The Making of Evil

Part Four

Liverpool, February 1775 ~ A New Beginning

As promised, a carriage came to our tiny home that night to take us to the Collins family and our new lives. We did not have much to pack. I had my two bears, and three dresses one of which I was already wearing. My parents did not have much more. There was a plump woman in the carriage. She came out to help load our two cases onto the back of the carriage and then she lifted me in. I sat in between my parents and held my father's arm, leaning my head against him. The woman was middle aged and she sat opposite at me and smiled, not the way Joshua smiled but one of warmth and love.

"Hello dear child. No need to be scared. I'm Mrs Allard, it's very nice to meet you. I'm the housekeeper. What's your name, my dear?"

"M-my name is Angelique," I whispered quietly. I still spoke slowly as my English still was not very good but I had sat and listened to many people talking and my parents were also teaching me so I was learning fast.

"Angelique. You certainly look like an angel. How old are you?"

"I'm six years old, Ma'am." I was still a little uncertain but I knew this woman meant well.

"My my, such a big girl. Well, when we get to the manor don't you worry about a thing. All the servants will adore you. It has been a long time since there was a little girl in the house. We have only Master Barnabas, I am sure you will get on well with him. He is a charming boy with a face you can't resist especially when he knows ive been baking and he comes to see what he can get. Hard to resist those eyes." She smiled at me and I felt very at ease so I returned her smile as my father stroked my hair.

"Who else is in the family? Besides Barnabas and his father," my mother asked curiously.

"Well, there is his mother of course. Naomi Collins, quite a beauty herself but you will see that soon. She is very quiet, not like her husband who very much enjoys the company of his friends and on many occasions a good strong ale. He is a good man, loves his family very much and treats the servants well. There have been a few who has lost his temper with but it is rare." My mother smiled. Both my parents were seemed to be overjoyed and with good reason. A good position with a prestigious family with a Master who treated his employees well and who had a lovely young boy to play with their daughter. They just had to make sure they did not make the same mistake as last time and let them discover their magical abilities. I had been further taught of magic by my parents and found it fascinating. They also told me in every lesson that no one must ever know. They never told me why. They just said bad things would happen to me and I might get taken away. That idea frightened me enough and so I made a promise to them never to tell.

Around twenty minutes later we arrived at the manor. We went through a big set of iron gates leading up a long drive with trees hanging over the top and wildflowers growing round the roots. At the end of the drive stood a manor house far bigger than the one the Montadon family had owned back in Martinique. It was two stories high with ivy growing up the walls, the moonlight reflecting in all the window panes. At one side there was a turret which went a little higher than the roof of the house and all the windows on it were made of stain glass of all colours. The top of the driveway was circular and in the middle was a stone statue of a young man. The statue was very old, possible as old as the house. I assumed it was perhaps the man who built the house. I looked with wide eyes as we approached. Mrs Allard saw me and let out a small laugh.

"Its big, my dear, buts it's still no more than a house. The family are working on plans to build a bigger one in Maine when they expand their fishing business over there. They are planning on calling it Collinwood. Still afar months yet before they go on over. I expect they will be taking the three of you with us." Before any of us could reply she was out of the carriage and carrying our cases to the big front door which was opened immediately. My father lifted me out and I moved behind him. I could hear the butler speak angrily to Mrs Allard about letting us use the front door and not the servants door but she ignored us and welcomed us in to the large entrance hall. It was very elegant and had a staircase on each side leading to a large double door at the top. The balcony was spread out with many doors leading to the many rooms. I just stood with my mouth open, after a few seconds my mother made me close it. First, my parents were taken to their own rooms. They were to be split up. My mother was in with a young made and my father was put in with the footman. Mrs Allard took my cold, trembling hand and led me to my room while my parents unpacked. A smile spread on my face as I was lead to the turret. I had got my own room. It was very small and circular. It had two windows in it, one was clear glass and the other was stain glass, only the clear one opened. There was a small single bed, a shelf, a wooden chair and little table beside the bed with a drawer where I could put my things. I had never had my own room before, I had always shared with my mother or both my parents. Mrs Allard stroked my hair and left me to myself. I sat on my bed with a large smile on my face. A few minutes later I heard footsteps outside my door. Slowly I made my way from the bed to the door , leaning down to look in the keyhole. I was surprised to see and eye looking back at me, a dark eye that was instantly familiar. I gasped and jumped back all the same but quickly returned just in time to see Barnabas run across the landing and into the library. At that moment I was tempted to follow him but I held myself back, I knew I had to learn my place. Perhaps playing with Clara was alright as I was so young and she was a girl, but I knew it was inappropriate to play with a young gentleman. My mother had warned me about that quietly before we had made our way here. I put my bears on my bed and think about him without even realising it, my eyes closed and a smile on my face.

I was suddenly knocked from my daydream when there was a knock on my door. Mrs Allard had come back with a glass of milk and a slice of cake she had baked that morning. My eyes went wide when I saw it and my stomach grumbled since we had been living off watery soup and whatever scraps we could find since moving to Liverpool. She placed it in front of me and I devoured it. Her eyes went wide as she watched me.

"Oh my, my dear. I will not have a child starve. Come with me to the kitchen and I'll get you something good and hot to eat." With that, she helps me to the kitchen and sits me at the table. There are six women in the kitchen and they all started to make a fuss over me at once giving me thick vegetable soup and bread that I eat, savouring every mouthful. That is then followed by another slice of cake and more milk. My eyes started to droop finally so content and satisfied. They took pity on me and Mrs Allard carried me to my room. She pulled back the covers for me and I didn't even bother to get into my night gown, I just curled up in my dress and was asleep moments later. In the back of my mind, I can hear my mother come in and sing to me like she does every night and I smile in my sleep.

Under the moon and stars outside, Joshua and Naomi are walking their dogs as Joshua tells his wife of the new servants he has brought in.

"They have a young girl. I know she will do well here. I'm hoping the same from her parents if they all want to stay here"

"It will be nice to meet them in the morning. I'm sure the mother will make and excellent hand maid and her husband perhaps can aid the butler. The girl can just work with the other maids"
"Yes that was the plan. I will be talking to all three of them in the morning giving them the rules of the house and a list of things I want done every day from each of them. They know they are on trial. I'm letting them rest for now, it's the child's birthday. We will start working them tomorrow."