room."
"I suppose that's true." Pride brought a smile to Letty's lips that faded as she continued. "But that doesn't excuse your absence. Beverly is your friend, and entertaining her is your responsibility."
"But it's already three o'clock. Mama! How will Cook manage the increased number for dinner?"
"She'll manage. She always does. Now go downstairs and smile. We wouldn't want the Huttons to suspect their visit has put us at a disadvantage." Pausing, Letty looked unwavering into her daughter's face. "Is that understood?"
"Yes, Mama."
Waiting only until her daughter had slipped back out of the room, Letty raised a hand to her temple in an uncertain gesture she could not afford in her daughter's presence. Looking up as Margaret appeared in the doorway, Letty stiffened her back and spoke in a soft, urgent tone. "You're to see that all the bedrooms are set to right as quickly as possible, and I want you to tell Cook to serve tea now, so dinner may be delayed to afford her more time to accommodate our guests."
"Yes, ma'am."
Her expression tense, Letty smoothed a wayward blonde wisp from the back of her neck as Margaret disappeared from sight. Her reputation as an efficient housekeeper and faultless hostess was at stake, and she did not take the situation lightly. As difficult as some aspects of her life in Shenandoah had been in the past five years, she had never compromised her standards. This house was so beautiful and well kept that could be in the center of Philadelphia proper, instead of being isolated on a hilltop from which she could view only a devastated valley and the homes of a working class whose station was far below theirs. And as unexpected as was this visit from Harry and Sybil Hutton and their daughters, she was determined they would see both her home and herself only at their best.
In the hallway Letty turned toward the central staircase to the first floor, where her guests awaited her.
«» «» «» «» «» «» «» «» «» «» «» «»
"Gather the fresh linens off the line and be quick about it, miss! The mistress wants everything in tip-top shape when she shows the Hutton family upstairs to their rooms."
Cook's instructions were issued in a brusque tone, but Meghan knew her curtness was not intentional. Pandemonium had broken loose in the servants' quarters upon the arrival of Mrs. Lang's unexpected guests, and she felt a sudden certainty that, despite the lateness of the hour, the day's work had only just begun.
Snatching up the laundry basket outside the door, she hastened toward the portion of the yard where the bed linens flapped in the afternoon breeze. Minutes later, she followed Margaret and Mabel up the rear staircase to the second floor.
It occurred to Meghan as she continued down the hallway behind the two women that this was the first time she had been allowed to set foot above the first floor of the house. Unable to deny her curiosity, she glanced around her at the lavish paintings that lined the walls, and the lush flowered runner beneath her feet. Stepping over the threshold of the bedroom into which she was directed, she could not restrain a gasp of amazement. The size of the place! The room she shared at Uncle Timothy's with Ma and Sean could fit into it four times over. There were huge windows that overlooked the rear yard, and there was a great, majestic bed four towering posts and all! She was still marveling when a sharp voice snapped her from her bemusement.
"There's no time to waste, miss!"
Caught unawares, Meghan nodded in silent response. Her hands were working deftly at her chores a few minutes later when a smile slowly spread across her lips. Oh, she'd have plenty to tell Ma about the house on the hill tonight. She could hardly wait.
David's smile was forced. He just wasn't up to this effort today.
"You're so quiet,
"I suppose that's true." Pride brought a smile to Letty's lips that faded as she continued. "But that doesn't excuse your absence. Beverly is your friend, and entertaining her is your responsibility."
"But it's already three o'clock. Mama! How will Cook manage the increased number for dinner?"
"She'll manage. She always does. Now go downstairs and smile. We wouldn't want the Huttons to suspect their visit has put us at a disadvantage." Pausing, Letty looked unwavering into her daughter's face. "Is that understood?"
"Yes, Mama."
Waiting only until her daughter had slipped back out of the room, Letty raised a hand to her temple in an uncertain gesture she could not afford in her daughter's presence. Looking up as Margaret appeared in the doorway, Letty stiffened her back and spoke in a soft, urgent tone. "You're to see that all the bedrooms are set to right as quickly as possible, and I want you to tell Cook to serve tea now, so dinner may be delayed to afford her more time to accommodate our guests."
"Yes, ma'am."
Her expression tense, Letty smoothed a wayward blonde wisp from the back of her neck as Margaret disappeared from sight. Her reputation as an efficient housekeeper and faultless hostess was at stake, and she did not take the situation lightly. As difficult as some aspects of her life in Shenandoah had been in the past five years, she had never compromised her standards. This house was so beautiful and well kept that could be in the center of Philadelphia proper, instead of being isolated on a hilltop from which she could view only a devastated valley and the homes of a working class whose station was far below theirs. And as unexpected as was this visit from Harry and Sybil Hutton and their daughters, she was determined they would see both her home and herself only at their best.
In the hallway Letty turned toward the central staircase to the first floor, where her guests awaited her.
«» «» «» «» «» «» «» «» «» «» «» «»
"Gather the fresh linens off the line and be quick about it, miss! The mistress wants everything in tip-top shape when she shows the Hutton family upstairs to their rooms."
Cook's instructions were issued in a brusque tone, but Meghan knew her curtness was not intentional. Pandemonium had broken loose in the servants' quarters upon the arrival of Mrs. Lang's unexpected guests, and she felt a sudden certainty that, despite the lateness of the hour, the day's work had only just begun.
Snatching up the laundry basket outside the door, she hastened toward the portion of the yard where the bed linens flapped in the afternoon breeze. Minutes later, she followed Margaret and Mabel up the rear staircase to the second floor.
It occurred to Meghan as she continued down the hallway behind the two women that this was the first time she had been allowed to set foot above the first floor of the house. Unable to deny her curiosity, she glanced around her at the lavish paintings that lined the walls, and the lush flowered runner beneath her feet. Stepping over the threshold of the bedroom into which she was directed, she could not restrain a gasp of amazement. The size of the place! The room she shared at Uncle Timothy's with Ma and Sean could fit into it four times over. There were huge windows that overlooked the rear yard, and there was a great, majestic bed four towering posts and all! She was still marveling when a sharp voice snapped her from her bemusement.
"There's no time to waste, miss!"
Caught unawares, Meghan nodded in silent response. Her hands were working deftly at her chores a few minutes later when a smile slowly spread across her lips. Oh, she'd have plenty to tell Ma about the house on the hill tonight. She could hardly wait.
David's smile was forced. He just wasn't up to this effort today.
"You're so quiet,
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