My daily chores are progressing as usual. It has been almost a week since the cart was dug up, and today will be the day that the museum is unveiling the new find as a fresh exhibit. Master has been getting ready in his room for the good part of the day. To my relief he has not asked me any more strange questions and has gone back to his aloof ways. I have already finished the dishes and have started dusting each surface before I start cleaning the floors. I am distracted with a tall shelf when the front door bell rings. I relax back onto my heels from my tip toes and glance curiously at the door. Who is visiting at this time? The unveiling will be in an hour and a half, why would someone come here to see master when they are most certainly going to see him there? I place my duster on a lower shelf and make my way to the door. I clasp the large, ornate (and of course antique) door handle and pull the giant thing open. The cheerful face of Master's mother fills the other side of the door and I nod in acknowledgement as I step out of the way, opening the door wider. The woman sweeps by tossing her thick fur coat into my arms as she passes. "William!" Her voice seems to fill every crevice of the house and I have to stop myself from covering my ears. "Come and greet your mother!"
I look out the door and see Master's father approaching the door. I keep it held open as he steps over the threshold and turns to me to set his jacket carefully over his wife's coat. He stoically sweeps by and follows his wife into the front room. I hang their coats in the closet by the door, and step into the room behind them, taking up my submissive stance beside the door. Master appears at the top of the stairs and smiles down at his parents. "Mother, father, what a pleasant surprise!" He lopes down the steps and envelopes his mother in a hug, then turns and gives his father a vigorous handshake. "William my dear! Your father and I just wanted to stop by and wish you good luck before the event. This is all so exciting! To think that such a relic was wasting away beneath a farm!" Master's mother was loud and boisterous as always. His father was quiet and imposing as always. They seemed to never change over all these years. The Lady Lilliana had been where master had gotten his golden hair, hers hanging in ringlets down her back, and Sir Gabriel had been where he had gotten his green eyes. The pair were in their mid- forties but looked not a day over thirty. With the advent of genetic manipulation the wealthy barely had to worry about aging. Only when they reached their eighties and nineties did they show any inkling of truly being old.
Lady Lilliana had always doted on Master, and they had a wonderful and loving relationship. He always took her out on the town to enjoy a movie or shopping, and told her of all his exploits in archeology. I had always seen her as his inspiration to becoming an archeologist. Her greatest passion was history, having built her entire life around her position in the empire as a history keeper of the greatest library in the world. Sir Gabriel was a businessman through and through. Coming from the long line of Connelys he held up the family name with pride. Having been one of the ten families to stand by the Emperor Filius who had started the expansion of the empire and absorption of all other countries the name was forever cemented as one of great power. Now they were the holders of one of the largest companies of the world in building and selling hologram technology. He was disapproving of masters dislike for the company and choice to go into archeology. Without him the company had no successor within the Connely family. Even with all of this he still supported his son, and helped him to fund some of his expeditions.
I silently slipped up the stairs and gathered the last of Master's things as the trio extended a few more pleasantries before Lady Lilliana suggested they head out to the event. I was ready at the door handing each member their respective jackets. Sir Gabriel took his wife's arm and led her out looking beyond regal. Master took his jacket from my hands, but paused before leaving.
"Meredith, would you like to see the new exhibit tomorrow?"
I froze. My eyes glued to the floor and hands still gripping his jacket even though it was already safe in his arms. For the first time in a very long time I was truly speechless. I have no clue how to answer him. What would he want me to say? What is the safe thing to say? I finally release the jacket and fold my hands in front of my frock.
"If you feel that it is something I should see Master."
He stood silent for another moment and then followed his parents out the door. I closed it after him and took a slow and deep breath. Something was changing and I didn't know if I liked it. Things were getting a little too adventurous for my taste. Things had been so quiet and simple in this life and now Master has taken a little too much notice in me. Is that why my most recent memory had presented itself. Was my past warning me of what might happen if I was too much in his limelight. I highly doubted that this young man was anything like that monster, and I was already fully aware of the danger these people of power possessed. I retrieved my duster and continued to make the house spotless.
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