[piosenniel]

Supper was moving along nicely. The cold of the earlier day had sharpened people’s appetites and they tucked in with appreciation to the chicken stew, thick with taters and carrots, and the big, fluffy biscuits that accompanied it. They were thirsty, too. The hours of confinement in the Common room as the rain pelted down had dried their throats mightily as they strove against the inclement weather with friendly conversation and pipeweed.

Never mind that the sun had come out late in the afternoon and the weather turned more pleasant. Once those in the Inn had their seats planted firmly on the comfortable chairs and benches, a pipe in their hand and a neighbor to jaw with, no amount of sunshine would flush them out.

Camille and her family looked to be having a good time, thought Cook as she peered out the doors from the kitchen. The girl was a good worker for one so young. Cook pondered the possibility of having one of the maids show her soon the routine for getting a room ready for a guest. The Spring Faire would be coming on soon; it always drew in a great lot of visitors. Many hands would be needed to keep things in order in the kitchen, the laundry, and the rooms to let. It was best if workers knew more than just one job. She was half-way through her ponderings when Ruby came in, bearing a tray of dirty dishes.

‘I thought you were helping Miz Bella?’ asked Cook, coming over to help scrape the plates.

‘We’ve got about as far as we could get before supper,’ returned Ruby, setting the scraped dishes into the deep pan of soapy water. ‘She said for me to tell you she was going to “take you up on your offer”.’ Ruby dried her hands on a dish towel and looked at Cook expectantly. But Cook only said, ‘Ah! Good!’

‘She also asked me,’ Ruby went on, ‘to have you find a helper of some sort for her. To get things carted about and arranged and all that. Said you should use some of that money she gave you.’ Again Cook was not forthcoming, her thoughts turning to whom she might spare.

Camille hurried into the kitchen just as Ruby, exasperated with trying to find out about “offers” and “money” had loaded a platter with bowls of stew and baskets of biscuits and was heading for the Common Room. The young lass, it seemed, was after another pot of honey and one of butter for the biscuits. While Cook showed her where to find them, she asked Camille if she would be willing to take on a small task for her. It would help out immensely, and there was the promise of a certain number of coins a week and meals, of course, while the job lasted. A strong worker was needed by one of the new Inn guests to move about small boxes and odds and ends of furniture. And any other handiwork that might be needed. And did Camille think she could do such a job?

‘But no need to answer me now, dear. Enjoy the rest of your meal. Then come see me when dessert is done and they’re all sitting about talking. If you’re interested, we can start you tomorrow on it. She’s a nice lady you’ll be working for if you decide to take it on.’ She gave the girl a push out the door. ‘Go on now and finish your meal . . . And don’t forget to save room for cake!’

Cook watched as Camille made her way to the table where her family and Mister Headstrong and Marigold were sitting. ‘She’ll do nicely, I think,’ Cook nodded to herself. ‘Be a real help for Miz Bella.’ At the thought of Miz Bella, Cook sent one of the servers to her room to ask if she might like to take her supper in the kitchen, or would she like it sent along to her room . . .