I would never betray your confidence.

Short and very to the point Lily decided it would do. Her previous attempts rambled on too much and gave away their secret should anyone else read it except the intended recipient. Placing the folded letter in and envelope and sealing it she went in search of one of the footmen or Roy the stable hand.

Roy was in the kitchen sitting at the table as close to Ann as possible eating his breakfast and stealing glances at her every few seconds while she blushed and pretended not to notice when Lily entered. She had not come across either of the footmen on her way so Roy would have to do.

“Roy, I have a favour to ask”

Roy sat up straighter “yes Miss?”

“could you take this to the Arvenal manor as quickly as possible, I am sorry for interrupting your breakfast, but it cannot wait.” She handed him the cream envelope with Lady Ariadne Arvenal scrawled across the from in cursive.

Roy Jumped up from his seat collecting and donning his tweed paddy cap “I’ll take dancer if ye don’t mind Miss. He needs to stretch his legs and it will be faster” Lily nodded before Roy turned on his heels and dashed out to the stables to saddle Dancer.