AN: Yes, I know. It's short. I'm working on it; I'm trying to push my chapters for more and more. So, next chapter will be a lot longer, and I think that will be able to set the tone for the rest of the chapters-length wise. And…we'll get to meet the Duke of Hampshire next chapter! You know what this means! (smiling)

My dear, dear lovelies…review, review, review. Read, savor… and REVIEW.

-Marie

Disclaimer: I don't profit from this story and all creative rights to the characters belong to Richelle Mead. The original content, ideas, and intellectual property of this story are owned by Sarah Marie Cross. Do not copy, reproduce, print, or translate without express written permission from the author.

Ch.4

"My knickers are about to freeze solid if this snow keeps up" was the first thing Rose heard when the footmen had opened the doors and held a hand out to help her down the icy steps of the carriage.

"I beg yur pardon?" Merda muttered, eyes twinkling with interest at the newcomer.

Unexpectedly, Lady Tasha stood in front of the front doors on the stone staircase, accompanied by a tall, thin, blonde woman wearing the typical light blue maid's gown with a white apron and matching bonnet. By the looks of it, she seemed to be barely suppressing the shivers. Lady Tasha on the other hand was dressed in an elegant, long-sleeved, violet gown with pearl clips in her hair and ears, and looked as if she had haphazardly thrown on a wool coat and gloves before she endeavored into the cold.

When all four maids had been helped out of the carriage, Tasha walked forward and said "Hello ladies, as you know my name is Lady Tasha and this is the parlour maid Miss Lisa." Lisa curtsied in welcome and the other maids curtsied in return. "As you can see it's a little chilly outside-" Rose scoffed in her head "-so I think it would be best if we continued our greetings inside. Shall we?"

Rose wondered if Lady Tasha was daft or just bound for the inappropriate, for a Lady of the household should never welcome guests, not to mention coming outside to greet them like they were a set of tired horses at a traveling inn.

Miss Maudy-she was to be addressed as such during working hours-led the girls behind the mistress and Miss Lisa up to the giant mahogany doors. Once Lady Tasha was a few feet away from the doors, they were automatically opened by the footmen on the inside.

The footmen did not offer to take the other women's coats, which was to be expected, for only aristocrats like Lady Tasha, or gentleman were to be serviced by the footmen.

Complete and utter astonishment were the only words Rose could think of as she walked onto the black and white marble floors. Lord Alkan was a simple man, with simple tastes in food and art, so his home was not decorated as one would expect a man of his status to be. In contrast, the Duke of Hampshire's grand entrance was something to behold for the heavens.

"Oh dear," gasped Miss Maudy.

Oh dear was correct. There was the entrance to the drawing room on the left which was dressed in thick European rugs and expensive silk upholstered lounges and chaises. There was a large, crackling granite fireplace in the center, and along the front walls were soft, pashmina curtains that were pulled back from the floor to ceiling windows to let it the natural light. On the right was what looked like a reflection, it was another drawing room. How strange, Rose had never seen two drawing rooms on the same floor, by the entrance no less.

Straight ahead were two sets of matching staircases, with a large raindrop chandelier hanging from the ceiling in between them, but what was most awe-inspiring was the expansive artwork…everywhere. There was a marble statue made by a famous Italian sculptor in the corner, next to a vase that was made from real bone china.

The ceiling was a painting itself, having to have been done by a master artist to complete such a detailed and large scale work. To the right on the wall was a painting 30 meters wide by 40 meters tall of two aristocratic lovers at a picnic, each gazing into the other's eyes with tender affection.

It was all so much to take in; all the maids seemed to have forgotten their manners and were rudely staring around. Except for Merda, who seemed to be looking at Lady Tasha the same way the others were looking at the artwork.

"It always is quite lovely to walk into this space, although as beautiful as it is there are other places in this household which you will find even more…pleasurable" purred Lady Tasha. The way she said places was as if she were speaking of the intimacies between a husband and wife. Rose had a suspicious feeling she was going to be seeing and hearing a lot more "pleasurable" things in this mansion.

Miss Maudy had been straightening her coat and adjusting her bonnet when she asked, "Will we be going to the servants quarters milady or shall we meet with the Duke first?"

Tasha shook her head, as if coming out of a trance, and exclaimed "My heavens, forgive me, my manners have escaped me. Miss Lisa will be showing you to the servant's wing and I will be your tour guide along the way. After you have changed into your new uniforms and settled in, we shall take a stroll of the main areas of the household and Miss Lisa will introduce you to some of the other servants and maids along the way. All of you will then be given supper and once the Duke has finished his dinner, we can present you ladies to him. You will each have assigned duties that Lisa will explain to you, but Dimitri will be assessing you for some other recreational activities that all servants participate in." She said that last part with an upward tilt of her lips and a provocative twiddling of her fingers.

Rose presumed one was presented to their new masters so they would recognize their faces and names and be able to identify and call on them for specific tasks if need be. Although the way Lady Tasha explained their duties left Rose to think that this place and her duties were going to be a definite change of scenery from Lord Alkan's estate.