Free Degrees of Hope by Catherine Winchester Page A

little choice but to face his defeat like a man.
    He checked his watch to see that it was just after 9 o'clock; he'd more than slept the clock round! Still, he couldn't go downstairs like this, so he hauled himself from bed and rang the bell. The shirt he was wearing was filthy but he could see that fresh clothes had been laid out for him.
    He had to admire Lady Beaumont, she had known that he wouldn't be up to the task and although he hated to admit it, she had been right.
     
    The Beaumonts were usually early risers but in light of yesterday's bet, Martha had instructed the kitchen that breakfast would be later this morning and that lunch would just be sandwiches, which would allow the staff time to do the jobs that James hadn't got around to, or that hadn't been done properly the day before.
    As such, whilst the others were just finishing breakfast when James appeared at half past nine, they were all still seated at the table.
    Martha smiled as kindly as she could as she greeted him, because she could see that even walking was difficult for him today.
    James wished a 'good morning' to those present, then Lucien directed him to the buffet table, where the food was kept hot with candles below the serving dishes, for the family to serve themselves from, at their leisure.
    Martha directed the children to leave. Charity expected to go to her lessons, so she left happily; the boys were also happy to go out riding and although Hope looked disappointed, she went with them.
    James was ravenous but he tried not to put too much food onto his plate, lest he appeared rude.
    “Take as much as you'd like,” Lucien said, knowing that James had missed dinner. “We've all finished, so it'll go to waste if you don't eat it.”
    James piled his plate higher and Martha was pouring him a cup of tea as he sat down. She then refilled her and Lucien's cups.
    Martha and Lucien made small talk about the estate whilst James ate so that he didn't feel uncomfortable, but when he had finished eating, he broached the subject of the bet.
    “It appears I owe you an apology,” James said graciously. “And 10 pounds, of course.”
    “You can leave aside the money, if you can tell me that you have learned something from yesterday's exercise.”
    “You are absolutely right,” he said. “Women obviously are much stronger than I have given them credit for. Work such as that would quickly do me in, I'm sure. I can hardly believe that a thirteen year old girl can manage that.”
    “And the workload of our servants is actually lighter than it is in other houses.”
    “Really?” he looked surprised. “I have to say, I am quite shocked. I don't believe there is one man of my acquaintance who could do such work on a regular basis.”
    “Of your class perhaps,” Lucien interceded. “Unless you know no working men at all, I assure you that you do know some who work just as hard, perhaps harder.”
    “Yes, I suppose farm labour must be intensive,” James agreed. “I must say, I find this all fascinating. Every gentleman should be required to do some manual labour. We don't really know that we've been born.”
    “Have you revised your opinion on the vote for women at all then?” Martha asked.
    James sipped his tea to give himself time to think.
    “I must confess, Martha, I still do not believe that women have the intellect to make important decisions for themselves.”
    “Would you call me unintelligent?” Martha asked.
    “Well, no, of course not, but then you are an educated lady. Most women do not have your brains, even if they can work as hard as a man. I dare say that the work I did yesterday would surely be as hard on you as it was on me.”
    “That's where you're wrong,” Martha said seriously. “I first entered this house when I was ten years old, and I was the scullery maid back then. I worked that job for two whole years before I was moved up.”
    “You worked as a scullery maid!”
    “Indeed. I have the manners of the gentry only