Dedicated to

Three Days Later

I hungrily helped myself to two boiled eggs, a cup of fresh grape juice and some warm bread, as I made certain not to stain my uniform. The table was filled with all sorts of delicious breakfast foods and I wished I had the stomach for it all.

Three days. Three days in Milford and I had forgotten about my worries. The day I had reached Milford, it was almost night fall. I had nowhere to go and I was dizzy from being very hungry and thirsty. One of the traders, who also worked in the Milford estate, offered to take me with her after I had narrated my story to them; leaving out a few details. Upon reaching the large estate, she offered me some food and place to lay my head for the night, but not before helping to clean my wounded arm. She was a kind woman and Sara was her name. Now my wounded arm was fully healed.

The next day, she had introduced me to Mrs Clara Clarkson, the governess of the estate. Sara told Mrs Clarkson I was a distant relative from London in search of a job. Mrs Clarkson did not think twice before offering me a job as a maid in the estate. I was assigned a role in the laundry room and I began work immediately.

Milford estate was huge. With twenty four bed chambers, two libraries, one office and a large drawing room. It was easy to get lost in that house. The servant's quarters was however built at the east wing of the estate, over looking the fields. Unlike the duke of Castor's Estate, the servant's quarters in Milford was clean and had a functional door and proper beds to lay on, even though they were small. All the maids were also made to wear uniforms, each colour of uniform told of where a maid belonged.

The governess however did not wear any uniform. The headmaid wore a red pleated skirt which passed her knees and a white button-up blouse with a red scarf to match. The kitchen maids wore white knee length dresses with blue head covers. The laundry maids wore green pleated skirts and green shoulder puff blouses, with white head covers. There were make maids and footmen who attended to the outside of the house. The gardening, the stables, etc. All wore brown uniforms. The maids in the Milford estate were polite and courteous. Each I have met so far have been nice to me.

"Eat faster Evangeline, Mrs Clarkson called for a meeting in two minutes". Ella, one of the laundry maids who had become my companion announced as she hurried about in the kitchen in a bid to grab something to eat quickly.

"Do you know what the meeting is about?". Celeste, a kitchen-maid inquired.

"I am certain it is concerning the Earl's return". Sara, who was sitting next to me, answered with her mouth full of berries.

"After so long!. The Earl is returning!. This is good news!". Ella exclaimed.

"Do you think that perhaps he would be arriving with his new bride?". Celeste asked settling on a stool opposite mine. She was speaking to Sara.

"Surely his trip to London would not be in vain. I hear he found a beautiful heiress. The wedding date is yet to be announced". Sara answered.

"Once again the household shall be filled with celebrations unending!". Celeste cheered.

"Enough of the gossip and get to the drawing room!". Thomas, the head chef hissed from where he stood by the doorway.

Quickly, everyone began to scurry out of the kitchen, murmuring their apologies as they went. Standing to my feet, I picked up the cup of grape juice and gabbled down the reminder of it before heading out. I was the last one to leave the kitchen. Smiling broadly at the chef who was eyeing me with brusque impatience, I wiggled my way past where he stood by the door way. My heart froze for a second when I felt his hand grab my behind breifly. I turned sharply towards him to face his glaring eyes.

"Move wench!". He hissed at me as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.

I shook my head, trying to come to terms with it. Perhaps it was only my imagination. Hurrying away, I made my way into the drawing room.

******

"As you all know, tomorrow, Master Franklin will be returning from London with his new betrothed and a few guests". Mrs Clarkson began to speak the moment I entered the drawing room.

Subtle happy cheers were exchanged around the room, indicating how liked this Master Franklin was. He must be a good man. I thought to myself. After all, seeing how well the servants of the house are catered for, he must definitely be a good man.

"I want everything to be spotless". Mrs Clarkson continued. "His bedchamber will also need fresh linens, dusting and polishing. He should be arriving by mid morning tomorrow so laundry maids, ensure his towels and sheets are warm and clean".

"Yes Mrs Clarkson". We answered in unison. There were four of us.

"Mr Thomas Brown". She turned to the head chef. "Prepare Master Franklin's favourite dish for lunch tomorrow. Dinner will be decided once he has arrived with his guests".

The chef obediently nodded. "Shall I make some pies for tea once he arrives?". He asked.

"Yes. That would be much preferred to fill their stomach before lunch time". Mrs Clarkson agreed.

Mrs Clarkson continued to give out orders to everyone until she was certain all was set for tomorrow before dismissing us all. I followed the rest of the laundry maids back to the laundry room as we gathered what was needed for Master Franklin's chamber.

The laundry room was large, with a wooden bench in the center and two large tubs with their accompanying washboards which sat on the bench. On the far side of the room sat several shelves where we placed clean and fold linens and towels.

"Evangeline, get five large towels and two small ones and follow me". Wendy, the head laundry maid ordered and I obeyed, quickly doing as I was told. "The rest of you stay here and wash the dirty laundry". She added.

Together, we left the laundry room with clean linens and towels and a feather duster. I followed Wendy up a flight of stairs to the second floor of the house. Being here for three days, I had never gone up the stairs. It was out of bounds for maids without permission.

As we made our way to the second floor, I could not help but marvel at the splendor of the architecture of the second floor as we made our wall through the large corridor. This section of the house was different from the rest. The painting on the walls, the carpet on the corridor floor, even the doors seemed to be made of a different kind of wood. It was exquisite.

Stopping at the end of the corridor in front of two large doors, Wendy brought out a bunch of keys from the pocket of her apron and unlocked the door with it. Pushing the heavy doors open, she stepped in and I followed. Everything in the room was covered in while sheets to prevent dust from getting on it.

"Place the towels in the wash chamber over there and help me open the windows to air the room". Wendy said, pointing to another door at the far end of the room.

Hurrying, I went over and pushed the door open, stopping to gap at the enormous tub which sat in the middle of the room and glass shelves that lined the walls. Placing the towels on one of the shelves, I went to help Wendy open the windows.

"So, what brought you to Milford?". Wendy's question startled me.

I turned towards her just as I was about to open the last window.

"I am here for work". I shrugged, looking away.

"Oh Evangeline, you do not fool me. Tell me the truth. I know you are not Sara's distant relative". She hissed, grabbing my arm roughly.

"I...I do not understand what you mean". I yanked my arm from her, making my way towards the bed as I removed the white sheets covering it.

She chuckled. "My cousin works in the Castor Estate. She is one of the kitchen maids for Lord Lancelot and a very close companion of Sir Philip. She tells me a girl fitting your description stole from the duke and run away from the estate".

"I did no such thing!". I defended. I hated the fact that I was being labelled a thief.

"So you agree you fled from Castor". She laughed wickedly.

"I..I...". I froze, unable to form words.

"Mrs Clarkson must hear of this!". She tsked.

"Please!". I cried out. "I can not return there. Please I beg of you. Spare me this. Please".

"Ha. Do you know a bounty has been placed on your head. Who knows what I could do with such wealth". She grinned devilishly as she began to dust the windows.

"A bounty?".

"Yes. Clearly you must be very important to the duke. I gear you warm his bed. He must to very pleased to want you back".

"That is a lie. I am not that kind of woman!". I hissed at her making her laugh even more.

"So you have never warmed the bed of the duke?. Such lies from your mouth". She taunted, walking to the bath chamber and returning with fresh a linens.

"I swear it's not what you think. I...". I bite on my tongue refusing to say more.

She raised her brows at me, her blue eyes glimmering with mischief. "Speak".

"Never mind. Please just do not speak of this to any one. I beg of you".

"Very well, I shall keep this quiet but remember, you owe me a debt. And when it is come the time to collect, I shall".

*******

I felt as though my neck would crack any moment with the weight I had placed on it. It was almost morning and the bath tub was not even half full. I was supposed to be filling the tub with the aid of Wendy in order for the tub to fill up faster but she had left me to do it alone. Intact she had piled up all the work on me since yesterday afternoon.

After the confrontation we had yesterday, I feared to do anything contrary to what she had told me. I stayed up all doing the washing and cleaning the rest of the rooms whiles she and the other laundry maids slept. My mind was in a haywire as to what she would be demanding from me for her silence. Perhaps my monthly wage?. If that was it, I could survive without it.

Pouring the water from the basin into the pool, I placed it down on floor and sat next to it to catch my breath. I massaged the back of my neck trying my best to ease the pain there. My whole body ached and I felt my body twitch from the strain I had put my body through. I was just about to drift off to slumber when the bells suddenly began to go off announcing the arrival of the master and his guests.

I stood quickly, rushing out of the chamber with the basin. I had to get three more basins full of water in other fill it. Mrs Clarkson was going to give me a scolding if I do not finish this task on time. Rushing down the stairs, I saw how some of the maids rushed about their duties whiles the others hurried outside to meet their master.

I rushed to the back of the house where I was fetching the water and quickly filled the basin with it. Taking the back stairs, I hurried to the second floor and into the master's chamber, quickly pouring the water into the tub. Taking the back stairs again, I hurried to fetch another basin of water. As I made my way up the back stairs, I could hear male laughter fill the entrance of the house.

'Your grace, perhaps you would like to retire to the drawing room with your guests, the chef made some delicious pie -". Mrs Clarkson started to say.

"No Clara. None for me. I wish to take my bath first. I shall retire to my chamber now, attend to my guests, I will take a bath to refresh myself and return". A husky male voice boomed from beneath the stairs.

"Yes your grace". Mrs Clarkson answered.

My eyes widened in shock. He was coming to his chamber. I hurried down the corridor pushing the door to his chamber open without bothering to close it. I hurriedly poured the water into the tub and turned to leave when I missed my footing and slipped, falling backwards into the water.