Indentured Servant

Prologue – Debt

My name is Sarah Felicia O'Brien and I am an indentured servant. It means I have a debt to repay to my mistress. There are many forms of being indebted. My debt has nothing to do with the most obvious form – monetary – but rather with something of more value and infinitely harder to repay.

I owe my mistress a life … my life.

She is not aware of the debt I owe her, but thinks I am simply loyal. I am in a way – but not out of a sense of obligation; it is regret. Serving her in any way I can and trying to keep harm from her are my ways of redemption. I hope it is enough …

I have no illusions: I will burn in hell for the sins I committed. As the God-fearing, catholic Irish woman that I am, I know that there is no greater sin than murder. But maybe – just maybe – I can ease my mistress' pain. I pray to God that I'm able to, in any event …

oOoOoOo

My name is Charles Edward Carson and I am an indentured servant. It means I have a debt to repay to my master. The debt I owe him is first and foremost a monetary one … and I believe that I have worked off the £20 … but there is another factor. My master still trusts me, has not once held my past against me, nor pitied or ridiculed me because of it.

I owe him my integrity, my honour and my continued employment in this prestigious house and for that I owe him my loyalty.

Most members of staff, especially Mrs Hughes, believe that I am besotted by Lady Mary – and I am – but she is only one reason for my adamant strife for perfection in serving the family.

I never want to give my master reason to regret his decision to keep me on, I never want to disappoint him again.