The Butler

Day 2 of the Blogging from A to Z  April 2015 Challenge

He rose at dawn. He dusted, vacuumed,  loaded the washing machine, polished the silver, tidied the drawing room then went to the garden. He swept,  watered and wiped the flower petals. Back inside he ironed the daily paper, polished shoes and collected breakfast. He took them upstairs, opened the bedroom curtains and greeted his Master. He laid out his clothes, ran his bath then retired to the kitchen to help Constance the Cook prepare lunch.

Butterworth had worked at Buckhampton Manor most of his life. A loyal, efficient and thorough worker, but he  never felt appreciated. He was getting old and becoming increasing tired. Soon he would leave, but his carefully planned and imminent departure would be unannounced.

The following day he rose at dawn. He dusted,  vacuumed, loaded the washing machine,  polished the silver, tidied the drawing room then went to the garden. He swept, watered and wiped the flower petals. Back inside he ironed the daily paper, polished shoes and collected breakfast.

Then he slipped something into his Master’s pot of tea.

He took them upstairs, opened the bedroom curtains and greeted his Master. He didn't need to lay out clothes or run a bath. His master went back to 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. He placed his spoils in the boot of the Rolls Royce, collected Constance the Cook from the kitchen and off they went together..... never to be seen again.

Tomorrows short story will be The Chase, a scary tale of terror in the woods