Frozen Heart
A young stubborn headed well built blonde haired man came plowing down the road staring daggers into every person that dared to even look at him. The way he walked show that he was of high social status or he just had a big ego. He considered every person that was on this road a savage. They were of all lower status and did not deserve his presence. They were in fact even lucky to be within twenty feet of him as he was the son of a parliament member. He was going to visit Greenlow Orphanage to pick out a new servant for his father's household.
He smirked. Those youngins had no idea how lucky they would be to serve in his father's household. Or that is what he thought. He treated servants very harshly. Just looking at him could get one get thirty lashes. Many servants at the Notte household had marks from his punishments. His punishments had turned sadistic of late. No one ever knew what he was planning for their punishment. Each punishment was unique. Even the lashings were different. Everyone feared him and stayed out of his way if they could.
His father was hardly in the household and his mother was a laidback person, which left him in charge of the house. Ever since he was young, he had been left to fend for himself. He had two younger sisters but they had quickly married and moved on. Even when they had lived in the house, they had taunted and ignored him. They eventually left. He didn't care much for them anyways. He was more of a solitary creature. But he never showed anyone kindness, not even his own parents. People knew Jonathan Raymond Notte was not a man to be trifled with. He took everything very seriously and punished for the slightest thing. He didn't care about you, only him.
Jon looked up at the shabby two story main building that was surrounded by a few smaller homes. The two story building was where the orphans stayed. The smaller houses surrounding the main house were a bit more elegant than the main house as they were the home of the supervisors and caretakers of the orphanage.
A young child of about eleven ran out to greet Jon. She curtsied before Jon and looked down at the ground while saying, "Welcome Mr. Notte to Greenlow Orphanage. I'm to be your escort," and with that the young girl fled into the building.
Jon just smiled at that. His reputation preceded him. The little girl hardly had met him but already knew to fear him. She would be an excellent servant. But Jon decided to explore Greenlow Orphanage first and terrify some children before taking his leave with his new servant.
But just as Jon began walking towards the entryway of the main house, a carriage abruptly pulled to a halt in front of him cutting off his pathway. He straightened himself out and furious; he began storming towards the driver of this carriage about his abrupt and rude manner. He would get a piece of his mind.
But as Jon rounded to the right side of the carriage, he stopped when he saw a young girl of about fourteen or fifteen stepping out of the carriage with an Irish looking woman. The young girl had brown hair, dazzling blue eyes and pale skin. She looked as she had been crying. The girl was staring at the dirt ground while clutching tightly to the Irish's woman's skirts. How strange that a girl of what appears to be noble's status by her clothing…clutching a woman's skirts…? Especially such a pretty one…
Jon dusted off his pants and dropped back behind the carriage, watching this odd scene play out before him. The driver of the carriage had pulled out two boxes and a suitcase and was following the young girl and the Irish woman towards the main house. The young girl seemed to be trembling of fear or sobs?
Jon just found this whole thing funny. What could possibly possess this fourteen year old girl to cry? Or to fear this building so much? It was just an orphanage. She was probably just going to watch over some kids. Jon shook his head at the young girl. He smiled and watched the antics continue on. He was quite amused by this.
Jon listened as the Irish woman stopped at the entryway and told the young girl clutching her skirts, "Sarah, you must let go of my skirts! I know this hard for you. But you must go in… The mistress is expecting you to check into your room. Don't you want to meet your fellow orphans?" said the Irish woman as she smiled kindly at the young girl… Sarah I believe?
The girl looked back at the Irish woman and said, "I do, Katie…" as she hugged the Irish woman tighter and began moving into the main house. So she is an orphan? But by her clothes she is of a higher position? Oh right there was a noble that was killed a few weeks ago… Maybe I should change my mind about who I am going to pick for my new servant… This Sarah girl seems most interesting…plus she is quite pretty thought Jon with a smirk as he walked over to where the girl and the Irish woman had just entered the main house and disappeared into the abyss of the entryway.
(Switches to Sarah's POV)
Sarah watched as the gates drew closer and closer. Tears began threatening to pour. She didn't want Katie to know she was on the verge of crying, so she turned her head to the window and began silently crying.
Things were changing way too fast for her. It had been just two weeks ago her father had died. This new noble had barely claimed his title and he had sent her away. To be banished from all she knew and to enter a completely different world. She felt a knot growing in her stomach.
She missed her home already and her best friend Maryanne. From what she gathered- her best friend wouldn't know she was gone until Katie returned to tell her later that evening. Maryanne had been comforting her the last few weeks. They were supposed to go into town today and buy some new dolls for Maryanne's little sister's birthday. Sarah had been planning on surprising Maryanne with a portrait of herself.
Maryanne had given her a year ago a portrait of herself. In case we ever get separated, you will have something to remember me by Maryanne had told her. Sarah had thought Maryanne had been ridiculous at the time she had said that but now she was glad that Maryanne had given it to her anyways. She would need it in the following days as it would be the only memory of Maryanne she had left.
She traced the edges of her skirts and saw the big black gates that said in gold block lettering "Greenlow Orphanage".
Sarah turned her view away from the gates as the carriage turned into the dirt pathway that led to the main house. Sarah saw that Katie was sleeping. So she scooted closer and rested her head on Katie's muscled arm and looked up at Katie as she began to stir.
Katie's bright hazel eyes instantly became trained on Sarah's. Sarah met Katie's eyes with a great sadness and smiled a heartbreaking smile at her. Sarah's heart was breaking. Everything was being ripped from underneath her and she didn't know what to do. She took solace in every minute she had left with Katie.
Katie wrapped her arms around Sarah and drew her closer as the main house came into view. Sarah gasped. It was a hauntingly beautiful house once. There was no doubt in Sarah's mind it once belonged to someone of high stature. But it was becoming run down now.
The smaller houses surrounding the depressing once beautiful main house held certain elegance about them. Likely the caretakers and supervisors lived there. Sarah shifted her attention back to the main house that was to be her home for the next four years.
There were two floors. Each floor had a row of shutters and windows but in the middle of the second floor there was a magnificent balcony that extended out some ways to cover the entryway. No doubt that was the owner of the land's bedroom. Underneath that there was an arch that led to a giant brass door that was the entryway. The entryway that would condemn her soon to a life of hard work. Sarah shook that thought and looked at the grounds.
In the distance, Sarah could make out a farm. Most likely they grew their own food to save money. She could see the dirt pathway circled around to the main house's entrance and then went back past the small elegant houses to the farm. The area between the farm and houses was just dying grass.
Sarah turned her attention back to the balcony as some girls walked out onto it. The few girls began working hard; sweeping and dusting everything they saw on the balcony.
Sarah gasped at their state. Their hair was dirty, their clothes torn and dirt stains everywhere. Sarah knew they had to be the orphans there. They must be doing their fair share like I will be doing, thought Sarah.
Sarah knew she would probably be worked the hardest as she was the new girl. She had visited an orphanage once when she was eight as a punishment. Her father had jokingly told her if she didn't behave, she would end up in the orphanage. How ironic that she had ended up in one without doing anything wrong except being a noble's daughter.
Sarah was jolted from her ponderings as Katie shook her gently, pointing out the carriage had stopped and it was time to get out. Sarah felt terror gnawing at her as she looked up at the terrifying main house that seemed to be mocking her with its presence. Sarah looked up at Katie as the driver opened the door and held out his hand to help her down from the carriage.
Sarah was gently pushed to the door of the carriage by Katie. Sarah straightened her skirts and her hair before accepting the driver's hand and stepping out of the carriage. She tried to summon her courage but failed miserably. So that as soon as Katie hopped out of the carriage, she attached herself to her. Sarah knew she wasn't being proper but at the moment she didn't really care.
Sarah heard Katie say something along the lines of telling her to let go of her skirts. But Sarah was too petrified to let go as they approached the giant brass door. Sarah looked back at the carriage and saw the driver following them with her things. Sarah finally let go of Katie's skirts and accepted she was going to have to go into the building sometime.
So she straightened herself out again and held Katie's hand as they entered the dark entryway. She could hear Katie whispering comforting things in her ear but she didn't really care. Her heart was breaking and there was nothing Katie could do about it.
Sarah's jaw dropped when they entered the entrance hall. There were two stairways descending from the second floor, following the sides of the wall to form almost a complete circle. It used to be an elegant household alright.
Sarah was staring in awe as young blonde headed man entered from behind her and passed her by. He went to talk to an older woman who looked strict as her brow furrowed in concentration and her wrinkles became more prominent as she frowned. Sarah began wondering if the woman ever smiled. She didn't seem to be the type who did.
Sarah was jolted yet again from her thoughts as the woman approached her. Apparently Katie had snuck over to the woman and told her about Sarah while she was busy standing there and drifting off into space. Sarah blushed at that thought and looked up to greet the woman.
She curtsied as the woman met her gaze. She had a feeling that this woman was an important person to get along with if you were going to live here. Sarah was right about that.
The woman began to speak to Sarah, "You are Ms. Lenard, I assume?"
Sarah nodded at her. The woman motioned for Sarah to follow her to what look liked an office. It had a big brown desk in the middle of it made out of oak it looked like. The carpet was a stunning deep red accented by the rose colored walls. It seemed friendly which was shocking as the woman before her did not seem to match her office.
"I trust you can speak, Ms. Lenard?" asked the woman again.
"Yes ma'am." Sarah said quickly.
"Please sit down, Ms. Lenard, and I am glad to know you can speak," she said as she smiled gently at Sarah. Sarah was shocked. Maybe she had misjudged the woman after all. But the woman's face returned to her strict look again as she began to speak after Sarah was seated in a red plush chaise.
"There a few rules here. But the most important of all is that you respect the adults and do what you are told. Then you shall have no problems and the four years shall fly by with no problems. However if you do break the rules, you shall suffer dire consequences. Is that understood?" asked the woman as her brown bore into Sarah's blue ones.
Sarah meekly nodded that she understood and looked away from the woman's intent gaze. "Good. From what I know you used to be a noble's daughter which means you are used to finer things. Well don't expect that here. You are expected to do your fair share. You will get a list of assignments to do once you settle in. You will be given a day to unpack and get used to this place but that is it. That is generous, Ms. Lenard. Most orphanages make new arrivals work straight away," added the woman as she looked at Sarah hard making her know that this was the only favor that she would receive and not to make her regret it.
"Yes ma'am. I thank you for your generosity. I will make the best of it," said Sarah trying to sound as thankful as possible so the woman wouldn't think her a spoiled brat.
"Those are the rules I shall tell you for now. You will be informed tomorrow of the rest of them. But there are some other things I shall tell you now. People come here looking for servants to help them at their households. You shall be part of the selection which means it is quite possible you will be picked as you are newer and in a better state than other children here. It is a great honor to be selected. Since they are usually of high status and working for them gives you a step up from when you are released from the orphanage. If you are selected, you will be contracted to them until you are eighteen years old. Then you can either find another place to work or continue working for them. You cannot return to the orphanage once you are eighteen. The young blonde man in the entrance hall that you saw me talking to is the son of Michael Jay Notte, a parliament member. He is to be treated with respect. But the reason I told you about the servant thing is he is looking for a new servant at his household. He is interested in you being the new servant. So it would be best for you to act kind towards him and be on your best behavior. Is that understood, Ms. Lenard?"
"Yes quite clearly, ma'am," said Sarah in shock. He wants ME? A noble's daughter who has no training in serving others at all! He should choose another orphanage girl. They would certainly be better at serving others than I would. But if I don't behave, maybe he will lose interest in me and pick another? Or it is quite possible that I might still be picked and just given lashings when we get to his estate. I think it is better I stay on his good side… who knows how he treats his servants?
Sarah was gently shaken from her ponderings by the woman who had been talking to her and pushed out into the hallway towards Mr. Notte, the young blonde man she had seen earlier.
Sarah gathered her wits and stood up straight. She approached Mr. Notte and curtsied as soon as he turned his gaze on her. She smiled shyly at him and waited for him to speak but as he began to speak… shock flooded through her. She knew this man!