Chapter seven
Rosella’s stomach grumbled angrily, she had not eaten since the night before. She was exhausted, she had been walking for hours, she had been to almost every respectable house and she had been turned away like a dog, her pride suffered, but people like her did not have the leisure to turn their nose up at any opportunity. She had pleaded but they had adamantly refused, insisting she bring a reference. She finally reached a very handsome house, it looked more like something out of gothic tales, monstrous, yet beautiful. She prayed silently as she lifted the knocker. Almost immediately, the door opened to reveal a very elderly man probably in his early seventies. He looked down his nose at her. “Can I help you miss, you must have the wrong house” he said confidently. “No I don’t sir” Ro answered all courage gone. “I was hoping there was vacancy, you see sir, I am looking for a job” Rosella rushed, very nervous. His mouth turned down. “There is vacancy miss, but I have to see your reference first before I can even consider hiring you” he said with sarcasm. All energy drained from her and she slumped. “I’m sorry, but it is my first time and I don’t have a reference”. The butler looked at her for a long time with something almost resembling pity in his eyes. “What is your name?” the butler asked gently. “My name is Rosella Summers” she answered taken off guard. She heard a gasp that was quickly covered. She looked up at the butler; his face had been transformed from that of pity to something akin to sorrow mixed with confusion. “Is there something wrong sir” Ro asked slightly taken aback. Hearing her question, the butler recovered is composure with a speed that dazed Ro. “the only vacancy we have here is that of a lady’s maid” he said very sternly. “…I doubt that you are qualified for this job” Ro’s hopes were completely dashed now. “…but looks like you know the basics for this job, you do know how to read?” he asked dubiously. Ro bobbed her head once her eyes widening. “Do you have any family?” the butler asked suspiciously. “My mother died some three years ago, my father died before I was born, the only family I have is my six year old sister” she answered soberly. The butler was silent for a while which made Ro wonder if he was changing his mind fast; which under normal circumstances, he should especially when he heard that her family was less than respectable, then he wouldn’t even think twice before banging the door in her face. “This job comes with room and board; you will be expected to move in… you do know that?” the butler said reluctantly already thinking that this was really bad idea. “Putting the unorthodox way in which you have been employed into consideration, you will be expected to move in without fuss, is that clear” the butler said sternly. Ro’s face brightened up, she would have loved to keep the house held all her pleasant and bad memories but the rent was weighing her down. Catherine could have a chance in this world after all. She thought wistfully. Her sister! Where would she take her to stay for the time being? “Is it possible sir, that I move in with my sister, she won’t be any trouble, I promise” Ro said in one breadth. “Aye, you could move in with her. But any troubles she causes, you and her are out. Do you understand me?” He enunciated each word. Ro nodded. “pack as few belongings as you can manage, be here tomorrow at daybreak so that you shall have enough time to prepare and be introduced formally to her lady” Ro digested all this in happily. For the first time in her life, she felt hope. No more scrapping for meals here and there. No more worrying her head over with the house rent, to top it all; she will be living in a grand mansion, no….a palace. Thank you Lord, I’m not even qualified for this job and you dropped this golden opportunity in my laps. I don’t know the first thing about waiting on a lady either, but I know you will see me through.
***
Ro worried the skirt of her newly pressed uniform. The material of the soft black uniform was of good quality- better quality than she had ever worn in her life. It had a square neck line and flowed softly down to her newly polished shoes. She could barely resist chewing her nails nervously. She was about to meet one of the elite for the first time in her life and she did not maybe to be honored or hysterical. She will know I am a fake once she sees me! She thought hysterically. According to the few servants she had met this morning, the lady was apparently elderly. From their actions and hushed whispers, she could not tell if the woman was kind or wicked. She had not been introduced to the other servants yet. She had come in at dawn bringing her very meager belongings and her sister. She had thought she was to early when she had sounded the knocker of the servant’s door. She had been a little to surprise to see a very much awake butler. He had ushered her in. when he had seen her sister, he had been almost kind. “Her ladyship is an early riser, you must meet her once she is up which will be in the next five minutes. Ro waited nervously for the woman who had her fate in her hands.
