At Your Service [GirlxGirl]

Chapter 1

"It's tea time lady Genevieve," I said as I curtsied politely, standing at the door.

The young mistress, an intelligent young lady with golden brown hair and opal colored eyes looked up at me and set her violin down. "Thank you Cynthia, perfect timing."

I wheeled the tea cart inside and poured her some tea. "Lucian was looking for you. I told him you were practicing, but he decided to wait downstairs," I said handing her a cup of tea along with a saucer. She didn't seem too excited about his arrival.

"Tell him I will be busy all day, I don't want his company today...."

I bowed and turned to go tell the young lord to leave when the mistress stopped me. "Cynthia," she called as I reached the door. "Don't waste your breath on him yet, stay here. I prefer your company over being alone."

Nodding I walked back and stood beside the cart once again. The mistress smiled and pulled a stool up next to her "Come, sit down, you can be more casual with me."

Sighing I sat beside her. "This is my job now mistress, you shouldn't be so friendly with your servants." The mistress and I were childhood friends, like her, I lived in this manor all my life. My mother and father are both servants here and I follow in their footsteps as a lady's maid. My father is the one of the master's butlers and my mother a pastry chef. All of the master's servants have a room at the manor, and since I was the child of two of his servants I was allowed to live there as well.

As children, Genevieve and I played together every day and would stay up late causing trouble. I didn't start working until I turned sixteen. Though despite it the mistress still treats me like her best friend.

Smiling, the mistress handed me a scone. "Relax, here eat. Your mother is an excellent baker." Hesitantly I took the scone and took a bite. "I hope you don't plan on doing this every time I come to serve you," I mumbled, embarrassed to be receiving such kindness from the master's daughter. "It wouldn't be fair to the other workers."

She covered her mouth muffling a giggle. "I like you better, so I'll treat you better." I sighed quietly and stood up. "I should go tell Lucian to go, I bet he's bothering the master," I muttered making my way to the door. She didn't stop me this time, she knew how pesky Lucian was.

The master, Earl William Wraith, hated Lucian's company. Lucian was the youngest son of Duke Stifer, and the mistress' betrothed.

He's absolutely awful, abysmal, so arrogant and inconsiderate. The pig only cares about himself and his wealth. Despite Lucian's good looks and talents playing football, the mistress hates him. She claims she would never fall for such a brick head. To be honest I don't think the mistress has ever been interested in any male, she's always been more interested in anything and everything else. Men were the least of her problems.

I made my way downstairs to the billiards room and curtsied at the master. Lucian could go jump off a bridge for all I cared. "The lady will be busy all day today, she ask that you please leave instead of waiting."

Sighing, Lucian stood and straitened out his jacket. "Earl, your daughter has disappointed me today. Fret not, tomorrow I shall return." With that, he left.

"Ugh... Cynthia you have yet to understand how painful it is to listen to that boy," said the master rubbing his temple. "My poor Genevieve...."

Preparing a glass of scotch on the rocks for the master I nodded in agreement. "Can't your debt to the Duke be repaid otherwise?" I handed him the glass knitting my eyebrows in concern.

"No, this is what he wants... unfortunately." The master ran a hand over his face before taking a sip from the glass. "Thank you Cynthia, leave me now. Go keep Genevieve company." I curtsied before leaving the room, closing the door behind me. When were they ever going to treat me like a regular maid?

I walked back upstairs taking my time, but when I reached the music room the mistress had already left. On her stool was a note that had the name Cindy written in red pen. Cindy was my nickname as a child and Genevieve teased me about it incessantly. Picking up the note I opened it, then began to read.

It read: "Cindy, I've decided to spend some time in the garden instead. Take the tea cart back so you're not scolded then meet me by the ivory rose bushes."

Shrugging I did as instructed and took the tea cart back to the kitchen, then headed into the garden to look for the mistress. I stood by the ivory rose bushes looking for her but she was nowhere to be found.

"Boo!" I felt someone touch my back. I let out a scream turning around and finding the mistress laughing at me. "Honestly. You're such a child," I muttered angrily as I hid my embarrassed face. "Don't be such a sissy Cynthia!" The mistress couldn't stop laughing as she held onto my shoulder for support.

Irritated I stepped back letting her fall. "Hey!" She yelled from the ground. "No fair, my dress is ruined now." I snickered as the mistress got up. "Whoops."

I could practically see the angry fumes emitting from her face. "Cynthia, I'll get you for that!" I turned and ran through the garden, fearing for my life. The mistress did not like to be laughed at. Luckily I was wearing smaller heels than her and was able to run faster, but regardless she was quick on her feet and was less than centimeters from catching me.

Just when I'm about to reach the door that lead back inside, the mistress lets out a small yelp and falls upon me as I turn to see what happened. We both fell forward landing near the door, I blacked out for a moment.

As I slowly opened my eyes regaining consciousness I found that the mistress was still on me. Why was she unconscious, I'm the one that hit her head! "Mistress...," I mumbled sitting up carefully. Her head slid down onto my lap and she remained unmoved. "Mistress?" I gently shook her and her eyes fluttered open. "Eh...? What happened?" She said rubbing her eyes. "I'm still tired, can I go back to sleep?" My jaw dropped.

"Sleep?! Is that what you've been doing while I was unconscious?!" The mistress sat up with a listless expression. "So what...?" She leaned forward knocking me back again.

"Don't you enjoy spending time with me?" She laughed smirking. "You've been my very best friend since childhood, I don't mind taking a nap with you like we used to." Groaning I rolled my eyes. "Honestly.... Your grasp on the past is incomparable to that of anyone else."

She smiled a bit sitting up "Maybe I like the old days better...." With that she stood and left. I sat up and sighed "Goodness Genevieve... you should act more like a lady sometimes..." I grumbled standing, dusting myself off.

It had already gotten late and almost everyone had gone to bed already. "So late already..?" I found my way in the dark to my quarters and prepared a bath. I took a nice warm bath, washing away of any dirt from earlier and changed into my nightgown. Then made my way to bed.

Yawning I got comfortable under the covers, and once I did I felt two slim arms wrap around my thin waist. I was going to scream but one of the hands silenced me. "Don't scream Cynthia, it's only me...." said Genevieve, whispering.

"Bloody hell Genevieve! You could have given me a heart attack!" I whispered back agitated. "I'm sorry... it was already dark so I just came here after my evening bath.... I don't want to sleep alone Cynthia, you know I don't fancy the dark...." I sighed quietly turning to face her.

It was true, Genevieve has a phobia of dark places, a maid usually stays with her until she falls asleep so that she doesn't have a panic attack. I used to share a bedroom with Genevieve and in the middle of the night we would always push our beds together so she wouldn't feel as scared.

Genevieve brought her head to the crook of my neck as I wrapped my arms around her as well.

"Cynthia," she began.

"Yes mistress..?"

"You don't deserve to be a maid... I wish.... I wish that in place of Lucian... that you were my betrothed...."

My eyes widened with shock. "Ge-," I began, but soon stopped myself.

Genevieve had already fallen asleep. "How unbearably adorable you are mistress..." I sighed and ran my fingers through her downy hair. Closing my eyes I lied awake reminiscing some old memories. I cursed my name for not being more useful, I cursed Lucian's for being such an obnoxious spouse. Drifting off to sleep, in my last moments of consciousness I swore that he would never have Genevieve's heart, body, mind, or soul.