Well the votes are in… exactly the response I was expecting. Hehe, everyone loves Jack. And as the story goes on, if you would like to change your vote or add a vote just say so in a review. READ THIS: ALL OF THE CHARACTERS OF THE COVINGTON HOUSE WHERE MADELINE WILL BE WORKING WILL BE INTRODUCED BUT IT MAY GET A LITTLE CONFUSING SO.. AT THE END OF THIS CHAPTER THERE WILL BE A LIST OF THE NAMES AND JOBS OF EACH OF THE STAFF AND FAMILY MEMBERS. IF YOU GET CONFUSED, REFER TO THAT LIST.

Chapter Eight

A spring bed. A stiff mattress. A single drawer for all of her belongings. A gas lantern beside her bed. It was dreadfully still, there was no more gentle rocking of the waves to lull her to sleep. This would be her room. Or rather, her home.

This should've been a disappointment for Miss Madeline. Yet she found herself content with what she was provided by her new employers. Maybe it was a sense of home that she never got from a ship that was constantly moving and filled with stinking men who have never properly bathed themselves.

The door cracked open and a stout woman stood in the doorway, "Madeline, I presume."

Madeline wanted to stand tall as she always had but she found herself shrinking under the opposite woman's presence, "Aye."

"Mr. Covington has given me specific instructions to take you under my wing and show you how this estate is run." She gave Madeline an unreadable look, "I haven't the time nor the empathy to do such a thing. Being the runner of this house, I have much more important things to do. I shall take you as far as the maids' quarters."

Madeline nodded and practically trotted behind the skinny old woman to keep up with her fast pace. Before long they came upon a door that was cracked, she pushed it open. It was a filthy room that wasn't any better than Madeline's.

"Matilda ma'm!" a voice squeaked, "I didn't see you there." A woman in a black dress ran and stood before the woman, "Is there something I can do? As you can see it's as dull as tombs in this lonesome room."

The woman, whom Madeline assumed was named 'Matilda' nodded, "I trust you are done with your morning duties, Dottie."

Dottie nodded bouncily, "Got up at the crack of dawn, I did. Been stuck in this room for hours."

Matilda smirked, "Perfect." She put a hand on the small of Madeline's back and shoved her into Dottie, who laughed gaily, "She's all yours. Show her around whilst I get back to my work."

"Of course, Ma'm!" Dottie giggled, then turned to Madeline, "You're going to love it here, I assure you." She walked out the door and signaled for her to follow.

"It's a lovely house," Said Madeline as Dottie took her around and showed her every room.

"That it is," sighed her company, "As being a maid, I see it all. All of the rooms are equally beautiful. Decorations, paintings, flowers, this house really has all that makes an estate one of interest."

"You've seen it all, you said?"

"Yes, every inch of it." She smiled proudly.

"Oh, well, have you ever-"

"Miss Dottie, please." Said a man behind them.

Madeline spun around, startled, but Dottie turned with a smile that has yet to leave her face, her short hair bouncing as her whole petite body did, "Garret! Oh what a good time for you to show your lovely face!"

Madeline looked over the man and his 'lovely' face. He was abnormally tall and of average weight. His face was crinkled with laugh lines and wrinkles, but now he looked completely serious. "I don't see any importance of this hour."

"Silly man! This is my new helper, Miss Madeline. Matilda gave me orders to show her about the house and introduce her to-"

"Hello Madeline," Garret said, obviously trying to silence her.

Dottie didn't look at all annoyed with the interruption, she smiled excitedly, "I can tell, Garret, that you and Madeline will be the best of friends and perhaps be as close as you and I are."

"Perhaps." He said, fixing the cuff of his sleeve, "Now, if you'll excuse me-"

"It may be hard to believe," she continued, "But when Garret was only just hired as butler of this household, we were not of friendly terms!"

"Shocking!" Madeline exclaimed.

"But now we are as close as two can be." She said with a smile in his direction.

Garret cleared his throat, "I can imagine that two can get a bit closer than us."

"I cant see it!" Laughed Dottie.

Garret finally excused himself and walked at a very fast pace to wherever it was he was going, then Dottie continued to show Madeline around her new home.

A lovely smell radiated from one of the doors in the hall. It smelt of sausage, fruits, and some pastries. Madeline hadn't had any of those since she was younger and her father worked for the Governor. Her friend could see that she was affected by the aroma. "Victor, the house chef, the best there is, I believe. A nice man, he is. Laughs louder than any man I know." She exclaimed, "His food is like no other I've ever eaten. Not that I've tested the finest of foods, of course, but it's much better than the taverns around."

Madeline smiled, "Smells much better than anything I've eaten in a long while."

Dottie hummed and grabbed Madeline by the arm, pulling her into the kitchen. She let go and laughed once they were in the room with the door closed behind them, "I do hope Miss Matilda didn't see us! She doesn't fancy the staff being in kitchen."

"My heart is about to pop out of my chest!" exclaimed a man loudly, as he watched the sausage sizzle, "You should know better than to do that to a man of my health!"

Dottie wasn't a bit taken back, "Terribly sorry, Victor, but you have yet to meet the newest member of our little family here."

Victor nodded and smiled, "What a handsome face you have, Miss." Madeline blushed. "And even more the handsome when accented with such a crimson."

Dottie tsked playfully, "have you nothing better to do than flirt with my new friend, Mister?"

"I've been slaving over a hot stove all day, at least grant me some lady time." He said with a chuckle.

Madeline laughed, "I am hardly a lady."

One of Victor's eyebrows lifted slightly before coughing awkwardly. "You wouldn't happen to want to sample some of my-"

"Dottie?" Cried a voice from behind the kitchen door.

"Oh dear," Dottie skipped to the door and flapped it open. There stood Matilda, looking annoyed,

"The family is awaiting to meet our newest member, I told you to have her in the parlor by half past."

"My mistake," -giggle- "We were having so much fun with Victor here, time flew right by."

"See that it doesn't happen again, young Dottie." She turned to Madeline, "Come with me."

Madeline quickly followed .

I'm sorry, that was a lot longer than it was supposed to be… if I added the whole family meeting, most people would just stop reading HAHA so Chapter 9 will be the meeting of the family, alright? Thank you, to my loyal readers who will actually wait for chapter 9 HAHA :D

STAFF LIST:

Matilda - snobby, serious head ((housekeeper))

Dottie - giggly, ditsy ((maid))

Victor - funny ((cook))

Garrett - serious, monotoned ((butler))