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Chapter 2 - Unkindly Chapter #2

The only sound that could be heard was the echoing sounds of the young lords feet behind me. He did not speak a word, and I wasn't permitted to unless spoken to first. Although, I wished I could ask why he hadn't taken Shirley's offer, that wasn't my place and it frustrated me entirely. Did he think we were thieves, that my Lord and Lady would allow such a thing beneath their roof. I couldn't stop myself from blowing out a exacerbated sigh. " If you have something to say than just say it. I can tell your displeased by something," he said as we rounded the last corner to his room.

"Displeased, heavens no, why would I be displeased my Lord," I stopped and curtsied as we reached his bedroom. "We will be serving breakfast in the great hall! Would you like me to escort you to it once your done changing and cleaning up?" he looked at me quizzically muttered, 'She's a imbecile,' Under his breath and pushed through the door.

"No, I will find my way on my own, you may return to your duties." he slammed the door in my face and I jumped. Turning on my heels frowning, I took note of the other maids who filtered out of the corridor and upon witnessing the events that just took place appeared completely shocked themselves.

Walking into the maids corridor I found my way down to the kitchen in under 3 minutes and began helping carry out the food to the tables. Myself and 4 other maids, there were 17 of us in all, hid in the shadows around the room as people filtered in, just incase our guests or household were to need something. Most of my lady's household was present by the time we arrived with the food and slowly the other household filtered in. To my surprise one of the younger lady's of the other household walked in arm and arm with one of her maids. What baffled me further was that the maid proceeded to sit next to the woman, had I been mistaken about the woman's title as a maid. Lady Lexington looked just as startled but didn't say a word, not knowing the dynamics of this foreign household. Lord Barrington and his party lived a 10 day ship and 5 day horseback ride away from us. While there land was very wealthy, debatably more so than even our own home lands, not enough relations was had between us for us to understand there customs. Within 4 minutes the rest of them filtered through the doors and to my utter bafflement every single last one of them found a seat at the table leaving 5 of them without silverware or platter.

"I apologize Lord Barrington, however, normally we do not allow servants at the table. From our previous correspondence I was under the impression you brought 5 servants and 15 household and council members." Lord Lexington spoke, trying to sounds ever the authoritative figure. He had a deep booming voice, one that fit nicely with his round chubby face and huge build.

"The act of servitude should than rob them of their right to eat?" A older women to Lord Barrington's right, that I could only assume was his wife based on the approximate they had to eacother spoke up. She was very tiny with beautiful blonde hair cropped to her shoulders and was sporting tiny braids with flowers at the end. The dress she wore matched her husband's suit in color and I could only assume was made from the same fine material.

"Not at all, it is merely that a servant is certainly not a proper dinner guest. Servants eat in the kitchen amongst eacother in shifts and only after we have finished eating. They earn their food from the service they provide to us, but that does not mean they earn the same quality food or the right to eat at the same time as us." Lord and Lady Lexington's oldest daughter who was of a age with myself, one and twenty spoke. She spoke in a eloquent manner that expressed her knowledge of household matters. Her blue eyes that shared a similar color and shape to my own, gazed intensely upon Lady Barrington, she appeared to be taking in every breath, every minute detail of the lady sceptically as if she hadn't yet decided what game the other woman played at.

Lady Barrington's face reddened whether in embarrassment or anger I could not be sure she opened her mouth put then closed it when her husband's gently squeezed her hand. "Seeing as we are guests in both your house and your country, it would be only right that we follow the rules of your estate for the next 30 days. We did not mean to offend. Raya, Samara, Nancy, Leah and Petunia please stand with the Lexington's servants, pair with those present aid them in their duties, you will eat when they eat, sleep when they sleep and from my understand, where they sleep as well."

The five girls stood in unison without a word, curtsied to Lord Barrington and than Lord Lexington, before randomly assigning themselves to one of us that stood off to the side along the wall. The girl that came to stand alongside me held her head high, appearing large and important even with her small stature. Black hair curled in a braided circle up on her head, bangs brushing barely above her brow and pine green eyes, a few loose pieces of hair brushing right before her chin as to frame her face. Her heart shaped lips curved in to a smile that reached her eyes as she made eye contact with me, my head was slightly tilted down and I looked at her from below my cap. "Hello, my name is Samara," she whispered and I smiled and nodded but did not speak a word in response earning a frown from the woman.

The meal proceeded without any further argument, pleasantries passing amongst both parties as they discussed the many different politics that occured differently amongst our two separate courts. The ten woman at the table eventually split into separate conversations from the eight men, and the five children quickly departed entirely from the rest of the group, taking their food and wandering to the furthest end of the table away from the adults, the three Lexington children utterly intrigued by the young girl and boy opposite to them. The woman discussed household affairs, although the Lexington's seemed to take the lead on this end, asking questions as at the same time they explained what occured on their end. Lord Lexington, his brother, and oldest son asked the Barrington's about their politics but was to far from where I stood to be heard. William seemed to hold a permanent grimace only adding to the conversation when someone looked directly at him or appeared to be asking him something directly. A young man to William's side who had come along with their party was a striking contrast to the broody young lords, constantly smiling, others laughing after he spoke, his blonde straight hair pulled back in a bun at the nap of his neck. At my side Samara copied my mannerism and actions, clearing plates and placing them on a tray as those dining finished with them.