"I understand. Thank you so much, Madame Sheryl. I am forever indebted to you."

The older woman gave me a gentle smile and a nod.

"Certainly, dear. Anything for an old friend of the family."

I couldn't begin to tell her how grateful I was to her without being utterly childish about. Moments ago I thought I was done for.

With the death of my father came the death of my mother's sanity. He was a wealthy man, and he got us on the good sides of many another wealthy family. When he died, we still had much of that, but I suppose mother did love him in her own way. When he was gone, everything changed. We never attended parties. She hardly even let me out into the yard by myself. Eventually, all of out relatives cut ties with us, fearful that Mother may rub off on them or worse. After that, it wasn't long until she died and left behind a very sheltered and very alone daughter.

But, insanity appeared to make the papers, and it didn't take long for our old family friend - the head of the Rainsworth dukedom - to drop in and rescue me.

In spite of all this, all I could do was curtsy and smile at her. I was an adult, and I knew I had to act like it. However, there were different schools of thought.

"Why, hello, Miss Winchester!" greeted the most eccentric of Sheryl's servants as he practically skipped into the room. "I can't believe it's actually you! You were only thiiiis big when I saw you last!"

As he spoke, he held one of his hands out at about the level of his rib cage.

For the life of me, I couldn't recall his name.

"Come along; I'll show you to your room," he promised as he placed one sleeve-drowned hand on my shoulder and ushered me forward.

"I'm afraid I don't quite remember you," I admitted nervously as I was hurried forth, my eyes shifting about.

The man pushing me forward chuckled.

"That's to be expected," he told me. "My name is Xerxes Break."

I felt more than a little sheepish at having forgotten about such a vibrant character. In my defense, though, my thoughts centered around this family were mostly about the Rainsworths' heiress, with whom I was very good friends as a child. Good friends. That was all.

"I can't wait until Sharon sees you," continued Break, almost as though reading my thoughts. "The two of you were so close. She's missed you all this time."

I doubted that was true. For all I knew, Break could be comforting me with a lie. Was he the sort of person who would do that, though?

"Oh?" was all I could say in reply.

The man chuckled once more and nodded. It was strange and unnerving to be in his presence. I had this feeling like he was looking straight through me, like he knew what I was. I shuddered at the eerie thought and tried to concentrate, instead, on reaching our destination.

"Here we are~!" Break singsonged, opening up a door virtually indistinguishable from those around it. "This is where you'll be sleeping."

"Thank you, Xerxes," I responded, not sure how to address my fellow servant formally.

It seemed 'Xerxes' would do, as he merely smiled and nodded back to me before deciding, "I'll let you grow accustomed to your new living arrangements before I show you the rest of the house. If you need me, I'm staying just across the hall.

I wasn't sure if I was all that pleased with sleeping just across the hall from this mind reader of a person, but I smiled to acknowledge this fact, anyway.

"Thank you, Xerxes," I said again.

"Break will do," Break informed me before stepping back out of my room.

It was larger than I expected. Then again, I suppose I really should have known better if I was going to reside with one of the Four Dukedoms. I felt more than a little grateful, truth be told. There I was, thinking I'd be lucky if I could find a humble, safe place to sleep on my own when one of my old friends rescued me and gave me a beautiful space to call my own. Perhaps someone was looking out for me, after all.