Making his list and checking it seven times twice

[belowcastle.livejournal.com]

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?]

Comments

[allthesamemask.livejournal.com]

Nod nod nod. This is carte blanche to prepare it herself, yes? No? She may not know where everything is in this kitchen but Isaac taught her that much, at least.

She'll wash her hands first, of course.

[belowcastle.livejournal.com]

It's her tea. If she wants to imbibe any questionable microscopic life forms along with it, up to her. He'll simply scour everything after she leaves. Inwardly, however, he nods approval. Kettle and old earthenware pot are in plain sight, as is a goodly supply of simple Earl Gray, tea for the masses. The specialties he keeps safely tucked away.

He returns to polishing (from the beginning, thank you). Though it may appear he's not watching her, every movement is recorded by ears long used to sussing out what's happening without looking.

"What brings you to Club Castle today, Miss Two?"

[allthesamemask.livejournal.com]

Earl Gray will do. There will be much too much sugar tipped into her cup when it's ready, but that's not really a surprise.

"Oh, um- there wasn't English today so I just wanted to see if she'd like to find some secret passage to decorate. I know you're all decked out already, but it'd be fun to go through a hidden door and find some tinsel or something for no reason, right?"

[belowcastle.livejournal.com]

He perks up at that thought. "I'm certain the Young Miss would enjoy doing that, or--"

Or they could surprise her. He picks up his polishing pace, though remains every bit as thorough and precise.

[allthesamemask.livejournal.com]

"Or?" You can't just say that and leave her hanging, Gideon.

--or maybe it's something bad that he's thought of. Maybe there's a rule against decorating secret passages. Right. She hunches down in her seat and fills her mouth with tea to stop further talking.

[belowcastle.livejournal.com]

"It occurs to me it would make a pleasant surprise for Miss Eileen if at least one was pre-decorated for her to discover before you two embark upon your quest."

[allthesamemask.livejournal.com]

Ah. Absolutely a good idea, and one that gets her shoulders relaxing again. "That's wonderful, Pryce. Maybe the passage on the fifth floor in the east wing, next to the picture of a bunch of ladies playing polo?"

[belowcastle.livejournal.com]

He doesn't smile so much as radiate approval. "A most excellent choice, Miss Two. Once you've finished your tea I'll show you where we keep spare decorations."

[allthesamemask.livejournal.com]

Better. Much better. She'll just sit quietly and drink her tea and wait for him to finish his polishing.

He won't mind her much hanging back a bit when they go, will he?

[belowcastle.livejournal.com]

Not at all. He leads her to a storage room full of precisely marked and stacked packages--no throwing everything this way and that on his watch, thank you. "Select what you'll need and I'll pack it along for you."

[allthesamemask.livejournal.com]

B-but. How will she know what she wants to take out short of throwing everything everywhere and seeing how it goes together?

Okay, she'll probably be fine, really. And mostly neat about it as she goes about opening all the boxes and checking the contents. "S'this tinsel too long for a passage, maybe?"

[belowcastle.livejournal.com]

That's what hand trolleys are for. Gideon loads the dolly with boxes as Leigh selects them, taking a moment to glance at the tinsel in question. He manages not to shudder. Tinsel. It gets everywhere. Still, it's to make the Little Miss happy, so he answers honestly enough.

"Far too long. I believe you will find a more suitable length in the box to the right of that one."

[allthesamemask.livejournal.com]

Back goes the tinsel before she transfers her attention to the other box. It's quite lovely, Gideon, don't make that face. "Oh! I know these are for the tree really, but can I take these baubles too?"

Cringe over the dust later, please.

[belowcastle.livejournal.com]

"Those ones there, yes." He hesitates a moment before turning and digging through a small box. "Ah! Thought they were here. Might I suggest these (http://tinyurl.com/czg9nz3) as well?"

[allthesamemask.livejournal.com]

She doesn't quite shriek at the sight, but there's a distinct squeal. She reaches for them a little, snatching her hands back when she remembers herself. "Yeah- yeah, she'll love those! 'M surprised you didn't use 'em already."

[belowcastle.livejournal.com]

"It's as good a way to surprise her with them as any. She can hang them where she wants after."

[allthesamemask.livejournal.com]

"All right. I'll put these right at the bottom, on the side so she won't find 'em too early." This requires shifting some boxes to put them into the bottom box. Worth it, no?

"Whatcha gonna do for Christmas, Pryce?"

[belowcastle.livejournal.com]

"Working, naturally, though I believe Cook has organized something called a White Elephant Exchange." Whatever that means. She'd assured him no real elephants were involved after he'd protested about the mess. "So we'll have our own celebration." And they'd be off on Boxng Day--his birthday--per normal.

[allthesamemask.livejournal.com]

"That sounds fun," Leigh says brightly, shutting the last box and setting it back. "That's where you give each other funny gifts, right? What're you getting for your giftee?"