Elinora didn't expect what Ronnik told her.
Rest? But it's only the second day of work, she thought as she walked down the hallway.
She didn't know what to do all day. But then she decided to go to the kitchen to find the old lady, Agatha, who she had met the first night she had stayed there. She was the first and only friend he made.
So she went to the kitchen but there she found a different younger maid and a man. When she went in they stopped talking.
She greeted them with a bow and they in turn greeted her back.
"I'm sorry if I interrupted you," Elinora said.
"Oh, no! You didn't interrupt us. We were talking about the master," the maid replied.
"You mean Duke Alaric?"
"Yes. Are you the new aide?"
"Yes, I'm Edmund Jaden," Elinora replied, trying to sound confident.
The man smirked.
"Good luck keeping up with his lordship. He's not exactly... patient. The previous assistants didn't last a week."
"Ruger!" Lia scolded him, patting him on the arm. "Don't scare him on his second day!"
He shrugged.
"I'm just telling the truth." He looked at Elinora. "You'll see for yourself soon enough. If you survive a week, we'll celebrate."
Eleanor forced a small laugh, not knowing how to respond. Lia's warm smile, however, eased her tension.
"I'm Lia and this is Ruger. We are the staff at the Duke's mansion."
Elinora was surprised.
"Really? You're the only staff here?"
"No, there are four of us here," Lia laughed "There's Henry the gardener and Agatha the housekeeper too."
"Oh, yes!" Elinora remembered "Agatha. I came to see her but she's probably not in the kitchen."
Lia told her that she might be in the laundry room so she waved and headed that way.
In the laundry room she found Agatha washing and hanging out clothes to dry. She decided to help her despite the old woman's refusal and so she spent the whole day helping Agatha with her chores.
The duke that day and the next did not seek her out, nor did he appear at all.
***
A week later, Elinora was fully accustomed to the new environment in which she had so suddenly found herself.
Working near Duke Alaric was not difficult.
Every morning she had to go to the office before him and follow him around all day. He organized his records, arranged the meetings, sent and answered letters and invitations on behalf of the duke.
Since morning, she had been there early and was organizing the work that the duke had that day. She had learned by now the way he wanted things done and was trying to do her job as best she could.
Duke Alaric entered the office as usual carrying an envelope.
"You have a letter from your parents, Jaden," he said, handing her the envelope with the letter.
Elinora froze for a moment.
“A letter?” she repeated, her voice barely steady.
“Yes,” the Duke replied, “Should I be concerned about your hesitation?”
She forced herself to smile and reached for the letter, her hand trembling slightly.
“No, Your Grace. I’m just surprised.”
“Surprised?” His gaze lingered on her, cold and calculating. “Most people don’t look this pale over a simple letter. Perhaps it contains troubling news?”
“I wouldn’t know yet,” she replied quickly, “If you permit me, I’ll read it in my room.”
Alaric didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he studied her for a long moment. Finally, he waved her away.
“Do as you wish, Jaden. But don’t waste time. We have much work to do.”
“Yes, Your Grace,” she said, bowing her head before retreating from the office.
Thoughts of panic seized her as she headed to her room .
Did I make a mistake? No one has discovered my secret, right? No, no, that's definitely not it. There might be something else written in the letter. But what? What other mistake have I made?
When she reached her room, she locked the door and looked at the envelope.
As she opened it her hands trembled. She had no idea what she could possibly write inside the letter but she opened it and began to read it.
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