It was a gloomy evening. I was cleaning the living room, glancing out the window every now and then. Rain was falling steadily outside, making the whole house feel quiet and heavy.
Suddenly, the front door slammed. The master of the house had returned. He walked past without saying a word, but I could see the stress and worry on his face.
He went straight to the study room where his children and mistress were. About an hour later, the head butler was called in. Not long after, he came out and told all the servants to gather in the kitchen.
We waited in silence until the master arrived. When he walked in, he looked completely defeated. He asked us to listen, though his voice shook with emotion.
Then he gave us the terrible news. The family had gone bankrupt. His bank had closed, and all of his savings and investments were gone. Nothing could be saved.
He told us we were no longer needed and that he couldn't afford to pay us anymore. The house would be sold, and the family would have to move somewhere cheaper. Everyone was heartbroken, but we accepted it and began packing our things.
But for the slaves, including me, we could do nothing but stand there. We had nowhere to go, and we were still bound to the family by contract. We waited quietly, unsure of what would happen to us.
Eventually, the master returned and told us we had been sold to new owners. I had been bought by one of his friends. We were told to pack our things and prepare to be taken to our new masters.
Soon after, I arrived at my new master's home. The manor was large and beautiful, with a wide garden and a stone fountain in the middle. The building was made of marble and old brick, and it looked both grand and peaceful.
When I entered, I was surprised to be greeted by the master himself.
"I am Lucas Wilburton, the master of this house and your new employer," he said. "And you are?"
I bowed slightly and replied, "I am Lily. I am honored to serve you, sir."
He gave a small nod, then called for someone named Harold. A tall, serious man soon appeared and introduced himself.
"I'm Harold Beckham. I served in the British Army for thirty years. Now I work here as the head butler. I'll be showing you how things are done in this house."
After a short introduction, he asked me to follow him. We passed through the halls, then the kitchen and storage rooms, before reaching the maids' quarters. The room was simple and warm, filled with bunk beds lined up neatly. Other maids were already there, chatting softly or unpacking.
Sir Harold pointed to one of the beds. "This one's yours. Leave your things here and come back to the kitchen when you're ready."
After setting my things down, I returned to the kitchen where Sir Harold was waiting. He told me I would be helping with dinner preparations for the Wilburton family. Then he introduced me to another maid named Bethany. She had been working for the family for ten years and seemed kind but serious. She would be the one to train me.
Bethany started showing me what to do, how the meals were prepared, and what the family members liked and disliked. That's when I learned more about the people who lived in the house.
Sir Lucas was now the head of the family. He had taken over after his father died from illness. His mother, now a widow, had passed all responsibilities to him. Since then, Sir Lucas had been doing everything he could to support his younger siblings and help them get a good education.
Bethany told me some important things to remember. Sir Lucas didn't like slow or noisy servants. He was allergic to peanuts and disliked garlic in his meals.
His mother, Countess Antionette Wilburton, hadn't left her room since her husband passed away. She didn't like fish and also didn't like loud or sluggish staff.
Sir Lucas had two younger siblings. Lady Anne Wilburton was the second child. She also disliked fish and was allergic to peanuts. She didn't like being disturbed while studying and usually stayed in the study room until dinner, which was at eight o'clock. She went to school at nine in the morning and came home at three in the afternoon.
The youngest was Sir Brent Wilburton. He went to the same school as Lady Anne. He didn't have any allergies and loved fish, just like his father did. He was full of energy and needed someone to keep an eye on him most of the time.
Just as Bethany finished explaining everything, the head of the kitchen announced that dinner was almost ready. Bethany turned to me and said I would be delivering the Countess's meal to her room. Since the Countess never left her room, her food was always brought to her directly.
When the food was ready, I took the tray and headed off, but I quickly realized I was lost. I didn't know where her room was.
As I wandered the halls, I ran into Sir Lucas. He was on his way to the dining room and asked why I was carrying the tray. I explained that the food was for the Countess, but I had gotten lost since no one had shown me the way.
He let out a quiet laugh and offered to guide me himself. I tried to politely ask for directions instead, not wanting to trouble him, but he insisted.
He led me down the hallway and stopped in front of a door. He knocked, and when the door opened slightly, he told the Countess that her meal had arrived and apologized for the delay, explaining that I was new. I stepped forward and handed her the tray.
Even though I only saw her for a brief moment, the Countess was beautiful. She had the same brown hair as Sir Lucas, but she looked very thin and fragile, as if she hadn't been eating much.
Afterward, Sir Lucas asked me to join him on the way back to the dining room.
When we arrived, Bethany was waiting outside. She looked worried and asked why I had taken so long. Sir Lucas explained that I had gotten lost, and Bethany quickly apologized for forgetting to give me directions. Sir Lucas waved it off, saying it was a simple mistake.
As he went inside, I was called over by Sir Harold. He asked me to clean the study room while the family ate dinner. I went to the study, but the door was locked, so I went back and asked him for the key. He handed it to me, and I returned to unlock the door.
When I stepped inside, I noticed a soft glow coming from behind the bookshelves. I thought someone had forgotten to blow out the candles, but when I got closer, I saw Lady Anne asleep at her desk. Books were stacked high around her, some open with ink spilled across the pages, like she had been writing something before she dozed off.
Worried she might catch a cold, I gently woke her. She opened her eyes slowly and looked right at me. Then, in a tired mumble, she said, "You're so pretty."
I blinked in confusion. "Pardon, my lady?" I asked.
She suddenly sat up and panicked, quickly changing the subject. She asked why I was in the study, reminding me that she didn't like being disturbed while working. I explained that everyone else was at dinner, and I thought she would be too.
She gasped and asked for the time. I told her it was half past eight.
Her eyes widened in shock. She said she must have fallen asleep during the day. She stood up quickly and rushed out of the room. On her way out, she apologized for the mess and told me not to touch the books on the desk, that she would clean them herself.
I nodded and did as she asked. I left the desk alone and began gently dusting the shelves instead.
While I was cleaning, Sir Harold came in and told me it was our turn to have dinner. I followed him to the dining area where the servants ate and had the same meal as the rest of the staff. Afterward, I went back to my room and went to sleep.
The next morning, I woke up and made my way to the kitchen. To my surprise, Sir Lucas was already there. He was quietly looking through the pantry. I had heard before that he was known for sneaking food when no one was around. When he noticed me, he gave a small smile and asked me not to tell anyone what he was doing. I simply nodded.
He then asked if I had slept well, even though I was in a new place. I told him that I was used to it. I had been transferred and sold to different families many times before.
He looked curious and asked, "How many families have you served?"
I replied, "Four, including yours."
He looked surprised. Then he asked me where I had lived before I became a slave.
I told him I didn't know. I had been too young to remember anything before I was sold.
He was quiet for a moment, then said he found it unusual to see a white slave. He said with my pale skin and looks, he would've expected me to marry into a good household someday.
I gave him a small smile and said, "That's not possible."
Just then, Sir Harold called my name from across the hall. I turned back to Sir Lucas and said goodbye before hurrying off to answer the call.