A/N: Hello and welcome back! A huge thank you to my reviewers: Makrciana, DovieDM-1991-Promised Wings, Amelia V. Sparrow, Jandra1969, TinkerbellxO, XantheX, flow3rchild21, Jay D. Moore, Ravenclaw Slytherin, , ForeverACharmedOne, Nucky Thompson, TinaG646, Dionne dance, tonidepp16, Leyshla Gisel, 4XSilenceXisXnotXblissX5, AqoSJeyBee and to my anonymous reviewers. You all rock! A huge thank you to my readers as well even if they do not review!

Disclaimer: I do not own Dark Shadows.

Chapter 2

"This is the linen closet. The sheets are changed twice a week. Saturday and Wednesday. You will find everything you need here." Mrs. Filch closed the closet and turned to Samantha, "You are in charge of Mrs. Collins and Master Barnabas' bedchambers. If anything is amiss and has to do with the sheets and towels you will talk to Maria. Once you have gathered the dirty linens you shall give them to her and she will wash them. The rooms are dusted every second day and they are to be kept in excellent condition without you meddling with the masters' personal items. You are also in charge of bringing the new clean and ironed clothes to the rooms and also you're in charge of water."

"Water?"

"There has to always be water in the rooms for use. You must fill the water basins every night with fresh water." Mrs. Filch looked down at her.

"That includes drawing baths for the Lady and assisting her with her morning chores."

"I understand."

"You will have one evening of the week free to do as you please."

Samantha lightened up at that, "Thank you."

"If you are asked to do something you must do it immediately even if it is not in your list of tasks. Is that clear?" the older woman asked as she searched Samantha's eyes.

"Of course."

"No disrespect and oh, one other thing." Mrs. Filch leaned down and whispered, "Stay away from Angelique. She's trouble."

Samantha frowned, "Um, we don't speak." She murmured.

"Good. Keep it that way." Mrs. Filch nodded, "You're free to start. Get the sheets change them, clean and go."

"Yes." Samantha nodded as she opened the closet and picked out two sets of sheets.

"Good lass. Start with Mrs. Collins room. She wakes up early." Mrs. Filch patted her shoulder and then walked away, her dress billowing behind her.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Samantha could feel Mrs. Collins' eyes on her as she pulled the sheets away from the large bed and placed them in a pile near the foot of her vanity. She pulled the new sheet out and spread it out. The material was soft and it smelled of fresh soap, pretty much like her own bed only more flowery.

"How are you not married yet?" Naomi spoke up from her desk and Samantha looked up with a small smile.

"Um, marriage requires a dowry, Madam. My father could not provide one." She replied with a small shrug and the woman blinked, her face warm and friendly.

"Oh. So there were young gentlemen interested?" she smiled and Samantha chuckled, feeling more at ease now that the woman was not merely watching her work.

"Yes." She replied as her cheeks flushed. She tried to ignore it by picking up the silk pillowcases.

"But you were not interested?" Naomi said with a knowing smile.

Samantha looked up, "Don't marriages need affection, ma'am? I couldn't imagine one without love." She said quietly and the older woman's eyes softened.

"Once I would have agreed with you but sometimes…Sometimes love is just not meant to be. You understand?" Lady Collins replied with a soft sigh, "Sometimes, we need to choose and even love what is better for us."

Samantha paused at that. Was she talking about her husband or was that just her opinion?

"I suppose so." She blinked before she carried on with the bed.

She watched out of the corner of her eye as Mrs. Collins walked over to the large window and pulled it wide open, letting the cool October breeze invade the room. The air was immediately scented by the smell of the sea.

Samantha breathed in deeply before she pulled the intricate covers over the bed and gently tugged so it was symmetrical.

"Do you like the sea, Samantha?" Lady Collins asked and Samantha smiled.

"Of course, my Lady."

"What kind of tasks did you have back at home?" Mrs. Collins turned to look at her curiously.

Samantha hesitated, "Um…I helped in the household and with the animals, ma'am."

"Animals?" Mrs. Collins quirked an eyebrow.

"Uh, yes. I didn't like it." Samantha said and at that the woman laughed.

"Well of course not!" she nodded her head and Samantha continued the rest of her work in silence while Mrs. Collins sat in a chair near the window with a book in her hands.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

She knocked on the door and waited, her cheeks already flushed at the thought of the man.

"Come in." his voice sounded sleepy and hoarse but welcoming.

She pushed the door open and walked in hesitantly. His bedchamber was a mess; his bed sheets wrinkled and thrown haphazardly over the edge of the mattress while his clothes were thrown over the back of a chair. His shoes stood in the middle of the room and she couldn't help but smile at that.

Young Master Barnabas was as untidy as a seven year old child.

Books and papers were all thrown about and as Samantha stepped further inside she had to be careful not to step on any of his belongings.

"Samantha?" his voice had lost its sleepiness and was now surprised.

She quickly looked up at him and she saw him looking over her shoulder as if searching for someone.

"May I change the sheets, sir?" she asked as she motioned to his bed.

Barnabas blinked and stood up from his chair. His long, dark blue robe brushed the carpeted floor as he stepped closer.

"Where is Angelique? She is in charge of my room." He said and Samantha blinked in confusion.

"I was told to come here by Mrs. Filch…I believe Angelique is preparing the breakfast table, sir." She replied, feeling more than a little disconnected by his words.

"Mrs. Filch?" he quirked an eyebrow and she nodded.

"I can ask her to come if I bother you, sir-…"

"No, no. Of course not. Please carry on." He waved a hand and offered her a small smile to soothe the blow.

Samantha nodded mutely and started on the bed while he sat behind his desk and picked up a quill. She pulled off his dirty sheets and fluffed the pillows before she put on clean pillowcases.

"Samantha." He murmured, "What is your full name if I may ask?" he looked up briefly from his paper and she paused.

"Oh. Samantha Elizabeth Hawkins, sir." She murmured and he looked up at her with a grin.

"What a beautiful name." he said quietly as he cocked his head to the side and looked into her moss like eyes.

She inclined her head but he wasn't finished. He turned his body towards her as she tucked the sheet under the mattress and watched her.

"People call you Samantha and not Elizabeth though." He pursed his lips.

She looked up, "Yes, sir. My mother usually calls me Sammie." She shrugged and he chuckled.

"Mothers are mothers." He nodded his head and then smiled, "Samantha is better." He told her before he turned back to his writing.

Samantha blinked in slight confusion and finished the rest of her work in silence. When she had picked all the dirty clothes and had her hand on the doorknob he spoke up.

"Please ask Mrs. Filch why she saw it fit to change my chambermaid, please." He called as he stood up.

Samantha froze but mastered a response, "Of course, sir." She whispered but as she opened the door to leave he spoke again.

"And Samantha." There was a smile in his voice and she had to look at him.

"Yes?" she turned to face him as he leaned against his desk and looked at her warmly.

"You make that plain dress breathtaking just by wearing it."

Her cheeks flushed and he chuckled, "Good day." He turned and disappeared into his washroom.

Samantha quickly fled the room, shutting the door behind her. On her way to the laundry room she collided with Angelique. The dark haired woman looked down at the sheets in Samantha's hands and glared at her before she continued walking down the hall with the tray in her hands.

Samantha furrowed her brow in confusion but quickly let it go and walked away.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

"He told you that?" Maria said quietly as she waited for the water to heat up.

"Yes." Samantha replied as she divided the clothes, "Have you seen Mrs. Filch?"

"An hour ago. She will appear soon." Maria sighed, her gray eyes glimmering, "I know why he is so eager about Angie." She whispered and Samantha paused.

"You do?"

"Yes! I heard Lady Collins talking to Hattie about her. That she was to be distanced from the young Master. I suppose that is the reason why they appointed his room to you." Maria shrugged and Samantha shook her head.

"I don't understand. Is there something going on between them?"

Maria chuckled, "Oh yes! The whole household knows it. Angelique disappears for long periods of time and when she appears she's always adorned with something new. A scarf, a necklace…Nothing too obvious and expensive of course but people are talking." Maria said as she picked up the jar of soap and put some in the boiling water.

Samantha stared, "Oh." Then it came to her. Angelique was the woman she had spotted Master Barnabas with on her first day there. That was why the woman's voice was so familiar. She blushed to the roots of her hair,

"He is soon to leave her though; like he always does when someone else catches his eye. He bores easily." Maria regarded her, "Be careful."

Samantha blinked, "Me?"

"Hmm." Maria nodded and picked up the sheets. She pushed them into the steaming cauldron while Samantha pondered over the information.

"Samantha!" Mrs. Filch called as she walked to them.

"Yes?"

"Are you done?"

"Yes, ma'am. Ma'am?"

"Hmm?" Mrs. Filch hummed as she looked down at the cauldron.

"Master Barnabas asked why you saw fit to change his chambermaid."

Mrs. Filch sighed, "For that he has to ask his mother. I will speak to him. If you are done with the rooms you can assist Maria with the laundry then." Mrs. Filch told her shortly before she walked away, grumbling under her breath.

Maria quirked an eyebrow, "Told you."

Samantha sighed, "How can I help?" she asked quietly.

"Hang those out to dry." She pointed at a basket full of washed sheets.

Samantha nodded and picked up the basket in silence.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Samantha placed a hand steady on the ladder and slowly climbed down. She wrung water out of the cleaning cloth and reached down to pick up the bucket.

Rosy groaned and wiped her brow, "I hate these windows." She mumbled and Samantha nodded, "Why do they need them so large?" she whined and there was a sound from behind them.

"For better ventilation, my dear." Master Barnabas spoke up as he entered the parlor while taking off his gloves.

Both women turned to look at him and Rosy flushed while Samantha simply looked at his attire. He was wearing his riding boots and his long coat was unbuttoned. As he looked at them with a smirk he ran his hand through his hair and placed a hand on his hip.

"I didn't mean any disrespect, sir." Rosy sputtered and he held a hand up to stop her.

"I am not my father, Rose." He told her and then turned to Samantha, "Prepare some water for me, please? I am going to take a bath." He told her simply before he turned and walked away.

Samantha gazed at his back with wide eyes but Rosy's laughter broke her from her reverie.

"What is it?" she asked perplexed and Rosy smiled.

"Angie will not be happy!" was the only thing she said before she carried on cleaning.

Samantha sighed and walked quickly towards the laundry room, her brow furrowed.

As she arrived at Master Barnabas' door a while later she noticed that it was ajar. She paused when she heard voices coming from inside.

"I do not understand!" Angelique's voice was desperate and Samantha took a step back.

"I told you. My mother suspects. We will find a different way to meet." The young Master's voice was gentle but at the same time condescending.

"I know why she took my position! It's because she caught your eye. I saw you looking at her!" Angelique's voice was shrill and Samantha looked horrified at the door.

"Don't be ridiculous." There was dismissal in Master Barnabas' voice.

"Am I? Why did you order her to prepare you the bath? I always-…"

"You're making a spectacle of yourself and I do not appreciate the hysterics!" he snapped at her and Samantha knew that she had to make her presence known or else she would be accused of eavesdropping.

Taking a deep breath she knocked on the door and all discussion ceased.

"Yes?" Master Barnabas' voice was calm and casual, "Ah, Samantha. Come. Bring the water through. Angelique was just bringing me my correspondence." He smiled and the dark haired woman next to him glared at him before she shot an evil glance in Samantha's direction.

Picking her skirt up, she walked past Samantha and shut the door on her way out.

"This way." Barnabas motioned a hand towards his washroom and Samantha hurried to comply, her face burning with mortification at the remembrance of what she had just heard.

She emptied the water inside the marble tub and stepped back, "Anything else, sir?" she asked and he shook his head.

"No. You may go." He smiled at her while at the same time undoing the buttons of his intricate vest.

Samantha nodded and quickly walked out of the washroom and headed for the door.

Once she was out a hand clasped her arm. She gasped and looked up into the pale face of Angelique. The taller woman glared down at her before she plastered a smile on her face.

"Little Samantha." She started, her voice dripping with fake sweetness, "I never properly welcomed you. I see you are already climbing up the ranks of this household." She said in an eerily quiet voice and Samantha frowned, her eyes flashing with anger.

"Excuse me?" she pulled her arm from the woman's grip and took a step back.

"I know you heard us." Angelique said and Samantha blanched, "Keep your mouth shut and I won't mention that I found you eavesdropping outside the Master's bedroom door." She hissed, "Mrs. Filch surely wouldn't like it."

"Like she wouldn't like finding out your indiscretions with the young Master?" Samantha cocked her head to the side. She was a maid but she was not going to be blackmailed by her equals.

Angelique inhaled sharply and then smirked, "You find him attractive, don't you? Of course he would seem desirable to your kind." She murmured and Samantha took a step back.

"You're delusional." She shook her head.

"Let me tell you a little secret." Angelique leaned closer, "He likes women not mousy little girls who cower at his mere sight. Have a nice evening, Samantha." She smiled sweetly and then turned on her heel and walked away.

Samantha stared at her in shock before she turned and walked away with determination etched on her face. She was not going to accept this. Angelique could have her position back and she wouldn't care if her destiny was to simply mop the floors of Collinwood mansion instead. She would be glad to do so. All she had to do was convince Mrs. Filch.

End of chapter 2

Author's note: Thank you for reading. If you liked it and want more then please review. Reviews are love and they feed the muse! Plus they are for free!

Join me on Facebook for news, info and more!

Xxx Lina :)