Chapter One

The tray slipped from her quivering hands, fine china shattering as tea splashed across the floor. Pain burned on her cheeks where Lady Stella’s palm had landed moments before. The echo of the slap still hung in the air.

“Do you want to kill me?! How many times do I have to tell you that too much sugar is dangerous for my health? Do I look like a five-year-old to you?” She barked, dabbing her lips with a small napkin.

Lady Stella snorted as she sank Into her chair, a frown settling on her face. Why she still kept Lorna working at the mansion after all these years, she couldn't say. The girl hadn't learned a single thing properly.

“I.. I'm..I'm sorry, mistress. I didn't know the tea had this much sugar in it.” Lorna's voice quivered, barely above a whisper.

She had tasted the tea earlier before serving it. She couldn't recall tasting much sugar in it. Her brows knit. Unless….someone had tampered with it.

“How would you know? You never get anything right and you've been in this mansion for the past nine years now.”

Her hands clenched the hem of her dress, knuckles white. A shudder ran down from her spine, her eyes fixed to the ground, legs shaky beneath her.

The hot liquid had splashed on her legs, but she stood still ignoring the burning feeling. Atleast the tea wasn't poured on her face.

“Get someone to come clean this up,” Lady Stella instructed the other maid standing behind Lorna with a sly smirk on her face. She left the room, leaving Lorna behind at their mistress's quarter.

“I've got an important job for you to do, since Gladys is on her pregnancy leave. And you'd probably be the one she'd recommend if she were here.”

Mrs Gladys was the only senior maid who ever showed Lorna love and kindness. The middle aged woman had practically raised her as her own, always looking out for her. She was a young and fragile child. To Lorna, she was the closest thing to family.

Lorna's gaze remained fixed on the floor as she wondered what kind of job her mistress was talking about. Lady Stella paused for a while, then continued.

“My son’s back from the states, he will be arriving soon. As much as I hate the thought of it, you'll be the one to await him in his quarter and serve him.”

Lorna's head snapped upright, her cheek still stung from the hit, surprised by the sudden arrangement.

Her? Serve one of Lady's Stella's special guest? What had happened to the unrequited hatred for her?

Also, her mistress had a son? Had he been kept hidden all these years? Wasn't miss Lauren the only child?

What had gotten into her mistress today? Wasn't she the least favored amongst the maids?

Lorna had so many questions running through her mind, where she stood, too stunned to speak, confusion written all over her face.

“He's always late to bed and likes his water warm. I already ordered the maids to prepare a platter. You just have to be of good service to him.” Lorna blinked.

More like a personal maid for the day. Got it.

“You will only be attending to his needs for tonight. Do not make any mistakes, one bad report about you, you're done. Understood?” Lady Stella said, her eyes held a glare strong enough to shoot lasers through Lorna's head.

Lorna would never underestimate a threat coming from her mistress. Those threats had scars to show for it. She nodded repeatedly as she swallowed whatever she had to say.

“Well be on your way! Don't just stand here like a statue!” Lady Stella snapped, jolting Lorna out of her thoughts.

She flinched, her heart pounding in her chest like a drum as she hurriedly left the room. She let out a sigh of relief once she was out.

_______

Few hours later

Walking down the hallway, Lorna ignored the sting on her feet. She had gone to change her dress due to the stains from the spilled tea earlier at her mistress's quarter.

Her steps faltered as she reached the corridors. Tension settled in her gut.

Which way is it now? Left? Right? No one had told her. It was a huge mansion with different corridors, one could easily get lost inside.

For a moment, she considered going back to her mistress's quarter but the image of Lady's Stella’s glare, cold, stoic and unforgiving, haunted her.

It was a risk no one in their right senses would want to take. She had wasted too much time.

She gulped hard. Think, Lorna. Where would a special guest stay?

This was a mansion. Expansive and maze like. She just had to figure it out before it gets too late.

There was a part of the mansion where private quarters were found. Secluded at the far end of the hallway. Rarely used, the maids whispered about it, sharing secret tales quietly, but were forbidden from entering.

Only the senior maids were allowed in, sent by Lady Stella twice in a week, for maintenance.

They never spoke of what they saw. Not because it was an order from their mistress but just to earn curiosity and respect from the younger maids.

Lorna found her legs moving her towards that same forbidden place. Her heart pounded against her ribs as she moved further into the hallway.

The corridor stretched on, gloomy and slender. Every step echoed louder in this part of the mansion.

“You shouldn't be here” a voice from her head echoed, but her feet kept moving.

The scent of old wood welcomed her as she reached the door. With a shaky fist, she knocked gently against the wood. Her ears strained for a voice within.

Nothing. It was all silence.

Hesitatingly, her hand lingered over the knob. She drew in a deep breath, then slowly pushed the door open.

“You're late.” A deep voice said, calm and commanding.