"Yolanda, can you hand me the seasonings for the meat?"
Rhoswen stood in the middle of the manor's kitchen helping Yolanda, an older woman in her late fifties, whom had been with the Wellington family since Rhoswen's mother had married Lord Wellington. She, along with a few other servants currently employed there, had helped Rhoswen through the last seven years, since her mother had passed away.
Yolanda handed her the bowl of various spices. "Mistress, you know it is not proper for you to e in here, its just not proper to say the least!"
"Well, my dear Yolanda, it is either this or get lectured, scolded, or screamed at by my three other relatives. Seeming improper is the least of my worries." She said good naturedly as she applied the wonderful smelling herbs to the meat.
The older woman rung her hands together. "Well, mistress, I still say it still just isn't done!" She turned away with a now empty bowl. " You should be doing the things a young lady should, not be here in ht kitchen like like… a common Maid." She said the last part with horror ringing in her voice.
Rhoswen smiled indulgently.
"And what would that be? Reading books in trees? Secretly riding horses when the rest of the family's way?"
'stubborn child'. Rhoswen grin became even larger.
"Your hobbies may be unladylike but at least you would not be in a kitchen preparing food or cleaning the windows, now don't try going to deny it, I saw you! Like some common maid!" She banged the clean bowl on the counter, luckily it didn't break.
"There is nothing common or wrong with being a maid or staying out of the sight of my family" She put the meat in the blazing large open wall fire. Then washed her hands.
"Still it is just not right!" She said as she helped Rhoswen out of her apron. When the girl tried to stop her, Yolanda swatted her hand away.
"Go Go, take a walk, read…or even swim or work in the garden" She said as a way of dismissal.
"H…How did you know? " At the old woman's showing Rhoswen left the kitchen.
'That child thinks I'm a half- wit…I know what she does' The thought came floating to Rhoswen as she stepped up into the dinning room. Again she grinned for what seemed like the second time in six years.
She took the servants entrance to the attic. Which comprised of a series of rooms above the estate, to make it easier to clean instead of one big area.
The attic room that Rhoswen was going to was the east room. With the help of some other servants she had cleaned it out. Now the boxes and dust molts were moved and cleaned. Replaced with two old chairs, a table and a few blankets and books. It was old but one of her favorite places to go. First because it kept her out of the reach of her family. Second because her grandmother some times stopped by… about once every two months. Luckily Elizabeth was there sitting in her usual chair ideally reading a brown leather bound book.
"Grandmother, How are you?" Rhoswen said as she reached the middle of the room.
She looked up from her book." Fine dear, and how is the family?"
"Still Ignores, Spoiled and Tyrannical."
"And how about the other two?" She asked, although she knew full well that the statement had been for all three of her immediate family members.
At no answer Elizabeth went on. "So has anything happened to you since we last met?"
A few hours later after her grandmother had dismissed her, for she never saw her leave, Rhoswen went in t the kitchen again. But this time she was sipping some tea at an old and worn table, thinking.
Yolanda came into the room looking very annoyed, most likely because she had encountered one or more of her family.
She spotted Rhoswen. "Your father is looking for you. It seemed important."
Immediately she set her cup down .
When she entered her father's study she knew it was going to be a trial.
Her father sat behind his desk, while Margret and Hendrix sat in the chairs opposite. Rhoswen had to stand.
Lord Wellington looked up from where he was shorting through some correspondence papers. Not looking at Rhoswen he announce to his other children:
"Children, I will be leaving for a business trip tomorrow."