Only Her

Chapter 4-The First Night

Dinner in the main hall had ended. And that meant it was now time for the servants to sit and eat. As well as the five maids that Raven had already met, there were two men serving the manor. Henry, he was the grounds keeper, and looked after the stables, caring for the horses and preparing them for carriages. And Gregory, he was the butler. Gregory was a greying older man, with a pot belly, bald patch and bags under his eyes. Henry was much younger, and had a cheerful cheeky grin, hazel eyes and a sweeping brown haircut.

The eight of them sat around the wooden table in the centre of the kitchen. The excitement and rushing that was present during the food preparation had had now transformed into the gentle low hum of conversation.

Martha stood up. "Everyone. I would like to make a toast to the newest member of our family. Please raise your glasses in welcome of Raven."

"To Raven." Everyone raised their glasses toward her.

Raven felt her cheeks getting warm

"Please do your best to take make her feel welcome." Martha said, glaring overtly at Mary-Anne who shrunk down into her seat.

"You'll be fine here, Raven." Henry the groundskeeper replied.

"If you can peel a potato, or scrub a pot, you're friend of ours." He smiled momentarily at her, but then his eyes locked onto Tabitha who was by her side. He went slightly pink and returned to his food.

"He has been doing that all night." whispered Raven.

"Doing what?" Tabitha whispered back, pretending to be confused.

"Oh, I think you know." Raven answered, with her largest smile possible.

Tabitha now smiled coyly at the table-top and playfully nudged at Raven's rib with her elbow.

"So Raven," Began Gregory in his deep raspy voice.

"Why did you come to Pendleton?"

"Well, I was hungry so I came here and took-"

"The position for the job I was offering. Isn't that right Raven?" Martha butted in quickly.

"Y-yes, that's it." Raven stammered. She looked over at Mary-Anne who eyes had turned into sharp daggers of ice, that were piercing her skull. Mary-Anne wouldn't dare say anything while Martha was around, or she'd be on scrubbing duty for a month.

The older maid with grey hair had been staring at her silently throughout the meal.

Suddenly she spoke.

"And where have you come from?"

Raven dropped her cutlery on her plate, a little surprised that the woman could talk. She'd hadn't spoken a word to anyone until now.

Raven shrugged and shook her head.

"I don't know."

"Did you get lost?" Lisa asked.

"If you tell us the name of your village we can help you to-"

"A village? I don't have a village."

"What?" She replied.

Everyone sat quietly and looked at her, with curious eyes. The awkward silence lingered until Henry broke it.

"Well...What do you know then?" 

Raven shrugged and shook her head looking at him with anxious confusion.

She felt a tug of frustration and embarrassment. Not a name, face, or place appeared in her mind, no matter how hard she tried to conjure anything. She had no memories, no possessions, and no name.