40 - Chapter 40
The banquet preparations sped up even more after the trip to Cambon.
Now, with only a week left until the start of the banquet, items ordered from Cambon for the pre-banquet dinner party began to arrive one by one.
While it was natural to receive new food supplies, the tableware needed for the Banquet was to be taken from what was already available in the mansion.
However, no matter how well they were managed each year, some were bound to be damaged or lost.
Moreover, they couldn't keep using the same dishes, so every few years, they had to order new dishes with the Stanford and Blissbury crests on them.
Fortunately, they had replaced the entire set of dishes the year before last, so there was no need to order everything new.
However, there were still dishes with cracks or chips here and there.
Those, too, had been listed in advance last year and ordered in the winter, so they all arrived safely before the banquet began.
"The carpets and curtains have been inspected, and starting tomorrow, the extra maids will come and do a major cleaning of the entire mansion, so I need to check their accommodations too..."
It was so busy that Eloise felt like her eyes were spinning, but it wasn't too difficult.
Eloise went to the back balcony of the first-floor entrance hall and looked out over the sprawling backyard.
The additional gardeners, as well as Mr. Palmer and Sergeant Thornton, were all in the garden, sleeves rolled up, sweating profusely.
Cutting down the old tree that had been struck by lightning and died this winter and then digging out its roots was not easy, even with a dozen strong men working on it.
Since morning, they had all tied ropes to it and tried to pull it out, but it was not enough. They even mobilized the horses from the stables, but the roots still wouldn't come out easily.
Eventually, everyone working inside the mansion went out as well. Ryan was among them.
The workers were initially troubled and waved their hands. It wasn't something a noble person should be doing.
But Ryan didn't listen.
<Do you think too little of soldiers?>
He said that, then threw off his vest, unbuttoned his shirt, and went in among the workers.
Even among the workers who used their bodies all day, Ryan stood out. Tall and broad-shouldered. The well-defined muscles of his forearms were visible beneath his rolled-up sleeves.
As if to prove that it wasn't just for show, the tree stump, which hadn't budged until then, began to shake little by little after he joined in.
<Alright! Let's finish this today!>
At Ryan's shout, the workers all roared in unison and pulled even harder.
With the momentum building, everyone clung on even more forcefully. After an hour of this, the old tree stump had revealed about half of its roots.
"They're really going to pull it all out today. Amazing."
Mrs. Parker, who had come pushing a wheelbarrow, muttered in admiration.
"I know. I thought it would take them a few more days to get that out."
It's not easy just because there are a lot of people. Someone has to lead the workers well, controlling when to exert strength and when to rest. And Ryan is doing that role now.
Mrs. Parker took out a basket of food and a bottle of cold water from the wheelbarrow.
"Eloise, would you mind helping me? The maids are all washing bedding, so I don't have enough hands."
"Of course. Give me the heavy stuff."
Mrs. Parker was getting old now. The woman who used to lift several blankets at once by herself had been showing tremors in her hands for some time now.
Judging by the way she squinted and held her head far away when looking at the recipes in the kitchen, she must have presbyopia.
Suddenly, Eloise thought of her father, who had gone to be with her godmother at the end.
When she first came here, she thought that her father would be the caretaker, Mrs. Parker would be in charge of the kitchen, and Mr. Palmer would be the butler for the rest of their lives...
"Eloise?"
"Ah, let's go!"
Eloise picked up the basket of food and the basket of water bottles and headed to the backyard.
Mrs. Parker told her from behind to give her one of the heavy things, but she pretended not to hear.
As Eloise and Mrs. Parker approached with the food, the workers cheered and went to the water barrel to wash their hands.
"I made a lot because I knew everyone would be using a lot of energy today. There's more left in the kitchen, so let me know if you need more."
Mrs. Parker said as she took sandwiches and chicken out of the basket.
Everyone lined up obediently in front of her like children waiting to receive candy, and received a sandwich and half a chicken each.
Meanwhile, Ryan was drinking the water that Eloise had brought. Despite it being a fairly large glass bottle, he drank almost all of it at once, then washed his face with what was left.
He looked at Eloise standing next to him and waved his hand.
"You should stay away, I must smell of sweat."
Eloise didn't move away. It wasn't like he smelled unpleasant, and she had something to ask him.
"Sergeant Thornton, will you have any friends coming to the banquet?"
Friends. At those words, Ryan recalled the faces of those he had left behind in the military for the first time in a while. Then he smiled and replied.
"No."
He had absolutely no intention of inviting them here. Philip would be fine to invite. He's quiet and doesn't like people much, so if he comes to Blissbury, he'll enjoy the scenery of the countryside even more.
'But if I invite Philip, Richard will follow.'
That guy was the problem. How many times had he seen women crying in front of the Army Headquarters because of Richard?
It would be a relief if they were women who came saying they loved him and wanted to meet him.
<What's the sentence for shooting and killing a soldier with a gun? Sob...>
For a while, the higher-ups had even banned Richard from going out because of the young ladies who were sobbing and making scary noises.
But then he ended up playing around with the few women in the Army Headquarters and got disciplined again.
Inviting such a guy to Blissbury would be like bringing a storm.
"But maybe they'll visit while passing by..."
"Absolutely not."
When Ryan said it again with emphasis, Eloise shrugged as if she understood. He really doesn't have any friends.
Just then, a voice calling Eloise was heard from the entrance.
Wondering what was going on, she returned to the lobby and found the mailman, William, was there.
"The maid said you were here, so I'm dropping off your mail and leaving."
William said, taking a letter out of his bag and handing it to Eloise. It was a letter from Mr. Serverton.
"That's the only letter going to Feltham today, hehe. Thanks to that, I can go back early today."
If he went straight back to Cambon without stopping at Feltham, he would save about two hours, which was exciting for William.
William continued to take mail out of his bag.
"Oh, this is also from Mr. Serverton. It's for Sergeant Thornton. And this is a newspaper and magazines from the bookstore in Cambon."
Blissbury received a collection of daily and weekly magazines that arrived in Cambon from Newham once a week. Today must have been the day they arrived.
"Then I'll be on my way!"
William left with light steps, and Eloise organized the letters and then unfolded the newspaper.
The headlines of the newspaper were the same as always.
Compensation under the armistice agreement continues to be delayed... Official announcement of Her Majesty the Queen's 40th anniversary celebration! This year's must-haves for Royal Ascot! The issue of the military budget due to the increase in retired soldiers has emerged as the most important agenda item in this parliament...
The content of the newspaper was so similar that it seemed like she was reading the same newspaper she had seen a month ago.
Just as she was wondering if it had been sent by mistake, Eloise was relieved to see advertisements she had never seen before when she turned the page.
As she was skimming through the newspaper, Eloise's gaze stopped on an article in the corner.
Lieutenant Colonel Ryan Wilgrave. His whereabouts are currently unknown... When our reporter inquired with the Army Headquarters about his whereabouts, they refused to provide information, citing personal matters. Most believe that he cowardly hid himself for fear of being summoned by the Disciplinary Committee, but some speculate that he is secretly carrying out a military mission...
"Haa."
Eloise sighed deeply.
Recently, stories about Lieutenant Colonel Wilgrave had rarely appeared in the newspapers. This was because he had been absent since taking leave in the spring.
So she was both happy and worried to see the article after so long. She was worried that the reporters, who had been quiet for a while because they had no one to attack, would start tearing Lieutenant Colonel Wilgrave apart again.
...However, it is expected that Lieutenant Colonel Wilgrave will reappear no later than early winter this year, when the Disciplinary Committee will reconvene.
Early winter.
Eloise stared at the newspaper for a long time before turning her head. In the distance, she could see Sergeant Thornton eating with the workers.
'Come to think of it, Sergeant Thornton will be in the capital around that time too.'
He's someone she won't see again once he leaves Blissbury.
But if I go to the capital, will I be able to see him then?
