“Thank you,” I said. “That is kind of you.”

“You’ll find a place, I have no doubt.” She tried to speak reassuringly, but she knew the difficulties I faced.

Tess would not look at me. I had no wish to leave her behind to a new cook’s temper and Mrs. Bywater’s arbitrariness, but I would do her no favors if I allowed her to leave with me. I could not guarantee that a new mistress would hire a cook and her assistant both.

As I began to don my apron, Mr. Davis appeared. “She says you’re not to cook today.” The disgust in his tone was deep.

My hands froze in the act of tying the apron’s knot. “Pardon?”

“She wants to see how Tess gets on. You are to spend the day putting together your things and searching for a new post.”

“I see.”

Mr. Davis’s cheekbones stained red. “She is a commoner, Mrs. Holloway. Doesn’t understand the least thing about running a large household. In Somerset, her servants are a cook who doubles as a charwoman and a person from the village who comes in twice a week to do the gardening.”

His derision was acute. Mr. Davis did not believe a home could be run with less than a dozen servants, no matter how few people actually lived in it.

“No doubt she finds it a savings, Mr. Davis.” I hung up my apron and fetched my coat and hat, still on their hooks from last night. The hat was dry now, but the straw was misshapen, its ribbon trim rain-blotched.

Tess at last looked up. Her unhappiness tore at me. “Where are ya going?”

“Out.” If Mrs. Bywater did not wish me to work, I could spend my time on the problem Daniel had handed me.

“I will come back,” I added as Tess gazed at me in anguish. “I promise. I have errands to run.”

Tess had tears in her eyes as she bent her head again, but she scowled at Elsie as though daring her to say a word. Elsie remained silent, too reticent to speak.

I climbed the stairs to the street. The rain from the previous day had ceased, but a cold wind blew down the road, stirring last autumn’s dead leaves. I buttoned my coat to my chin and trudged around the corner and down South Audley Street on my way to the omnibus.

“Mrs. Holloway!” Lady Cynthia’s voice sang out as I reached Curzon Street some minutes later.