The footman brought a mug for Samuel, knowing- or rather the butler knew his masters preference for coffee rather than tea so while he often joined his wife for tea he seldom drank the stuff, preferring a strong black cup of coffee to simply sit with his wife and make the most of the morning. His mug was filled with coffee, and then a silver coffee kettle was placed on the sideboard beside the tea tray.

'How is your diary looking today? busy? he asked, the sort of idle marital small talk that made for the sort of comfortable easy affection that made him smile, the affection he saw in his mother and Earnest. He didn't really remember his own father and mothers relationship but he hoped it had been like that.

---