CHAPTER2

"Traditionally, this wing is reserved for the Lady of the House." I've done my best, but if you notice anything wrong or want to change anything, please let me know." As she pushed open the heavy carved walnut doors, Mary said.

Inside, there was an opulently furnished room with two large antique sofas across from each other in the center of the room. A large fireplace dominated the main wall, and large lead-lined windows across from it provided an uninterrupted view of the lawn and forest beyond.

"I'll bring you some refreshments, and then if you pull this handle when you're ready..." She motioned to what appeared to be a curtain tie suspended from the ceiling. "I'll return to show you around the rest of the house."

"I appreciate it." Lisa smiled, still holding it together, but as soon as Mary closed the door behind her, she couldn't keep the squeal in any longer.

It was hers. Everything. She dashed around the room, noticing little details that piqued her interest. The mantelpiece's golden clock. The silk wallpaper that appeared to be hand painted. She ran her hand over the ridiculously plush rug that covered the majority of the marble floor, giving the impression that she was floating rather than standing.

She then turned to look out the window. The sun was still high in the sky, but based on its trajectory, it would set behind the forest every evening, providing a beautiful display to the room. She looked down at the lawn and the forest, unsure how much of this land belonged to her. It didn't matter how much because, after so many years of having nothing, of being nothing, of feeling like she barely existed, she finally felt like she belonged.

She entered another smaller suite at the end of the room, surrounded by bookcases like her own private library, and from here she found her new bedroom. These walls were covered in a paler silk wallpaper, with an intricate pink cherry blossom painting on the wall behind the large bed.

Off this room, she discovered two other equally sized rooms, one with a dressing table and wardrobes, presumably for all the beautiful clothes she would be able to buy, and the other with a bathroom complete with a large marble bath that she couldn't wait to try out.

A small cough from behind her indicated that Mary had returned with tea. As she followed her back into the main suite room, she smiled.

"Do you think everything is to your liking?" As she poured the tea through the strainer, Mary inquired.

"Thank you very much." Lisa stated.

"I'm delighted to hear that. Perhaps after you've finished your tea, I can give you that tour and bring your belongings up..."

***

Lisa awoke with the duvet wrapped so tightly around her that she thought she was suffocating, fighting to get it off until she was finally free. She lay back, her heart still racing, and tried to gather her thoughts.

She was present. She was secure.

But every time she closed her eyes, she was right back where she started. We're back at school. They were all present.

She gulped, refusing to give in to the familiar lump in her throat. After all, she wasn't the same Lisa she used to be. She was known as New Lisa. Lisa, you're doing better. She was still an orphan with no family, but she finally had some control over her life.

She stood up, put on the ridiculous silk robe Mary had laid out for her, and stared out the window, willing herself to be distracted and take her mind off the school. But it was all for naught. She'd spent her entire life at that school. Her parents had died when she was too young to remember them, and she'd been moved from orphanage to orphanage before her mysterious Uncle had her sent to the school, and things had only gotten worse from there.

And then, on her 18th birthday, when she could finally leave the school, everything changed. Her Uncle was no longer alive. She'd never even met her Uncle. Her only blood relative had died, and she had been given a mysterious letter that had led her to martri.

So she had everything and nothing at the same time. She had a house, a place she could call her own. She'd been given a name. But she didn't have anything else: no family, no history. Nothing but the opulent walls encircling her.

A light knock on the door jolted her out of her reverie, and she turned to see mary bringing in a tea tray.

"I wasn't sure if you wanted to have breakfast here or in the Dining Hall..." Mary said as she placed the tray on a small table.

"The Dining Hall feels a little too grand," Lisa mused aloud. "How about the kitchens?" Have you eaten anything? Could we eat together?"

"I'm afraid I couldn't eat with you." "And you're the Lady of the House, you should feel at home in every room here," Mary added.

"I suppose. But it seems like a lot of fuss for just me," Lisa thought as she sank into one of the armchairs. "I'll eat in the kitchens before exploring some of the gardens."

"As you wish," Mary replied with a nod of her head.

Lisa drank her tea and watched her walk away, thinking that at the very least, she wasn't a complete monster. What a challenge it would have been if she had been judgy and standoffish? She looked out the window again and saw John grappling with some kind of garden machinery, half dragging whatever it was across the gravel towards the vegetable patches on the other side of the house, she assumed.

After finishing the rest of her tea, she quickly changed into her favorite old jeans and a jumper before heading down to the kitchens.

As she walked in through the servants' entrance, she noticed Mary busy cooking and cleaning at the same time, and she wondered how long she'd be stuck sorting this house. She required a raise in pay. She didn't even know how much she was being paid! Lisa made a mental note to investigate.

"I've made scrambled eggs and toast before." "Assuming you're not vegan," Mary said.

"No way, no how. "I love scrambled eggs."

Mary responded with a nod and began preparing the food.

"Give me a moment to make some more tea." Lisa expressed her dissatisfaction with how much Mary was waiting on her. She felt more like a slave to her than a housekeeper.

Mary smiled and took out the tea leaf and pot. Lisa insisted Mary sit down and drink the tea with her after she'd made it.

"So, how long have you been here?" Lisa inquired as she ate her breakfast.

"Since I was sixteen."

“Wow. "Wow, that's a long time."

“Yes. This summer marks my 46th year here."

"Was it always this way? So void?"

"Oh, no." There were more servants than you could imagine when I first started. But that was back when it was the family's main residence. Every weekend back then, there were parties. It was a lot of work, but it was also a lot of fun."

"It's possible. What were their personalities like? What about the Edwards?

"Do you have no idea?"

"No, because my parents died when I was young, I never met any of my family."

“Oh. I had no idea! Your Uncle, on the other hand, was a charmer. To be honest, he's an absolute charmer and a bit of a naughty one with the maids if given half a chance."

"How about my Aunt?"

"She was stunning. Beautiful, graceful, and everything a lady of a great house should be. When she walked into a room, it was as if time stood still. Everyone paused. You couldn't take your eyes off Lia."

Lia smiled at the image, thinking she didn't look like her Aunt because whenever she walked into a room, everyone looked at her because she'd caused some kind of accident or embarrassment.

"Your mother was similar in her own way."

"Did you ever meet my mother?"

"Yes, for a while. She was more flamboyant than your aunt. I'm sorry to say. She was always off on some whim. Then she met your father, and the majority of your family was not pleased."

“Oh.”

"Your father and uncle got into a big fight about it." Then your parents abandoned you, eloped, and you didn't hear from them again until the accident."

Lisa gave a nod. She'd heard a similar story about her parents while doing her own research, but she wasn't sure if she believed it.

"Does that explain why they left me at that school?" Lisa inquired, her voice tinged with resentment.

"Which school?" Oh no, your Aunt vanished not long after your parents died, and everything changed."

"Do you mean for my uncle?"

“Yes. He was never the same again after that. She vanished, and there were some nasty rumors circulating that he was to blame. Obviously, it's nonsense." She added that she saw the expression on Lisa's face. "He couldn't have hurt a fly, and besides, he adored your aunt and saw no reason to harm her." No, he was heartbroken when she left. He was devastated, and he never recovered. The majority of the house has been quieted. Allow the servants to leave. I just kept me and John going, and I think it was mostly out of guilt. He would have sold the house if he could, but it was all dependent on his trust in you."

Lisa sat, taking in as much information as she could. It was the first time she'd heard from someone who knew her family, had met them, and could describe their personalities. Half of her didn't want Mary to stop talking, even if it was about insignificant things. She was determined to learn everything she could.

"And so, what do you have planned for today?" Mary inquired as she poured another cup of tea into the mugs.

"I was thinking about going for a walk around the grounds." It's a beautiful day, so I decided to make the most of it."

"That sounds like a wonderful idea." If you need it, I can get you an old map."

"That would be fantastic!" There's so much to see and do that I'm afraid I'll get lost."

"Oh, you're not going to get lost." However, there are acres and acres of land surrounding the estate. Simply follow the lake around; there's a small stream off there that leads to a lovely walk through the lower meadows. "Do you happen to have any wellies?"