A/N This idea came to me, whilst thinking about the bbc drama fingersmith. Also, I do not own once upon a time or its characters.
Chapter 1
A young twenty-one year old Emma Swan had grown up in the slums of one of the towns in England. She lived with two foster carers and three other children, who had been brought into their home from the streets. Not out of the kindness of the older man and woman's hearts, but for a purpose. A purpose of pickpocketing and thieving to survive.
She had no skills to speak of and could hardly read nor write. However, she had the beauty of long golden hair and emerald eyes and that hadn't gone unnoticed by her foster carers who now sought to gain on that fact.
"Emma, hurry up", her foster father said as he adjusted the off white shirt of his only suit as he stood in their lounge.
"Ms Mills will not tolerate lateness", her foster mother then said seriously and with that, Emma appeared from upstairs wearing her only dark green dress that brought out her eyes and flowed all the way to her feet. She was also holding a small dark tatty brown bag with her few belongings within it.
"Why exactly are we meeting this woman again?", Emma asks anxiously.
The foster parents looked at one another before looking back at Emma and saying "She requires a maid, my dear girl".
"I am no maid", Emma snaps.
"We know that", her foster mother says, looking slyly to her husband. "But this is your chance for a better life. You have said before that there must be more than this in life."
Emma frowns.
"But a maid, seriously?" Emma moans and looks sadly at her foster mother.
"Not just any maid, dear. A maid for a wealthy noblewoman in a grand house".
Emma perks up a little.
"How long will it be for?" she asks.
"For as long as you are required".
"Oh," she looks down sadly, "but why would she want me? I have no skills."
"Being a maid requires no skill, dear. All that is required is that you listen and do as is asked".
Emma frowns.
"Come on now", her foster mother says, taking Emma's hand and dragging her out of the house and down the street".
"Twenty minutes later, after a tedious walk, Emma and her foster parents arrive outside the dark iron gates of a house just outside of the town.
A well dressed grounds man, then greets them and shows them inside.
"What I wouldn't give to live in a place like this", Emma's foster father says in awe as he looks at the grand painting upon the grey walls.
Emma, however, bites her lip and wonders what this Ms Mills is like. Before she can think anymore, they are all greeted by another maid who shows them into the lounge. There, they sit upon the pristine cream sofa and wait for the noblewoman's entrance.
"Good afternoon, ladies and gentleman," a deep voice says, which makes all three guests stand up".
"Good afternoon, Ms Mills. It is an honour that you have accepted our presence".
"Of course. Please sit", the long dark haired woman tells them, and sits down herself across from them.
Emma gulps and there's a pause as Ms Mills takes in her guests appearances with an unamused look upon her face.
"So," Ms Mills then says seriously as she looks to the mother, "is this the young girl whom you wish to take the position as a maid?" She rakes her eyes over Emma, who suddenly feels self conscious and looks to the floor.
"Yes, Ms Mills, this is Emma. We heard from an acquaintance that you were looking for a maid and they said they could arrange a meeting."
Cora gives a nod.
"Yes that's right. I trust his judgement, as I have already gone through six other maids who, for one reason or another, didn't last." She keeps her gaze on Emma who looks up at her then back down to her lap, feeling Ms Mills's intense gaze upon her."
"Do you know what is required of you, girl?" Ms Mills then asks Emma, who looks up at her like a deer in headlights.
"Oh… Um, to listen and do what is asked of me?" she answers softly.
Ms Mills smirks.
"I couldn't have put that better myself, Emma. What experience do you have, exactly?"
"She has many years of cleaning in our home, Ms Mills", her foster mother answers for her and Ms Mills rolls her eyes.
"Can she not answer for herself?"
"Yes I can", Emma says.
"Good", Cora says seriously. She brings her hand up to look at her fingernails, then looks back to Emma.
"I suppose you will do. However, I do not tolerate rudeness, tardiness nor laziness", she tells her seriously and Emma nods.
"You will live here, in the room next to my daughters. You shall be her personal maid and attend to anything she requires".
Emma clenches her hands together in her lap and looks unsurely at Ms Mills, who is now looking between all three.
"You shall also learn the basics from another one of my maids today, before being introduced to my daughter. If she finds you unacceptable, I shall have to find someone else. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Ms Mills".
"Good". She stands up and rings a small bell which alerts a maid. An older woman, with glasses, enters the room.
"Will you take this young lady and show her the basics of her duties to my daughter?"
The maid nods and Emma stands up and picks up her bag up from the floor. She looks to her foster parents worriedly.
"It's okay, Emma. Think of it as an adventure, yes?" Her foster mother assures her.
"Okay". Emma then mumbles. She doesn't know weather to shout or cry at this point.
"We shall see you soon".
Emma nods and slowly walks away, following the maid out of the room. She leaves her foster parents and Ms Mills still within the room, not seeing or knowing that her foster parents have only done this for the money. That Ms Mills will pay them for Emma's services, whilst Emma will be attending to Ms Mills' daughter's whims without seeing a penny."