Travelling Rifleman

"Oh. Well, I thought... You looked... I thought... oh." He grinned. "Reckon there'd be room for you, mate. You know the Captain. Major. He'd darn well make room for any of the old Comp'ny who wanted it."

The young maid came in with Cotton's tea which he'd left in the butler's pantry and a fresh cup for Newbury which she put on the table in front of him, looking a little nervous at the state he was in.

He forced himself to shrug and managed to keep from glancing in the direction Jenny had gone. "Don't matter - can't see her settlin' down ever anyway. I'd be obliged for a job, though. Even if it meant tendin' shrubs or somethin'. Thank'ee," he added with a grateful nod to the maid when she brought the tea.

"You'll be doin' my job afore you know it. Well, a bit of it, anyhow - he's tried to get me to do the stuff a butler would, though I know less about that than I do about bein' his... I think the word he used was 'valet'. Still think of meself as his batman, really." He wrapped his hands around his mug, relaxing a bit. It was good to have someone to talk to, someone who'd been there. Well, the Captain had been there, but that wasn't the same, was it? And he was a Major now, wasn't he?

"Could get away with not knowin' the right way of it, out in Spain, but back here? I feel like a fish out o' water. I ought to be out there, follerin' the plough again, really, Joe."

This was good tea, Newbury thought appreciatively after taking a sample taste. He nodded. "That's about all a valet is, really. Fancied up batman. Butlerin', now... that's different. Tendin' the silver and bein' in charge of all other male servants in the house. Nice important job, sure."

It wasn't a job for him, though. Not by a long shot. He helped himself to a chair. "Nothin' sayin' you can't get back to that, really, y'know. Be a bit tough balancin' the duties here, maybe, but..."

"Ah well, we'll muddle by somehow. Don't s'pose you know anyone as would want to be butler here?" His tea was drinkable now - nearly on the wrong side of warm, but still drinkable. "It's a proper man's house, this - though the Captain was sayin' as how his sister was threatenin' to move in an' organise everythin' for him."

And it was seeing a face from the past that had him referring to the master as 'the Captain'. Had to be.

"Don't think I do, no," Newbury replied, putting all thought of his brother from his mind. "Could try advertisin' for the position, though. Or... his sister could set it to rights for him."

This last was said with a smirk.

Cotton laughed at the idea of a fine lady polishing the silver. "He might advertise for it, at that. Be good if we could get someone recommended... His sister or his folks might know. If they find out how we're rubbin' along so far, though, I dunno what they'll make of it all."

Hm. Newbury thought for a moment. It was possible perhaps to send word back to the Forest about a butler being needed, even if he didn't have anyone to nominate for the position himself.

"Fine folks don't usually know, that's fact." Newbury took another swallow of tea and grinned. "This kitchen of yours. It turn out food half so well's it does tea? I ain't had more than stale bread and cheese since I left the Forest."

Food? "I'm sure we can scuff somethin' up for you, Joe. An' if you don't mind me sayin', you look like you need a shave. I'll get you some hot water an' a razor too." He grinned. "It'll be almost like old times with you here, Joe."

A shave. Yes. Newbury ran his fingers over the stubble on his jaw and grinned ruefully. "Aye, that wouldn't be a bad idea. Can't present myself the cap'n lookin' so rough, can I?"

Cotton drained his tea and grinned. "No. You stop here an' I'll go an' get some water an' a razor. Won't be two shakes of a duck's tail, I won't."

"Cheers," Newbury said. A shave would do nicely. After he'd scraped this mess off his face, he could get out his travel-dusty clothes. There was a mostly-clean shirt and pair of trousers in his pack. Just the thing for meeting a potential new master.

Cotton headed towards the door, and paused. "If you want to freshen yourself up, you'm welcome to use my room," he said, thinking that Newbury would probably also like to get out of his travel-stained clothes while he was about it.

His room? The lucky sod. "Where's that at?"

"Joe?" Maggie poked her head in the kitchen, and then rushed in with her arms open. "Joe, there you are! Jenny said you were here!" And she gave him a kiss on his rather rough cheek.

"Down this way. There's enough rooms here. Dunno if if valets are s'posed to get their own rooms - though I should've said 'our room' bein' as Maggie an' the kids use it, too. Reckon they'm outside som'ers though, it bein' a nice day."

And then the door was pushed open and Maggie came in. "Or then again, mebbe she ain't."

"Nice seein' you, Missus," Newbury said, his face tinged pink. "Just come in, the two of us did."

"I know! Wonderful! Are you here to work too? Jenny's come for a maid, a lady's maid. You used to be in service too, didn't you Joe? Gabe, he could be the butler!" she exclaimed, grabbing her husband's arm. A small boy and girl ran past, shrieking, but Maggie paid them little heed.

"I already suggested that to him and he said no. Rather go back to bein' a footman - though I couldn't say for why."

The children's cries made him pause. "Jack and Peggy, you two be quiet and don't run in the kitchen, got it?"

"I got a toad," the boy explained, holding it up for inspection.

"I found it first," the girl protested.

"That is a big toad," Cotton agreed. "Now, you ought to put it back where you found it an' wash your hands."

"But we're gonna give it to the Major," young Peggy explained.

Newbury grinned. "How you plannin' to do that, then?"

"Leave on his bed," Jack answered. Naturally.

"No you ain't! You go and take it out, right now. The major don't need a toad in his bed." Maggie gave them both a shove toward the door. "That's two of our kids, Joe, Peggy and Jack. The baby's still sleeping. You got any children? Come and sit down!"

"His boots," Newbury called after the pair. "Try that. No," he added in answer to Maggie's question. "I ain't got anythin' half so fine, myself."