The Insurgency

Chapter 8

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"Be quick, girl! Duke Monroe will be here any time soon!" Miss Anna hissed and walked out of the room whose floor Delilah was mopping.

Delilah let out a heavy breath out of utter exhaustion and tried to get a grip on herself. It was evening time and working since early in the morning took a toll on her. Household chores had spent her energy and she almost wanted to cry out of frustration.

Miss Anna had not even given her the chance to eat something for lunch. To remember that she would not be able to leave anytime before late evening sounded like a death knell in her ears. 

She had been working here for a month and since then she had definitely lost weight along with the peaceful sleep. However, the job paid sufficient, so leaving it especially when she was in the dire need of money was not exactly an option.

"Are you okay?" she heard Roxanne, the chef of the estate ask her in concern.

Tucking a strand of brown hair which fell loosely out of her bun, she smiled her best smile at Roxanne.

"I am fine."

Delilah carried on with her work and by the time the duke arrived with his mother, she was done with it. She was then summoned by the duke in his study.

"So this is the new maid here." he mused to himself, sipping a cup of tea.

Delilah squirmed under his scrutinizing gaze while Miss Anna standing next to her answered for her, "Yes, sir. That's she."

"I hope she ain't one of the slave class. Those bastards shan't be allowed in here."

"She is not one of them, I can assure you, Sir."

He hummed in response and with one last look towards her, he dismissed her.

Delilah left for home later than usual that evening. Winter had knocked on their doors and the nights had started becoming colder day by day. Her first stop was the market where she had to buy sweets for Timothy.

Having bought some of them, she left the place, opting for a shortcut. A tavern was on the way, but knowing that the night was still young, she assumed that there won't be too many who will be drunk by now.

Reaching the taverns, she saw some men stumbling here and there due to being heavily intoxicated, her eyes fell upon the familiar figure of the stranger, sitting among the group of men in a tavern who were laughing boisterously.

She thought of approaching him came to her mind for some fleeting seconds but the sight of too many drunk men around her tempted her to move fast.

Reaching home, she was greeted by a joyous Timothy running enthusiastically towards her. When they sat together to have dinner, Timothy whispered, "Deli, can you make pancakes for me tomorrow?"

"Why? Ain't papa making it for you?"

Timothy looked at his father for a moment, making sure he was not listening as he whispered next, "Papa cannot cook!"

Delilah laughed at Timothy when scrunched his nose to express his disgust.

"Hmm, fine. I will be cooking tomorrow morning." she ruffled his hair.

The next day was again hectic. With Duke being back, the household was buzzing with orders being shouted and servants being scolded. Delilah groaned inwardly at the thought of this continuing for a long time while cutting the vegetables for lunch.

"Delilah!" she heard her name being hissed by Miss Anna and jumped in fright at the sudden intrusion; injuring her finger in the process.

"Oh, ouch!" she watched as the blood seeped out of the wound and put the finger in her mouth to suck it reflexively.

"What it taking you so long?" she rushed out of the kitchen upon hearing Miss Anna yell again.

"Yes, madam."

"I am calling you for so long! Where were you?" Miss Anna scowled.

"I-uh-"

"You know we have a very special guest upstairs, you will be serving the drinks to him and Master," she ordered but soon her facial features contorted into concern as she saw her finger bleeding.

Snatching her hand, Miss Anna scolded, "What is this? Did you cut yourself? Can't you be a bit careful?!"

Before Delilah could speak something, she was pushed towards the basement where ointments were kept.

"Go downstairs, and take the right turn. There's the medicine room. And be quick, now shoo!" 

Delilah took a deep breath in and hastily made her way towards the basement, then looked right and left, confused which way she had to take. She shaked her head at her own forgetfulness and took left turn.

It was the wrong turn, and that was something she realised only after walking for five minute, only to reach a dead end.

Delilah grumbled under her breath as she tracked her way back towards the stairs but a loud, ear piercing screech made her halt dead in her tracks.

Her hair raised in alert. Wide eyed she turned around, staring at the other end of the hallway. Another short lived scream made it harder for her to breath. Fisting her gown and gulping hard, Delilah  softly, stealthily started walking towards the source of the scream. She clutched her chest tightly, sucking in a sharp breath when another scream of pain echoed in the hallway.

Taking in a deep breath, she resumed her way towards the source of the noise, her footsteps echoing in a now  eerily quiet hallway.

A loud screech made her jump and let out a small yelp herself.

"Oh my-" Delilah breathed out, her heart pounding in her chest, ready to jump out of her small body at any moment as this cry was louder, clearer, longer than the last ones; clearly indicating she was close, so close to unraveling their reason behind the morbid screams.