After we had married and our honeymoon was over, Gregory delighted in showing me every nook and cranny of his mansion, even showing me the people who worked there.
" This is our resident nurse, Ms. Catherine Karte, she more or less started her career not too long ago" Gregory had told me, his arm extending towards a rather young woman who merely gulped when she looked to me.
" Although you have to forgive her, she's a little shy of newcomers…"

I looked at her with an understanding expression, the poor dear must of only been in her early twenties and hadn't even got herself settled in yet, although I suppose that me and her were in the same boat then.
I then held my hand out towards her, figuring that I might as well do a friendly gesture to make her feel more welcome.
" It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Karte"

The young woman just stared at my outstretched hand, blinking twice and just generally looking unsure of what to do, was she not familiar with this form of greeting?
Catherine then took my hand and murmured something that was completely out of place with the entire situation.
" Veins…"

" I-I beg your pardon?" I practically spat as I turned to face her properly, it was then and it was only then that I noticed that her skin was extremely pale, like she'd been indoors for a long time, without ever stepping outside.

Catherine didn't react to my outburst however, instead she continued to stare at my hand with her eyes as alert as a hawk's.
" You…you have nice veins" she said, her tone of voice having no particular emotion in it what-so-ever.

I just looked to Gregory who merely grimaced in response, yet he was quick to whisk my arm away from Catherine.
" You'll have to forgive her…she's just suffering from a traumatic event from a few weeks ago" he whispered in my ear before turning to the young nurse.

" I'm very sorry my dear, but we have to be off somewhere else in the mansion, please attend to your duties, there's a good girl" he told the nurse with a sympathetic tone in his voice as he pulled me away, off down the corridor and away from the nurse who just stood there with that same blank look on her face.

" A traumatic event that she's still suffering from? and you still have her working?" I hissed at him through gritted teeth as we continued walking rather briskly down the long corridor.

" I tried to convince her to have some time off, but she wouldn't take it!" he hissed back.
" She's a workaholic in all aspects of the word, loves her job even to the point of sleeping in the nurse's office!"

" But still, letting her continue in that state is unethical…please Gregory, see if you can get her to reconsider, otherwise she'll be on death's door!"

At that moment, I could of sworn that Gregory had said something along the lines of " It's a little too late for that…" but I brushed it off as him merely muttering something nonsensical.

We continued on until we reached the dining room, this time I was able to meet yet another resident of the house…the mansion's live-in chef.
Gregory had given the chef a friendly greeting as well, yet it seemed like he was much more familiar with this young man that stared at us blankly.
Obviously this chef was another quiet one…yet unlike Catherine, he did not say a single word while Gregory introduced us.

"…And this is my beloved wife, Victoria" Gregory had said in such a proud tone as he gestured towards me.

I merely blushed, but I remembered to do a polite curtsey, just for the sake of being friendly.
" It's a pleasure to meet you Mr…" I trailed off, waiting to see if the chef would tell me his name.

Yet that response didn't come, instead the chef only grunted and said something to Gregory.
" Gregory…I have to make the preparations for a meal…"

Gregory paused at that moment, yet he soon gave a nod to the chef.
" Ahhh I understand Chef, me and Victoria won't keep you any longer than we have to…" he was quick to face me and once again take me by the hand.
" We'll see you later!"

As we went off down the corridor again, I heard the chef answer…but it sounded more demanding than understanding.
" Come back later…to eat!"

" Don't worry Chef, we will! Isn't that right darling?" he looked to me and gave me a quick nudge as if to carry on from what he'd said.

" Erm…ye-yes, we will! Of course we will!" I called back, my tone almost sounding delirious as I turned to look over my shoulder at the chef who still remained in the same spot that he'd been in when me and Gregory found him.

Turning back to face ahead of me, I couldn't help but wonder what I'd gotten myself into by marrying the lord of the mansion…but all of this was only the beginning.