Betrothed

Chapter 1: Nikki

Poor Allie, is the thought that goes through my head as I lightly knock on the door to her father's study. It has been five years since I started working for the Wembley family and met my best friend Lady Alyssa Wembley. We have kept our friendship secret all these years because we both know that her father would not approve and I would most likely be released from service. Her father had summoned her to his study, most likely to talk about marriage again. I was in the kitchen and heard the bell ring indicating that he wanted tea so here I am, about to enter the lion's den, my only weapon a tray with cups of tea and a plate of scones.

"Come in." I hear Lord Wembley say. I slowly push open the door and take the tray over to the table. I set it down and then stand to face Lord Wembley. Out of the corner of my eye I see Allie, looking very pale, sitting in one of the chairs facing the desk that dominates the room. Lord Wembley looks at the tray and nods in satisfaction. "That will be all Nicole." He says with a wave of his hand. "You are dismissed." With that said I curtsy as expected and turn to leave. On my way out though my eyes meet Allie's in silent encouragement.

"Alyssa!" I hear her father trying to regain her attention and I see her snap to attention in response. I scurry out without a word; I know that it would not end well for either of us if I lingered.

As I leave my thoughts start to wander. I feel bad for Allie. On the outside her life might seem like a fairy tale. Her father is a wealthy Lord in England and so by default she gets the title of Lady. She lives in a grand palace with servants such as myself and she is looking at the prospect of a wealthy marriage. On the inside though I know that it is a nightmare. Her father abuses her; I have seen and treated the bruises. Granted he abuses the servants too but we are not his own daughter. Her sister Lady Abigail basically pretends that she doesn't exist; her brother has been away training to be in the royal guard for almost as long as I have been here; and her mother died giving birth to her. So who does she turn to? Me. The servant girl/best friend.

My life on the other hand is just as bad but at least it does not appear otherwise. My parents both died when I was very young and I have no siblings. Until I was ten years old I lived at the local orphanage. It was terrible there; uncomfortable beds, gross food, leaky roof, mice all over the place, and all of the other girls there got their fun by teasing me about my meager size. Once I was ten I came to work for the Wembley family. Here I do lots of work and as I have already established Lord Wembley is not very kind to women, but it is better than the orphanage. Here the food is better, I have my own room, there are little to no mice or leaky roof, and best of all I have friends; Allie and Lady Madeline Queshire. We are all fifteen years old but both of their fathers are trying to get them married while I am here working as a servant. Oh well, I think. I would not want to be forced into a loveless marriage anyways.