Shattered (Watty Awards 2011!)

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

The room stretched before me, long and elegant, with dark wooden panels running along the walls, and occasional artworks hung in various places. The first half of the area was a small parlor, filled with the same green tones that inhabited my room, and gilt golden and dark wooden furniture; the second half a study area with a large desk and leather chair behind it.

Although the leather chair was probably impressive, I was much more occupied staring at it's inhabitant. The young man sat behind the desk, with dark reddish-brown hair, pale features, a pair of spectacles on his nose, staring intently at a book clipped to a metal stand on the desk's surface. I glanced at his odd position - his arms invisible under the desk, his back ramrod straight.

"Go- good day, sir."

I tried to speak confidently, but my voice refused to cooperate by being as shaky and foolish as possible.

The young man glanced up, his eyes searching my face cooly, calmly - as though looking for something.

"Good afternoon." His greeting was curtly formal. I immediately felt my heart rate quicken with nervousness.

"I beg your pardon if I am intruding, Mr Dinsmoore, but I am the new..." I hesitated for a moment, "housekeeper. I have been sent up to attend to your rooms and anything you might require. Your mother hired me two days ago."

"Oh yes. What's your name, then?"

"It's Emma- uh, Emma Butler, sir."

"Do I address you as 'Miss' Butler, then?"

"Yes, sir. I- I am not married."

"Right. Well, if you wouldn't mind helping me organize these desk drawers, I would be much obliged." His voice became a little kinder; a little less taught. He slowly lifted his left hand to remove his spectacles, stiffening as he reached for them. Gently, he placed them on the desk.

I walked up to the desk, coming behind his chair to the drawers on the right side. I looked towards him for some guidance as to what exactly I should do.

"I'm afraid I haven't been able to reorganize my study in some time. Father is away, Mother doesn't come up very often. And the maids," he added with a soft chuckle, "talk or stare too much."

"Stare?" It was probably rude for me to say something like that, but I don't think. I had to admit, though, I was wondering why I was housekeeping for someone that seemed fine.

"Yes, that's what I said." It was then that he painfully stood up, leaning slightly towards the desk. A grimace filled his pale face and he sucked in his breath quickly through his teeth. He clenched the edge of the desk with one arm; the other was in a thick cast, partially bent at his side. Even though it was not bandaged, his other arm was not faring well under the weight and it shook slightly. I felt very awkward. What was I supposed to do?

Carefully I stepped forward. "Pardon me, sir, do you need a hand?"

He glanced up slowly, his face suddenly emotionless, only the faintest trace of pain in his eyes. "Yes, please. Just... I need to sit down again."

"Perhaps the chair over there? It looks more comfortable." I sounded so overly bright.

"That sounds fine."

I grasped the top of his better arm with one hand, and put the other across his back. He limped along painfully, saying nothing, but sucking in breath again every so often. After what felt like hours, we reached the armchair beside the drape-covered bay window and I slowly eased him down. He winced as I moved his arm to his side.

I moved behind the chair and tugged open the drapes, letting afternoon sun seep in. Mr Dinsmoore closed his eyes and sighed softly.

Uncertain of what to do now, I went back to the elegant desk and awkwardly fingered the leather chair. I supposed that perhaps I should continue rearranging his desk drawers, so I knelt down again.

After a few moments, he called me. I popped my head up quickly.

"I'm sorry, Mr Dinsmoore?"

"Thank you, Miss Butler."

The look of slight embarrassment on his face made me feel saddened. He had to ask a maid he hardly knew to help him walk ten steps in order to sit on a chair.

What a strange world it is, that robs people of dignity so easily, not even considering the young for a moment.

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