I had spent the last few days trying to settle into the new house in Edinburgh. On the outside, everything looked perfect. The stone walls were strong, the air was fresh, and we were far away from the chaos of London. But inside the house, a different kind of war was starting.
I had tried to get to know the new staff. I wanted to be a kind employer, the kind of person they felt comfortable working for. But it seemed they didn't like me at all. Every time I tried talking to them, or even just offering a polite smile in the hallway, they would act cold and hostile toward me.
They wouldn't look me in the eye. They answered in short, clipped sentences. It was like I was something they were forced to serve, or worse, a criminal they were afraid would hurt them. Even the butler, a man who was
