She opened the door and handed over my papers. I looked up; sitting there was the very same strange man I had encountered at the market.
"Head Maid Darla, make the necessary preparations for her," he said. Then, looking at me, he continued, "You may wait here, Miss Carla. Your duties are simple. I have many old family manuscripts that need to be transcribed, and there will be meetings where you must record the proceedings. You will work here, in this room, until the sun sets."
I curtsied, my hands trembling slightly against my wool skirt. "Yes, sir," I replied. He smiled warmly at me, which finally put my mind at ease. Darla seated me at a heavy iron typewriter on the desk—a massive, black Underwood machine. After she left, I realized another person was working in the room: Lord Victor's assistant, John Wilson. He sat across from me, a fair distance away from both Lord Victor and myself.
After finishing my transcriptions, I submitted the work and finished my duties for the day. I went to meet Head Maid Darla regarding my stay and food. She then instructed a young maid of seventeen named Angelin to assist me. Angelin showed me to my room; it felt quite large to me, as it was my first time living alone. At the orphanage, I always had to share. The room had a large window and a table, with a bed and a wardrobe nearby. I placed my things inside and went with Angelin for dinner.
We ate in a large dining area for the workers. They served beef stew, baked potatoes, and bread. I waited to start eating until after the Head Maid had touched her food. We workers stay in a separate building near the manor.
As the days passed, I grew close to Angelin and we became fast friends. My mornings followed a strict routine: I would wake up, and the cook would serve us toast with dripping, a bowl of oats, and black tea. I had my fill and went to work. One morning, I entered the office and no one was there except for a maid cleaning the space. I walked around the manor a bit, and that was when I saw him.
I thought Lord Victor was handsome, but then I saw Silas. He leaned against a doorway with so much confidence, looking like he owned the whole room. He is the most good-looking man I have ever met. His jawline is sharp and perfect, and he has a playful sparkle in his eyes that makes my heart beat fast, even though I try to stop it. This was young Lord Silas Nightfall, Victor's younger brother. He walked towards me and winked before leaving. I stood perfectly still, my heart pounding.
Eventually, I sat in my chair and started working. When Lord Victor entered the office, Assistant John and I stood up and greeted him. "Good morning, Sir," we said.
"Good morning, Miss Carla. I trust you found your quarters comfortable? Sit, please. We have much to do today," he replied, before turning to John to ask for the day's schedule.
Victor started becoming friendlier day by day, but I made sure not to overstep my bounds; I know my place. However, I still found myself waiting for Silas every day, even if it was only for a brief glance. Whenever he passed by, he made eye contact and winked at me.
During lunch, I walked with John. We had our meal and were returning together when I saw something that broke my heart: Silas was kissing another maid. I stood there, shocked. John leaned in and warned me that Silas is a cad (womanizer) and that I should be careful around him.
Suddenly, everything in my world felt gray and muted. When the workday ended and I prepared to leave, Victor noticed my expression. "Are you quite alright, Carla?" he asked. I simply stated, "I am fine, Sir," and hurried away before he could see the tears in my eyes.