Patchwork Universe

Lady Violetta Kingsley

Anna, one of the housemaids, finally caught up with Miss. Harrison, the housekeeper, in the linen room. Miss. Harrison, who was physically all angles and - amongst the serving staff at least - was considered to have a personality to match, was casting a critical eye over the bedsheets when Anna burst into the room. Any icy stare stopped Anna in her tracks.

"Sorry to bother you, mum, but it's the cats, see? I've just had to chase that old tabby out of Her Ladyship's bedroom, and they're all over the house today. It's driving me to distraction, it is."

Miss. Harrison shook her greying head at Anna, a sour expression on her face. "You know to keep the bedroom doors closed at all times, Anna."

"Oh, but it was closed, mum, honest, and locked too. I can't think how the cat got in there. But it's not just her. I even saw one of the farm cats running through the West Wing corridor earlier. They're making a terrible mess."

"And what precisely were you expecting me to do about this, Anna?" Miss. Harrison asked.

"I wouldn't presume to know, mum."

"You'll just have to manage as best you can. Try to make sure none of them do their business in the house."

"Yes, mum." Anna left, disheartened. Miss. Harrison returned to her inspection, only to find that the hamper she had been sorting through had now been disarrayed by a half-grown black kitten, which had seemingly appeared out of nowhere. Miss. Harrison picked up the cat and gently carried it to the kitchen door, keeping a firm hold on its struggling form as she did. Turfing it out into the yard, she spoke quietly, whether to herself or the cat wasn't exactly obvious. "I've no idea what you lot are up to, but there's nothing in the manor for you. Now get!"

In all her years working at Aldersley. Miss. Harrison had realised that from time to time the cats would get a notion into their heads, and it did little good to try to disuade them from whatever it was they were up to. Generally Miss. Harrison considered them to be a force of nature, akin to fire or storm. Gathering up a couple of maids whose work could be postponed, she sent them to scour the house for feline intruders, although she imagined it would do precious little good, before returning to the linen room.