Carols and Chaos
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Carols and Chaos
The next morning, after setting up Miss Emily and Miss Imogene with cups of steaming hot chocolate, plumped pillows, and a book for one, paper and graphite stick for the other, Kate stepped down the stairs into a beehive of activity. She was on her way to the housekeeper’s room to break her fast at the usual time, but there was not the usual amount of hustle and bustle – there was far more.
Pippa busily swept twigs and needles down the narrow hall toward the door while Livy scooted around her with a tray of toast and bacon – ignoring Pippa’s shout of indignation when her refuse pile was scattered by Livy’s skirts. Clearly, the evergreens had been delivered, and a quick peek into the servants’ hall as she passed proved her theory to be true. A good third of the large table was piled high with boughs and branches as well as ribbons and dried fruit; the crate of mistletoe sat on the floor beside them.
Cassie, one of the housemaids, jostled Kate in her rush through the doorway to join the other members of the lower staff, who were waiting impatiently. The aroma of their first meal of the day wafted from the sideboard, reminding Kate that her belly was empty. She nodded her acceptance of Cassie’s apology and then hurried to Mrs. Lundy’s private sitting room, where the rest of the upper servants gathered.
“Where is Norbert?” Mrs. Lundy asked, frustration evident in her tone. “Everything is topsy-turvy this morning.”
Kate smiled. “’Tis the season.”
“Exactly.” Mrs. Lundy batted at the air. “Never mind. Sit. We will start. Livy, pass the dishes.” And so saying, the girl did just that.
Soon a silence of busy minds and mouths permeated the room, disrupted only by the clinking of cutlery and, eventually, Mr. Norbert’s entrance.
“Pardon me, one and all. Glad you went ahead…Had a devil of a time rising this morning.”
Kate nodded in sympathy; the family had stayed up late – no doubt to celebrate and enjoy Mr. Ben’s arrival – but it meant that Norbert, Matt, Marie and Kate had had to do so as well. Morning had, indeed, come too quickly.
Casting her eyes to the other end of the table, Kate found Matt staring back. They grinned at each other. Focusing again on her plate, Kate enjoyed the scrutiny, using her peripheral vision and that innate sense of being watched to verify that Matt was as aware of her presence as she was of his. She smiled at her fried tomatoes and spread a generous amount of Cook’s fine blackberry jam on her toast before lifting her eyes again. Purposely, she turned her head in the other direction first – practicing a little coquetry.
Mrs. Lundy was watching her.
As Yuletide fast approaches, Kate Darby, lady’s maid at Shackleford Park, has more than enough to occupy her time and thoughts. The house is a flurry of constant activity, and on top of the general busyness, Kate must also contend with her mother’s constant demands for her attention. Kate loves her mam and sympathizes with her loneliness, but she grows increasingly frustrated as Mam makes up repeated excuses to bring Kate running. And with so much to be done at Shackleford, Kate can ill afford the time it takes to be constantly at her mother’s beck and call. Yet interestingly, she still manages to find time to flirt with the Steeple brothers’ valet, Matt Harlow, who has accompanied the gentlemen to Shackleford for the holidays. Somehow, Matt and Kate contrive to find moments here and there to be in each other’s company or to exchange impish grins or conspiratorial winks. But both of them know that any hints of impropriety could be devastating. Keenly aware of their responsibilities, and of their respective hopes and dreams for the future, neither one would be willing to jeopardize their positions. All of that notwithstanding, neither one seems ready to put a stop to their burgeoning feelings for one another.
But that soon becomes the least of their worries when Matt’s friend Johnny, a well-liked footman, mysteriously disappears. Matt realizes very quickly that something is amiss, and Kate insists on helping him search for his wayward friend. As more time passes, the two become increasingly certain that something untoward has happened. They begin making inquiries in Tishdale, but ultimately their investigations lead to unexpected results and put the two in grave peril as they stumble upon a counterfeiting operation whose ringleaders are desperate and determined to avoid being caught…at all costs.
This fourth offering from Nova Scotian author Cindy Anstey is a companion novel to her recently-released Suitors & Sabotage, with Kate and Matt having both appeared therein. However, while Suitors & Sabotage, along with Anstey’s earlier tales, all focus on the lords and ladies of high society, this book takes us below stairs. We are now given a glimpse behind the scenes into the lives of the maids and footmen, the cooks and valets and those who run the households. And what a fascinating world this proves to be! Kate and Matt, like so many of their peers, have worked hard to attain their current positions, and they recognize their good fortune. They are both working towards their own goals and know that they will have to work for many years to earn enough money to realize their dreams of opening a dress shop (Kate) and a tailor shop (Matt). But they are willing to work hard, are grateful to have found kind employers and enjoy the camaraderie that generally exists amongst the servants. Both are likeable protagonists. Kate is high-spirited and energetic. Her feisty nature is on full display whenever she is around Matt, but she is also loyal and kind, and while she is frequently exasperated (and occasionally quite dismayed!) by her mother, her love for her is always evident. Matt is also charming and endearingly earnest and sincere, as well as a faithful friend. Their innocent flirtations that blossom into deeper feelings make for a heartwarming Yuletide romance.
And once again, this book features a mystery for the protagonists to solve which provides additional opportunities for them to get to know each other and for their feelings to deepen and their relationship to develop. While the mystery element is not the primary focus of the book, it adds an element of dramatic tension and is a successful plot device in many respects. It serves to further showcase both Matt and Kate’s characters and also provides a concrete example of the solidarity that exists amongst the servants as they band together to first try to cover for the missing Johnny and later to participate in the search for him. For readers of the previous book, it is also gratifying to see Imogene and Ben supporting Kate and Matt in their efforts and expressing genuine concern for Johnny.
Author Cindy Anstey continues to display an obvious penchant for the Regency era and all its rules and etiquette in Carols and Chaos. Readers will enjoy the Yuletide setting of this tale and the Christmas traditions that are woven therein. Anstey is ever attentive to detail, and her books are delightfully evocative of the time period. This new addition to her oeuvre is a satisfyingly cozy Christmas read that offers a slightly different perspective than her earlier books. Carols and Chaos will appeal to her existing fans as well as those who are discovering her work for the first time.
Lisa is Co-Manager of Woozles Children’s Bookstore in Halifax, Nova Scotia.