A Change of Fortune by Beryl Matthews Page A

under way and it was bedlam in the kitchen. Jenny was amazed that they didn’t keep colliding with one another, but each person seemed to know what they were doing – except her. This was her first experience of a large house party from below stairs. She had never realized just how hard the staff had to work to make the serving of food and drink go without a hitch.
    ‘Jenny.’ Even the housekeeper appeared flustered as she sailed into the kitchen. ‘You’ll have to take this dish of vegetables up. Hurry now.’
    She lifted the heavy silver dish and climbed the stairs as quickly as possible. Then only two steps into the dining room and it seemed as if her heart stopped beating for a moment. From the hub of chatter coming from the guests one voice stood out. Suddenly she was running from the room, still clutching the dish, without even knowing that she was doing so.
    ‘Jen!’ Edna caught her arm. ‘Stop. Where are you going?’
    ‘I can’t go in there,’ she gasped, thrusting the dish at her friend. ‘You take it. Please!’
    ‘What’s going on here?’
    ‘I don’t think Jenny’s well, Mrs Douglas.’
    The housekeeper placed her hand on Jenny’s forehead. ‘Feels like she’s running a fever. Go and ask cook for a drink of water and one of her remedies. She’llhave you right in no time. Edna, you take the vegetables in. Quickly now.’
    Jenny struggled down to the kitchen on legs so weak they would hardly hold her. Once there, she sat on a stool in the corner out of everyone’s way, and bowed over as if in pain. Dear God, that was her worst nightmare come true. She’d been feeling safe, but she wasn’t. Discovery could come at any time. Gloria Tremain was upstairs. She had been the head girl at the school for two years and knew Jenny well. Even her disguise as a servant wouldn’t have fooled Gloria. Had she seen her?
    At that moment someone pushed her head down between her knees and held her there. When she sat up again, cook thrust a glass of pale green liquid into her hand.
    ‘Drink that. It’ll bring some colour back to your face.’
    Jenny was so disorientated with shock that she emptied the glass without even noticing what it tasted like.
    ‘There now, you sit quiet for a few minutes.’ The cook smiled kindly.
    ‘Thank you, Mrs Peters.’
    Slowly she became aware of her surroundings and her heart slowed to a more normal rate. She was dismayed to see everyone rushing around while she did nothing. This wasn’t right; they were frantically busy. She forced herself to stand.
    Mrs Douglas was working as hard as everyone else in an effort to keep the dinner party running smoothly. With so many guests, each of them needed to pitch inand do whatever was necessary. ‘Stay where you are, Jenny, until you feel well again.’
    ‘I’m all right now. Please let me do something down here. I’m sorry, Mrs Douglas, I don’t know what came over me.’
    ‘You can’t help being taken ill,’ she said. ‘But if you feel well enough, ask cook what she wants doing.’
    ‘Take the cakes out of the oven, then help Milly with the washing up.’ Cook mopped her brow. ‘I hope they’re eating all this food, Mrs Douglas.’
    ‘It’s disappearing as fast as we can serve it,’ the housekeeper said, before rushing off again.
    Cook gave a satisfied nod, and then glanced at Jenny. ‘You sure you’re all right, Jen?’
    ‘I’m fine, thank you, Mrs Peters. Your remedy worked wonders.’ Jenny arranged small cakes on a large dish. There were fruit ones, some covered in lashings of cream; others were chocolate and coffee. They looked delicious.
    ‘You’ve made a real professional job of that.’ The cook gave Jenny a sly wink. ‘I’ve got a few of those put aside for our little party tonight.’
    The presentation of food was something she had been taught at the Templeton School. Jenny’s nerves steadied. If she made herself useful here, they might not ask her to go back upstairs again.
    There was at least