"That was close one." I said while Sebastian buttoned my night shirt.
"Most certainly, Sir."
There was a knock at the door. We both knew who that could be. But it just couldn't! She drowned!
"Don't just stare at me! Answer the door!" I yelled to Sebastian.
I followed him down the staircase. I stood behind him as he carefully opened the door.
"Such fine silver, I thought you might want these back."
It was the girl. Her clothes drenched and arms still limp and broken. For once I had no idea what to do. So I just stood there and stared at her.
"What are you and what do you want!? I scream
"What am I? I'm just a girl with a proposal." she said mimicking the same subtle, gentle, and chilling voice my butler has.
"Sebastian. Make the tea."
"Yes, my lord." he said while cutting his eyes at the girl.
After 10 minutes we sat and had tea. New moon drop.
"What kind of proposal?" I asked.
"I'm a girl who dreamed of coming to London from Wales. Without money I wander the streets looking for work. I come across a gigantic log cabin hoping that it's master would take in a sweet young girl as a servant, but instead encounter a slaughter-some butler."
"Proposal denied the only servant I need is Sebastian." I sipped my tea.
"Well then," she sipped her tea, "I guess you don't mind me exposing the location of this lovely place."
"Sebastian then held a knife to her neck.
"Fine. Kill me. But my family will get worried and they will find me. And you will get arrested."
"Sebastian." I said. "Release."
This was a tough situation. In both scenarios she wins and I lose. I have no choice but to give in.
"Deal." I gulped. "You are to be my hostage and my servant, only to get out of the house to run errands."
She smiled condescendingly.
"Sebastian. She will be taking your living quarters. Understood?"
"Yes, my lord."
"Go repair her bones, and let her wear one of your shirts."
"Yes, my lord."
He picked her up and carried her to his room as I returned to mine. It has truly been a long night.
