MRS HEMLOCK, HOUSEKEEPER<br/><br/>(http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk137/HaibaneR/MrsHemlock.jpg)<br/><br/>It was late morning and just a few days remained to prepare the house for Christmas. At least the tree had arrived and had been erected in the library and yesterday the footmen had done a passable job of decorating it under my supervision. There were still boughs of holly, ivy and other forest greens to be cut and brought in to adorn mantelpieces above the fires and over the doorway arches. I had set Emma to work all yesterday making up pourris of cinnamon, dried oranges, nuts, cloves and other finely scented decorations. These would be placed in shallow glass bowls in the principal rooms with nightlights nestled in them to fill the house with the special Christmas smell.<br/><br/>Everyone was busy and being short-handed I had asked Mr Pollock if I might have the services of one or two of the broken slaves - those who could be relied on to do some work and not go running off.<br/><br/>(http://www.bbc.co.uk/tyne/content/images/2006/08/04/142413_470x389.jpg)<br/><br/>I entered the kitchen where Cook was preparing two entire pigs for roasting and enquired if she needed any assistance. She shooed me out with a hustle and bustle,<strong><em>"You be out of Cooks Kitchen, Missus Hemlock me dear, 'tis my domain and I can be lookin' after it with me own girls, you pretty ups yer house and leave us be!"</em></strong><br/><br/>In a shower of breadcrumbs and a dusting of flour I withdrew. Cook ruled that room and her pantry and rarely accepted help, though I admitted to be quite prepared to leave her be, she and her assistants were among the most reliable and thorough members of the household.<br/><br/>Passing along the servants corridor that comes out near the study I saw two footmen bringing boughs of greenery in the doorway.<br/><br/><strong>"No!"</strong>I barked sharply,<strong>"<em>Not</em> through the main door. Good heavens, what are you thinking of? Round to the court. Bring them in the pantry entrance, all that snow must be knocked off first as well, then I'll get a girl to trim them up and cut away the old wood."</strong>I sent the men back out and round to the arch. There wasn't time to find a maid so I drew a small broom and dust pan from a cubby hole and cleaned up the dirt the men had just brought in.<br/><br/><em>Really, like animals sometimes. Mean well but they just don't think.</em><br/><br/>Stowing the broom and pan away again and wiping my hands on my apron I proceeded on my way, poking my head into a room here and there to see maids working away cleaning and polishing and making up fresh fires. We had the water heating of course but nothing surpassed a log fire in a room to fill you with good cheer. I went into the Alcove Room and watched the weather, snow was falling again, thick soft fat flakes drifted down. The sky bore that low dull bruised look that tells of more to come. We had nearly a foot of snow in the last two days and if we had a high wind with it the lane would fill with drifts and then it would be the Devil's own work to clear it for the guests carriages. I shivered and rubbed my arms.<br/><br/>Back along the hallway I went into another room and came across Master Alistair with a new arrival. The 'delivery men' I called them had evidently just taken their pay and left. I looked at the girl, her clothes were a mess but beneath them were curves of promise. She looked just about well enough fed but with a proper diet such as she'd receive here she'd look much better in a week or two. She had a certain look in her eye, not the sort that common street girls have. I wondered over that look a moment, though as of now she was not my concern.<br/><br/><strong>"Master Alistair, Sir, excuse me for interrupting. Might I suggest you deal with a new arrival in the slave quarters? I had this rug beaten clean of dirt only yesterday. I can send a maid to bathe the girl too if you wish."</strong>I wrinkled my nose at the odour that was threatening to undo all my careful Christmas mood preparations.