I reached the servants’ hall to find him laughing with Mrs. Shaw, the woman Grace had helped with the darning. Even the sour Bessie gave him a smile.

Daniel broke off when he saw me peeking in the doorway. “Ah, Mrs. . . . Holloway, is it? I deliver to your kitchen.”

He sounded proud he remembered me. I gave him a cool nod. “Indeed. Perhaps you should be about your business.”

“Now, missus, can’t blame a fellow for stopping to pass the time of day when that day is so horrible, can you? Cats and dogs it is out there—cats and dogs. I heard them yowling as they came down.”

Every person in the room found this hilarious, especially the delighted young women.

“Mr. . . . McAdam, is it?” I returned. “The man with the impudent tongue.”

No one paid me any heed. Daniel held sway here, and an interloping cook from a stately household would not change this.

“She is quite right.” Daniel gave me a wink that set off a new gale of laughter around him. “I have been frivolous long enough. Must deliver the rest of my load so I don’t lose my post. Pleasant to have met you all.”

He waved like a monarch leaving his populace, amidst cries of, “Good night, Mr. McAdam!” “Come again soon, do!” “Have a care of the cold, man.” This last from a male servant, as charmed by him as were the ladies.

I backed into the passageway to let him by, and Daniel looked straight at me as he passed. While his smile never wavered, I read in his eyes that he wished to speak to me. He strode along the corridor and out the door with his usual verve, likely expecting me to follow him out.

Mrs. Compton exited the kitchen just after that, bundled in coat and hat to join me.

“I’m sorry about the commotion, Mrs. Holloway,” Mrs. Compton said as she led me toward the back door. “The delivery was very late, and the new deliveryman wheedled a cup of tea out of the maids. I’d wanted to slip out without anyone seeing, but it can’t be helped now.”

“We are both cooks,” I said to soothe her. “Not unusual for cooks to have a chat together.”

“Well, I hope that is all they see.” Mrs. Compton sounded anxious as she bustled me up the stairs and outside, staying close to me as we went out.

The sky was dark as we emerged, the sun setting early in February, spring still many weeks away.

The delivery van had not moved. Daniel lounged at the rear of the vehicle, its back door open. “You ladies are welcome to ride with me,” he said cheerily. “Get you out of the weather.”

Mrs. Compton halted and gazed at him in disdain. “In a wagon full of potatoes, young man?”