Give Me Some Time

3

"Sara dear, are you awake?" Jack voice sounded from the other side of the door, waking me from my sleep.

I quickly opened the door and answered, "I am awake, Mr Jack." and bowed. He sighed and I realized I made two mistake here.

"Call me Jack from today onwards. And stop bowing to people. You're a free from your slavery. Now come down in 15 minutes. Breakfast with the others." he shake his head and walk away. It's not like this is the first time I didn't eat for the whole day, but for some reason, it felt more intense than before. Perhaps the new trusted task given by Jack made me nervous.

I closed the door and lean by it, relieved that nobody saw me as my room is at the end of the corridor. I washed my face and checked to see if there's anything that can make me look better. But I'm not used to make ups, so I just comb my hair and put it in a bun. Little stray hairs covers my fore head. For today, I chose to wear a simple dress. It doesn't show much skin, perfect for me.

Going down, I was greeted by Noah when I enter the dining room, so the kitchen is at the most back part of the house, it's wide.

"Good morning Sa-, Mo-, what should I call you?" he asked?
Its 7 am sharp and the kids are already in their uniform.

"If you'd like, you can call me Sara." I smile at him and he nodded in cheerful reaction.

"Then, what would you like to be called?" Mary asked? All eyes went to her. It's the first time somebody ever asked what I'd like to be call. A small feeling of guilty spreads in my heart but I couldn't show it.

"You can call me anything that you're comfortable with using. My full name is Bri- . Nevermind. I'm okay with just Sara." I take the seat next to Jack. Mary and Noah sit across from me and Liam on the other end. I wanted to sit somewhere else, I know this used to be his late wife's seat. But Jack had already tap his finger, hinted that I should sit there.

"What's wrong, scared somebody might dig into your name and find things they shouldn't?" Liam asked. In his hand was a cup of coffee. A few maids come in between and put breakfasts on the table.

"Liam. Manner." Jack glares at him. I feel like I can understand why he is the problematic one.
They start eating in such elegant manner. Almost like they're nobles. I only know so much of etiquette because I served Mr Oliver and his wife. The money they gave, I used it to buy books.

Too bad, just as I try to put some butter on a piece of toast. I realized how high the cost of other food on the table are. It's hard to get milk in the village but here, the kids are drinking it like it's water. Even the butter smell like herb and the little blue round fruits, almost once  a month can somebody see that fruits.

I'm not used to eating fancy even though my stomach is telling me to eat them all. I still have my dignity and respect Jack for ending my slavery. But who knows when I'll be back on the market again.

"Is the food not to your liking?" Jack asked. A spread of butter and a piece of bread it still on both of my hands, everyone had finish eating but I haven't start.

"I'm sorry, I was distracted." I replied. I look over to Jack because I don't want to be mock for not knowing the proper eating etiquette. Jack noticed and tap on the right utensils in front of him. He smiled and I followed.

After 3 pieces of toast and a few little blue fruits, I'm done eating and placed the fork and knife like everyone put.

"Thank you for the breakfast." I said to Jack and his eyebrow furrowed.

"Alright, I wanted to tell all of you that the trip will go on scheduled, meanwhile, please help Sara with whatever she need. I'll be in the top study if you need me." Jack said and stand up. Before he left, he gave me a look that probably meant that I need to go up there too.

"Sara, would you like me or Mary to show you around the house?" Noah take the empty seat next to me and asked.

"Not fair! I was gonna ask you first. I'm better at showing you everything you need to know."  Mary pout.

"Why don't you both take me around? I mean, only if it doesn't bother you guys. But if it does bother then you guys don't have to, I'll walk around myself. I'll try not to get lost." I winked at both of them and they giggled.

"Noah, Mary, I thought you're in uniform so readied for school?" Liam said, his voice is as stern as his face. Without breaking eye contact with me, I replied.

"That's too bad, I guess I'll walk around alone and later you guys can show me again."

Mary and Noah just nodded and say goodbye. Liam still staring at me. "You're not going alone, who knows what trick you have up your sleeve." he said.

"If you have nothing more to do other than mocking me, I'll take my leave. Have a good day." I stand up and leave Liam alone. Today I'm gonna study everything I needed to know. I walk up to the top floor which is the third. It's not so dark but not bright enough either even though its early morning right now.  After a few doors, I found the study, it has a label 'Jack's study'. I knocked on it and heard he said 'come in'.

"Yes Sara, anything you want to talk about?" he asked.

"I'm very sorry that I misspoke my name. I should have been more careful." I bow and look at the floor.

"No that's not what I'm talking about. And for the hundredth time, stop bowing. My child might see you unvalue yourself." he said. I nodded and lift my face up.

"Why did you call for me?" I asked him directly.

"A change of plan. You see, Liam need more time to understand why you're here. And in the mean time, you're gonna learn about my business. If things go sideway, you'll take over everything I have. And once you see that Liam is ready, give it back to him. The kids seemed like they like you. " he said with one breath. Strange how he doesn't show any sadness.

"I'll try my best, but may I know what Liam is lacking?"

"He lack the trust in people. He do everything emotionally. Best that you're not near him when he's mad. He's smart, he already know everything in that book but if I leave it to him just like this, when there's a bad day, he might lose it." Jack sighed.

"How did Susan die?" I asked again.

"12 years ago, while taking Liam on a business trip with Susan, a gang of bandit ran over our carriage, I told Susan to run away with Liam while I hold them off. They did managed to run away, and they bandits took everything and left me on the ground. We had to walk home that day, but Susan was broken hearted, she had heard that they were a paid gang. Somebody had hired them. It was her very own dream to expand our business in that country."  he paused.

"After we got home, a letter came for us, it was a threat. If I give up my territories, he'll let me and my family lead a normal life. But if I don't give him what he want, he would kill the kids. We tracked who sent the letter and found out that.. Her oldest brother was the person behind the incident. That made Susan fell ill, she became depressed and stop doing everything. " he took out a handkerchief and wiped his tears.

" I'm sorry, I didn't know it was very personal. " I sit next to Jack, rubbing his back in circle.

"After a while, she finally got out of her depression. She was having tea in the evening inside her beloved room for hours, when we found her, she was already gone from us. Turns out she was poisened. By her self. Next to her was a letter she wrote, saying she's sorry that her family betrayed us. Liam was the first one who founded her and since then, Liam changed to his current state. I couldn't lose him too. Whatever happened to me, just don't give up on Liam."