It had taken Alice some time to find the kitchen as she realized Micheal hadn't shown her where it was. She hadn't thought to ask because she assumed it would be downstairs near the servant's quarters, so naturally, that was where she went at 5 o'clock to help prepare for the evening meal.  When she reached the kitchen, however, it was entirely empty and looked as if it hadn't been used in years. Where was the cook? Alice had been told by her recruiter Mr. Burns that the staff here was the absolute minimum so Alice wasn't worried about anyone else but she knew there was a cook and if dinner was to be at 5:30 as Micheal had said, then said cook should deffinately be at work in the kitchen by now. After I moment she went back up to the main floor and began to wonder, sort of looking for Micheal, or anybody really, to give her a clue as to where she should be right now. 

It was quite by accident that she found the informal dining room. It was tucked away in the far left corner of the house and to Alice's surprise, already prepared for the meal. There was an open doorway in the corner of the room. To Alice relief light and noise came through. Entering the doorway Alice was brought to a standstill. It both surprised and confused her that she was now standing in another kitchen. But this one was bright and lively and warm and welcoming. 

"Excuse me." Alice stepped out of the way of the plump cook and watched as she passed from the kitchen to the dining room table and back. 

"H-Hello, Mrs Pench?" Alice managed although the cook hardly seemed to register her presence there. 

"Miss Kinly." the older woman nodded her greeting, while she tried something on the stove. 

"I'm sorry I'm late," Alice added noticing the timepiece next to the stove, "I went downstairs to find the kitchen and didn't expect to find it here."

"The Master likes it when we are all together. He doesn't see the point in delivering meals between floors. It's much faster and easy when it's simply between rooms like in a smaller home." 

"I see," Alice smiled although she had never heard of such a thing before, she saw how it made sense and actually rather liked the idea.

"Theres a staff lounge threw there," she turned and pointed to a door next to the open pantry, "That's where we'll eat our breakfast and such. We only sleep downstairs."

"Downstairs? Not the attic?" 

"The downstairs is more insulated and is easier for me, an older woman to get to. The Offices down there have been turned into bedrooms for us. They are all tucked down the hall that leads off the dining room. At the end of thee all is a staircase that leads up here." she pointed to a small door in the wall behind Alice. 

"Thank you for telling me all that or I would have been lost when it came time for me to retire." she laughed. 

"Yes, you'll have to excuse Micheal, he is young and has a tendency to forget the occasional detail." Mrs. Pench sighed.

"Oh not at all," Alice came to stand next to the stove where Mrs' Pench was working, "Micheal was lovely and I myself understand how easy it is to get sidetracked." 

The cook smiled, more with her eyes than her mouth.

"Now that I'm here though, may I help?" Alice asked looking around the room to find something she could do.

"In the future, it would be helpful if you were here early to set the table while I finish preparing the dishes."

"Of course," Alice agreed, "but is there anything I can do now." 

Mrs. Pench thought for a minute, "There are always dishes to be washed. But right now the gravy is down and we ought to be at the table." 

"I would be happy to help with dishes whenever I have downtime," Alice said while Mrs. Pench poured the gravy into a serving dish, then she followed the cook into the dining room.

"I find that I'd much rather be working than doing nothing." Alice continued as the two of them moved to the table and Mrs. Pemch set down the sauce, "That's not to say I don't enjoy a little free time now and then, or perhaps a break, but working does smooth some of the nervousness I feel in coming to a new place. A new home. I-". 

Just then Michael burst into the room from the back door. He scurried around the table to the side Alice stood. Brushing past her, Micheal leaned behind a chair to Alice's right. 

 Frederick stepped into the room next and moved behind the door to hold it open for the one coming after him. He stood tall. Frim. Steady. His gaze surveyed the room. They rested briefly on the cook and then came her turn. He gave her a short nod, but his face continued to show no emotion.

Did that annoy or disappoint her? She couldn't tell. When His eyes hit Michael they narrowed slightly. Bareilly, however, it was enough. Michael stood up straight, his hands folded neatly in front of him. Frederick then glanced out the door then forward and there his eyes stayed. Straight ahead.

Well, that must signal the Masters arrived. Mrs. Pench and Michael follow his example and Alice finds herself doing the same. looking straight ahead. As one didn't when the Master of the house entered the room.

"Ah, thank you, Frederick." Master Prescott's cheery voice carried through the room before he himself did. Alice glanced at Michael and found the beginnings of a grin on his face.

"Sir." Frederick nodded.

And then he entered. At her first impression, Alice had to write off everything she'd ever imagined of him. Master Prescott was a short man. Not to mention his white stetson added a foot. He had a thin white-as-snow beard, about the same thickness as his body. There were many evident wrinkles, mostly around his eyes. But it was his ready smile that surprised her the most.

Nothing like the war-hardened captain she'd imagined. This man looked as carefree and jolly as ever. So.... happy. Alice liked it, and the man's smile was contagious, no wonder Michael was grinning at the sound of his voice. Master Prescott really did lighten a room just by walking into it.

"Eleanor, You did it again." He took in an exaggerated sniff, "What an amazing smell that is."

Did the Master just call the cook Eleanor?

"Tell me, how do you do it?" Master Prescott moved from the doorway and Frederick shut it closed behind him. Then, as the Master made his way into the room, Frederick moved to pull out a chair, Alice was more than confused when Eleanor er, Mrs. Pench sat in it.

"Tush," she replied to the Master's earlier comment, "let's just hope it tastes as good."

"Ha! I've no doubt it will." The Captain pulled out the chair at the head of the table.

What was happening? When would he dismiss them? Why was Mrs. Pench sitting down? This was beyond any normal Alice had ever known. Alice had been watching Master Prescott so closely she hadn't noticed the other man in the room's approach.

"Miss Kinly? Frederick's deep voice startled her. She turned to see his hand resting on the top of the chair in front of her. One eyebrow raised in question. 

"Oh......thank you."

He pulled it out for her, and Alice -anything but comfortable- smoothed her skirt and began to take her seat.

He was watching her do it. She could feel his gaze on her. Why was this happening? She shouldn't be sitting here? Servants don't eat with their employers. And why was Frederick so scrutinizing?

Oh, the why didn't matter, because though she had no idea, the knowledge of him watching her so intently had its effect on her feminine instincts. She felt her back straighten as she slowly and gracefully settled into her chair. She felt like a princess.

"Now I can sit?" Michaels's squeak whisper banished her fantasy. Although she had no doubt she would enjoy letting her imagination wander down that path -Her, an elegant lady, with a tall handsome suitor there to pull out her chair for her and whisper blush-worthy things into her ear- now was not the time. And Frederick Mansfield was certainly not the man.

"Yes, Michael." Frederick's breathing was a bit shallow. Funny how she hadn't noticed it earlier. He didn't give her time to study it though. The butler walked back to his side of the table and took a seat directly across from her.

Figures.

Not sparing her a glance, he folded his hands and bowed his head. Alice did the same and waited for the blessing.

"Heavenly father," it was all Alice could do not to whip her gaze to the man at the head to the table. "We thank you for this food as well as each other's company we have to share. Bless our labors, and may all we do give back to you. Amen."

A chorus of echoing Amens answered including hers. Mrs. Pench didn't rise and start serving as was expected. No, instead each person grabbed at the dish closest to them, scooped its contents onto their plate, and then passed to the left.

It was then that Alice threw all of what she had expected out the window. Evidently, they did things differently around here. The sooner she accepted that the sooner she could learn to cope. So instead of being confused and stiff, Alice let go and became content with just going with the flow.

All the dishes had been passed before Master Prescott thought it a good time to address his new employee.

"Miss Kinly, glad to see you made it."

Alice nodded, "I'm glad to be here Sir."

"I hope you found everything you might need without too much trouble. This house is unnecessarily huge, I sometimes get lost in it!"

Feeling a little more at ease, Alice honesty answered, "I found everything just fine. Michael here gives a great tour." She glanced and Mrs Pench, and the two shared a smile. 

Michael straightened with pride. His smile, however, wasn't directed to Master Prescott, but to Frederick.

The butler nodded his approval and the boy beamed

"Yes, the boy knows every crook and cranny of this place better than anyone." said the Master, "Well, besides Frederick that is."

Frederick shifted slightly in his chair, obviously uncomfortable with having all the attention drawn to him.

"He's been here long before I arrived." the Master continued, "How long is that?" he addressed to man to his left.

"Five years Sir," Frederick replied.

"I've been living here only three." Master Prescott explained, "I brought Mrs. Pench with me, and Michael here, just joined us six months ago. Saved my life, Michael did." he stopped and looked at the kid allowing him to tell the story.

"Aw, alls I did wuz push ya out o' the way."

"From a moving freight wagon!" Prescott boomed.

"It's been a blessing having Michael here as well as it will you, Miss Kinly." this from the cook, "Now that you're here to take on your duties we won't have to keep up with all the cleaning and Frederick might be able to catch his breath. Up until now, he has taken all housekeeping duties under his wing."

Frederick's eyes rested on Alice now. Their unreadable expression caused her to shift in her seat, "I'll do my best to take care of things from now on." she said. The table grew quiet as they waited for his answer.

He nodded.

"That means "Okie-Doke". If you can't tell." Michael's informative whisperer was meant for her but was heard by all and the table erupted into fond laughter, hers included.

"I'm starting to." 

A slight smile tipped the corners of Frederick's mouth up and for the first time, she saw his eyes change. From unreadable to a merry light. She thought their depths mesmerizing before, they were even more so now. 
__________

That laugh. So lighthearted. So carefree. Part of him brushed it off. It was just a laugh. Just a smile. Everyone smiled, and yet a bigger part wanted to hear it again.

And the feeling of having a part in putting it there. He helped put the light in her eyes. It was....nice.....and befuddling to him. Frederick didn't like being befuddled. 

A while had passed since the pleasant sound had come. With everyone focused on their food, Frederick took the opportunity to study Miss Kinly more closely. Ture, he had only spoken to her twice but from what he gathered in those times of speaking with her, she had a lot to say. And from what Michael told him, she had optimism. Looking at her now Frederick had no trouble seeing what Michael had implied.

How would she take the Master's cannons? He pictured Miss Kinly being caught in the middle of one of Prescott's reenactments of his glory days. The startled face she made when he opened the front door and helped with her chair, came to mind. Frederick felt his mouth quark. That face would come in full force. Would she run away screaming like the late housekeeper Becket? take cover somewhere like former housekeeper Jones? Perhaps he should warn her. Perhaps. . . .

"Now, I spend most of my time on the captain's deck so you won't be seeing much of me." Prescott cut in, "Don't be alarmed Miss Kinly, for my work out there can become disruptive at times."

"Oh," Miss Kinly nodded and waited for him to say more, but Prescott had nothing more to say. Instead, he rose and folded his napkin on his plate, signaling he was done. Frederick rose as well and waited for his employer.

"Thank you, Eleanor, for a lovely meal and Michael, Miss Kinly, for your company. I have work waiting for me. Frederick."

That was his cue. As Frederick pushed in his chair and moved to get the door for the Captain he took his last look at the table. Mrs. Pench had begun gathering plates, Michael desperately shoving in the last of his bites, and Miss Kinly wore her smile as she caught his gaze. The smile dimmed a bit but he turned his head to the door before he could see it fall completely. How long would it take for him to get used to her presence? He hoped it wouldn't be long.

*// What do you think about Master Prescott? or the unorthodox way the household lives together? Let me know what you think in the comments. Happy reading ;) \\*