houseofcards_rp | Making his list and checking it seven times twice

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Making his list and checking it seven times twice

Pryce has systematically been conducting inventory of the linens, china, crystal and silver since he was promoted from First Footman to Butler. He began with the linens, white damask, crisply starched, followed by the china (12 patterns), moved on to the crystal (Waterford, naturally) and today at last finally sits down with the silver. The strains of Mozart's Symphony #40 drift through the air thanks to the record player perched atop the upper cabinets. He's made the count, separated serving and eating utensils, lined them up by length (longest first) on the old farmer's table in the kitchens, has a goodly supply of silver polish and soft clean rags at hand and finally has donned white cotton gloves to begin his work in earnest.

No fires to put out. No last-minute surprises. No one to bother him, just the butler and his routines.

[Tag for Gideon, please?]

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She's the Ace. Her hands shouldn't be sullied. But she's also a child who seldom gets to be a child, and that includes chores. "Tea first, Miss," he decides, already bustling with kettle and pot and rich, fragrant tea leaves. He's put aside her favorite cookies, baked fresh today, and plates two of them.

She could do with chores. And, in two years, when she's a Two again for the first time in 9 years, she'll do well to understand properly the way the Castle is run.

Until then, she'll just flash quite a bright little smile and bob her head appreciatively. 'Tea first' is a perfectly acceptable compromise.

"Congratulations, by the way."

That earns a genuine smile, something the Little Miss is often wont to do. "Thank you, Miss. Please don't worry about any change in the routines Miss Karin had in place." The switch will go seamlessly or there'll be heads to roll. He smiles at the Ace as he places the tray in front of her and pours her first perfect cup of tea.

"There's milk if you'd enjoy it with the refreshments." Not milk and cookies. Those are for children. But milk as accompaniment that enhances flavor.

"I'm certain we'll barely feel a ripple, Mr Gideon." The Clubs were a suit of good faith, after all; and there was no reason to have anything but the highest faith in Pryce taking over what Karin had laid in place.

The question, of course, as ever, was whether it would mean an interruption in other things. There were fewer art classes now that Elisha was King, slowly fewer music lessons since Elani became Jack.

Possibly less time talking about the mollusks classed Octopoda now that Pryce was the Head Butler. "That's all right. I'm certain it'll be perfect just like this. Are you settling in well, then?"

Edited 2012-12-06 02:22 (UTC)

One becomes organized exactly so they may spend their time as they want, and he can think of few things he enjoys more than engaging in a deep discussion about Octopodidae with Miss Eileen.

"One endeavors, Miss. I thought it well to take a thorough inventory of my own if I am to continue in the manner I intend. And your studies, Miss?"

The wrinkling of her nose is very slight as she reaches for a bit of cookie to break off. "A little better, now we've finished poetry at the school."

And, well, even then the fact she'd been going to school with other children (almost) her own age is still the sort of thing that smooths her expression back into a smile.

"And Mr Kahl's letting me pick my own project for science class. It's going to be fantastic."

After a moment, he sits as she expects him to and starts to polish the silver again from the beginning. "I'm certain whatever you work on will be fantastic, Miss. Might this one have anything to do with marine biology?"

"I was considering," she nods before taking a careful sip of her tea. "But there's not overly much I can figure that wouldn't involve having to trek out to the ocean proper."

In no small part because some sort of experiment involving her pets was unthinkable.

"I suppose I could branch out from it, but it does seem hard to leave what one knows best, don't you think?"

"It's a difficult season to be away from Deck," he begins uncertainly, not truly understanding why anyone would ever want to leave, "or you might suggest another trip to Australia--for research, of course.

"Have you considered fresh water species? The Deck offers several suitable streams."

It's an easy tone to recognize and feel deferential to--more Deck-borns than just the types who tended to want to be butlers had a quiet aversion to ever leaving. It's easy to refocus over another sip of tea into the spectrum of places she might be able to convince Pryce to come with her on one of his breaks.

"D'you think there's enough biodiversity this time of year?"

"I'm sure I don't know, Miss. But every locale has its native wildlife. Fish, perhaps? Maybe frogs? Something to do with hibernation?" He finishes polishing the largest ladle and picks up the next. He'd never finished school, never himself actually completed anything but the barest minimum requirements.

"Perhaps a walk and quiet observation are in order before you'll have the answer to your question." He thinks of his sketchbook tucked into the side drawer of the kitchen desk. "I do know several bird species winter here."

"D'you really?" He surely knows what's coming next by that cheerful perk to her tone. Surely. "Would you come with me, then? Please, Mr Gideon?"

On his own time, of course.

The ghost of a smile crosses his lips. "Of course, Miss, if you're certain. Mister Five appears to always have time to spare, or Milady Jack?" Put that in your pipe and smoke it, Montgomery. Miss Eileen asked him.

"I've made some new drawings (http://i.imgur.com/WdhyH.jpg) if you care to see them," he adds. "You might find them helpful. My sketchbook is in the usual drawer."

Monty would absolutely be called on to trawl for frogs in the spring. Elani would be dragged off to make snowmen. But this? This was going to be her thing with Pryce. Everyone else could deal with it.

Just like he'll have to deal with the little Ace scrambling in just a bit of an unladylike fashion to get up and get the sketches to bring over to the table and pour over. "And these are still here, this late in the year?"

"Those are from last week, Miss. I believe the Flamborough Flycatcher winters here along with several other species. Miss Elliot, one of our gardeners no doubt knows. I believe she keeps bird feeders."

"You have to come with me, Mr Gideon." There's absolutely no imperiousness to it. Eileen's always been on the precocious side, but this is entirely the proper pleading of a child with a favourite adult for a genuinely enormous favour. "Please. It'll be brilliant, I promise."

"Of course, Miss. It will be my pleasure." Who better than her Butler to fetch and carry for her? His willingness has absolutely nothing to do with the fact he enjoys the young miss's company. No, not at all.

"Perhaps you can plan our outing between now and my free afternoon?"

Job completely well done, clearly, because this is one completely happy little Ace he's got on his hands.

She has to shift up onto her knees to lean over the table better. "Absolutely. I'll have it settled by tonight, promise."

Now can she help with the work? She's finished her tea and eaten her cookie.

"Hands, Miss." She can just follow him to the big industrial sinks and take care of her hands while he does the washing up. He quite approves of the Little Ace learning low duties. The knowledge will help her better understand the workings of her Castle.

"I'm quite looking forward to it."

She doesn't have to be asked twice. Up on her feet happens in a flash, and over to the sink to give a proper scrubbing over of her small hands. She'll even present them for inspection once they're dry, the way she's been taught.

She'll be incredibly well prepared in a little more than two years to start fresh in the kitchens proper--hopefully under this man, really.

"D'you think we could bring lunch with us?"

"I'm certain Cook can be talked into preparing one," he replies with the barest of smiles. He'd need to admonish Tricia not to prepare a seven course picnic luncheon once she learned it was for Eileen.

"Do you think you'll be ready to go before dawn?" Because that's when the wildlife would be slinking home or beginning their day.

Perfect. That would make a day of it.

And her eyes absolutely light up at the thought of leaving very first thing in the morning, spine straightening even further as she holds out her hands to him before touching any of the polishing. "Absolutely. That'd be the best time to observe, wasn't it?"

He examines her hands and nods approval. "Certainly it is for diurnal fauna," he agrees and hands her a clean cloth. She can start at the other end. "I doubt the Qu--your lady mother would care for you to stay out all night hoping to catch nocturnal ones. With luck we may see some returning to their dens for the day."

"Probably." She can't help the heavy sigh. Mothers. They could be so lovingly protective.

It got in the way of Science all the time.

The cloth is accepted so she can move to stand by the table. It's not the first time she's helped with this, but she'll still wait to be directed where to start, still spend a moment watching him work before falling to. "Maybe if I promise to wear new boots she'll fuss less."

One side of his lips curve up in a lopsided smile. "Better to wear your old pair of Wellies. You're feet will keep warm and you won't ruin anything nice traipsing through the muck."

Because there'd be dirt and grime and damp and all the things Young Ladies of Caliber seldom are allowed. Then again, he imagines that's the point of any such excursion. Somehow, he never minded dirt and grime outside, where it belonged.

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lowtohigh.livejournal.com - 2012-12-18 03:42 (UTC) - Expand

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