" For how long have you been working for Mr Kinnaird, dove?" Marie asked, glancing around the foyer, and marvelling at the vaulted architecture of the ceiling.
" I-.."
" Now, now, dove, could you please be kind enough to show us to the kitchen?" Marie interjected before I had a chance to even answer the question.
" Marie, Landore," Mason said as he stepped out of the corridor leading to the kitchen, and I thanked my lucky stars that he was there. A few more minutes and I would have passed out.
" So great to see you," He said, chuckling as he leaned in to kiss Marie on the cheek and shook hands with Landore.
" Antoine. I'm glad that you've come. Please, come this way," the debonair Mason had made a timely appearance, leaving me completely amazed.
" Mason," Antoine greeted as he firmly shook Mason's hand.
" We have already met your lovely maid," Marie chimed in, pointing at me and I was grateful for the pile of coats in my arms, behind which I proudly hid my embarrassment.
" Maid?" Mason asked with furrowed brows, looking at me," Lily, is not my maid," Mason added as he picked up the coats in my arm, and I suddenly felt exposed.
" Oh, apologies dear. Ahhh, but I see now," Marie hummed, " Let's me guess," She hummed giving me a once over," I know. I love these games. She is your lovely fiancé. Of course. It makes perfect sense, now." I was completely confused. One minute I was a maid, and the next I was his fiancée. Someone help. I wanted to scream.
" I'm glad that you've finally moved on. Koreen would have wanted you too," Neither of us had a chance to get a word in while Marie rambled on. Who was Koreen?
When we entered the dining room, I was relieved to see that Enid was already waiting, wearing the most bright smile I had ever seen on her.
Was there a class where they taught people how to be charming? I wondered as I watched Enid leisurely converse with Marie, Landore and even Antoine going through the usual pleasantries.
Dazed, I watched as everyone took their seat at the table while in n my head one question played on repeat. Who is Koreen?
" I love that you kept the original woodwork of the house," Landore hummed as he glanced around the room, and raised his eye to look at the wooden beams that supported the heavy chandelier.
" It would have been a waste to throw away perfectly good wood," Mason replied in his usual charming manner, as he took a seat at the table.
" Are you not joining us, Lily?" Marie asked making me aware that I still standing, very much like a statue.
" Yes, of course," I meekly replied and took the empty seat next to Mason. How unfortunate, I thought as I tucked my legs under the chair.
" You too," Marie beamed, " Just adorable," She added a little about of breath, grinning from ear to ear," Isn't that so Enid?" Marie asked while Enid looked at us a tad lost. I guessed she was trying to understand what was going on and frankly so was I.
" I'm afraid that I don't understand as to what you are referring to Marie?" Enid curiously replied as she filled up Marie's glass of wine.
" They are a lovely couple aren't they?" Marie hummed, " Koreen would have been so pleased to see you two together," That name again. Never mind everything else. I couldn't wrap my head around that, or how she reached that conclusion in the span of five minutes.
Needless to say that the shock etched on Enid's face didn't come as a surprise.
" Marie," Enid cleared her throat trying to contain her rattled spirit, in spite of the spark of discontentment in her eyes.
" Mason and Lily are not a couple. What you are implying is absolutely preposterous and, and," I had never seen Enid stammer before, " Lily has come under Mason's care after she has lost her parents before their time." Enid breathlessly and fervently made her views on the matter pretty clear. Despite the beaming smile on her lips, Enid's vexation poured in waves.
" Oh. My apologies to both of you," Landore interjected," My wife cares dearly for Mason, and since Koreen died at such a young age. She just wants to see him happy, that is all. Regardless of whom that someone might be," Landore finished his thoughts glancing at me, with a curious eye. I wondered if he'd caught onto us.
" I understand," Enid sighed," I must apologise for my outburst. If you'll excuse me," Enid calmly said as she stood from her seat. I wondered if she felt embarrassed. I didn't care very much for the bright light shined on me.
" How is business going Mason?" Antoine was the one to raise the question, as he straightened himself in the chair, brushing his suit with his hands.
" It is going well, Antoine. I have opened a plant in the Middle East a few years back, and I plan to open something similar but more local. Closer to home," Mason replied as he took over Enid's responsibility to fill up the glasses. I placed my hand over my glass when he tried to fill it up.
" I know your father is anxiously waiting to retire. I'm guessing, you'll be the one taking the reigns of the mining empire," Mason continued as she stood up to pick up the water jug, and filled up my glass.
" Yes. I will be taking over at the end of this year if all goes according to plan. Furthermore, I'm planning to break ground further north as soon as spring arrives and the soil thaws," Antoine confidently replied, and I wouldn't have guessed in a million years that underneath his boyish appearance laid a very brave young man.
" I'm pleased to hear. I know you're father has been waiting for you to grow up for ten years now," Mason added in mirth glancing at Landore, with a charming smile.
" Rightfully so. Once he is all settled in, we will be looking to find him a suitable match. We anxiously look forward to having grandchildren. I won't live forever," Landore leaned in to look at me. Huh?
" Lily is still to finish her studies, Landore. Marriage is out of the question." I inwardly sighed a breath of relief and gripped the chair. Things were devolving rather fast, a little too fast for my personal taste. I went from maid to fiancé, to a possible match for their son in less than thirty minutes. My head was already on the verge of exploding as it was.