Above her Station

[Perplexia]

The rains in England made life hard for those that made their livings off of the land. To make it worse the early winters ravaged the lands causing frost to take a good portion of the crops which left farmers short to pay their landlords the taxes that would be due in the spring.

Debtors prison was always a constant threat for those that couldn't pay what was due. In Marybeth Millers case it would leave the next harvest untouched for her brothers were still too young and her father wouldn't be there to work the fields. This would leave both the Landlord and their family without a resolution.

Before the dreaded tax day arrived her father sat her down at their old wooden dining table and brought the truth to light. He had come up with a solution that would keep him and their family in home, and with luck be able to provide enough food and harvest for the next year.

"Daughter" he said to her as she sat quietly. "If the Lord agrees to my exchange you will go and work in his home as a maid for a year to pay off the taxes we cannot afford to pay thanks to the early frost."

Marybeth listened brushing one of her amber locks from her face as her emerald eyes looked up at him. She was of average height and considered quite beautiful. Her station in life was simple. She was a woman and did what she was told and expected nothing. If she was lucky when the time came she would become a wife to what would more than likely be a farmer. This was the fate she was dealt. Books opened her mind to a world she would never see, and she loved to disappear into them whenever she could.

As the good daughter she was there wasn't much she could say other than "yes father." She was the only hope her family had to get out of this predicament. The idea of working was nothing new to her. She cleaned and scrubbed daily and even cooked on occasion. Life at a manor would be no different in that term anyway.

As the day arrived her father went out to the Lords barouche. She couldn't hear what was said and couldn't see the Lord for that matter either. In all her days she never had.

Soon her father came back inside and advised her that the Lord had excepted that she would work in his home. The next day she was to arrive at the servants entrance and speak with the head housekeeper.

Marybeth packed up her few belongings which simply consisted of clothes and books and headed on foot the next day to the great manor. Standing at the servants entrance she spoke with the head housekeeper and was shown to her room and given her uniform. A brief tour, a scrap to eat, and she was set to work dusting the library. Never in her life had she seen so many books.

 

[NickisSora]

Lord Tobius Mc Grouth or Toby to be personal. A young lord about 26 inherited this land from his father who now ruled over another land. Tobius is brown hair and brown eyes he had been out and about all day in meetings with sages and wise
en as well as the head masters making sure all taxes where in check he couldn't wait to see the new maid he was promised. His clothes where of green jacket and vest black collar shirt and white pants with leather boots. Stepping from his cart he walked in giving hellos and asking for status updates he was to plan a party in a month for a lot of big names across the land.

"Where is the girl?" Toby asked his head house keeper

"Upstairs Master she is dusting the library."

"I see her father told me she liked to read."

The Head house keeper sighed gently and went over the banisters and on the way where she would of been cleaning. So far bery good he walked to the linrary and breathed. His attitude was a collection of stress in his personal and business life. He walked in to the library.

"Hello there." Toby said to her.

 

[Perplexia]

Marybeth was lost in her thoughts as she dusted the shelves and her eyes scanned the titles. She could become lost in this room for a decade and never come out. Her solitude was interrupted as she heard a mans voice say "hello there".

Nearly tripping over her feet she turned around and curtsied. Her eyes keeping down. "Your Lordship" she said softly. "Sorry sir, i'm almost done here i'll be out of your way quickly."

She turned back to the shelf and shuffled along moving more quickly so she could get out of his way. His father had been known as a cruel man and she didn't wish to incur his wrath for dolling.

 

[NickisSora]

"Actually i wish to inquire two things. Number one is it true you love to read and wrote and number two what is your name." Tobius looked hard at the you f lady her manners and movements spoke graceful and for a farm girl to his status was a compliment he kept cold from things in his life at the moment he didnt have anything to leep him happy but none of that now. "If the first is true i wosh to extend personal biding to this library my other servants dont use it but sonce you can read it shall be open to you on off hours and your breaks. So what would you say." Tobius looked to her and noticed her movements slow down as if processing the information he began to walk towards the door until he herd a excuse me which he turned staring back at her. "Yes??"

 

[Perplexia]

Marybeth stopped and turned back to face him with another curtsy. Keeping her eyes down she replied. "Yes sir, i do like to read and I can write, and my name is Marybeth Miller sir." she thought for moment and replied to his statement about the library. "Thank you sir you are most gracious, you have quite a beautiful collection of books. It is a great honor that you afford me in reading them on my own time."

With another curtsy she picked up her tools and began to exit the library to work on the next room. "I am done with this room and shall get out of your way now sir." giving him another slight curtsy with the intention on continuing on with her work in another room.

 

[NickisSora]

-Tobius smiled in appreciation of her work and she was doing well as he just stood at a distance and observed her a bit walking to his study he began to look at the papers he aquired and looked over for the land he controlled required a lot of paper work and smashed his fist in the table.-"Dam it why are the shipments of goods turning up missing." He sighed in exsaustment and looked to the other types of papers.

Tobius observed Marybeth about to open the door she could tell by the way he looked to her she could tell his anger and stress. "Can i Help you Marybeth??" Looking to her eyes he was only happy enough to not raise his voice she didnt deserve it.

 

[Perplexia]

Marybeth froze mid opening of the door to his study. "No sir just here to clean will come back later." She quickly shut the door and went to another room that was not occupied and allowed her to do her work quietly.

The house was rather large however she was assigned only a portion to clean on this day. As other maids had assignments for the rest. After speaking with the head housekeeper she was advised to just skip the study for the day since the Lordship occupied it and do it when he was not there.

She made her way back to the library and picked a book from the shelf. Sitting upon the floor she sat and read quietly getting immersed in the book.

 

[NickisSora]

-After quite some time he finished his work. he bathes and got in his Pjs and Robe walking to the Library he opened the door quietly as he did and observed Marybeth reading to not disturb her he walked past her with out a peep. Grabbing a book he had read to often but enjoyed it was The tales of The Vigilante. He sat back on a couch in the library as she took his chair though how could she know. He laid there relaxing and unwinding soon he herd a gasp and he put a hand up.-"Its ok read on your not distrubing me Marybeth. I want you to keep reading."

His voice calm and quiet reverse of his earlier mood. He turned another page this book brings memories he had and things he wasn't proud off as he kept reading. "Are you enjoying the Book."