And opened it to the needy who lived on his estate. In that way, he ensured that his people received at least one good meal a day. It was nothing fancy usually a soup or porridge made from oats. But it was hot and nourishing and filling and he was confident that the cost would be more than repaid by the continuing loyalty of his tenants and laborers. The kitchen was in the parkland in front of the manor house. It consisted of rows of trestle table and benches and a large serving awnings stretched over poles them, creating a large marquee. The sides were left open. In bad weather, this often meant that the wind and rain blew around the tables. But farm folk are of hardy stock and arrangement was far better than eating in the opening.
In fact, " kitchen" was a misnomer. All the cooking was done in the vast kitchen inside the manor house and the food was carried out to be served to the hungry tenants and Their families. The estate workers understood that the food was provided free of charge. But is was a matter of principle that any who could afford of a few copper coins, or of produce a brace of rabbits or a wild duck taken at the pond.
The kitchen operated for the tow hours leading up to dusk ensuring that the workers could enjoy a night's sleep without the hanging pains of hunger in bellies. It was almost dusk when a strange face pushed his way through to the serving table. He was a big man with shoulder length blond hair. He was wearing wagoner's leather vest and a pair of thick gauntlets were tucked into his belt ,alongside the scabbard that held a heavy-bladed dagger
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