The Making of Evil

Part Five

Liverpool, February 1775 ~ Work Begins

I slept soundly the first night. I was still in a deep sleep when Mrs Allard came and woke me up just before 6am. I believe that was the earliest I have ever been woken up and I can't say I enjoyed it at all. After I washed I went do the kitchen where I met the other servants and found my mother and father. I sat in between them and leaned against my mother, nibbling on the toast I had been given. Mrs Allard was busy with the breakfast for the Collins family and she knew that soon Joshua would wish to speak with us and so began running off a list of things we should know.

"Right, well Mr Collins is fair but strict when it comes to the upkeep of his household. As I have already mentioned he is a lovely man so you don't need to worry about that. In the mornings he does tend to be a bit more on edge but most people are. When you speak with him, show respect and mind you language but I am sure there is no problem with that. Stand straight and listen to every word he says to you and do not speak unless you are spoken to and never answer him back. It comes down to wither you know how to respect those in the upper class and I am aware you worked for a similar family in Martinique so there should be no trouble with that." She gave me a warm smile after her short lecture. I think now I was more worried than before about meeting him. To me there just felt that something wasn't quite right. As I sat and thought of this, a young maid walked in shielding a black eye. She only looked to be around sixteen years of age and she had been crying. She sat at the table on the other side of my mother and reached for a piece of toast. Mrs Allard turned and tutted at her, putting her hand on her hips.

"Mary Morgan, what have we told you about being clumsy? We can't let the guests see you like this when they come tonight, they will get the wrong impression about what goes on here. What happened this time?" Mary looked down at her hands looking like she would rather stay silent.

"I-I fell down the stairs..." . Her voice was no more than a whisper and I knew instantly that she was lying. I always seemed to know when people were lying. Mrs Allard sighed and went to look at Mary's eye.

"Foolish girl, that's the third time since Friday and its only Wednesday! You have to be more careful."

"Yes, Mrs Allard. I'm sorry." Mary kept looking down and I watched her carefully. To me it just felt wrong. Before I had a chance to say anymore, another young girl came in and told myself and my parents that Joshua wanted to see us in the library straight away to get us started. We stood up and my mother did her best to try and make me look more presentable. On the way there I was reminded again of the rule about respect and talking. I rolled my eyes, already knowing them. We entered the library and saw Joshua looking out of the window. I stood between my parents in front of a large desk, my head bowed in respect. He turned to us and greeted us with a smile.
"Ah, good morning. I trust you are well rested. You all have a lot to do. I thought I would start with the rules." I looked up slightly to watch him pace about in front of us. "There is to be no screaming or yelling. I hate the sound of it. When it comes to meals you will eat in the kitchen with the other servants, no exceptions. If I tell you to do something then you do it immediately without question or complaints. There is to be no gossip of any sort spread about, it causing trouble and I won't stand for that. When it comes to your work, I expect you all up at 5am to light all the fires in each of the bedrooms which must be done without you waking anyone. The floors are scrubbed every second day, the fireplaces are cleaned everyday and also every day everything is brushed and dusted." Joshua looked to my father. "You will work mostly with me, setting out my clothes and looking after my general well being. I know you have done it before with another family and so that shall not be a problem. You may also be required to help with the horses on and the gardening when we have formal dinners parties as we do tonight." Joshua then stopped and looked to my mother. He moved in front of her and smiled.

"You will work with my wife, like your husband you will be expected to look after her. You will also be expected to help in the kitchen and help the housekeeper. And you...". I looked up at him, I know he must have seen the fear in my eyes.

"You will clean. I want you to be the one who scrubs the floors, cleans the fires and anything else the maids see fitting for you including the laundry. I'm going to work you hard because I know you can do it. Now, all of you. There is a formal dinner happening here tonight. Once the guests are seated you have to get out of sight. The only servants I want to see are the ones who are serving us the meal. Go now, and you will be set to work, but Angelique, you stay for a few more minutes." My eyes went wide as I watched my parents walk out the room. I lowered my head again but I could still feels his eyes burning into me and I didn't like it. He put his hand on my shoulder and I tried so hard not to tremble or pull away.

"You and I are going to be special friends, Angelique. I know you will be a good girl and work hard for me, you will, wont you?" All I do is nod, I just want out and away from him. I was so close to pulling away when he released me.

"Nodding isn't an answer, Angelique," he said sternly.

"Yes, Sir," I whispered in a voice similar to Marys when she came into the kitchen.

"There's a good girl. You best be off and get started. I don't like it when people slack off."
"Yes, Sir," I whispered again before I ran from the room and closed the door. I leaned my back against it wondering what he had meant. There wasn't time to think before a maid came and handed me a brush and shovel telling me to clean the fireplace in the drawing room. I took it and ran there to get away from that man.

I had never cleaned a fireplace before so apart from sweeping the ash I didn't know what else to do so I stood up and went to leave when I heard a voice of young boy behind me.

"If you leave it like that father will be very angry." I immediately looked down when I saw it was Barnabas. I don't know why I felt shy like that.

"I'm sorry. I do not know how to clean a ... cheminée..." I looked down defeated, not knowing the correct word in English.
"Its a fireplace. My Governess is teaching me to speak French." He gave me one of the friendliest smiles I had ever seen and I stopped being nervous.

"Fireplace," I whispered. "Thank you for helping me."
"A gentleman always helps a lady, regardless of class." He gave me another smile. It felt strange to hear a boy of only seven speak that way. I knew I had been right when I had thought about a friendship being inappropriate.

"I will do it again. I'll just clean it all and put on new wood."

"Well that's how its done." He smiled at me and walked over and reached for my hand, placing a soft kiss upon it. "I am Barnabas Collins, what's your name?" I was so taken aback by the kiss and I felt my cheeks burn, I could barely get a word out.
"Angelique Bouchard, a pleasure to meet you." I wasn't even sure how to address him so I decided to leave it out until I knew.
"I must go. There is a dinner party tonight and mother wishes I brush up on my dinner etiquette before the guest arrive. I am to set an example and show I have been brought up to be a gentleman, that's what my mother says." I noticed he said that with a slight scoff which made me giggle.

"I must finish this and move on. I have to prove I can be a good maid."
"Then I shall see you soon." He bowed slightly to me and left the room. I couldn't stop the smile that came onto my face, I smiled the entire time I cleaned the fireplace and thought about him, a new friend, that was a wonderful thought. I finished cleaning and skipped to my next set of chore, singing to myself as I went.