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“Really? Why would he do that?”
She shrugged. “Who knows? Prince William and Harry joined the armed forces. I guess it’s what sons of wealth do.”
“Unlike you, I’m not looking to hook up with a filthy-rich guy. I don’t even want a boyfriend.”
She scrunched her longish face. “You’re weird. And you’re not even a lessie. I mean, look at you: you’re fucking gorgeous. If anyone can attract a prince, it’s you.”
I laughed. “Luce, you live in a dream world.”
“That’s all we’ve got.” She smiled sadly and my throat lumped up. Lucy had had a tough life. She lost her mother to cancer and had never known her father.
I put my arm around her shoulder. “You’ll meet a lovely guy. I’m sure. You’ve got the biggest heart, and you’ll make the greatest mother.”
She smiled wistfully. “Hope so. But not from fucking Tinder, right?”
“Right. Promise me not to do that again.”
My flatmate had brought home enough of those dates for me to know that one didn’t find their Mr. Future from the swipe of a phone screen.
It was my second visit to Merivale House. The first time was a day trip for the interview, and the following day, Janet, head-of-staff, called to inform me I’d gotten the job and asked me if I could move in by the weekend.
Within a day, lugging all my possessions stuffed in a suitcase and a backpack that tugged heavily at my shoulders, I caught a bus.
I landed in the village like a dazzled child at a theme park. The shimmering ocean, tinkling sailboats, and a bustling pier of fishermen and tourists captured my imagination, and suddenly the anticipation of possibilities swept me away.
A nice, if not strange sensation, because I’d never aspired to anything much before. Just to survive without being hit on and to get my music teaching degree, but with the wind in my hair and salty air brushing my face, a force of hope made me smile.
It felt right being there. I almost kissed the air. Maybe it was knowing that I’d left behind ugly memories and that this was a fresh start.
Merivale, I’d discovered was a mile from the village, and so I caught an Uber, despite what would have been a pleasant walk through a forest to get there.
The grounds as we drove to the house were covered in hedges, and the lawn looked like lush green velvet.
I’d been instructed to enter through the servants’ quarters, and there I met Janet.
She took me on a tour of the main house, and my jaw dropped and remained that way. Crystal chandeliers glistening in the sunlight. Golden-framed art highlighted by a dark bluish-green wall. A serpentine staircase. Etched windows and stained glass. Marble statues.
At the back of the opulent three-story mansion lived the servants’ quarters.
My room had an en suite and a window that looked out to green rolling meadows. The cosy room came with a television and had all I needed. But more significantly, I had a room of my own. No more messy flatmates playing their crappy music and keeping me awake with their screechy sex.
As she opened the door to the en suite bathroom, a scent of lavender hit me, as shiny clean surfaces smiled back at me. I thought of the bathroom I’d shared in London with its mould stains and toilet that didn’t always flush. I wanted to hug Janet. Who would have thought a clean, pleasant-smelling bathroom could bring so much joy?
“Let me show you around the kitchen.” She moved so quickly, I had to take wide strides to keep up.
We entered the large space fitted with marble and stainless-steel surfaces. Pots and pans dangled in the centre over the large, commercial-sized kitchen, and an appetizing baking smell sent my stomach rumbling.
“This is where we keep the fresh linen.” Janet opened a cupboard with stacked white napkins and tablecloths. “Normally, you’ll be required to clean the bedrooms. That starts tomorrow, and I’ll be on hand to show you where things go. You’re prepared to work Sunday, I take it? You read your contract?”
I nodded. “Mondays and Tuesdays are my days off. Although I’m happy to work seven days if you need.”
She shook her head decisively. “No. We can’t have staff burning out. This is a big house as you can see. There’s silver to polish. There are windows and mirrors to wipe down. Most cleaners disappear after a year.”
“Really?” My eyebrows rose.
A smile twitched on her lips. “As I said, the work’s intense. Normally, the caterers bring their own staff. But after the last event, things went missing, so the family have asked for the full-time maids to help the butlers.”
“Of course, that’s all good. I’ve done waitressing.”
