Learn your place (book 1)

You're late

At six in the morning the grandfather clock rang loudly alerting Diana that it was now time for her to get up. She almost forgot where she was but remembered right away. That big crazy house! The new slave. That was her new life role, well, afterlife role. Maybe they weren't awake yet. Maybe she could pretend that she was awake, and was working the whole time, and when they woke up she would actually start. She turned over wanting to stay in this amazing bed a bit longer, but she saw something on her bedside table. Food? Her eyes widened. Good lord food! She can't remember the last time she ate! She grabbed the plate, biting into the bread eating like a starved animal.

"Whoah! Easy there, Miss O'Conner. You'll make yourself sick eating like that." Alexander walked in placing his hat on the vanity. "I thought I could treat you to some morning breakfast. Consider it a house warming deed." He said looking at her. "I see you were very hungry." He chuckled. "I'm starving. I eat when I get the chance. Especially since you're gonna treat me like a slave." She said shooting him a glance, chewing the bacon. He wanted to ask her a few questions, but they could wait until she was done with her chores for the day. "Yes, we will work you hard, very hard. One thing we won't make you do however is cook. That, is completely up to us." He said a slight smirk on his lips. "I won't have you sabotaging our food when we least expect it." He raised an eyebrow knowing from others that the average servant always had a trick or two up their sleeves.

Once she finished eating she got to work on her bed. She made it nice and neat making the covers sit right, and placing the pillows in place. Alexander was impressed that she caught on so quickly. "Very good, little servant! I see that you read your list of chores very carefully." If by "read her list" he meant memorized the list after Malak read the chores to her then sure, Diana read it. "So anyways like the list says, once you get dressed the boys will be up. That will grant you the opportunity to make their beds as well. After that I want you to collect their laundry. Our rooms are across the manor in the East wing. I suggest starting furthest East, then working your way West. That way you don't have to carry the heaviest load too far. Once they are all gathered I'll lead you to the basins."

"I think I can manage." She nodded grabbing her clothes for the day. She stopped when Alexander laid a hand on her sleeve letting her know talking back was to be at a minimum. It may fly for him, but the others wouldn't take it. She nodded. "I will try to work on it." She said laying her clothes on the bed. Alexander grinned knowing she was learning her place. Diana took an awkward pause. "May I ask for some privacy." At this Alexander realized he was overstaying his welcome in the room. "Oh, of course. I'll see myself out." He made his way out of the room, and stretched his spine back to get one last glance before closing the door.

~~~~~

Once he closed the door, he saw James. James saw him sneak a peek to get the most out of his visit to her room. "Don't get any ideas, Alexander." At this Alexander was a bit taken. "What do you mean, James?" He said as if insulted. They made their way down the hall, and down the stairs. "I mean don't try to keep her for yourself. She's not your maid. She's everybody's maid... including mine." He said looking back upstairs, adjusting his hat as if he were about to go up to her quarters for a friendly visit. Before he could change direction, Alexander grabbed his shoulder keeping him from attempting to court their new staff member. "Don't even think about it, James. She is a servant. Not a toy." Alexander simply chuckles. "It matters, not. In a few weeks you'll get over her, and find somebody new... you always do."

~~~~~

Diana walked into the East wing, and began her work. It was nice that she was given a wicker basket to collect clothes. First was James's room. It had drapes, and bed sheets that were red. It was a fancy room just like the rest of the house furnished in marble and gold, though this room was much larger than hers. It was taller, and roomier. Once the bed was made, she saw assorted clothes were scattered everywhere. There were stockings, britches, vests, and shirts. She picked up each one. The dirty clothes didn't smell all that bad. She wondered if these guys even could sweat. Once that was done next was Thomas. Thankfully all his clothes were piled in the corner. She made his bed the same, and grabbed the pile adding it to the basket. Between James and Thomas, Thomas seemed more mild mannered, at least flirt wise.

When she got to Benjamin's room, she worked on his bed, making it carefully not to get a single thing out of line. As far as she knew he was not going to give her any breaks. It was ironic. She may have had an Irish last name, but she was a U.S. citizen. If she could only get him to listen he would know. Would that make things better for her, or make it worse? Maybe that name was enough to set him off. When the bed was made she looked at the dirty clothes thankfully there was hardly anything on the ground. The little there was, she tossed into her wicker basket to take downstairs to the basins.

Before she could carry it out the door, Benjamin stood next to the door frame. Her body ran cold. She felt her feet speed up, but he was quick to speak. "You haven't finished yet?!" He sounded severely disappointed. She knew better already than to give any excuse to him. "No, I'm not." She whimpered. "You are late, then. I'll be letting Alexander know about this." He was not very reasonable. There was no way Alexander would take her side."I tried to be as fast as possible." She felt him yank her close. "You listen here, O'Clover. If I say you're late... you're late." He let go of her arm giving her the chance to escape. She ran into Alexander's room to avoid further conflict. She closed the door behind herself, so he couldn't get any angrier. She would have to remember to do Benjamin's room first thing in the morning.

Turning away from the door, and toward Alexander's room, it was the biggest, and nicest of them all. This one had a fireplace, lit and warm. His bed had four posts, and thick curtains tied back against the four posts. On the wall opposite the door, there was a large Georgian bay window. Over the picture window was a small stained glass circular window depicting a swimming swan. On the table near the left wall were little pieces, such as shoe buckles, a few cuff links, a canister of shoe polish, and an ornate box. When she opened it, there were two handfuls worth of shillings inside. A little chiming song played upon being opened. A music box? The little figure of the dancing couple twirled inside. It made her grin. She closed the box not wanting to linger.

She made his bed, putting it in order, and noticed there were no clothes on the ground, or on any baskets. Alexander must've taken it down earlier. She made her way downstairs, and saw Thomas walk by. When she chased him down, he happily stopped. "Oh, Thomas. Perfect. Can you tell me where the laundry room is?" He grinned and pointed her in the proper direction. "Even better, I'll walk you there." She was thankful of that and kept up her pace regardless of the clothes in the basket weighing her down. They arrived down into the basement, and the large basins were inside. Sure enough Alexander's clothes were in a nearby basket.

Diana looked around. She had no idea how to do laundry in these tubs. She looked up at Thomas looking like she was totally lost. He smiled ruffling her bonnet around. "Don't be too overwhelmed. We do our laundry on
Friday. Come Friday I'll show you how." He patted her arm. "Also don't be off put by the flirting. I just did that to fluster my cousin, James." She suddenly remembered the awkward hand kiss. Her blush rose up. "I like to give him a hard time. You know. Family and all." He smiled leaning against a barrel containing God knew what. "He won't pester you for long. Make it clear you don't fancy him, and he'll move on." She nodded and thanked Thomas for his help, before going upstairs to move onto her next chore.

~~~~~

"What an annoyance she is!" Benjamin grimaced pouring a cup of tea. "I don't care for her. Since when do servants not move out of the way for the masters of the house!" He said putting a crumpet on his plate. The men were having lunch in the dining room as Diana ate downstairs in the kitchen. Alexander spoke up to her defense. "Granted you were both turning a blind corner. It could've happened to any of us." He said spreading butter on a crumpet of his own. He wouldn't lighten up. "So you value your servant over your own housemates now. Is that it, Alexander?" The man in black slammed his utensils down leaning in. "...never." He said angry that Benjamin was trying his patience. James was placing a helping of carrots on his plate. "Benjamin hates everyone. I was sure our maid would be no different." He said filling his plate up. "Face it Benjamin. You can't be angry forever."

~~~~~

Alexander was deeply satisfied. It was seven o'clock, and Diana finished everything on her list. He knocked on her door to congratulate her, and present her with tomorrow's list. "Diana I'm coming in. Are you descent?" He opened the door, and the girl was sprawled out on the bed. No doubt she was beat. He sighed, and helped her back in her bed, covering her up. He blew out the candles and let her sleep. She skipped dinner, but she would soon get the hang of things. She would have to. Things would only get much harder.