MRS HEMLOCK, HOUSEKEEPER - LIBRARY TO BUTLERS OFFICE<br/><br/><div class="floatleft">(http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk137/HaibaneR/MrsHemlock.jpg)</div><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">"I will surely do so. Now that you have given me invitation, I will come into your office if I am idle... to do some cleaning in your most treasured area."</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div>I slapped her impertinent face, hard, the annoying little thing.<strong>"Silence! You do not need to agree with me. I tell you what to do. You do it. You do not need to tell me what I just told you, you cheeky thing!"</strong><br/><br/>I waited, hands on hips to see if any more impertinence might come out of that mouth but she changed the subject.<br/><br/><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">"I am done hanging the greenery. Shall I see if the grooms need help in the stables?"<br/><br/>"Oh - and might I be permitted to wear clothing when outside, or shoes at the very least? The snow is quite thick on the grounds."</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div>I frowned at the naughty creature. Grooms needing help? Only to dip their wicks.<strong>"No, you may not. The grooms are employed to work in the stables, they know their job. You should know yours. Your work is in the house my dear. If the greenery in here is finished..."</strong>I stopped and looked about the room. Hm. It would do.<br/><br/>The girl hadn't been punished yet...<br/><br/><strong>"...If you are finished here I am certain Mister Pollock will have something for you to do. Come with me. No clothes. No shoes. No outside."</strong>I swatted at her behind with the Tongue to guide her on her way ahead of me. I collected the ruined dress from the floor and threw it in the rubbish bins outside the pantry entrance.<br/><br/>I passed through the kitchen on the way. I knocked on the butler's office door and entered, finding Mister Pollock working at his accounts. I parked Flo beside him.<br/><br/><strong>"Ah, there you are,"</strong>I smiled at the butler, friendly but efficient.<strong>"Kneel,"</strong>I said to Flo as though she were a dog. I resumed speaking with the butler.<br/><br/><strong>"The decorations are complete, everything is in order. I need to change for dinner. I shall arrange the maids to serve drinks in the library at seven. It being a special event, His Lordship will want the maids in their underthings and the maid-slaves and any slaves naked. I have chosen to let the maid-slaves wear their ankle boots and stockings only with their maids caps. Thus the guests may easily identify which are which. I posted a notice to that effect in the maids quarters this morning. We know His Lordship is not so fond of bare boys so I imagine you will keep the footmen in formal uniform. I am going to gather the maids in the library at six thirty and assign tasks. The wine of course is your province, as is the brandy, port and after dinner cigars. And of course the final arrangements of how the food should be served, as usual."</strong><br/><br/>This being a formal occasion with several guests present, it was the butlers duty to manage it all. When it came to guest and family-facing duties the housekeeper was never involved, my work went on silently behind the scenes to keep the house running, and the slaves happy - or unhappy, perhaps. Mister Pollock was our Master of Ceremonies in all matters such as this. I would just be organising the maids to serve aperitifs and pre-dinner savouries but would help serve, naturally.<br/><br/><strong>"Also..."</strong>I looked down at Flo beside me,<strong>"I have a naughty slave here. I caught her wearing a dress without permission. She has not been punished yet so if you have something suitable she can do between now and six thirty please feel free. I will need her able to walk and serve drinks, so nothing <em>too</em> rough, if you wouldn't mind."</strong><br/><br/>I waited for his answers before departing to my chamber.