Magic Below Stairs by Caroline Stevermer

which come along to Skeynes, and we are among those who are to go.”
    â€œSkeynes?” Frederick echoed.
    â€œYes, the Schofields’ estate, Skeynes. It was ever so grand there once, and I don’t care what anyone says. It will be grand again.” Bess bounced a little more in sheer excitement.
    Frederick thought it over. “Just us? Must be a lot of work, moving to a new house.”
    â€œWhat is wrong with you, Frederick? You aren’t usually such a goose. Quite half the staff is coming,” said Bess. “We’re to go on ahead to be sure the house is fit before Lord and Lady Schofield’s arrival. And it’s not a new house, but an old one. It has been neglected in the past few years, but before that it was as elegant as anything.”
    â€œWait a moment. How many houses does his lordship have?” Frederick asked.
    Bess hesitated, counting on her fingers, then waved the question aside. “Dozens, I suppose. But he only lives in a few of them.”
    â€œA few ? You can only live in one place, surely? Why have more than one house?”
    â€œFor the income,” Bess replied. “Rents and leases and all that sort of thing.”
    â€œOh, I understand.” Frederick thought it over. “If this Skeynes place is so wonderful, why does his lordship live here and not there? Why was it neglected?”
    Bess lowered her voice. “All I know is, his lordship’s older brother died there. The whole family took against the place. Wouldn’t set foot there. But ever since he and her ladyship returned from their wedding journey, his lordship has had men busy repairing the place. My aunt who lives near there says it’s been years they’ve been at it. The work is finished at last, so Mr. Kimball says. When the season is over, we’re to go.”
    â€œWhich season?” Frederick asked. “Summer? Autumn?”
    â€œThe social season, cloth-ears!” Bess was obviously happy to tutor Frederick. “From spring to midsummer, all the rich folk bring their daughters to town to marry them off, those rich enough or pretty enough to find a match. By this time of the summer, everyone is either married or bored out of their wits with parties and gossip, so they all go home. They let the harvest restore their pocketbooks, they spend the hunting season chasing all over the countryside after a pack of hounds, and as soon as Yuletide is past, they plan when to return to London and start all over again.”
    â€œBut if their daughters have all been married off, why must they do it over?” Frederick asked.
    Bess poked him. “Don’t be simple. They must do something to keep busy, mustn’t they? It’s not as if they have floors to scrub. Geese fly south in the winter, and rich folk go to the country in the summer. That’s just the way things are.”

6
    IN WHICH FREDERICK LEARNS SOME HISTORY
    Neither Frederick nor Bess had ever ridden in a private coach before, so the long jolting journey from the city to the wilds of Gloucestershire was a great adventure. Bess went inside the carriage with Mrs. Dutton and the maids. Mr. Kimball was riding on top of the coach with Frederick.
    When at last the excitement of seeing the countryside had lost its novelty, Frederick began to find the sway and rattle of the carriage lulled him. To keep from falling asleep, Frederick peppered Mr. Kimball with questions.
    â€œHow long before we arrive?” Frederick asked. “How often do they change the teams of horses? Have you made this journey many times?”
    â€œNot for hours,” Mr. Kimball answered. “They change horses every twenty-five miles. In the past, I made the journey to Skeynes often. If the weather stays fair, it is a grand excursion. Skeynes is a noble house, the finest such property for miles in any direction. Lord Schofield did right to bring it back into good repair.”
    â€œWhy was the place so