In the sprawling halls of Lord Jasper's ancestral castle, the maids and butlers moved with practiced efficiency, their every step echoing off the ancient stone walls as they went about their duties. But beneath the veneer of decorum and obedience, there lingered an undercurrent of intrigue and speculation, fueled by whispers and rumors that swept through the servants' quarters like wildfire.
They saw that the guest who painted their master had his portraits throughout the castle walls including some scenery which he liked. It only made them more curious as to what his relation was to the painter.
"Heard the latest gossip?" Martha, the head maid, whispered conspiratorially to her fellow servants as they folded linens in the dimly lit laundry room.
"What now?" Sarah, a young maid with bright eyes and a mischievous grin, replied eagerly.
