Chapter Ten
Gabriella smoothed down the material of her black dress as she stood in front of the massive double doors of Hockley Manor. She glanced around once more, taking a nervous breath. The Grayson's home was elegant and huge, but this… this was beyond that. She had never imagined anything like it existed except in fairy tales. It was almost like a castle with its turrets and its high pointed eaves.
How many rooms hid behind its ivy lined walls? She wondered how someone lived in such a place without getting lost. It just seemed to go on forever. How would she ever get used to it?
She lifted the heavy knocker and tapped on the iron slat beneath it. It was a few moments later that the door opened slightly, a young woman dressed in a formal black uniform much like hers stood before her. She looked Gabriella up and down taking in her appearance.
"Are you the new girl?" she asked almost superiorly.
"Yes, my name is Gabriella Harrington," she answered. "I am to report to Mrs. Hockley."
"No, I'm afraid not. You will report to Miss Ambrose. All the new girls do."
"I was under the impression-"
"Yes, most of the new girls are. Follow me," she cut her off, not explaining herself further. Gabriella stepped inside and waited for the girl to close the door. When she turned back to her, she began walking crisply across the large, airy foyer. The click of their heels echoed off the high walls as the two women made their way across to another massive door.
Gabriella barely had time to note the large chandelier and the way the light glinted gloriously off the crystals or the grand, red carpeted staircase centered in the middle of the room that went straight up to a large landing, splitting into two separate staircases that spiraled off to the second floor, before they were walking through the door and going down a long hallway.
"From now on you will enter the back entrance. That's what the servant's are expected to use. You will always enter and leave there. Don't come through the front door again."
"I didn't realize-"
"Of course not, that's why I'm telling you." she cut her off again as she walked along. "Now, let me explain Miss Ambrose and what she expects. She's a strict headmistress, she has her rules and she expects them to be followed. She will be going over them with you. Can you read?"
Gabriella bristled for a moment. "Yes, I can read and write," she nearly snapped. She was getting tired of the girl's brisk manner. She wasn't an idiot, she only had to be told how things worked and she would do it. "I can also add and subtract. I have an education."
The girl smirked down at her, stopped and crossed her arms in the process. "Reading is sufficient. The other things won't apply to this job. You are to only report when you're supposed to be on duty, do your job right and have little or no interaction with the family."
Gabriella didn't know what to think. She was certain Aunt Marion had told her she was hired to work for Mrs. Hockley personally. How was she to do that if she were to have no interaction with her? She straightened herself and nodded in acknowledgement to keep from speaking again. She didn't want to look more like a simpleton than she was afraid she already had.
"My name is Bridget. If you'll come with me, I'll show you to Miss Ambrose." She turned on her heel and walked only a few feet more until she reached another door, much smaller than the previous ones. She knocked and waited for the response. When she received it, she opened it and motioned for Gabriella to follow her.
What greeted her was a sitting room of sorts. It had a fireplace in the center of the wall with two comfortable chairs in front of it. A small settee and table was on one wall and small desk and chair on the other. Who she assumed was Miss Ambrose sat behind it, barely glancing up at them.
"Miss Ambrose, the new girl is here. Gabriella by name."
Finally, the older woman looked up and raked her eyes over her. "Leave us," she ordered and Bridget curtsied and backed out of the room, shutting it quietly behind her. "Come closer, girl," she called, leaning back in her chair as she did.
Gabriella stepped closer until she was finally standing in front of the desk. Miss Ambrose wasn't exactly what she imagined in her mind. She was neither old, nor was she young. She had sable brown hair secured in a neat bun at the back of her head, a pair of clear blue eyes which was hid behind a pair of spectacles perched primly on her nose. She stared at her up and down, a small frown forming on her lips.
"Gabriella?" she said it almost as a thought rather than a greeting. "Rather odd name."
Gabriella didn't know how to respond, so she didn't. She had never been told her name was odd before.
"Don't you have a tongue, girl?"
She cleared her throat before answering. "Yes."
"Well?" Miss Ambrose prompted. "Tell me about yourself. Where are you from? How old are you? Do you have family?"
Releasing a breath, Gabriella answered. "I'm from Pittsburgh, I'm nineteen and yes, I have a family."
"Married?"
"No."
"Betrothed?"
"No."
"Good. That makes the transition easier. Nineteen you say?"
"Yes."
"Hmmm, a little older than I like for them to come, but you'll do. What is your experience? Ever done this work before?"
"Once. I worked one night for the Grayson's. That's how I met Mrs. Hockley."
"Once? That's it? What other kind of work have you done?"
"I worked at a," she paused, taking another nervous breath. "Well, at a gentleman's club. I sold cigarettes." She finally said, not wanting to admit that calling the clientele 'gentleman' was a stretch.
The frown on her face increased. "I see," she drawled. "Well, I certainly hope you won't bring any bad habits you may have picked up there to here. We have a strict, professional behavior code and we expect all of our girls to live by this code. Smoking and drinking is prohibited."
"I do neither," Gabriella replied. "I never have."
"Well, that's something I suppose," she sniffed and looked down at her paperwork. "I have list of rules here that I want you to look over. If you can't read I will read them to you."
"I can read," she answered stiffly and held out her hand for the sheet.
"Very well," she handed it to her.
"Miss Ambrose, may I ask a question?" Gabriella said. At the woman's nod, she continued. "I was under the impression that I was to be working for Mrs. Hockley personally. I was told she was the one doing the hiring."
A cool smile spread across her face. "I do the initial interviews and hiring of all new girls. Mrs. Hockley herself decides where the staff is placed and what their duties will be. It is my job to make sure they do that job as efficiently as possible."
"So, I will be meeting with Mrs. Hockley?"
"Eventually, yes," she replied. "In the meantime you will be under my tutelage until you have learned what you need to know."
Satisfied with the answer she received, she glanced down at the sheet of paper Miss Ambrose had given her. The rules were neatly written in order of importance.
Uniform must be clean, pressed and in pristine condition at all times, including shoes.
The tone in which you speak must always be respectful and polite.
Once assigned your duties, you must strive to do said duties with efficiency and competence.
Do not interact with the family unless specifically addressed by them, in which case you will respond as necessary.
Association with men, on the staff or otherwise is prohibited. All young ladies must be chaste and of moral character.
Meals for the staff are served at exactly 7:30 AM, 1:00 Pm and 5:30 PM. If you miss a meal you will have to wait until the next meal is served. You are prohibited from entering the kitchen unless you are a member of the kitchen staff.
There will be no gossiping among the staff. The family's privacy is of the utmost importance. Anyone caught gossiping will be dismissed immediately.
Wages will be garnered out once a month as earned.
Miss Ambrose spoke just as she finished with the last line. "As you can see we uphold a strict standard here. Running a household such as the Hockley's is a day and night endeavor. Everyone must do their part and everyone must abide by these rules for it run smoothly. Do have any further questions?"
Gabriella shook her head slightly. It seemed to be more than she bargained for, but she had been warned by Aunt Marion, so some of it didn't come as a surprise. "No, I suppose not. It's only a matter of getting used to how it works here."
"I'm sure you will do fine. Now, if you'll bring your luggage I'll show you to the room you'll be occupying."
"Room?" Gabriella asked before she realized it. "I'm sorry, I won't be in need of a room. But, thank you anyway."
Miss Ambrose raised a quizzical eyebrow toward her. "My dear, this is not an offer. You will be staying in the room for as long as you work for the Hockley's. The staff is a live in situation. I thought you knew that."
"Live in?" she repeated a little flustered. "No, I wasn't aware of that. My cousin works for the Grayson's and she goes home every evening. I just assumed it would be the same here."
"I'm afraid not," Miss Ambrose stood and came around the desk. "The Grayson's, while a prominent family, do not carry the same importance as the Hockley's. Our situation is quite different. I hope this is not a problem for you. If so, please speak up now before we continue on."
"I don't know," she hesitated thinking of her family. What would Marco want her to do? And Tony? She hadn't expected this. She was fine with it as long as she was able to go home every night, but to live here all of the time? She wasn't sure she was prepared for that.
"My dear, while you are considering your decision, I would like to point out that a job like this does not come along often. Mrs. Hockley hand picked you, something you should not take lightly. This is an opportunity for you that may not come along again. Unless, of course, you want to go back to selling cigarettes at your gentleman's club."
Gabriella considered the woman's words. The only appealing thing about Verdetti's now was Cal, but after last night she wasn't so sure he would even want to see her again. She had a feeling she knew what Marco would want her to do and Tony wouldn't like it, but he wouldn't stand in her way. As far as she could see, she had her answer.
"Yes," she answered finally. "I will stay, but I must have tomorrow to pack and prepare my family for this. I want to say my goodbyes."
"Very well, but my dear, I must add that this is not a prison. You will have Sunday's off and one day a month for personal time. It is a most satisfactory arrangement for most that come to work for us."
"Thank you, that does make me feel better," she said, and it did. She could go home every week and keep in touch with her family. She suddenly felt happy about her choice. Perhaps working here would be the best thing she could have done, or at least for the moment it felt very much like it.