I was welcomed at the castle with a quiet, eerie greeting. In the month that I had been gone the place had completely transformed into a different place. It was dark and gloomy and very quiet. An old woman, named Marian met me. She was a tall woman with dark black hair, streaked with grey, which she wore in a bun. She had on a crisp black servants dress and apron. She sniffed at me with annoyance and ordered me to follow her. I carried my small traveling bag, holding it close to my body, as I was led down one dark hallway after another. Seeing the place in desertion was tarnishing the memory that I kept from being here for the King's coronation.

"This is where we stay." She snapped at me. I thought she must have lost her mind for she stood looking at the wall in front of her. "Well?" She looked at me expectantly and I just stared back. "They said you have been here before and therefore would know about the secret entrance ways."

"Last time I was here, I was a guest."

"Oh a guest." She said with a sniff. She gave me a scornful smile and pushed open the wall. "We only use the secret passage. Servants are not to be seen or heard. Therefore you are not allowed to wander down the hallways of the castle whilst there are nobility here." I nodded with each instruction. The room was dark, with the occasional torch burning on the wall. She passed a row of doors and came to a room with a large table in the middle of the room and a fire pit. "We eat here, laugh here and sleep here. This is our home for the next four months." She walked around the table and continued on down the rest of the hallway. As we walked I became aware that there wasn't a single person around.

"Where is everyone?" I peeped.

"Cleaning the castle. Do you know how much work cleaning a castle requires? This place must be cleaned from top to bottom before his majesty's arrival."

"Oh." I spoke no louder than a whisper. She stopped a small wooden door at the end of the long hallway.

"This is where you will be sleeping." She said standing straight with her hands clasped tightly in front of her. "You will be sharing the room with another girl. I would suggest going to sleep early. We do not accept late risers." She said promptly and I nodded. She turned on her heel and strode down the hallway.

"Thank you." I called after her but she kept walking as if she didn't hear me. "Fat Cow." I said as I opened the door and was greeted with blackness. I picked up a torch off the wall and brought it into the room with me. Beside the door was a basket for the torch to sit in and it illuminated the small room.

There were two tiny wooden beds with hay mattresses and crisp white sheets. The bed closest to the door had a bright red traveling bag sitting at the foot of the bed and a pair of white slippers next to the bed. On the other bed was a servants uniform and a pair of black shoes.

I sighed as I sank down onto the bed and looked around the dark, windowless room. When I had read the letter a tiny spark grew inside of me. I had been slightly excited to be here again, to see the beautiful colours and eat wonderful food. Now sitting in this dull, dark room that spark was gone and in its place was a cold block of ice-cold disappointment. I looked at my uniform and new that I better change before the matron came back and scolded me for staying in my cell too long.

I was just tying on my apron when the door squeaked open and an exhausted Ceecee strode into the room. When she spotted me she jumped and smiled.

"You're here!" She said flinging her arms around me. I was surprised at first but I welcomed her embrace and laughed.

"You knew I was coming?" I asked.

"His majesty sent me here to show you how this place runs before Marian could turn you to mush." She said and kicked off her shoes. She rubbed her feet and brushed back a loose strand of hair from her face.

"Am I late in arriving?" I asked, feeling nervous.

"No, I'm just taking a small break before I continue in my chores." She sighed and lay back on her bed, resting her hands behind her head. "I've been given the task of cleaning all of the King's rooms." She said. "And you get to help me."

"Oh."

"He's got 12 rooms. Don't ask me why and what he uses them for but he has twelve rooms for various different things."

"Women probably." I said and then covered my mouth. She smiled at me and nodded.

"Definitely. The King's mistresses only get the best." She sighed and looked at the ceiling. "It's beautiful in here isn't it? It gives of a certain warm, cozy feeling." She said sarcastically.

"I feel like the Bean family in Scotland." I said looking at the walls made of grey stone.

"Did you hear of that? An entire family of cannibals living in Aryshire." Ceecee said, her eyes wide with shock and disgust. We went quiet as we recalled the news of the family who had been attacking travelers passing through Aryshire. The news had traveled fast thought out Britain of this abnormal family.

A man called Sawney Bean and his wife, with their 14 children lived in a mile long cave that was people thought was impossible to live in. For an estimated 25 years this growing family attacked travelers, stole their clothes and money and striped the meat from their bones as if they were common livestock. One day a young couple were coming home from a local fair in Edinburgh and were attacked by the family. The young wife was killed quickly but the man put up a fight and was rescued by other travelers who happened to be passing by at the right moment.

King James VI led 400 men to the Aryshire in search for the Bean family. In 25 years the incestuous family grew to 48 men and women. Once found the family was dragged through the streets of Edinburgh where the men had their limbs severed and the women were burned at the stake.

"So I hear you got married." Ceecee said, pulling me from my disturbing thoughts and give me a bright smile. I nodded and smiled back. She squealed and rolled over. "So…tell me all about it. What's he like?"

"Andrew? He's wonderful. Very handsome." I smiled.

"You have to describe him better than that!" She whined and I smirked.

"He's got long curly blonde hair and brown eyes. He's very tall and has…amazing muscles." I smirked and Ceecee bit her lip. "He's very sweet and always asks me how I slept in the morning."

"He sounds simply delicious." She said and I laughed. I had forgotten how much I missed her. "So what was your wedding like? Crazy and uncoordinated or sweet and simple?"

"It all happened so sudden that I barely remember." I said honestly. I looked at the gold band that was on my finger and thought of Andrew back at home.

"What do you remember?"

"It snowed and I was very nervous."

"What else?"

"The King was there."

"That's what you remember about your wedding? It snowed, you were nervous and that the King was there?" I blushed and Ceecee shook her head. "Weddings are supposed to be unforgettable. Every detail is planned perfectly."

"My wedding was…very sudden." I repeated and looked at her. She studied my face, squinting at me.

"You didn't want to get married, did you?" She said and my face heated. I shook my head but didn't look at her. I could feel her watching me but she never moved. "It's ok. Most women don't want to marry their husbands." I looked up at her and she shrugged.

"I should be happy now though." I admitted. "I mean being married is fine. You always have someone to talk to and someone there when you need a hand."

"Plus to keep you warm at night." Ceecee smiled at me and I rolled my eyes.

"Yes that too, but I feel…the connection between us…it's just…"

"Not like the one you have for Jesse?" She said and I blanked.

"I don't know what you're talking about!"

"Don't worry Suze. I wont say anything." She smiled at me and I let out a shaky breath.

"Suze huh?" I said raising my eyebrow and she smiled.

"I hate Ceecee and you hate Suze. So we're even." She smiled and I nodded. She lay back on the bed and was quiet for a moment.

"So your husband must be mad that you're here."

"He is, but I told him that I am pregnant and he seemed fine after that."

"Are you pregnant?" She asked and I looked at her.

"No." I said, feeling the familiar pain flowing through my lower stomach. I had felt these same pains early this morning, but chose to ignore them. It wasn't until I changed out of my clothes that I had to face he reality that there was no baby. How would I tell him that I wasn't actually pregnant? How could I explain the fact that there was no baby?

"What is the world does he do with this room?" I asked opening the big thick green blinds and looking around the perfectly square room. The floor had a dark green rug to match the drapes and there was only a step stool in the middle of the room. Along the wall were large golden spheres that were attached to the walls. Ceecee popped her head in through the door that led to the King's bathroom and smiled. She went to the white wall and pulled one of the knobs and the whole wall opened. Inside was a large wardrobe that was full of clothes.

"It's a dressing room." She said.

"I would have never guessed." I said as I felt the soft texture of a fur tunic. She smiled and me and closed the wardrobe.

"He has so many clothing items that he keeps some here some at the Buckingham palace and some at the Vacation home on the coast."

"Do I clean each outfit?"

"You'll have to take them out and pat the dust off of them." She said and I nodded as I pulled the rag from my apron.

I had been here for three weeks now and Ceecee had shown me everything from cleaning the floors to how to properly serve someone hot water to wash their hands. We would practice curtsying late at night while some of the other servants sat around the table and ate or drank or played music.

I went to one of the golden spheres and pulled on it. Only this one did not open a door but slid open to reveal perfectly crisp stockings, all stacked in neat piles one beside the other. I lifted out a pair and felt the soft fabric and how money could create the most wonderful things. I placed them in the drawer and went to the large glass windows that opened out to the grounds below. The storm had just leaving the snow fresh from any prints and sparkling in the sun. The fresh air made the room come to live and gave me a sudden burst of energy. I hummed as I took out each article of clothing and started patting the dust out of it.

About halfway through all the King's clothing the sound of horses caused me to look out the window. The smile on my face dropped as I noticed the golden carriages slowly moving down the drive towards the castle.

"Ceecee…" I said watching the parade with frozen shock. "Ceecee! He's here!" I shouted and tucked the clothes back into the closet.

"Who's here?" She said coming into the room. She spotted the procession and her eyes grew wide. "Oh good Lord Almighty!" She said and disappeared. I quickly shut the window and made sure that all the cupboards and drawers were closed before I chased after her.

"He's Here!" Ceecee shouted as she raced down the hallways. "He's here! Everyone finish quickly and get down stairs." She shouted. Servants of all kinds stopped what they were doing and a burst of panic started. People were running all over the place.

"What is the meaning of this Cecily?" Marian said as she appeared in front of us. She stood with her hands on her plump hips looking down at us like we were dirt underneath a rug.

"The King is here." Ceecee said and Marian looked towards the large windows that were close by. She walked towards them, unable to believe that Ceecee was telling the truth.

"That's impossible. He isn't supposed to be here for another three days." Marian said.

"Well he's here so we better get everyone downstairs to greet him." Ceecee said pushing past Marian.

"Only the head servants greet the King." Marian said sticking her chest out, making it obvious that we were not one of the head servants that would greet the King.

"I'm positive that the King will want to see me there." Ceecee said.

"Yes he will want to see you there, but not her." She said nodding at me and I looked at Ceecee.

"She'll be fine. He asked for her specifically." She said placing her hand on my wrist and pulling me down the stairs. Marian grabbed my other wrist and pulled back.

"He asks for many of his servants specifically." She snapped. "But they never get the honor of greeting the king." Ceecee let go of my hand and stared up at Marian.

"He will…"

"The King does not care what servants greet him. All he cares about is that the palace is clean when he gets here." Marian said. "She can finish the work that she was doing." She said letting go of my arm and pushing me up the stairs. I looked down at Ceecee and she frowned at me. "Well what are you waiting for? The King is here. Get to work." Her sharp tone made me jump and I scurried up the stairs back to the dressing room and finished patting out the clothes.

As I took one of the fur coats out of the wardrobe I moved close to the window and tried desperately to see the people down below. I could see the tops of the carriages and the brief glance of people moving about. But I was too high up to see any faces. I watched for a second longer before I sighed and moved back to grab another coat.

My first thought flicked to Jesse. Would he be here or was he coming later? Was he really behind my service being needed at the castle? I thought of my wedding night and how he was so close to me that I could feel his breath on my lips. I remembered how despite the cold air his hands were warm on my arms and they seemed to heat up my entire body.

I sighed and shook my head as a familiar heat filled my body. It had been a long three weeks without my husband and I needed to remember what it was like before we married. For that was the only way that I would survive at this place.

I folded one of the white cotton nightgowns and put in back into a drawer before I closed it. I polished the knob with my rag and moved onto the next drawer. As it opened I spotted a pair of boots by the window and when I looked up I blanked.

"Your majesty." I said and bowed down into a curtsey. He stood perfectly still and watched me try to maintain my balance.

"Miss Simon. Such a pleasure to see you again." He said and when I looked up he smiled at me. He used my maiden name even though he knew I was married. Was I supposed to correct him?

"I was just…leaving." I said and headed towards the secret door that I had come through.

"How are you liking living here?" he asked catching me off guard. I stopped and looked up at him before looking away. He still looked the same as he had when I last saw him, only now he had a small beard growing on his face and his eyes looked tired. He stood straight and proud and looked down his long nose at you.

"I like it very much. Thank you sir." I said bowing again.

"Better than that smelly old hut that you're husband lives in?" He said and I looked up at him with shock.

"I…I…That is my home sir." I said looking down at the ground. My heart was beating so fast that I was sure he could hear it. How dare he insult my husband! How dare he insult our poor living conditions! Not all of us were blessed by being born into royal families. I bit my tongue to hold all my comments back.

"I didn't mean to offend you." He said moving closer to me.

"What did you mean to do then?" I snapped and looked up at him. His brown eyes sucked me in and I could think of nothing else but them. They captivated her and before she knew it he was standing directly in front of her.

"You are something I have never seen before." He said and I blinked. His hand came up and touched a loose curl beside me cheek. "You are so different from other women." He said his eyes glancing quickly at my lips before meeting my eyes again.

"I am a woman like any other. Only I differ from some because I am married." I said and he stopped moving towards me. He dropped his hand to his side and nodded. I curtsied again and quickly left the room. I raced down the dark hallway and didn't stop till I was in my room. It wasn't Jesse at all who had sent for me. It was the King himself. Andrew was correct in thinking that he was trying to break us up and I now realized that I had to be extra careful while I lived at the castle.

"What a day." Ceecee said as she sat down on the bench next to me. I smiled at her, my mouth full of rabbit stew and bread. Mac, an older servant was playing a fiddle in the corner and Daisy was dancing around the room with Jane, town of the younger maids. Ceecee took a spoonful of stew and sighed. "You forget to eat sometimes."

"I haven't seen you since this morning." I said wiping my mouth with my apron.

"The King had me running special errands all day. He was in a right mood when I brought up his lunch."

"Oh?" I said pretending that I knew nothing of his mood.

"He scowled at me when I walked in and snapped at me when I placed the sandwich on the writing desk." She sighed. "He made me stand beside his bed and hold the tray while he ate his sandwich lying in bed." I frowned as if this confused me and studied my stew. "His clothes were in a right state too. Like he had just…" I looked at her and she winked.

"I don't think I can eat this anymore." I said and pushed the bowl away.

"I'll eat it for you Susanna." Big Tom said from across the table. His big beefy hand grabbed my bowl and he devoured the stew within two minutes. He smiled at me through his red beard and winked. I shook my head and turned back to Ceecee.

"So what do you think is wrong with him?" I asked.

"I think it's because of you." She whispered.

"Me?" I felt my stomach churn. "Why me?"

"I just got the feeling." She said with a shrug. I narrowed my eyes at her and she smiled. "My grandmother is a medicine woman and she is constantly reminding me to be aware of how the air feels." I blinked at her and she laughed. "My father thinks she's crazy too." She said and we both laughed as we sipped our mugs of ale.

"Did you see Jesse?" I asked and she shook her head.

"He did not arrive with the King and when I asked where he was the King snapped at me and told me servants don't ask questions." She frowned clearly trying to fight off the tears. "He never talks to me like that."

"Oh Ceecee, he was probably just tired from the trip. Don't worry he'll be back to normal in no time."

"I hope so. I really hope they have no had a row." She said with a sigh and finished the last of her stew.

"What would they have to fight about?"

"I'm not sure, but the last time they did fight they didn't talk to each other for six months and I got stuck in the middle of it." She sighed looking exhausted all of a sudden.

"It will be ok Ceecee. Don't worry about them so much."

"Yes Cecily. Don't worry. Come and dance with me." Big Tom said getting up and causing the table to shake. He stood at a wondrous height of 6 ft 8 and spoke with a thick Scottish accent. He was the butcher and worked in the kitchens every day. He grabbed Ceecee's tiny hands in his and pulled her off of the bench with one smooth movement. Mac started playing a fast tune and with his hand hidden by Ceecee's long blonde hair, the two of them skipped around the dinning area. Daisy and Jane followed queue and soon many people were laughing and dancing around the kitchen. I smiled and clapped along to the music, yet my mind could not forget those brown eyes that looked at me with such hunger that fear had started growing in the pit at my stomach.