Part 2

The Huxley Estate

10

I woke to the sound of laughter.

Such a sound I had not heard in so long that I felt myself smiling before I even opened my eyes. When I did open my eyes, my smile fell away.

I did not recognize the tapestry opposite my bed. It was not one of the harsh black and white tapestries of knights slaying opponents that had been pinned on Enlar’s Keep walls. It was a warm red and yellow depiction of a man on a horse holding the hand of a fair lady. Their eyes were filled with unmatched love.

I sat up, which was followed by tiny spasms of pain along my spine. I groaned and arched my back.

“Would you look at that?” came a cheerful voice to my left. “She’s awake!”

“And she just sat up like she’s only been napping,” came the reply.

I turned. Two women were gazing at me in interest. One had frizzy red hair that peeked out from underneath her wimple. The other was a fatter, squatter woman with rosy cheeks and brilliant blue eyes. She regarded me with a humorous grin.

“Where— where am I?” I asked with a croak.

“Ooh, she’s been out far too long, hasn’t she now?” The red-haired woman stepped forward and held a wet cloth to my forehead. “What’s your name, girl?”

“My— my name?”

“Slaves have names, am I right?”

I gulped. My throat felt as if it were coated with slime. “Fe— Felicia. My name is Felicia.”

“Doesn’t that mean lucky?” the squat woman asked.

“Aye, it does. She’s most certainly lucky. You’re a pretty little thing, aren’t you now? How old are you?”

I watched the two women with frightened eyes. “I— I’m fourteen. But— but I think I’ll soon be fifteen.”

“Fourteen.” The squat woman whisteled. “Young, isn’t she?”

“Perhaps we should tell the Lady that she’s awake.”

“Yes, she’ll want to see how well her medicines worked. I’ll get her.” The squat woman vanished from the room.

I looked around the room tentatively. There were no more tapestries, but there were many windows, some of which had stained glass panes. The sunlight slanted through these panes in deep reds and bright greens. There were four other white beds (beds, not pallets) and a bureau made of cherry wood. It was such a contrast to the gloomy rooms of the Enlar estate. I glanced around in wonder.

“Tsk, tsk. Look how thin you are! It will take some hearty grubs to put the meat back on your bones, won’t it? Don’t worry. Huxley feeds its workers well.”

“Huxley?” I whispered. “How . . .?”

“You really don’t remember a thing, do you?”

“I—”

“My name is Meggie.” She thrust her hand forward. I shook it, because I did not know what else to do. “I’ve been looking after you for the past two weeks.”

“Two weeks?” I murmured, looking around again. “But—but what about Leslie and Nicholas? The Enlar estate? What about my horse and—”

“For a girl so sick she couldn’t whisper, you sure do ask a lot of questions.” Despite her scolding remark, Meggie smiled. “Do not worry. When the lady talks to you, you’ll feel better.”

“The Lady?”

“Lady Hayley. She’s the lady of the castle, along with her husband Lord Henry. Hayley and Henry Huxley. It’s a tongue twister, I know, but it’s very catchy.”

There were rapid footsteps, and then the door was flung open in a flourish. I stared at the burst of brightly colored skirts and ruffles that stood in the doorway.

I assumed her to be Lady Hayley. She wore an elaborate gown that was not practical for any sort of work. Small jewels clung to her thin throat. Dark tresses of straight chocolate hair were fluttering free behind her. She had a heart-shaped face, tanned and rosy. She was not beautiful in any meaning of the word, what with her large nose and sharp chin, but she looked elated. She seemed like the sort of woman with an endless sense of humor. She did not share the Enlar family’s malicious dark gaze or accusing sneer. Lady Hayley radiated child-like mischief. I immediately respected her. I had never met a wealthy woman I liked, but Lady Hayley seemed so alive.

“Oh, how wonderful!” she exclaimed, jumping forward, sleeves billowing. The squat woman stayed by the doorway. “You’re awake! Oh, joy!”

“Mi— milady,” I stuttered, bowing my head.

“Oh my, my. You still look half dead. I can’t have thin and grungy girls in my service. Meggie! Saffron! Quick! Get this girl some plump peasant and sweet yams!”

“Yes, milady,” they agreed in unison, then vanished. I heard their laughter down the hall. I couldn’t help but wonder about what they found so amusing.

Lady Hayley swept down to sit on my bed. I could not guess her age. She was far past her teenage years, yet she was young enough to have children. Perhaps she was in her early thirties or late twenties.

“Your name is Felicia, am I right?

“Yes, milady,” I whispered.

“That was what Nicholas told me.”

“Nicholas?” I mumured with hope.

“He was the beautiful blonde boy that drove you here, right? He told me quite a bit about you.” She smiled and pointed at me with a thin finger. “If I took his word for it, you would be a queen.”

“What else did he say?” I asked.

“He wished you well. He was sad that he could not say goodbye to a coherent Felicia. He dropped off your horse.” She cocked her head curiously. “How you managed to get such a wild steed, I don’t want to know.”

“So he is gone,” I murmured sadly.

“Yes.”

I bowed my head and fell silent.

“Was he a sweetheart of yours?” Lady Hayley asked with a tint of a grin.

“No. Just a dear friend.”

“Pity. He was such a handsome lad.”

I had never heard a noble call a servant “handsome” or “beautiful.” Even knights who chased after kitchen maids rarely admitted their thoughts to the public. My confidence rose at this noblewoman’s temerity.

“So I was sold to you.” By now I had determined this. For the first time, I was disheartened by the move. For the first time, I had made dear friends at the Enlar estate.

“Yes. I do not like it one bit, for I am bitterly opposed to slavery. But my husband . . . well, he is not so against it. He will not beg for your freedom in front of the Royal Court, I’m afraid.” She gave me a sweet smile. “He is a wonderful man, of course. He is just not as open-minded as I am in certain philosophies.” She sighed.

“I do not mind. Slavery is all I know.” I had come to terms with my status long ago. The uncertainty of my future no longer troubled me.

“It is a shame humans are forced to face such horrors.” She paused and looked me over. “Can you stand, do you think?”

“I do not know, milady.”

“Perhaps you can try.”

I nodded and wriggled my toes beneath the blanket. My legs seemed to be in proper working order. I cautiously swung them around to the edge of the bed and placed my bare feet on the cold stone. My knees quaked, but my muscles seemed responsive enough.

“Take my hand,” Lady Hayley suggested, stretching her tan hand toward me. I took it as delicately as I could and tried to stand. Immediately my muscles shrieked in protest. I fell forward into Lady Hayley, and she wrapped her arms around me to hold me up. For a woman so dainty, she had amazing strength. She put one hand under my armpit and the other around my waist, helping me staighten.

“I am terribly sorry, milady,” I whimpered, swaying. However, I was standing. Not by myself, of course, but the agony in my thighs was fading.

“Oh, do not apologize. You have not walked in a very long time.” She smiled gently. I felt another surge of respect for this woman. My fear of nobles began to float away.

Meggie and Saffron pushed through the door, toting plates of food. On Meggie’s plate was a steaming avian leg, crispy brown and dripping with dark grease. Saffron’s plate had several piles of various vegetables. All were warm and sprinkled with green herbs. I had only seen such glorious food destined for the noble’s table. I nearly swooned with hunger.

“You can sit down to eat this,” Lady Hayley, guiding me back to the bed. I collapsed onto the mattress and watched intently as Meggie and Saffron handed me the plates in their hands. For a moment I was sure I had slipped into another sick hallucination. I could only stare at the food intently.

“Well? Aren’t you going to eat it?” Lady Hayley asked cheerfully.

I did not need anymore coaxing. I dove into the dinner like a ravenous wolf, forgetting that I was in the presence of a lady. Perhaps my desperation was amusing, because all three women chuckled as they watched.

“Aye, eating should not be a problem any longer,” Meggie said.

“She’ll be plumped up soon, don’t you worry!” Saffron added, her chubby cheeks rosy with humor.

There was some shouting outside the infirmary window. For the first time, Lady Hayley frowned and went to see the commotion. She merely glanced out the window before she returned to my bedside.

“A carriage just pushed through the gates. I best go see what it is the visitors want.” The corner of her mouth lifted when she glanced at me. “Felicia, I just want you to rest. Don’t worry about your new assignments yet.”

“Yes, milady.” I paused in my gobbling and inclined my head respectively in her direction.

Lady Hayley swept out of the room, her bright gown trailing behind her.

“Excuse me,” I murmured to the two remaining women. “Is Lady Hayley always so . . . kind?”

“Of course, lass. She’s a jewel, that she is.” Saffron’s eyes glittered with admiration. “Lord Henry’s a gentleman as well. He can be a bit silly at times, but he’s always a fan of sport and play. He is a little boy in a older man’s body.”

“I’ve never met nobles so . . .”

“ . . . decent? Yes, I had your same reaction, young lady. I will not leave this castle if I can help it.” Meggie giggled. “I’m afraid I must depart now. Saffron will attend to you.”

Meggie left, leaving Saffron alone with me.

“Don’t stop eating on my account, girl. You swallow while I check your wounds.”

Saffron untied the back of my bodice while I gnawed at the pheasant leg. I probably looked most unattractive with grease and fat dripping down my face and teeth bared, but I was too hungry to concern myself with my appearance. Saffron’s hands skillfully unwrapped the bandages.

“What awful thing happened to you?” Saffron asked, her fingers lightly trailing the healing ridges on my back.

“I was beaten.”

“Whatever for?”

I could not tell her the lie I told Enlar. It had to be the complicated truth. “A knight was almost murdered outside of Enlar’s estate. His knights blamed two dear friends of mine, who were completely innocent. To save their lives I told the officials that I attacked the knight.”

“That was very noble of you.”

“I only did what was necessary to save their lives.”

“You should tell Lady Hayley this story. She has been intrigued about these wounds ever since she took you in.”

“Did she really help heal my cuts?” I asked softly.

“She was in here twice a day to apply salve to the injury. She cares deeply about all of her servants.” Saffron paused in thought. “My dear, all of these scars aren’t recent.”

“My past masters were very fond of the whip.”

“You poor thing.”

Most servants were quick to blame injury on the slave. I was immensely comforted by Saffron’s gentle nature. I started in on the candied yams, careful not to miss a single speck of food. We servants were experts on cleaning our plates. I didn’t know if this spread was a treat or if it was a regularity.

“Will Lord Henry see me?” I asked.

“Oh, he’s away playing diplomat as he usually does. He should be home soon, however. Don’t you worry. He’s not very hard to impress. You must be intelligent, funny, or pretty.” She eyed me for a few moments. “You seem to be all three.”

“He would favor my intelligence?”

“My dear, he loves intellectuals. I’ve heard him discuss philosophy and religion with the stable hands.” She laughed heartily. “He is no man of war, that is for sure. A bit of a coward, he is. But we servants do not fault him for it. He is more our father than our superior.”

“He sounds delightful.”

“He will want to meet you, of course. But I don’t doubt you’ll charm him.”

I preferred to wade in the darkness than talk face-to-face with a noble. However, Lord Henry was no Lord Enlar, according to Saffron. Hopefully he would not take my scars as a sign of disobedience.

*

It did not take long for me to win my strength back. With regular food and care, I was standing and walking in a week. I still showed the signs of sickness, for my skin was pale and my legs were thin, but that would not last forever. I was quickly moved out of the infirmary and into the servant’s quarters.

The servant’s quarters weren’t elaborate or impressive, but there were certainly more adequate than Enlar’s. Of course, that was expected. The Enlar state had three times the servants Huxley did. The low population here allowed the servants more sufficient quarters.

I met the four other maids that worked at Huxley. Only one was around my age. Myrna was a shy sixteen-year-old brunette. She had a red birthmark that was stamped on the left side of her chin. The mark made her very self-conscious, and she usually hid her face behind her thick dark hair. She only nodded in greeting when I met her.

Honey was the blonde cook. She had six children and expecting another. Her middle was so large I wondered how she could hobble around. She was warm and amiable, kissing me on both cheeks when I was introduced.

Jenifer was thin and wiry, but she had the strength of a boar. When she shook my hand I was afraid of her crushing my fingers. She was stern and stone-faced, but I sense the humor behind the glimmer in her dark eyes.

Lastly there was Kelsey. It became clear in a short moment that her gray matter was lacking. She laughed at the silliest of things, and she prated for twenty minutes to no one in particular. I liked her perpetual cheer, despite her affection for garrulous chatter. In fact, I liked all of the women. They all seemed like a family, though I did not know for sure. I had never had a family.

Lady Hayley only spoke to me twice after our first introduction, but I could forgive her. She handled all of her husbands affairs while he was away, a job usually reserved for the castle steward. She won the devotion of both servants and noble visitors. Most of the noblewomen I had seen did a lot of nothing. The young ones were responsible for looking good, and the older ones were responsible for snapping at the women below them. However, Lady Hayley was a whole new breed of noblewoman.

I found the time to wander down to the stables to visit my horse. For some time I had been pondering a name for him, and I had finally settled on a title. I wanted to name him Nicholas, in honor of the man who had encouraged my love for the equine. I was sure Nicholas would love to have such a beautiful and powerful animal named after him. My horse was no son, but at least it was something to carry on his name with splendor.

The stable boys were not boys at all. Alfred was touching fifty, and he was the main administrator of the stables. He knew all six horses by name, by age, by color, by birthdate and by feed requirement. Each had his or her own stall, headset and saddle. They were all ridiculously pampered. When I informed him that the new fiery chestnut was mine, he offered his condolences.

“I don’t know if you’ll ever tame that one,” Alfred told me with a wise grin.

The other stable hand was Honey’s husband. He was a portly bearded man with a jolly laugh and a shout that could shake the hills. Fisk immediately took me under his wing, introducing me to each of the six native horses. There were five mares, two of which were as round as his wife. They were expecting foals soon. There was one stallion, but age was becoming evident in his dipping back and dull eyes. It was a pity, for I was sure he had once made a beautiful steed. His black coat still had a glimmer of youth in it.

“When Lord Henry visits he will want to ride your horse,” Fisk warned me.

“He can try.”

“I want to see you ride him. How can such a thin thing like yourself control that bull?”

“Strength is not the trick, I assure you.”

I promised Alfred and Fisk a demonstration when Lord Henry came home and allowed it. The stable hands claimed that Lord Henry would most certainly want to be present for such an event.

My castle duty was to take care of the lord’s and lady’s living quarters. I dusted the furniture, washed the bed sheets, cleaned the windows and floors, beat the rugs, and polished the brass and silver. I was given a wardrobe of several gowns to work in. At the Enlar estate I’d been given one dress per season. I almost felt like royalty in my clean brown dress and stark white apron. I was given a new white cap to keep my hair out of my face. No longer did I look haggard and dirty. I looked like reputable castle help.

The Huxley family had three dogs. They were all of different heights and breeds. The family treated them like small children, feeding them scraps from the table and scratching their stomachs whenever they rolled over. I became best friends with the largest one, Grover. Sometimes he’d wander into the hall for hynds and sleep on top of me.

In just two weeks the castle became my home. “Home” was a foreign word to me, as foreign as fairy tales and ghosts. For the first time in my life I felt almost . . . happy.

Of course I’d been happy with Leslie and Nicholas, but away from them I’d been miserable. Only my horse had brought me comfort. Now I found myself enjoying my days despite the tedious work. I would wave to the servants in the halls, perhaps strike up a conversation if I was feeling brave enough. Even though the snow still lay thick outside and the cold was indomitable, my spirits soared.

My birthday was located on the threshold between winter and the beginnings of spring. It was celebrated on the same day that Lord Henry came home in his four-horse carriage, which rattled through the gates early morning. Servants scuttled to the entrance in breathless expectation, so I naturally deduced that Lord Henry was no dull pig. The help really seemed to love him.

Lady Hayley was the first to run out into the courtyard as the carriage pulled to a stop. Showing none of the restraint expected of a lady of her status, she leaped and threw her arms around the man that exited the carriage. I had trouble seeing past the heads to where the lord stood. It took me a few moments to weave through the bodies to where I could see better.

Lord Henry was by no means a young fellow. He was at least twice Lady Hayley’s age, with gray-ticked hair and a mustache that wiggled when he spoke. However, the age on his face was molded into wrinkles of laughter and cheer. He laughed and swung Lady Hayley up into his arms, twirling her around twice before setting her back down. He was tall and thick, with strong shoulders and big hands. He was dressed for travel in simple leather leggings and a blue tunic. His hair was ruffled, his clothing wrinkled. His eyes hung with exhaustion, but his step demonstrated such relief and joy.

“Ah, home!” he bellowed, spreading his arms. “Though I do believe Old Man Winter is hesitant to leave.”

“That is the case every year,” Lady Hayley agreed, threading her thin arm through his. Her eyes watched him in adoration.

He exchanged greetings with Morris and a few other of his advisors before finally turning to the line of servants that waited for him in the doorway. We were so stunned by his presence that our bowing and curtseying was delayed and sloppy. He didn’t seem to mind.

“I have no doubts that my castle will be looking ship-shape when I walk inside,” he told us, grinning. Such an expression I had never seen on Enlar’s fat face.

“Of course, sir,” Meggie exclaimed, eyes twinkling. “We’ve been trying our hardest.”

“Most definitely,” he agreed, then pushed through the help to his front door. Lady Hayley trailed excitedly behind him, like a little girl following her long-lost father. Her face glowed with elation.

We prepared an enormous dinner for Lord Henry. I was sent to tidy his room before nightfall. I admit with much guilt that I spent some time in front of his mirror, glancing over what a year of age had done to my body. Since twelve my body had stretched up and out. I was taller than most of the maids in the castle. I lacked the wide hips that were preferred, but I could voice little complaint over my breasts. They were clearly swelling beneath my blouse.

Unfortunately, little could be done about my nondescript features. I was not ugly by any standards, but my thin and flat burgundy hair lacked luster, and my face was coarse, from my thin lips to my short forehead. My dark eyes and calloused skin were worthy of little applause.

Sighing heavily, I returned to work.

Lord Henry and Lady Hayley ate their supper in a small and more personal room than I was used to. Lord Enlar’s dining hall had been the largest room in the castle, stretching like a runway from one end of the Keep to the other. Lord Henry’s table only sat five and was occupied by him, Lady Hayley, Morris and two other officers. Myrna and I were put in charge of delivering the food from the kitchen to the dining hall.

A huge fire roared in the stone fireplace. Tapestries bearing Huxley colors glimmered in the firelight. The dining hall was relatively quiet, only filled by the soft murmurings of Lord Henry and his men. Several laughs conjoined when I stepped into the hall with a steaming platter of roasted pheasant. The castle bowman, Bernard, had caught it just this morning.

“That son of his has grown into his boots, you can say,” Lord Henry was saying, sipping his wine. “And his daughter . . . well, she’s turning into quite a beauty, that’s for sure.” Lord Henry turned to Lady Hayley, who was silent. “Not as beautiful as this lady here, of course.”

“If you for one moment think that flattering me will make up for the month you were gone, then you are sadly mistaken, milord.”

Lord Henry grinned and patted his wife’s shoulder.

I laid the roasted pheasant on the table between Lady Hayley and Lord Henry. On such a small table, food could be reached from one location by everyone.

I stepped back, but a hand caught my wrist. Against all common sense, fear rocketed through my stomach and my body was temporarily frozen with horror. It was a slave’s best reflex to danger.

However, it was Lord Henry’s hand who gripped my wrist. I relaxed the moment I saw his small smile.

“Who is this?” he asked. “A new recruit?”

He let go of my wrist so that I could pick up my skirts and dip my knees. I bowed my head humbly. “Felicia, at your service, milord.”

“Felicia?”

“Yes, milord.”

He gave me a quick once-over. His mustache twitched in thought. “Have you been sick, lass?”

“Yes, sir. But I feel incredibly better thanks to the lady, milord.”

“Aye, she knows her herbs. I didn’t marry a simple woman, that’s for sure.”

“How old are you?”

“Fifteen today, milord.”

“A birthday girl! How marvelous! Here.” He ripped the leg off the roasted pheasant and handed it to me. I took it gingerly, as if fearing it would vanish as if from a dream. “A lovely piece of meat for a lovely girl.” He winked and took another sip of wine.

“You flatter me, milord.”

“He does that often,” Lady Hayley informed me with a smirk.

“How long have you been at our lovely castle, Felicia?”

“About two weeks, milord.”

“And do you like it here?”

“Very much, milord.”

“You should have seen the condition she was in when she came here,” Morris commented. “Enlar is fond of the whip.”

Lord Henry eyed me carefully. “You be a troublemaker, lass?”

“Nay, milord.”

“She’s been a delight,” Lady Hayley stated. “She’s a very bright girl.”

“Ah! A bright girl! The best women are the women with heads on their shoulders. I do not care if she’s got a smile to charm birds out of the skies. I love to talk. And if I cannot talk with my own wife, then I would not have one.”

“Lord Henry is no liar. He will talk ceaselessly at times.”

“Lady Hayley can be very garrulous as well.”

They looked at each other and laughed. I had never seen two married nobles so pleased with their match. Why, Lord Enlar and his wife always acted so miserable around the other.

“You are dismissed, if you like. Savor that leg, my dear. This pheasant looks like a rare one.” He grinned at me. For the first time I realized he had very clear blue eyes. They reminded me of Nicholas. The human Nicholas, that is.

I stepped out of the dining hall smiling.