Maiden

I look up at the castle, the giant building looming over me. I take a deep breath before stepping forward to knock on the side door I had been told to come in by. I hear a shoveling noise behind the door, and a muffled voice comes through, "Who is it?". I quickly answer, "My name is Rose, I've just been hired as a maid. I was told to come in through this door, is that right?" The door swings open, almost hitting me, but I jump out of the way, a chubby man is standing in the doorway. "Come in then, I'll bring you to Mrs. Woodsworth, she's the head maid, she'll tell ya what to do. Do you have anything with ya? Anything to bring to your rooms?" I shook my head at the question, having grown up with nothing I had virtually nothing. The only thing of importance I have is the one nice dress that I own, which I wore today, knowing I would get a uniform.

The man starts off along a small hallway, and after a moment I quickly begin to follow him. Our footsteps echo, after a minute of walking he breaks the silence. "My name's George, I'm the groundskeeper here. If ya need help finding things ya can feel free to ask me, not sure if I'll know the answer but ya can certainly ask." He turns to an open door and goes down a spiral stair, "I will warn ya, some of the other servants might not take kindly to ya." I frown in confusion, "Why wouldn't they like me?" George looks back at you for a moment before speaking, "Well m'dear, you're 18 right? For one thing, most maids aren't considered till they're 20 at least, most are 25 before they'll hire em. They think youngsters like you will be too much trouble." I nod silently, not knowing how to respond. George stops infront of a heavy oak door, I can hear a clattering and footsteps behind it. "One more thing," he says, looking at me, "they also might not like ya, because you're better lookin' than them." As he turns away, you can hear him mutter, "A lot better lookin'."

He pushes the door open, showing what is clearly the servants hall. With people bustling around, clearly in a hurry. "Mrs. Woodsworth! I've got the new maid here for you!" George calls above the noise. You see an older woman, with a sour expression stand from the table and make her way towards you. She looks you up and down with a stern expression, "Very well," she says in a tart voice, "thank you George, you can go back to your duties. Follow me." She moves, quicker than I could have thought, and I rush to catch up. She leads me into a small room just off the hall and shuts the door behind me. There is an empty desk with a chair opposite the door and a bed in the corner. Mrs. Woodsworth sits at the desk and motions for me to stand infant of it.

After staring at you for a moment she says, "I will have one of the maids show you to your new room, there you will find appropriate apparel for this job and you will change at once. You will then return here, find me and I will give you a job. Is that clear?" I nod my head quickly. "Good." She says and walks to the door, "Mary, this is Rose, show her to her new room." The girl I presume is Mary nods and motions for me to follow her, I scurry out quickly.