Magic Below Stairs by Caroline Stevermer Read Free Book Online Page B

Piers was so tall he had to climb on a chair at times to get the angle right. Deftly, Frederick twisted and folded the fabric around Piers’s neck. “Look up at the ceiling. Hold still.”
    Piers tilted his head back meekly. Frederick made the final adjustments and tied the knot just so. He let the folds of cloth go where they wanted to go, soft but not too soft, crisp but not too crisp.
    â€œNow lower your jaw as you bring your head forward so that the fabric squashes down and the folds turn out properly.” Frederick surveyed the result with disfavor. “If we do this again, I shall fetch a step stool. You’re too tall.”
    â€œNo need.” Entranced, Piers was gazing at himself in the looking glass. “Frederick—you’re a marvel.” He turned his head this way and that, admiring his cravat. “How smart I look. Hang on a moment.” He left the dressing room abruptly.
    By the time Piers returned, Frederick had finished clearing up the dressing room. “If you want a step stool, I’ll build you one. I’ve spoken to Lord Schofield, young Frederick. You are now officially the assistant valet. You shall tie his lordship’s cravats for him from now on.”
    â€œAssistant valet?” echoed Frederick. “Me?”
    â€œThat’s right. He’s even agreed to increase your wages.” Piers glanced around the room and beamed at how tidy it was. “Your new duties begin at once. Tie his lordship’s cravat.”
    â€œNow?” Frederick put the smoothing iron back in the fire to heat. “This instant?”
    Shaved and dressed, Lord Schofield strolled into the dressing room in his shirtsleeves. “This instant. Why not?”
    Frederick couldn’t think of any reason why not, so he set to work preparing his lordship’s neck cloth. It took longer than usual, for Frederick was determined not to blunder. He worked with his lightest touch, making the edges of the neck cloth smooth and sharp as the blade of a knife.
    â€œLook up at the ceiling and hold still, my lord,” said Frederick, when it was time. He tied the knot and tweaked the fabric into place. “Now, lower your chin.” Soon Lord Schofield was wearing a properly tied cravat.
    For once in his life lost for words, Lord Schofield spent fully five minutes studying his reflection in the looking glass. Then he clapped Frederick on the shoulder and shook his hand. “I’d no idea you were so deft, lad. Well done!”
    Frederick, speechless with happiness at such praise, could only hold out Lord Schofield’s jacket. Lord Schofield slid into it and slapped Piers on the back. “It’s official. You now have an assistant valet, Piers. A better life for all of us.”
    Lord Schofield confirmed his new position with Mr. Kimball at once. The butler made certain Frederick knew every detail of his new position. Frederick would still clean his lordship’s boots, but only his lordship’s, not the rest of the household. There would be no more chamber pots, except for his lordship’s, and no more scrubbing of floors. He didn’t have to sleep among the upper servants, as they were still pressed for room, so Frederick chose to keep his bed in the laundry, where the fire made things cozy and hot water was plentiful.
    Bess heard the gossip of his good news before he had a chance to tell her, and she congratulated him on his good fortune. Bess had good news of her own. “Now that the season is ending, his lordship is going to spend the rest of the year in the country.” Bess threw her arms around Frederick and spun them both in a circle. “So are we! Isn’t that grand? We’re going to the country!”
    â€œThe country?” Frederick repeated blankly. “What country?”
    Bess stopped hugging Frederick and shook him briskly. “This country, silly. Mr. Kimball was allowed to choose which of us servants stay here and