Despite the late hour, Mrs. Puffley was in the kitchen—where she nearly always was when she wasn’t in her bedroom—while Molly went on to the servants’ dining room to eat a late supper (and likely to avoid being seen by the cook, who’d surely find something for the kitchen maid to do). Phyllida heard the sounds of clinking and splashing from the scullery, and peeked in to see Opal, Lizzie, and Sally, the extra maid who had been brought in for the weekend, washing dishes. That meant supper had been served and was likely finished.

Phyllida stepped into the kitchen to assess the cook’s mood. She also intended to find out what had been served to the Mallowans’ guests in terms of a late meal—for it was hours past the normal eight o’clock serving time. It was the responsibility of Mr. Dobble and his footmen to do the serving of meals in the dining room for both guests and family, but Phyllida needed to keep her fingers on the pulse of such goings-on.

When Mrs. Puffley saw her, she immediately launched into a tirade—although it wasn’t as loud as it could be. Perhaps because she’d tired herself out with previous tirades?

“D’you know how long I worked on that leg of lamb pastry, Mrs. Bright? And to have it be set aside at the very last minute! Why, it was just perfectly crisp and flaky and golden brown, and now it’s nothing but a soft, mushy lump. I couldn’t serve that to Miss Sayers! Why, I wouldn’t even feed it to Peter or Myrtle!”

As was the case with many who had her position, Mrs. Puffley was opinionated, short-tempered, volatile—and a superior cook. Phyllida had come to the conclusion that it was some sort of universal requirement for a cook to possess those characteristics, as so many of them did. Just as a housekeeper such as herself must have an even temperament, excellent organizational skills and forethought, as well as a pervading sense of order and calm, the one whose domain was the kitchen surely felt the entire weight of the household upon them.

If master and mistress, guests, and staff didn’t get fed—and fed well—it was a poor reflection on the entire household. Therefore, a cook must require absolute obedience from her staff, along with hard work, coordination, and perfect timing, in order to succeed—all while working in the hot, steamy dungeon of a kitchen. It was no wonder Mrs. Puffley was like a tea kettle ready to go off at any moment.

Phyllida was not fond of the kitchen and its associated work, so she had a healthy respect for those who conducted it. After all, she did enjoy eating.