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Chapter 8

Elsie 1880

Aged 17

Elsie sighed as she walked down the servants steps at 6 in the morning same as everyday, for once she would like to wake up naturally, she couldn't complain though this job had solved all her problems in one blow.

After she had saw the ad in the paper she had written a short letter explaining she was a farm girl with no grudges to hard work but wanted to better her situation. Mrs McPhee, the housekeeper of the house, had wrote back inviting Elsie to an interview only a week later. It was a fuss getting to the interview, Elsie could remember that day clearly.

"Mam...Pa" Elsie sat at the kitchen table after dinner one evening, "You know how I'll be moving to Joe's after we marry?"

"Of course Elsie" her mother said mending her fathers work trousers again, her father sat there reading the paper but Elsie knew he was listening to every word spoke.

"Well I thought about what you said" Her parents tensed "You know I don't like the situation, but I thought if I get more involved it may grow on me, maybe I'm scared of the change"

"What of it love?, farm work is near enough the same throughout the land" Her mother sat up and but the trousers down.

"Well there is a market on the outskirts of Edinburgh next Saturday and Joe's family always trade there" Elsie thought about her next words carefully "If I am to get into the idea of being a farm wife at the Burn's farm I thought maybe I should start doing some work for them"

"That isn't a bad Idea Elsie what do you think Feargen?"

"Aye, why not? It's about time you took your responsibilities seriously girl this might just be the ticket" Her father stared at her as she flinched, "Joe has agreed to this has he?"

"Yes Pa, he said I need to learn the business and with his mam being there as well it isn't going to be improper".

Her father nodded "Alright girl you can go"

5 Days Later, "Elsie you can't go in your sunday best, its a market not a fashion parade" her mother stared at her blue dress used for church, smart but not overdone.

"Mam, Joe said they do a lot of trade with the middle class, such as drop offs at their houses, presentation is everything apparently" Elsie smiled, "It looks good on the business if we make an effort too"

"Alright then but don't you dare ruin it girl"

"Where do you think you're going wearing that young lady?" Her father was coming out of the barn just as she was about to meet Joe and his mother at the farm gates.

"It's for today pa, for trading, appearance is everything" Elsie smiled, she needed to go she couldn't be late.

"Aye it is, but hair up, slight heel on the shoe, best hat, coat and sunday best?" Her father stared at her slightly stunned.

"Pa I can't be your little girl forever" Even though that stopped a year ago when she had to give up her education, "I am going to married next July, children soon after, I'll become a women in the eyes of the community I need to upkeep an image". Her father smiled thinking she had broken and was allowing her fate to take over.

"Alright off you go"

That was about two years ago, Elsie had only just made it to the interview on time, using the excuse to escape the market by saying she was off to buy something for Caroline as she didn't come to the town that often. Mrs McPhee had asked a few questions, they had a cup of tea and Elsie was then offered the job as a housemaid, the pride she felt was unimaginable, this was her freedom line. She had left the interview elated walking back to the market, she had no idea how she had made it home without bursting.

That was the night of her first kiss just by her gate Joe was so nice about it, it was enjoyable, but not what Elsie wanted.

She had been told to join the house the following week Elsie remembered telling her parents.

It was a cold morning Elsie walking to the front living space with a purpose this was the day, two days since the interview ,12th February 1878, the day that Elsie was going to be murdered by her parents she was sure of it.

"Elsie dear, I thought you were seeing Joe again today?" Her mother said collecting and sorting the washing. Her father sat in his chair the cold affecting his brain disease worse than ever he was no use on the farm and his temper was volatile as a result.

"I was ma but I have something I need to tell you both" Elsie stood until both her parents looked at her, "I have applied for a job at Edinborough House on the outskirts of the city, I have been accepted as a housemaid I leave tomorrow to start work there". She began to shake ready for the onslaught that was to occur.

"FOR CHRIST SAKE GIRL WE TALKED ABOUT THIS" as expected her father exploded, "JUST AS WE THOUGHT YOU WERE TAKING YOUR SITUATION SERIOUSLY YOU DO THIS"

"But pa..." Elsie tried

"DON"T YOU TALK BACK TO ME GIRL, YOU WENT TO THE TOWN TO GO TO AN INTERVIEW DIDN'T YOU? LYING TO US KNOW, CALL YOURSELF A DAUGHTER, YOU DISGUST ME" Her father stood up.

"I did it for ME pa, I don't want to get married, I don't want children, I want something else and i'll be DAMNED if you're going to take this from me" She felt the pain exploded across her face blood running from her nose and mouth the sharpness of the taste, she hit the floor shoulder first, she wasn't waiting though, she stumbled up and ran towards the door.

"GET BACK HERE YOU LITTLE WRETCH" Her father took pursuit,she made it out to the farmyard where Joe was sat on a small horse drawn buggy cart her two cases already on the back.

"Elsie?" Joe began to stand, at the scene of her running her a mess blood running down her face, her father puce in the face following, she clambered up next to Joe.

"If you love me you'll get me out of here" Elsie stated "NOW JOE! in his current mindset he will want to kill me". Joe just took one look and reared the horse they began cantering along the road towards Joe's farm, her worries disappearing like her old home on the distance

"Are you well Elsie?" Joe slowed the horse to a trot and offered her her handkerchief, "I thought this was all planned?"

"It was minus the involvement of the parents and it was always going to have one of two endings, being disowned or that and father trying to keep me at home and beating me senseless" Elsie wiped the blood off her face wincing, "Nearly ended up in the second one".

Joe stared but carried on leading the horse, "Where does that leave us Elsie? I care about you a lot you know".

"I know Joe, but I am going to take this job, I thank you for listening and understanding, especially with you taking me to the house tomorrow" Elsie stared at the fields of frost, "I need time to clear my head I will let you know before July whether I still wish to marry you" , Elsie sighed "I could do a lot worse Joe you are kind, caring and you respect me, but I will not trap myself"

Elsie had asked to see Joe in June and give him her answer which was no, she would not marry him. He had thanked her for not stringing him along and hoped she would find what she was looking for. She had been saddened by the ending she didn't know if she would find anyone who cared for her like Joe did. Her family had cut her off after that fateful day, Caroline still wrote nothing would tear them apart though her sister had sent her first letter with the line, 'You little traitor I knew you would rebel you have almost killed mother', but they were civil at the very least. Elsie envied Caroline's relationship with their parents and her sister envied her strength and freedom.

Elsie sat in her place at the breakfast table at 7:30 ,after the early jobs, which was tradition, the house was run like clockwork Mrs Mcphee and Mr Materson, the butler, saw to it. Polly the girl she shared a room with smiled "For once I want to work in a house with young footmen", Elsie stared the valet, butler, and footmen were all over the age of 40 quite depressing really. Even the new footman hired only yesterday had to be nearing 50, service was not the job to be finding love.

"Attention staff" Mr Materson began the morning prep talk, "Lord and Lady McRodgers are going to London this week on the season so myself, the footman, Mrs Pierce and Mr Tark will all be leaving, the usual of a full deep clean please" He stood and the staff followed suit.

"Yes Mr Materson" they chorused, Elsie stood ready for their jobs from Mrs McPhee, it was nice everyone had a place and had certain jobs. The house ran like grand houses always ran on the efficiency of the staff and their leaders, the housekeeper and butler, Elsie swore if she could get to a housekeeper's level she would be the best one ever.

She began walking up the steps everyone was friendly, had respected and appeared to like her, she was a housemaid not to be feared surely? They had no idea what she was aiming for the top job, with the disownment and no love connections she had nothing to loose or hold her back either.

This was her life, and she knew exactly at that moment she was going to begin the war of jobs downstairs.

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