New Arrivals

William ‘Bill’ Wood (26)

Addressed as Bill by the Foskett children, Frank and Ada, and Mr Wood by everyone else.

The journalist is a doctor's son from Manchester who is a pacifist. He reported on WWI rather than fought in it as his dodgy knees (he struggles to run but does not limp) made him unfit for service, otherwise he would have had some tough decisions. He's just gone freelance and moved to London after being full time on the Manchester Guardian, but his articles are still most likely to appear there. When our story started he was a virgin, but one night in Cockshoots Hall cured him of that.

Ruth Middlemiss, Kitchen Maid, 4

Addressed as Ruth by everyone.

Duties: reports to the Chef; prepares food, cooks for the Outdoor Staff, milks the goats.

Ruth has newly arrived from the North East. Her skills in animal husbandry and as a cook will allow her to perform a couple of special roles, looking after goats by the lake and providing fresh meals for the outdoors staff. She is a healthy buxom farm girl, who likes a physical challenge. However this aspect of her personality has led her into trouble for fighting and an obsession that she can only be satisfied by huge cocks. The Earl wants her to wear a special uniform showing off her cleavage. She will be found in the kitchen, by the river and lake or in the kitchen in the stables, where she eats her supper. Filly and Mary will probably be annoyed for her impinging on their territory, so Mary may insist on a rota. She has been allocated a room with Mary, Minnie and Elisa, but of course there are spare rooms above the stable.

Regular Visitors

The Maintenance Man

Formerly employed full time before the plumbing and heating settled down, he married one of the maids and is now a plumber in High Wycombe, visiting twice a week to check on boilers, generators and pipes. Given the nature of his job in the hidden areas of the house, he is also an informer for Hephsibah, much to his wife’s disapproval who had taken one too many punishments.

The Doctor

A close friend and of like mind to the Earl, he regularly visits for special health checks on the Family and their staff. Often Flora gives him some of her medicines and creams, which he would love to market if only he could get hold of her incredible recipes.

The Priest

Each Sunday he holds a nondenominational service in the underground chapel and hears confessions. It is an interesting job for a distant relation of the Earl’s.

Others

There also a number of locals who act as garden labourers, the window cleaners who appear once a month and the deliveries from London and High Wycombe, which arrive in the morning at the kitchen annex.

Less frequent are agency servants and beaters for a shoot, although members of staff are instructed to be on their best behaviour, which most are, during these special events.