Royal Hearts and Hidden Truths

UN

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JEANETTE 

  I am Jeanette, the first daughter of Maria-Jean Polski and Pierre Mon Fitzgerald. I was born nineteen years ago on a cold autumn morning, just before the birds began to chirp. 

  Mama says I am a lucky child because I have the birthmark of a four leafed clover on my tummy.

  My younger brother, Antoine is four years younger than I am. He helps Père at the town hall and I help mama at the Sherpard house. That is our daily routine and today is no exception…

NOW...

   "Jeanette, are you ready?", my mother called from the backyard. "Almost done, mama!", I responded, fastening my apron. I tightened my flat shoes laces, checked if my tight bun was still intact and dashed out. Mama was already waiting at the gate.

   "Hurry Anette, we've got tons of work to do!", Mother yelled at me. Mind you, mother always said this. "Yes, we've always tons of work to do, mother", I responded, walking beside her. 

  "Now today's different. I failed to tell you. The Sherpard young masters are coming home today. So we've actually got tons of work to do!", Mother announced.

   "What? The legendary Sherpard young twins are finally coming home? Wow!", I exclaimed already looking forward to their arrival. I had heard a lot about the Sherpard twins. They were so powerful even at such young ages. They were sent away, when they were just eight, to the Académie D'élite Pour Jeunes Prodiges. It had been almost fifteen years and they were now returning. It was rumoured that they had even gained favours of foreign emperors and held very important positions in different countries. 

   "Anette, I am warning you. Stay clear off them. They're bad news, I'm telling you. They were unkind in their childhood. They're not going to be any different now ", Maria-Jean cautioned. 

    I nodded.

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  Soon we got to the Sherpard Maison de famille. Mother and I were maids there, together with other women from Marseille. We entered through the backdoor which led to the servants' quarters. We manouvered our way through the passages to the kitchen where Judi, the kitchen head was already barking out instructions.

   "Ah Maria and her daughter. Finally here, aren't you? Right on time. Jeanette, you are cleaning up all the spare rooms on the masters floor. Maria, you are assisting the cooks today", Judi ordered. 

    Mother and I exchanged surprised glances. "But Judi, one person cannot possibly clean up all the-",

"Are you questioning my judgement Maria? Don't forget that I'm in charge here", Judi glared at my mother.

    I held mother's hand to reassure her, and then left to begin my tedious work.

                                     ∆.∆.∆.∆.∆

   I was cleaning the third room when I heard a sudden commotion downstairs. I rushed only to see the servant lined up in two queues, facing each other. Madame Sherpard and Monsieur we're standing before them, a few feet apart facing the entrance. 

    Mother beckoned to me to come and stand beside her. I run to stand beside her and tilted my head slightly forward in a half bow, imitating the other servants even though I really wanted to see the twins when they came. 

     "Les Jeunes Maîtres have arrived!", the doorman announced in a booming voice. The huge oak doors were pushed forward, and they entered. I could not see them due to obvious reasons. 

    "Mes garçons!", Madame Sherpard cried excitedly. "Bon arrive", Monsieur Sherpard. I was tempted to take a look, so I raised my head slightly. I could only see their legs and it seemed Madame Sherpard was hugging them. After a few moments she released them and they began walking in between the two queues of servants. 

    As they got nearer, an unknown strong bout of curiosity overtook me so I raised my head a bit more higher.

     I was shocked to find a pair of intense emerald eyes already staring at me. It was one of the twins. I hurriedly bowed and closed my eyes, remembering Mother's warning this morning. I was waiting for a yell or at worst, a smack. None came and they passed by. They went to the waiting lounge and the butler dismissed us to go and continue my work. 

     As I cleaned the third room, I could not help remembering the green eyes I saw. They were so deep and mesmerising, seemingly full of knowledge and secrets. They were simply captivating. An his face...simply put, he was an Adonis. 

     I shook my head to get rid of these disturbing thoughts. I could not afford distractions. I needed to get my work done fast so I could leave early with Mother.

     Soon I was done with the third room and moved to the last spare room. It has been two hours since they arrived and I had not seen a shadow of any of the Sherpards.

    I began laying the bed humming a Celtic song my mother taught me when I was young. I took off the old sheets and began new ones. After that, I moved to wiping the marble floor. I was so engrossed in my work that I did not hear the door open. 

   I raised my head and almost dropped the wet rag on the floor. To my shock, one of the Sherpard twins was standing there. I came to my senses and stood up, giving a little curtsey with my eyes averted elsewhere.

      I was confused as to whether to continue my work or to leave. I did not want to be punished for doing the wrong thing when it was not my fault. The young master seemed to sense my confusion and he smirked. 

    "You are the one who raised her head", he said. I immediately stiffened. He was the one who had caught me staring. "I'm sorry, Jeune Maître Sherpard", I quickly apologised. "For?", he asked in amusement. He seemed to be enjoying this. 

      Why, that sick…, I cursed him silently in my head.

"For ...staring", I replied in a half whisper, rolling my eyes discreetly at my feet. "Raise your head", he said. I frowned in confusion. What was he playing at? Which kind of order was that?

    "What is your name?", he asked. Okay that I could comply. "Jeanette, Jeune Maître", I replied. "Jeanette, raise your head", he repeated, a bit more forcefully now. I raised my head, my gaze still elsewhere. 

     "The song you were singing, it's Celtic, isn't it?",he asked. "Oui, Jeune Maître", I replied, impressed. It was not a common language and not everyone knew it. 

       "Can you continue? I want to listen to you sing while you work", he said with a smile. "Oui, Jeune Maître", I nodded while I cursed him a thousand times over in my head. I was uncomfortable whenever I sang in the presence of unfamiliar people, but then who was I to say no when my master said yes?