…for Six Sentence Stories where the given word is Valet.
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He rose at dawn then dusted, vacuumed, loaded the washing machine, polished the silver, tidied the drawing room, ironed the daily newspaper, and collected his Master’s breakfast from the kitchen.
He took them upstairs, opened the bedroom curtains and greeted his Master, then after laying out his clothes, he ran a bath and retired to the kitchen to help Constance the Cook prepare lunch.
Butterworth had worked at Buckhampton Manor as a valet and manservant for countless years, but he’d never felt appreciated and was becoming increasingly tired, so the time had come for him to retire but his carefully planned and imminent departure would be unannounced.
The following day he rose at dawn then dusted, vacuumed, loaded the washing machine, polished the silver, tidied the drawing room ironed the daily newspaper and collected his Master’s breakfast from the kitchen having slipped something into the pot of tea.
He took them upstairs, opened the bedroom curtains and greeted his Master but he didn’t need to lay out clothes or run a bath because his master fell back into a deep sleep.
Butterworth went to the safe, plundered its contents, packed the polished silver in his bag, took a case of Bollinger 1984 from the cellar and a box of finest Cuban cigars from the table then placed his spoils in the boot of the Rolls Royce and after collecting Constance the Cook from the kitchen, they went off together never to be seen again.
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Thanks to Denise at GirlieOnTheEdge for hosting.
A well planned exit.
He has great attention to detail!
Great story Keith
A well-executed plan!
Precisely! Thanks. Reena.
excellent
Thanks, Beth.
I love stories that end with a “happily ever after.”
Me too, but I’m not sure the Master will see it that way!
The use of repetition of the first line very much hit home the valet’s state of mind. But! What had he slipped into the tea pot?! Could Butterworth’s master had a near miss with permanent sleep?!
Good one, Keith!
I wonder, I really don’t have a clue! Thanks, Denise.
Fun six!
Thanks, Paula.
Brilliant! A great scheme and a fantastic story. Well done, Keith!
Thanks so much, Nancy!
Always a pleasure, luv!
Great story Keith. You crafted the tedium of poor Butterworth’s work day well. One could see his plan almost as opposite ingredients to all he had lacked, taking not “things or person in the case of Constance the cook ” but taking his respect back. And Kudos to him for selecting the “proper” parting vintage, James Bond would have been pleased with his choice!
I’m really pleased you enjoyed it. Thank you for your in-depth analysis, Suzette!
A pleasure!
All right! Butterworth!
(liked the detail of ‘ironing the newspaper’ not surprised that’s actually a thing. in our house there is, in fact, a distinction made between ‘the newspaper’ and ‘the paper someone has already read’ )
Ironing the newspaper was part of a butler’s daily routine back then. Nowadays with online papers being so popular they probably iron ipads! I refuse to read a newspaper someone else had their sticky fingers on.
“But I refolded it just like it was!”
“… no, you didn’t. there’s no such thing.”
lol
Although I don’t condone the way he retired, I’m glad he too Constance with him.
Somewhat dishonest but somehow rewarding!
Another good reason to appreciate the staff and show it!
Indeed!
At least Butterworth knew what he wanted to do… and Constance the Cook was obviously his accomplice!
Definitely in it together! Cheers, Tom.
I hope they get away… Good one, Keith!
So far so good I believe! Thanks, Chris.
One should always appreciate one’s valet. Or else.
Good one Keith.