Post by Raisa Valois on Jun 24, 2011 21:30:42 GMT -5
It hadn't taken me that long to settle into my room, indeed I managed to do it the very night I had conveyed all my belongings. With the success I had from returning my room to its former glory, I was motivated to get the rest of the house in the same state as quickly as possible.
Only, the task looked seemed more daunting in the morning.
In order to keep myself feeling overwhelmed, I made a list. First thing was first, I would work on Gil's room, the study, the kitchens and the receiving rooms. I would then have to make an inventory of all the supplies we had at the moment, and duly replace them if necessary. I had a feeling several trips to the factor would be needed for this. Then there was the missing sister, the woman who, if found, might come home to a decrepit house if I didn't fix it up in time.
By Yeshua, it was a great deal of work. Days off would be a waste of time, I couldn't afford to take them until the entire house was respectable.
I had to keep focused. Gil's room. I cleaned up broken bits of pottery and removed the last of the dusty sheets which shrouded his furniture. Frowning, I looked at the sheets on his bed, then went to sift through his cupboard. Some of his clothing had been moth eaten, it seemed. I added that to the list of things to be done: expansion of wardrobe. I'd probably have to replace most of the curtains and such as well. I sighed to myself. I supposed some of it could be salvaged, if washed and then cut up, into other things. It took me the entire day, but the room was clean and decent by nightfall.
The first week went in much the same fashion; clean, eat, sleep and by the end of it I was exhausted, but pleased with the amount of work done. It was too early to celebrate though, there was the rest of the house and a whole lot of polishing and sewing to be done, not to mention the garden and the search for Cascata.
It was late in the evening when I decided to call it a night. My head had barely hit the pillow when I heard a loud crash outside. My eyes snapping open, I donned a cloak, and not bothering with tying up my hair, grabbed the closest candelabrum. Not for light as such, but for the intruders.
I made my way silently down the stairs, already used to the layout of the house, gripping the candelabrum as though ready to strike. I could hear voices coming from just beyond the servants quarters, that led to the courtyard outside.
"Are you sure this is the place? Not like that random snooty house we came to, only to be chased out like ruffians?"
"Of course I'm sure. Don't blame me for that."
"Shouldn't we use the door?"
"This is the door!"
"Who's there?" I called out boldly. The voices quieted immediately, and from the shadows unexpectedly stepped a girl.
"I'm Flower," she said, giving an ironic little bow. "Adrien said that there was need of our services, and we that we would be paid handsomely."
For a moment, I merely stared at her in confusion. Then I remembered Gil's letter of instructions and lowered the candelabrum. "Oh. Yes. My lord Stregazza said you'd be coming."
I squinted into the darkness and saw that she was accompanied by a few other boys, ruffian looking, but able bodied. Well and good. They would help immensely with the more menial tasks. "Come inside, but mind you scuff your boots on the mat before you come in. I've spent far too much time on sweeping the floor to have you dirty it again."
And with that I led them inside, explaining what their duties would be. If they weren't too happy about it, a nudge or two from Flower kept them blessedly silent on the matter, and I was grateful for the extra help.
Only, the task looked seemed more daunting in the morning.
In order to keep myself feeling overwhelmed, I made a list. First thing was first, I would work on Gil's room, the study, the kitchens and the receiving rooms. I would then have to make an inventory of all the supplies we had at the moment, and duly replace them if necessary. I had a feeling several trips to the factor would be needed for this. Then there was the missing sister, the woman who, if found, might come home to a decrepit house if I didn't fix it up in time.
By Yeshua, it was a great deal of work. Days off would be a waste of time, I couldn't afford to take them until the entire house was respectable.
I had to keep focused. Gil's room. I cleaned up broken bits of pottery and removed the last of the dusty sheets which shrouded his furniture. Frowning, I looked at the sheets on his bed, then went to sift through his cupboard. Some of his clothing had been moth eaten, it seemed. I added that to the list of things to be done: expansion of wardrobe. I'd probably have to replace most of the curtains and such as well. I sighed to myself. I supposed some of it could be salvaged, if washed and then cut up, into other things. It took me the entire day, but the room was clean and decent by nightfall.
The first week went in much the same fashion; clean, eat, sleep and by the end of it I was exhausted, but pleased with the amount of work done. It was too early to celebrate though, there was the rest of the house and a whole lot of polishing and sewing to be done, not to mention the garden and the search for Cascata.
It was late in the evening when I decided to call it a night. My head had barely hit the pillow when I heard a loud crash outside. My eyes snapping open, I donned a cloak, and not bothering with tying up my hair, grabbed the closest candelabrum. Not for light as such, but for the intruders.
I made my way silently down the stairs, already used to the layout of the house, gripping the candelabrum as though ready to strike. I could hear voices coming from just beyond the servants quarters, that led to the courtyard outside.
"Are you sure this is the place? Not like that random snooty house we came to, only to be chased out like ruffians?"
"Of course I'm sure. Don't blame me for that."
"Shouldn't we use the door?"
"This is the door!"
"Who's there?" I called out boldly. The voices quieted immediately, and from the shadows unexpectedly stepped a girl.
"I'm Flower," she said, giving an ironic little bow. "Adrien said that there was need of our services, and we that we would be paid handsomely."
For a moment, I merely stared at her in confusion. Then I remembered Gil's letter of instructions and lowered the candelabrum. "Oh. Yes. My lord Stregazza said you'd be coming."
I squinted into the darkness and saw that she was accompanied by a few other boys, ruffian looking, but able bodied. Well and good. They would help immensely with the more menial tasks. "Come inside, but mind you scuff your boots on the mat before you come in. I've spent far too much time on sweeping the floor to have you dirty it again."
And with that I led them inside, explaining what their duties would be. If they weren't too happy about it, a nudge or two from Flower kept them blessedly silent on the matter, and I was grateful for the extra help.