I didn't spend much time in my room, and quickly freshened myself up before I grabbed Matthew's offerings and slowly descended down the stairs. I heard some polite mumblings and followed the sound to find Matthew and an older woman with brown and gray hair talking pleasantly with each other. Smiling sheepishly, I lowered the bag and stayed as still as I could, enjoying the smells and the sight of the woman as she kneaded bread for what I assumed would come with dinner later that day. Matthew chuckled and turned back to me, a smile still placed on his lips. "Emily, this is Lisbeth. Lisbeth, Emily." We exchanged a "how do you do" greeting before Matthew grabbed the bags sitting at the entrance of the kitchen. "Come on girly, let's go introduce you to the Lord."
Giving a quick nod to Emily, I followed Matthew as we walked through carpeted hallways lined with artwork of many styles and flair. I wished I could have stopped and stared for a bit but Matthew hurried along and it took all I could to keep up with his hobbling steps, which were the least bit graceful, but were quick. The straight hallway led to an open entrance which was marbled with steps and pillars and we went straight to the double doored room that had silver handles and had the intimidating factor that Lord Duvan is inside.
"Word of advice" whispered Matthew. "For now, best keep your head down and stay silent unless asked. Don't look at the man, he hates that. I got your back." I nodded as Matthew knocked on the door.
I held my breath as the door opened and an older man with blond hair combed over to hide his baldness gave us a quick look and led us inside. Taking Matthew's advice, I kept my head down and followed Matthew in, praying I didn't make a mistake coming to this beautiful place. Matthew dropped the bag and bowed from his waist, keeping his eyes on the beautiful green carpet that held our dirty shoes.
"Rise" said a baritone voice, calling to my attention that this was to be my new master. I saw Matthew rise back up and put on his infamous smile towards the man.
"Lord Duvan, my liege. I am so thrilled to have come here to provide you with many exceptional wares and gifts, that I journeyed for many months to earn your good favor." I wanted to roll my eyes but kept my eyes on the beauty of the carpet and forced myself to stay silent and still. "I have also found a girl to come and help you. I am so sorry to hear of Meredith but I found you a youth that can do all the things you are looking for and be a benefit for you and the estate--"
"Thank you Matthew." the baritone interrupted. "Girl, look at me." I startled before forcing my eyes to look up. Trying to keep my face a mask, I finally got to look at my new master. Lord Duvan was younger than I expected, a man in his early thirty's with beautiful black hair and icy blue eyes. He wore the most beautiful coat over his tailored trousers that could rack up the price to be pretty high, thanks to what I saw with Abigail when she traded for fabric. Just as I finished the assessment, I saw his hands covered in gloves, and though his left hand was filled out perfectly, his right hand was missing the definition that is required to be a healthy working hand. Before I could ponder longer, his voice sang out.
"You're name?"
"Lisbeth, my lord" I tried to do a quick curtsey but felt like I was bobbing like apples in a watery bucket.
"You say m'lord, not my lord." he sighed and took a step forward. "You are a bit younger than I expected. How old are you Lisbeth?"
"Eighteen m'lord" I whispered trying to keep my eyes on his shoulders and not on his tragically handsome face.
"And you think a girl of eighteen is able to do all the things I am requiring to fill this role?"
"Yes m'lord" I answered.
I heard him scoff and I flinched at the noise. "Why is that?"
Trying not to let my fear or anger show I answered subtly "I have been cooking, cleaning and keeping house for my father for many years now. I have been trained to be a good wife for my husband and I have all the skills needed to do that. I am very good, if a bit young but what I lack in age, I gain in energy and desire to make myself better."
I heard him scoff again and whisper velmonsly to me "I don't need a wife, I need a maid. Can you be a successful maid here or do you need to be brought back to where you came from?"
"I can be successful, my lord" I whispered back, looking up at his nose now.
Instead of catching me looking at his face, he turns to Matthew, a look of annoyance on his face. "I am not sure about this girl Matthew. She cannot even get m'lord and my lord correctly. Does she know how to boil water, sew, and keep this big place clean? She might be too plain and stupid to stay here."
"I am schooled!" I shouted, causing both men to face me. I coughed and lowered my voice, though I felt my temper rising for "m'lord" and his quick assessment of me.
"Forgive me m'lord" I made sure to annunciate "m'lord" for him. "I promise to do my very best and try my very hardest. Please give me a chance and if you continue to find me "plain" then write a letter to Matthew to bring you someone else. Until then, I am here and happy to serve you.
Lord Duvan stared at me closely, I could tell, thinking about if he should bother to keep me. I stared back, partly because of his beauty but mostly because of my determination to try to and succeed here, because even though he was prudish and rude, I knew it was better than being married and going back to Cromerth.
"I must trust your judgement Matthew, if you say she is capable, I will give her a chance. You two can leave the bags here and go have some breakfast. When it is over, send Emily to Hugh so he can give directions to the girl on where she should start cleaning. As always nice to see you Matthew, and Lisbeth, welcome to Conkett. I hope you find your new home as charming as I find it."
Seeing Matthew bow silently, I decided to curtsy silently and followed Matthew out of the beautiful room and walk back towards the kitchen.
As we reentered the hallway, Matthew chortled and faced me with a rosy cheeked smile. "See, it's not so bad"
"No" I answered sarcastically. "It's not".
*********
I said goodbye to Matthew after a delicious breakfast of dried apples and oatmeal. His goodbye was quick and emotionless, having him bob his head in farewell as he drove back the way we came in only a few hours ago. Tears stung my eyes at the reality that he was leaving me and I suffered to think about being in a new place without him. Gavan and Emily joined us at the doorway to see him off and once he was around the bend they turned and headed straight back into the house. Stupefied, I followed them, knowing they were my family now.
Gavan faced me and gave a small encouraging smile as he helped himself to a pitcher of water. Emily went back to the bread, pushing it down to help activate the yeast for a second rise. I stood idly, waiting for one of them to help me first.
When Gavan finished his drink, he bowed to Emily, then me, and headed outside, leaving me alone with the silent Emily. I smiled politely at her, waiting for her to finally talk to me.
After a good hour working around the kitchen, she sighed and faced me. "Well, I guess I better tell you where to go now huh, since Mr. Hugh isn't coming." she exclaimed, finally looking at me. She walked out the room leaving me to stay rooted on my spot. "I ain't got all day girl, follow me" she yelled from the passageway and I quickly pounced after her.
Once I caught up, she started talking "Here is what you are expected to do. You will be the first in the morning to light fires in his lordships rooms and in our own. Make sure you put on warm water for Mr. Hugh to bring to him. Then, you will start cooking breakfast and start the first round of loaves. His lordship gets eggs, salted meat, toast with butter and oatmeal with his breakfast. We'll always have oatmeal, so make extra of that. Once that is done, since it is gardening season, you will head out and do what needs doing in the garden. I'll be tidying his lordships rooms. You will be tidying up all the other rooms. I will cook lunch and dinner, you tidy up afterwards. We don't accept idleness, there are only four servants living here now so we all pull our weight, understand?"
Swirling with the information, I wished I had something to write all this down. "Yes Emily" I said, hoping I really did understand.
"Good. I am showing you the ropes today, but after that you're on your own." I nodded and followed her endless lists and expectations as she dived into all the things that needed done.
The day went quickly with bone aching work as I polished, wiped down and scrubbed the two spare bedrooms and a parlor for receiving guests. Emily gave me a tour and I was relieved that some rooms were closed off, but dreaded knowing quite a bit of the rooms still was in action and needed lots of attention. She showed me the ways around the kitchen for lunch and dinner and showed me the garden, which already had some seeds planted, thanks to Gavan. She also showed me where to get the logs for the fires and kept listing when I should be doing the tasks and in what order. My mind swam with the facts and I was so relieved when she told me I could head to my room to sleep.
"Is it possible" I asked "to get a book to borrow and read?"
Emily snickered. "We don't have candles and the sun is down by the time you get up there. There is no way you can read in the dark. Besides, his lordship would never let the likes of us borrow a book."
Saddened by the news, I wished Emily good night and started heading up the stairs. Once I reached the servants quarters, I saw a door, not my own, opened across the hall from me. Trying to keep from looking in, I reached for a handle to hear my name being called from the dark. Shocked, I turned to find Gavan in his door frame, smiling down at me.
"How was your first day here Lisbeth?" he asked his infectious smile brightening up the darkened hallway.
"It was good," I paused "different too."
He nodded like he understood and leaned against his door. "You will get used to it. I came only a few years back and remember my first month or two here. I am glad to be here now but it was wild to think that I had to do all the things Mr. Hugh told me to do."
Feeling his kindness rekindle my hopes, I thanked him for his generosity and opened my door to my room. As I was about to close the door I heard Gavan once more.
"If you need anything, just let me know. I am happy to help in any way I can, though I am not good with household chores". He laughed and took a step back into his room.
I thanked him again and closed the door, ready to start facing my new life in a new world.