The Secret Of The Lady

The Arrival

Their stately house stuffed with clutter of dresses and fabrics, and Susanna's giggles with hopes of marriage.
I stand in the open window. I was not a daughter of this stately home; I do not wear dresses of exotic fabrics. I cleaned the barns and scattered chicken feed. I watched them leave for dances. And this was how I learnt the truth, but I'm getting ahead of myself.

"Kiara, these windows won't clean themselves! "yes, Lizbeth", Lord Archer and Susanna had left this morning to visit the girl's Grandmama. The girls called to her once a month; Lord Archer's wife died in childbirth. Since then, Grandmama has taken the responsibility to teach them lessons about being noble ladies. Susanna was the only daughter left at the estate. All the others were married and had children.
While the lord is away, we clean and scrub, the truth is that I used to dream that I was an Archer. I used to play with them when I was just little. We used to chase each other around, but that stopped when the girls came out for the season; young ladies did not run, and the youngest Archer was just nineteen. They were my friends until our lives took different paths. I didn't know my mother or father, A housekeeper who raised me here in the attic of the archer estate; Lizbeth was my mother figure.

A carriage pulls through the gates. Was it a new trunk of dresses for Susanna? Or was it Lord Archer returning? I wash my hands and wipe the grime off my checks, my hair tendrils falling around my face. I swept them back behind my ears; it wasn't Lord Archer or a new trunk of dresses; it was a very handsome man? My mouth falls open Lizbeth steps in front of me. She turns her head back and whispers, head back to the kitchen.  how may I help you, Sir? "I'm hereby invitation by Lord Archer"; I stand at the corner of the house watching this man of dreams talking to Lizbeth, his broad shoulders, his smile, his sweep of hair, his eyes with a sparkle. I am sorry to say that Lord Archer left this morning to town with his daughter and is not to return till the morning a young mail carrier arrives "A letter for you Sir, from Lord Archer' 

Lord Benedict,

Please accept my most profound apology for not being home on your arrival; my daughter and I are in town tonight. Please make yourself at home in our home we will discuss matters tomorrow when I arrive home.

Sincerely Lord Edgar Archer

Lord Archer will be back tomorrow. He wishes for me to make myself at home here till tomorrow,' I'll get one of the girls to make up the guest room for your stay, please come inside; I peek out the kitchen door Lord Benedict fulls the hallway, Lizbeth opens the entrance to the study he follows her. Lizbeth enters the kitchen. "Kiara, I need you to make up Lord benedict's room.


I pull the curtains open in the guest room, the dust making me cough and splutter. I stick my head out the window for fresh air; when I turn around, I notice a dress poking out of the mahogany wardrobe; the silk glimmered in the light coming through the windows. The silk felt like butter, smooth to the touch. I couldn't help but put it on; I looked at myself in the mirror. The wine silk dress fitted me perfectly like it was for me; footsteps echoed up the stairs. I had nowhere to go; I step behind the dressing panel just as Lizbeth and Lord Benedict enter Lizbeth gasps, I'm so sorry, says Lizbeth. I notice my dress poking out from behind the dress panel.

I gentle quietly move it. I look through the crack between the boards' Lord Benedict steps forward, 'I'm so sorry I thought Kiara would have had it finished. Lizbeth leaves the room "you can come out now," I step out. 'I'm so sorry, Sir Lord Benedict gasps ". Are you, Kiara? 'yes, Sir, I bow my head. "Look at me, Kiara; I look up. Lord Benedict walks toward me. "Have we met before? 'No, Sir, I step towards the bed and start making it. Lord Benedict starts to help. I looked across at him; he knew how to make a bed. He catches me looking; my cheeks heat at seeing him doing such a commoner task. "I can say that I've never made a bed with a beautiful Lady before! my cheeks go crimson, "I'm no lady, Sir, so please stop calling me one, and please stop making your bed; I do not wish to get in trouble if Lizbeth walks in. It's Archie, Kiara. My name is Archie. Not Sir, Not Lord, Archie.

As Lord B steps back, the footsteps in the hallway echo Kiara, your dress. He hisses. I nip behind the dressing panel and change. Lizbeth enters, "oh, your bed; you didn't make it did you, Lord Benedict? "No, Mame the Lady Kiara did. I watch Lizbeth's face, full of shock; what did she know that she has never told me, "Sir, I shall let you rest,' Lizbeth backs out of the room. I could not let Lord Benedict see me dressed as a pauper, so I opened the door to the secret passage in the walls and snuck out. The girls and I used to sneak out through the tunnels when we would play hide and seek. I waited for Lizbeth to leave before calling Kiara from behind the panel. "Kiara?" there was no movement "Kiara", I stepped behind the panel, and Kiara was not there. I sat down on the edge of the bed. Kiara looked exactly like Lady Katherine, but Lady Katherine has no children; why would a child of hers be serving? As a maid, there was a secret hidden here. Lord Edgar Archer knew it, and I was sure Lizbeth knew the truth too. I knew when I called Kiara, a lady and Lizbeth was silent. I learned tonight, as I would lay in bed, The bed we made together, I would be thinking of Kiara in that wine-coloured dress with blushed cheeks when I saw her staring at me.