Chapter 8
The house was bursting with movement when they got to Westonhigh. The servants were busy preparing for the evening.
Ann escorted the twins to their rooms and gave orders to a maid to prepare their bath and dresses.
After the twins got dressed, she did a quick work with their hair, pining it up into simple styles that were perfect for the evenings atmosphere, before shooing them downstairs.
Then she went to her room and changed into a more comfortable dress after which she went to the kitchen to help Mrs cook.
Although it was not a part of her job, Ann enjoyed helping in the kitchen.
This was because it was very convenient, and the maid were the only other people she could talk with when she was not in the drawing room.
And for an added bonus, the maids were always up-to-date with the latest news and gossips, and although she had little use for the latter, she believed it to be important to know what went on around her.
She entered the kitchen and immediately saw Lady Daphne sitting with a plate of newly baked biscuits on the table and a jar of warm milk in her hand.
“ Miss Ann!” Daphne grinned while pouring some milk in a cup.
“ Good evening my Lady” Ann greeted when she got to the table.
“ Wonderful evening Mrs cook” she added turning to Mrs cook.
“ I must say, that is quite a lot of milk for me” Daphne said frowning at the jar.
“ Could you please pour some for Miss Ann, I am convinced she must be quite tired out today” she added smiling at Mrs cook.
“ Oh, thank you” Ann said.
“ I will see to bringing more biscuits” she added excusing herself before walking to the oven.
“ You should have just called for a maid to bring you some instead of tiring yourself by coming to this stuffy kitchen” Mrs cook continued.
“ I was walking pass and just suddenly had a craving for one of your hot tasty biscuits, and I did not want to be a bother as everyone seemed busy” Daphne replied.
“ We are busy for you my dear, you will never be a bother to us” Mrs cook cooed.
“ And moreover I missed you so much, I had to see you immediately” Daphne grinned.
Ann collected some biscuits from the oven, as she listened to Daphne and Mrs cook laugh about something. It was funny how Ann had a knack for meeting the Arnold siblings in the kitchen.
Ann was not yet sure what she was envious of, she just wished she was born in a happier and brighter family.
Maybe it was how Daphne glowed whenever she entered a place, she was always smiling, to be precise, the Arnold siblings were always laughing or bickering about something or another. And if Ann was ever going to have a family she wished they would be even half as happy as them.
“ There is some milk left in the jar” Mrs cook said to Ann.
“ Will you like some more biscuits? “ Ann asked.
“ Of course, thank you” Daphne said pushing a full biscuit in her mouth.
“ Be careful not to choke on it” Ann said dropping the tray on the table.
“ Here, have some milk” Mrs cook said handing Daphne the cup.
“ Thank you” Daphne replied before taking a little sip.
“ I happen to have a bigger appetite for food these days” Daphne explained.
“I believe it should be good for the child” Ann said.
“ I hope so” Daphne shrugged chewing on a mouth full of biscuits.
“Where is my wife?” A deep voice growled at the door, as a kitchen maid pointed in their direction.
“ I am right here darling” Daphne replied.
“ You said you were going to greet your mother” a gentleman whom Ann suspected to be Lord Mayfair said while walking to their table.
“ Well I suddenly had a craving for Mrs Cook's delicious biscuits, and just took the opportunity to greet her” Daphne answered.
“ Mrs Cook, I almost did not recognize you, how do you manage to look even more beautiful and younger every time we meet” he grinned after giving Mrs Cook's hand a quick peck.
“ Oh you and your constant flattery” Mrs Cook laughed.
“ I do mean every single comments though” he replied.
“ Good evening your grace” Ann greeted.
“ Good evening Miss...?” He asked.
“ Miss Ann Liverbert at your service your grace” Ann answered with a slight bow.
“ Ah right! Miss Ann, this is my husband Lord Mayfair, Darling, this is Miss Ann Liverbert my mother's new companion” Daphne said.
“ It is nice to meet you Miss Ann” Lord Mayfair said.
“ My pleasure your grace” Ann replied.
“ I believe we have had quite enough with the introductions” Richard said entering the room.
“ Your grace” Ann said bowing.
“ Miss Ann, I believe my mother has required your attention for quite a while at the drawing room” Richard said looking at Ann.
“ I will be sure to join her soon, once I am done with warming the milk” Ann replied.
“ As you wish” Richard replied with a drawl.
“ Will you like to join me?” Daphne asked.
“ Of course, although I am beginning to find your appetite very unhealthy” Lord Mayfair replied collecting the biscuits from her hand.
“ What are you doing?” Daphne asked with a frown.
“ Saving your body from you” her husband said taking her cup of milk too.
“ I believe I should be the one saying such” Daphne sniffed.
“ Don't tell me you would cry over some biscuit” Lord Mayfair said.
“ Well, I won't if you give back my biscuits” she shrugged.
“Lord save us from pregnant females” Lord Mayfair drawled handing her one of Ann's biscuits.
“ Wait, before eating that” he said, holding her hand as he fed her the whole cup of milk at once.
“ Oh Christ...” Daphne groaned as she gulped the drink.
“ Why the hell did you do that?” Daphne growled once he had removed the cup from her mouth.
“ Darling I can bet you have hardly taken a sip since you started eating” he replied with a sigh.
“ Stay away from my food” Daphne warned.
“ I promise to do so once you start taking more liquids” he replied wiping some leftover milk from her mouth.
“ Who else feel nauseated?” Richard said picking the last biscuits from Ann's tray.
“ That was mine” Ann said realizing she had eaten only a piece.
“ Calm down tigress, you can have this one” Richard said with a grinned as he dropped two pieces of the biscuits.
“ You may as well eat it all, I will just get more” Ann replied.
“ As you wish” Richard said pulling the tray closer to himself.
“ I will take this too” he added taking a sip from her cup of milk.
“ I should check if the milk is warm enough” Mrs Cook said walking to the big pot of milk.
“ I do not recall been informed that there will be a tea party in the kitchen” Mrs Arnold boomed as she walked into the kitchen.
Chapter 9“ I have come to believe that nothing happens without your knowledge mother” Anna said joining them with her twin at her side and Stephen stopping to give instructions to a maid behind them.“ One day, I just might end up cutting off that vile tongue of yours” Lady Arnold replied eyeing her youngest daughter.“ Good evening your grace, you look exceptionally beautiful today” Lord Mayfair said embracing his mother-in-law in a hug.“ I am positive you said the same thing to Mrs Cook and every other older female” she replied patting his back.“ And I meant every single word” Lord Mayfair said.“ My goodness, Miss Ann, where have you been?” Lady Arnold asked once she saw Ann.
Dada!" Little Roberta shrieked once she saw her father enter the nursery. She quickly and clumsily pulled her self down from the top high chair, she had sat, while her governess read a book for her and her brother. She jumped into her fathers waiting arms, and he lifted her up, almost covering her small frame in his hug."How is the most beautiful princess in my world doing today?" Lord Mayfair asked whilst covering her adorable little face with kisses."
Ann sat on a bench in the rose garden with a volume of Romeo and Juliet, which she had borrowed from Lady Daphne. It was her day off today, she visited the park or went on an afternoon walk with the twins or their mother every Thursdays and Tuesdays, while she took Wednesdays off. On her off days she usually help mrs cook in the kitchen, although there was an abundance of kitchen maids to do the work, she did it because she enjoyed their company. And mrs cook was always happy to hand her a bowl of newly baked biscuits.Ann snacked on the biscuits while she enjoyed the scenery, the garden was the most peaceful place in the house other than the library. The sun was bright and fell lovingly on the flowers, making the scenery just as bright and colorful as a painting.She open her book, I mean Daphne book.Funny how Lord Richard had expected her to borrow and read his too. 'Lord Richard' she blushed at even the thought of his name.
Ann walked up the stairs to a labyrinth of hallways, she visited this part of the house frequently, and was familiar with the location of the library.She pushed the door open to reveal the large Arnold library, it boasted many tall and huge shelves of book arranged in rows. She had been requested by lady Arnold to bring any book she could find on embroidery. Lady Arnold had been very concerned when she saw theflower Miss Anna had tangled on her material.Miss Anna was mostly interested at things that most girls her age will not be interested in. She could ride stallions and climb trees, she was the first person Ann had met when she came into employ, and she had met her slouching through knee deep mud, searching for something Ann could not remember. She Was very flustered when Anna had made her promise not to tell.So Ann was not a least bit surprised when she saw the embroidery, instead she offered her a thimble as her finger had gone blue from
Ann stared at him unable to move, the pain in her leg was beginning to feel faint. She could hardly feel, see or hear anything other than the loud thumping of her heart. She just held her chest willing it to stop the noise. Time stopped and it felt like only her and Lord Richard were the only living beings still moving.She swallowed whenever she saw the look in his eyes, and her breath cut when he leaned closer. All she could do was wait, a part of her actually wanted to pull him close and just when she was sure she would make the most insane decision in her life, he got up."How do you feel?" He asked clearing his throat as he held her ankle."I'm fi...ow!...what are you doing?" She shrieked when he put pressure on the leg."Sorry, I am checking for fractures" he said loosening his grip."Um" was her reply, she felt like an idiot for asking such an obvious question. Once again she had sat waiting for him to do as he wished with her. A wave of embarras
“ I am that Mary wanderer of the night” that did not sound right, there was no one called Mary in the Midsummer night's dream, Richard thought. He had left his spectacles in his study, and was finding it hard to concentrate the word on the book. He had started reading immediately Ann had handed him the book a week ago, and he found the book quite enchanting.“May I see the book please?” Lady Watsby asked, collecting the book from Richard.“ I am that merry wanderer of the night” she corrected.“ I forgot my spectacles again, my apologies for the discomfort” Richard explained.“ I believe there is no cause for apologies” she replied waving him off.“ But if you insist, I would prefer some more of these delicious biscuits, to prove your sincerity” She added grinning.“ As expected, you are making good use of your opportunity” Richard laughed. He stood up to rin
Richard watched her scurry off, he thought about pursuing her, but he was not sure if she desired space. He had glanced at her a while ago, as she talked to Miss Elsa, and she did not look very fine. “ I think you should check on her, I have an important necessity to heed, and I can attend myself to the entrance ” “ Miss Elsa, I'm ce
The carriage rolled to a stop at the entrance of the castle owned by the earl of Hartfield. It was a vast structure with huge walls and eloquent heirlooms and Ann assumed it was as old as the title.Lord and Lady Mayfair stood outside along with their children and some other servant, waiting to greet their family.Ann had sat in the last carriage along with two very loud, babbling, and somewhat annoying maids. They had been assigned to chaperone