Alexander
A day in the Ashdown Manor begins at 5:00am. At this time, I wake up and change. At 5:15am, it is time to wake the other servants up to start their chores.
"Good morning everyone!" I say.
"Good morning Mister Alexanderrr~," The servants say, slurring their words. Rosalie is slumped over the table and Johnny is crouched in the corner. It is Dave who approaches me first.
"Sir, yes Sir!" He shouts in my face.
"Right," I begin, "Dave, prepare lunch for the Lord and Lady,"
"Sir, yes Sir!"
"Johnny, the vegetables in the greenhouse are looking tired,"
"Yes, right awaaa~y."
"Rosalie, come with me so we can get the Lord and Lady dressed,"
"Coming! Mister Alexanderrr~" She says, her voice muffled by the table.
"And can all of you WAKE UP!" I shout. In an instance, the servants are up and shouting in unison.
"Sir, yes Sir!"
"Now, come on Rosalie!" I walk towards the door and I hear the footsteps of Rosalie behind me. We walk through the many sunlight bathed hallways of the Ashdown Manor. They are decorated with elaborate gold furniture and the walls are painted white and covered with numerous portraits of the Ashdown predecessors. Finally, we arrive at the doors to the Lady's bedroom. With a short click of the door handle they open.
"My princess, it is time to wake,"
Isabella
"My princess, it is time to wake," Says Alex as he opens the door.
"Go away," I reply, my voice a mere groan.
"But, my princess, today is a very busy day," Alex walks over to the curtains and draws them open. The lights blinds my eyes and I shut them tightly, pulling the duvet over my head, "you're Grandfather will be visiting for lunch and in the evening you have a meeting."
"Not more work," I whine, I open my eyes now that I've adjusted to the bright light and see Alex casting a shadow over me, "go away." Alex laughs and goes down on one knee looking into my eyes. I stare back into his deep purple eyes wondering how I'd ever cope without him.
"Please wake up, my princess," He holds out his hand and, realising the battle is not worth fighting, I take it. He leads me out of bed and towards my dressing table where I sit down. In the mirror on the table I see Alex leave my bedroom and Rosalie running towards me. She grabs a stool and sits down behind me.
"Now, how would the Lady like her hair done today?" She questions me. I sigh and look at her eyes with the obvious.
"The usual, Rosalie," Rosalie smiles and starts to brush through my mess of red hair.
"Just was wondering if the Lady wanted something different," She keeps brushing through their fiery tangles, "maybe to spice things up a bit? The Lady's grandfather is coming today so I thought the Lady might think-"
"Today is a normal day," I interrupt, "whether grandfather is coming or not." For a second, Rosalie stops brushing with a sad look on her face but instantly carries on. When my wild hair is finally tamed, Rosalie ties them into two long pigtails. She then takes me to my wardrobe and looks at the many beautiful, elegant dresses inside. She shoots me an uncertain look.
"What shall the Lady wear?" I scan the numerous dresses and point at a short, silk green dress with long lace sleeves.
"This one,"
"Ah, yes! This one will match the Lady's eyes perfectly!" Rosalie helps me slide the green dress on and does the buttons up at the back. She then spins me round and looks me straight in the eye, a genuine smile across her face.
"Now, be good today? Yes?" She says, I notice tears brimming in the corners of her eyes.
"Rosalie, are you-"
"No, no, just," She wipes her eyes with her white sleeves, "the Lady looks so beautiful."
"Oh Rosalie," I pull her into a tight hug but she shrugs it off.
"No, no, mustn't get the Lady's dress ruined. Now, run along, Mister Alexander has cooked you a splendid breakfast!" I follow Rosalie orders and bound for the door.
"Um, Rosalie," I say before opening the door, "thank you-"
"Just go," She laughs, "you know what Mister Alexander is like about timing!"
Alexander
After breakfast, at 10:00am. The Lord has violin lessons with his private tutor whilst the Lady stays in her study and works.
"My princess," I knock on the door to the study.
"Yes?" She calls, "Come in Alex." I walk into the study finding the Lady reading through a letter. A pile of paperwork sits collecting dust to her right on the desk. She glances briefly to see me and then continues to read the letter.
"Might I ask what the letter is about?" I ask, she groans and puts the letter down.
"Just about the meeting tonight," She replies, "it says that you aren't allowed to come."
"Really?" I question, "That is a peculiar request." I puzzle at the words, wondering what the meeting is about.
"By request from the Earl," She reads, "the butler of the manor, or any of the other servants, are kindly asked not to attend tonight's meeting."
"Who is the writer of this letter?" The Lady continues to read.
"From Claude Faustus, butler of the Trancy Household," She gets up from her desk and walks towards the window, "the Trancy Household always had a troubled past, it seems that Earl Trancy doesn't want anyone to know of their secrets." She watches out the window, seemingly dreaming until I notice the black carriage and horse moving along the path.
Isabella
George is the first to bound through the doors. His eager smile widens to shout.
"Grandfather! Grandfather!" The coachman opens the door to the black carriage and my grandfather's old, wizened face pops out.
"Ah! There's my cheeky little grandson!" He pulls my brother into a hug. His eyes look up and find mine staring back down. The eyes of the Ashdown family have always been the same, a deep ash tree green hence the family name.
"And there's my beautiful granddaughter!" He takes my hand and pulls me into the family hug. After a couple of minutes, we all break away from the hug. George is still smiling and grandfather retrieves his black and gold detailed walking stick. I take grandfather's other hand and lead him into the manor. Rosalie, Johnny, Dave and Alex bow at my grandfather.
"Earl Ashdown," Alex walks over and bows again, "it is a pleasure to have you round to stay for dinner."
"Mister Alexander," Grandfather replies, "I hope you are looking after my grandchildren well? My son has been constantly telling me about how he worries for the well-being of his children."
"Oh Grandfather!" George exclaims, "Mister Alexander is the best butler ever! I'm starting to learn the violin and it was all Mister Alexander's doing!" Grandfather laughs and pats Alex on the back.
"That's what makes an Ashdown Butler!" We lead my grandfather into the dining hall where the long, dining table is full with food. The dining hall itself, has been thoroughly cleaned and the carpets seems to look like they are brand new. I gasp under my breath and so do the rest of my family.
"Well, isn't this a banquet!" My grandfather chuckles, "Prepare the champagne! We're going to have a feast!"
After many hours of eating, I don't think I can take it much longer! My stomach is full and if I eat anymore I'm going to burst!
"Alexander," I say, in an instant he's over, "what is the time?" He glances at his watch.
"Six-thirty, my princess," Shit! The meeting! I think.
"Grandfather," I stand up from the dining table, "if you would please excuse me, I have a meeting with the Earl Trancy tonight. I must go now."
"The Earl Trancy, eh?" Grandfather replies, "I knew his late father, poor boy, must've been very sad for him to see his father part," He sighs deeply, "alright, you can leave. Be good my girl!" I run to the other side of the dining hall and plant a kiss on my grandfather's cheek.
"Thank you," I whisper. Then, I run back towards Alex and we head for the manor's main doors. Outside, my carriage awaits and we both climb in. Once inside our coachman, Roger, makes the horses begin to trot and the carriage lumbers away from the manor.
"I thought you weren't allowed to come," I say to Alex, in the shadows I think I see him smirk.
"I will only be there at the door, I will not come in with you," He watches the scenery move past through the window. The ride is silent afterwards, finally we arrive at the Trancy Manor. It is huge, much bigger than my own. As it is so dark, there is only so much that I can see, "Here we are, the Trancy Manor," Alex says, still smirking. The carriage stops in front of the manor, we both step out and the manor door opens. A butler steps out, he is a tall man with short black hair and golden piercing eyes behind a pair of glasses.
"Lady Ashdown, I presume?" His voice is soft, plain and emotionless. His eyes meet mine and my breath reduces.
"Yes, I am. You must be Claude Faustus," I say, I turn to Alex, "this is my butler Alexander Sinnit."
"I thought the letter told you not to bring servants into the manor," Claude's voice becomes more stern.
"Yes, well, he was only coming to, um-"
"I just came to assist the Lady and check if you we're human, I don't want the Lady to go into some stranger's house," Alex finds the words that I couldn't say.
"Thank you for bringing her then," Claude replies. Strangely, I feel tension between the two butlers, do they know something that I don't? I watch Alex turn to leave but before he does he leans forward and presses his mouth to my ear.
"I feel a strange aura around this house," Alex's voice reduces to a quiet whisper, "be careful, my princess, know who is behind you." His words scare me, but he soon smiles and waves.
"Goodbye, my princess!" With that, he is in the carriage and away. A terrifying rumble startles me and I feel the first drops of rain splash upon my cheek.
"It seems as though a storm is brewing," Claude says, his face turned to the sky, "let us go inside, Lady Ashdown." He leads me inside the manor, my eyes adjust to bright light coming from the elaborate chandelier. The manor is lavishly decorated in red and gold furniture. The manor seems oddly quiet before I hear footsteps pound down the staircase. A young boy, probably about the same age as me, in a forest green vest with black stripes covering a white button-up shirt, black shorts and long black stockings runs up to me. He has platinum blonde hair that gently brushes the top of his icy blue eyes. He takes my hand and gets down on one knee.
"Lady Ashdown," He kisses my hand, and I freeze, "I am Earl Alois Trancy," his eyes meet mine and, like Claude, my breath reduces, "but please, call me Alois."
