Later that evening.

"For what it's worth all these miners are driving me nuts." Lizzy overheard one of the ladies whisper. She was helping with the duties in the kitchen when she overheard this remark. She stopped reading the list of names of guests who were there when she looked at the girls' and she frowned.

"And we need to talk in the right language for these travelers."

"Yes. I know that but they are bothering."

"In the way they are or how they have traveled?"

"Both."

"You're new. You'll find a way around them."

"I know but they are irritating still."

Lizzy put her hand to her hips as she raised a brow. The young women who were learning how to manage the place needed to know a few instructions. It concerned more of them trying to figure out if any of the travelers were attracted to them and Lizzy knew the ladies worked for appealing the gentlemen and not for their souls. She understood this far too well. Her gesture was noticed. The ladies looked at her when the first said. "Sorry, Miss Bennet. You don't want us pouting, do you?"

"No. And unless you want to lose your job best remain quiet."

The lady nodded as she resumed her work. The others around them acknowledged Lizzy was there as she nodded. The kitchen was finely cleaned and polished but Lizzy knew too the gentlemen were waiting for their supers. She narrowed her eyes before she called. "Ladies? I need to have a group meeting."

"Indeed."

"On it."

Those of the older women she knew Lizzy watched as they gestured for the others to circle around the main area. Lizzy was thankful for their help. Once all of them were around, she looked at the papers before she resumed her attention to the audience. Then she began.

"The increase of travelers grew from last night. I would like to have all the rooms kept tidy as more arrive. As you all know the snow is thick and some have traveled a great distance for nothing which is rumors."

"We know that, Miss Bennet." One of the ladies answered but Lizzy wasn't offended. She continued.

"I'm pleased to know all of you are doing your part. Sophie?"

Lizzy looked at one of the women who raised her brows. She was wearing a maid's outfit but Lizzy knew she was also going back and forth between being front desk receptionist to assistant for cook. Lizzy was only able to afford what she could for hire and she knew she needed more help with front desk responsibly. And as much as she disliked her cousin, Vivian, she hoped she would comply with the letter for helping. If anything Lizzy needed more women for the staff than men.

"You will be taking shift later tonight?"

"Yes."

"Thank you prior to time." Lizzy answered and she rechecked her papers.

"Emma?"

"Yes?"

"You're the one responsible for the third floor. Were you able to get those requests in?"

"Yes."

"Good progress. I'm pleased."

The older ladies' didn't' say anything as Lizzy continued to inform them the usual routine for the evening: some would take night shifts; others would clean the rooms, while some of the others would serve the travelers their meal. Lizzy liked knowing she had help but she also knew more out of townsfolk would be arriving.

"The lodge is also piling up since winter is still upon us." Lizzy remarked as she gestured towards one of the windows. "Those of you who know the routine: late arrivals will be brought to their rooms and served. Are there questions?"

None of the ladies raised a hand. Lizzy looked at her assembled audience and was thankful. Questions during this time would go unanswered because of the travelers. Already Lizzy knew they were assembling in the dining room and were seating themselves. She looked at one of the ladies and raising a brow asked. "Laura?"

"Yes?"

"Everything ready for the travelers?"

"Yes."

"All right. Then we will continue with the routine."

The older ladies let Lizzy finish the rest of the things to do before all resumed their work. Lizzy glanced at her watch and nodded. It was the hour when the travelers would be making their way from their rooms and into the dining room. She was thankful all of the ladies knew the routine and those who were going to take the evening shift were making their way from kitchen maids to front desk receptionist. There were two ladies who would be there and Lizzy already was finished with her shift. She felt more as if she were in charge of a handful of ladies who were in training to be nurses rather than the owner of a winter lodge. She wondered how she was blessed to have been able to take the family's business, which was owning the Bennet's Winter Lodge, from her passed on parents. Lizzy been orphaned at a young age and with thanksgiving to the servants and a few of her relatives, was able to understand how the business worked and eventually she was blessed to manage it on her own. By the time she was in her early twenties, Lizzy was the owner of the lodge but she also lacked help. Thankful the ladies from town were able she was thankful for the aid but when she peered at them, she narrowed her eyes when she recalled front desk was always vacant. Two out of the ladies were on shift and Lizzy always scheduled the same lady over and over again. Sophie was one of them and she also would be at front desk but Lizzy needed more than the same woman twice. She knew Sophie preferred to clean the rooms and not be by the front doors. Lizzy understood this but it was a part of the job.

"Sophie would prefer to housemaid rather than receptionist." Lizzy recalled as she turned and exited the kitchen. She knew the older ladies would oversee the instructions she'd written as well as help the other ladies. Lizzy closed the door and when she was in the hallway, she looked around. The sounds of the men and women, majority were men, were making their way from their rooms and last time Lizzy was informed the lodge had 32 guests. There were 18 rooms and with three floors for each of the classes it was a blessing the help she had was there! As she made her way to the front she wondered if her cousin, Vivian Queen, would reply to her letter. Lizzy wasn't fond of Vivian but she needed an extra hand. When she approached the front, Lizzy was thankful when Sophie was seating herself for the evening. When she looked at Lizzy she smiled as she remarked. "It will be relatively quiet, Lizzy. Evenings' are less active than afternoons."

"Yes. I do recall that." Lizzy answered as she returned the smile.

She liked Sophie but she also knew her time for work was approaching. Lizzy glanced at the clock on the desk and it read 7. She nodded as she continued.

"The travelers will be having their meals soon. I hope Patricia was able to keep what I instructed for the ladies?"

"Yes, Miss Bennet. She informed us before you came."

Not offended Lizzy thanked Sophie before she made her way to the right. On this side of the lodge floor one was located. She wanted to check the windows and then the rooms. Lizzy only a few times helped wash and scrub but she only did chores when the ladies' needed some aid. She also oversaw the stables though the grounds man would tend to those. As she made her way inside the hall the candles lining the walls looked as if they were staring at her. Lizzy walked this place countless times and she ignored this feeling. She felt more as if she were walking in a Medieval castle with only the candles as her campions but she knew this was a silly notion. She peered at one of the windows and nodded. As the moon's light shined through it touched her face as she thought. "Indeed. The ladies' did a wonderful job with this one. Now I will check the rest of the rooms before I reschedule next week's staff."

Here Lizzy walked forward as the moon's light glowed within the hallway. She had the keys for this part of the lodge. Lizzy made her way over to the first one and using the key, opened it before she peered inside. This was right. She opened the door a little more as she looked. There was the bed, the wardrobe to the left, a window, and a desk. Lizzy liked having things simple. She nodded when she saw it was neat.

"A blessing to know the ladies are following through with the cleaning." Lizzy thought as she was about to turn around. But then she gasped when a hand placed itself on her waist. She then heard a deep masculine voice whisper. "Well what is the maiden with black hair and ruby lips doing in my domain?"

Lizzy tried to look at who was touching her but she wasn't able to. The stranger, who must have entered when she wasn't watching, then placed hand on the strings which were on her dress. Lizzy tried to look but his grip only increased. She then felt how he drew even closer to her as he whispered. "How unfortunate it is for a woman like you to be so beautiful yet you possess a secret, do you not?"

Hearing this, Lizzy tried to scream but she was quickly muted. With one firm hold, her captor placed his hand over her mouth and then using the other hand, he raised her up. She felt her heart race when he began to make his way over to the bed and Lizzy's world spun. She tried to kick but he was strong. She wasn't able to see his features as he started to laugh. "This will be a day you will regret, Lizzy Bennet! You're going to have your secret exposed and no one will remember you!"

Then before Lizzy realized it, he roughly placed her on the bed before she turned around but was dismayed when he held something out to her. She blinked when a strong fragrance of apples met her nose and then the world blackened. Then he smirked before he began to take his clothes off.