Betrothed

Chapter 2: Nikki

As I enter my small, dimly lit room, my mind flashes back to when I first came to work for the Wembley family and met Allie and Maddie.

***

I was walking home from the fields just outside of the village where I was picking wildflowers and escaping from the world when I saw the poster. It was posted to the gate of the orphanage. It read "Lord Maxwell Wembley, Earl of Portsmouth, looking to hire. One servant girl who can clean, cook, and nurse. If interested in the position come to the Wembley manor around 12:00 tomorrow." I was shocked; this was just the opportunity that I was looking for to get out of the orphanage. So at 12:00 precisely the next day I went to the Wembley manor, everyone in the village knew where it was because of its size and glamour. Even though I knew what the manor looked like before, I was even more impressed seeing it up close. I pulled the string to the bell and heard it chime inside. I looked up as the door opened and I saw a guard. He looked down at me.

"Can I help you with something kid?" He asked.

"I saw the poster that said that Lord Wembley was looking for a girl to hire so I am here to apply for the position Sir." I responded.

"You?" He asked with amusement evident in his voice.

"Yes that is what I just said Sir." I replied with a bit of attitude.

"Okay then. Come on in and I will take you to Lord Wembley's study." He opened the door wider and I stared in awe as I looked around the foyer. The castle was even grander inside than it was outside. The guard led me down a hall and knocked on a big mahogany door.

"Come in!" a voice responded. The guard opened the door and we stepped inside. The man inside was sitting at a desk that took residence in the center of the room and he narrowed his eyes when he saw me enter.

"My Lord this girl said that she came to apply for the position of the servant girl." The guard told him, indicating to me.

"Okay, I will see if she is what we are looking for. Thank you Jacob." The man at the desk responded and with that the guard bowed and left. Lord Wembley turned to me.

"Well first things first what is your name?" He asked.

"My name is Nicole Milburn, My Lord." I reply, my voice a little unsteady. This man was much more intimidating than I had anticipated.

"How old are you Nicole?"

"I am ten years old, My Lord"

"Can you do all of the requirements that were specified on the poster?"

"Yes My Lord, I clean every day at home, I cook my own food, and I taught myself how to nurse at a young age."

"Where are you father and mother Nicole?"

"Both of my parents are dead My Lord and I have no siblings. I live currently at the orphanage."

"Okay then you are hired Nicole."

"Seriously! Thank you so much Lord Wembley. You will not regret this, I promise."

"I have no doubt about that. Now Nicole in the future however, when you enter my presence you should curtsy first."

"Yes My Lord." I replied with a curtsy.

"Jacob!" He called and the guard from before came back in. "Show Nicole here to a room for her to sleep in and then give her a task." To me he added, "I will send the tailor to your room tonight to get measurements to make you some proper clothes."

“Thank you My Lord." I replied with another curtsy as Jacob and I left the study. he led me down a flight of stairs and down a long hall.

"This will be your room." He said, pointing to one of the doors. We kept walking. "Here is the kitchen." We entered the kitchen and he handed me a tray. "First job; bring snacks up to Lady Alyssa and her friend Lady Madeline." He then led me up two flights of stairs and to a large door. "This is her bedroom. You know where to find me if you need anything." With that he left and I nervously knocked on the large door in front of me.

"Come in!" I hear the voice of a young girl inside. I slowly open the door and take the tray of snacks over to a table. Inside the room I see two girls who look to be about my age. One is very small with light brown hair and bright blue eyes. The other is a little bit taller than me and has blond hair and light green eyes. They both looked up when I came in.

"Who are you?" The smaller girl asked.

"My name is Nicole Milburn and I just started working here." I replied. "And if you do not mind my asking, who would you be?"

The smaller girl responds, "My name is Lady Alyssa Wembley; my father is the Earl of Portsmouth."

"Oh. Sorry about the confusion My Lady. I will just be leaving then." I start to turn around to leave.

"Wait!" She called out.

"Yes?" I turn and reply.

"Close the door and come sit down." She commanded.

"Okay..." I go close the door and then go to join them on the biggest bed that I have ever seen.

"So my father hired you?"

"That is right."

"How old are you?"

"I am ten years old."

"Really! That is so cool! I am ten years old too!"

"Me too!" The other girl added. "Oh, sorry I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Lady Madeline Queshire; My father is the Marquess of Salisbury."

"It is a pleasure to meet you both." I say.

"Oh this is so great! My father hired someone my own age for once!" Alyssa said. "We are all going to be best friends! But we cannot tell my father though or he will most likely fire you." I was a little scared at the firing part but I ignored the feeling because this kid had just said that we were going to become friends. I had never had friends before and I was not going to pass up this opportunity.

"Okay." I responded, "But if we are going to be friends please call me Nikki, Nicole is such a mouthful." I told the girls and they both giggled.

"Okay" Alyssa said. "If you are having a nickname then call me Allie!"

"And I will be called Maddie!" Madeline added. And that was how it all started. I was jolted back to the present when I heard a knock on my door. I got up and opened it; on the other side was Alyssa with fresh bruises on her arms and an angry red mark on her face. She was silently sobbing.

"Oh Allie ..." I say as I usher her inside.