Rain is grace; rain is the sky descending to the earth; without rain, there would be no life. -John Updike

Hannah soon realized why the duchess kept her away from the house help. It was the first time she joined the house help for dinner and there was pin-drop silence, it felt like everyone was talking to each other through their eyes while no one dared to look at her or be near her like she was a disease itself.

One dinner was enough for her to spend the rest of the time in her own room, even though she was demoted she still had her room to herself, she wasn't sure how long she will have this privilege. The next couple of days were awkward at best but since everyone was too busy in preparation for the new year and with every new activity that fancied the guests every day no one had time to pay any attention to Hannah. She stayed away from everyone and did the tasks assigned to her promptly.

She was always being watched, one or the other trying to catch her in a mistake. She had a foreboding feeling her days were numbered at Raymond's manor. Soon, she would make a mistake or be forced to make one and be thrown out in the streets. But she never in her worst imagination found herself homeless in a matter of days.

It was the third day after the new year, she entered the kitchen to collect her breakfast before taking her tasks from the housekeeper. Usually, the kitchen would be deserted for a long time she always made sure she would be first in and out before anyone would enter but today all the staff was present murmuring among each other. Some of them were half asleep but their faces were eager to hear things that were probably going upstairs.

She was surprised no one noticed her loitering around them, she started to walk out when she heard someone call out engagement and others shushing. Her heart was heavy, they were talking about the engagement. They must be waiting for the grand announcement of Oliver and Caro's union. Her trance was broken when the ominous sound of the bell rang summoning Mr. Johnson to the parlor.

Everyone was silent waiting for Mr. Johnson to come back and breathe life back into everyone. Hannah looked around observing the downhearted faces of everyone and her nervousness spiked even more. Something was wrong. Everyone was supposed to be excited and cheerful waiting for the announcement but such wasn't the case at all.

Hannah waited at the back patiently hiding her trembling hands inside her skirt, struggling to maintain her stoic facade. When Mr. Johnson came downstairs barking instructions at the footmen to start working on the packing of all the Kentshires and to make sure they are ready to leave for London by noon, none of them moved.

"Did you not hear me?" Mr. Jhonson shouted again at still gaping footmen.

"Johnson, calm down, will ya?" Mrs. O'Brien said. Mrs. O'Brien was ancient as the Raymond manor, she was the daughter of the previous housekeeper and spent every day of her life in the manor serving the Raymond's and with greying hair and wrinkly skin run the household like a military general. 

"Now, what are you all waiting for? Go and start working on your chores," She ordered once again.

"But, Mrs. O'Brien," A handmaid whined, "What happened upstairs?"

"She came without the engagement ring, I saw her," Someone added hastily, "Her eyes were red as a fire from crying."

"I was hoping she would get married this season," an older maid said, "poor lad, firstly an orphan and now on a shelf."

"Now, everyone back to their work at once," Mrs. O'Brien bellowed, "I do not want to hear another word of it anymore. If I find anyone gossiping they will scrub every chamber clean."

Everyone scurried to take their breakfast and back to work. Hannah was standing slightly trembling at her place.

"Johnson," Mrs. O'Brien said, "Now, don't forget what happens upstairs shouldn't affect us in our duties. Go take a moment and be back at your post."

"Hannah," Mrs. O'Brien called out to Hannah who stood wide-eyed, "Go attend to Lady Caro. We don't have a new handmaid for her yet and you seemed the best option knowing you attended her previously. Stop standing there like a damn fool and take her ladyship's breakfast with you."

Hannah walked dumbstruck, the plate of breakfast forced into her hands. As she neared Lady Caro's door which she has been avoiding since the last time she was here caught red-handed, she was ready to run past the door when the duchess spotted her and ushered her inside with the breakfast.

"Hannah," Lady Ida said, "make sure she eats all of it. I will be back soon."

Hannah waited in the corner, her head bent low while Caro stared at her after Lady Ida left them alone.

"Hannah," Caro said softly, "Come here."

"Milady," She said surprise evident in her tone.

"Come sit near me," Caro urged.

Hannah walked near the four-poster bed and stood awkwardly.

"Tell me, is it only Oliver or are you infatuated with him too?" Caro asked plainly.

"I am sorry," Hannah said her voice breaking tears streaming down her face. She was chanting her apologies feeling utterly miserable. She didn't realize when she was engulfed in Caro's arms and the woman whose future was destroyed because of her carelessness was comforting her.

After her cries subsided, Caro forcefully seated Hannah on her bed and she sat at the other end, the breakfast tray lying between them.

"I always felt we were similar," Caro said after a long moment of silence.

"We couldn't be more different than two people in this world, milady," Hannah replied.

"We both are orphans," Caro said dismissing Hannah's statement," and we both can't be with the man we love."

 "You can, milady," Hannah said confidently, "I am sure Lord Kentshire will come to his senses soon enough."

"Oh, no," Caro said with a sad smile looking up at Hannah, "I am not in love with Oliver, Hannah, but I hope he doesn't come to his senses if it means he will be denying his heart."

"You are not," Hannah said wide-eyed surprised at the lady's response, "Then who?"

Hannah asked unable to keep her curiosity to herself. Caro laughed at the dumbfounded look on Hannah's face.

"Sorry, milady," Hannah added hastily, "It is not my place to ask and I feel miserable that my careless actions hurt you."

"The only thing that is hurting me is that Raymond's took me in, provided me home and a family, treated me like a daughter and they never expected anything from me. They only wanted me to marry an honorable gentleman and be the daughter they always thought I was," Caro said sadly.

"You will be still their daughter with or without a man," Hannah said not understanding Caro completely.

"Not when they find out why my suitors didn't offer me marriage in my first two seasons," Caro said ashamed.

Hannah sat in silence while Caro ate her breakfast. Nothing was said between them anymore. Hannah picked up the tray to leave when Caro asked her if she could ask her something personal.

"I will try to answer, milady," Hannah said hesitating.

"You fancy him," Caro said awkwardly, "Uh, I don't know how to ask this?"

After a pregnant pause, Caro blurted out with her eyes closed.

"You spent the night with Oliver, you fancy him and he fancies you, how does..." Caro was going to ask her when an angry voice from the door interrupted them.

"What!!" Luke bellowed.

"Luke," Caro said frightened.

Hannah's face paled at the young master of manor looking furious at her and then she remembered what Caro was saying. He must have only listened to her last statement and she cursed her fate once more.

"You, whore," Luke yelled at Hannah, "You are the reason for all this."

"Luke, no," Caro said walking towards Luke, "You are misunderstanding."

"I heard you perfectly clear, Caro," Luke said angrily walking out to notify others of what he heard.

"Luke, no, wait, listen to me," Caro ran behind Luke to stop him.

Hannah stood her blood rushing to her ears, her head pounding loudly.

There was only one thought in her mind: RUN.