Forced To Be The Duke's Maid

My name is Celeste, I have lived a full life up to now, a good life. Well, I can only assume it has been a good life, as I have nothing to compare it to. My entire existence thus far has been living within the walls of Exeter House, the workhouse to be more precise. My earliest memories I have are of being here. I took my first steps here, said my first word, got my first teeth and lost them… all here. And yet, I was content and loved. Even with no real family to call my own, I had never wanted for anything. People described me as the happiest orphan in the world, and to an extent I guess it was accurate. Growing up here, always seeing the same familiar faces, all of whom looked out for me, they cared for me. True, I had no blood relations that I knew of, but I had the best family in the world. Freddie, Matilda, Mrs Campbell, Betty, Aveline, William, they were all my family. Sometimes, as I watched the raindrops run down the window, mesmerising me into my deeper thoughts. I wondered where I would be now if I hadn’t spent the last eighteen years living here at Exeter House? Would I be living in a grand house? Would I be wed with a growing baby in my belly? Would I be a teacher? A nurse? Yes, as much as I was content and happy here with the people I loved like a family, there was always a tiny part of me that wished for more. I wanted to be a teacher, I wanted to be wed and have a child of my own someday… all those things. But would I ever achieve them? Or would I always be Celeste from the workhouse? The baby who was abandoned on the steps of Exeter House only days old. I closed my diary and pushed my pencil through my braided bun, that was enough self-reflection for one day. As I turned to walk back towards the kitchen, two strong arms circled my waist and lifted me off the ground, spinning me round. I squealed with the shock and the delight of it all. When I was placed back down on my feet, I turned round to see the wide grin and blue eyes full of mischief that awaited me. “Freddie Adams, how many times have I told you to stop sneaking up on me?” “Only about a hundred, it’s just too much fun to hear your surprised squeal every time though.” He grabbed my hand and spun me around before catching me in a waltz hold and spinning me round the corridor. “You are a natural dancer Celeste, you should be getting spun round a ballroom in a beautiful gown, not living here.” I frowned. “Don’t say stuff like that Freddie, you know this is where I am supposed to be, otherwise I wouldn’t have been left on the doorstep.” I turned away from him before he could see the disappointment on my face, just saying the words out loud caused a wave of sadness to wash over me. Freddie turned me to face him, holding both my hands in his. “Do not settle for a life like this Celeste, you deserve so much better, you deserve the world. I only wish I could give it to you.” I smiled as I looked up at him. He had always been my rock in here. From the moment Freddie was brought to the workhouse with his sister, Matilda, we had been the best of friends. He was two years older than me, but most of the time he would admit I was far more mature than he could ever be. I did tend to agree, but I also would not change him for anything. “Penny for your thoughts?” He smiled down at me now, before twirling me around one more time for good measure. I laughed. “You don’t even have two farthings to rub together, never mind a penny.” He pretended to look offended. “How dare you call my good standing into question. You’ll pay for that.” Suddenly he grabbed me and began to tickle me as I squirmed and giggled, trying to escape. He stopped and we both breathed deeply trying to catch our breath. “You know if I did have a penny, lots of them, I’d give them all up to make you happy Celeste.” I wrapped my arms round his waist and snuggled into his shoulder. “I do know that Freddie, what would I do without you?” He hugged me back and whispered into my hair. “Hopefully you will never have to find out.” The sound of someone clearing their throat startled us, we both turned at the same to see Mrs Campbell standing there. She had an annoyed expression on her face, as her hands rested on her large, plump hips. “When you two are done larking about, there’s work to be done. Freddie, go to the market. Albert has put aside a crate of old, damaged fruit and vegetables for us. He will still want a shilling for it, so take this.” Mrs Campbell reached into her dress pocket and pulled out a shilling. “And don’t dawdle neither, Mary need them for supper.” She turned to me now. “Celeste, Agnes needs you in the laundry. Best not to keep her waiting, you know how cranky she is.” “The laundry? Why? I always help Mary and Bertha in the kitchen.” “Don’t question me Celeste, just do as you’re asked, please. You can go back to helping in the kitchen again tomorrow. Now, go help Agnes and no dilly-dallying girl.” Freddie was already walking off in the opposite direction when I called after him. “Come find me after supper, we can read Moby d**k together.” He just smiled and waved as he disappeared through the door that opened out to the main courtyard. I turned to see Mrs Campbell still standing there, was it just me or did she look worried about something? “I will be off then to help Agnes.” She just nodded. “Thank you, Celeste.” Then she turned and walked off in the same direction that Freddie had just gone in. Why was she being weird today? And the laundry? I had never worked in the laundry room; I didn’t have the first clue what I was supposed to do there? Just folding sheets and clothes? I could cope with that…anything else, I’d need to learn fast. Agnes had a temper, one girl had left the laundry room with a bleeding eye before, after Agnes threw her shoe at her. I really hoped with it coming into winter, her feet would be too cold to remove one to throw it at me. I arrived outside the laundry door and took a deep breath. Here goes! As I opened it gingerly, I immediately saw Agnes, who was busy ironing a sheet. Steam billowed all around her, her forehead sparkled with perspiration. She glanced up at me, a scowl immediately appearing on her face. “What do you want child?” “I am sorry to bother you Agnes, but Mrs Campbell send me here to assist you today.” “No. Go and tell Fiona I do not want your help or anyone else’s. I work alone. She knows this, why would she send a useless welp like you to help?” Agnes shook her head and started ironing again. I stood there, wondering what I should say or do now. Agnes looked up again as if surprised to see me still standing there. “Well? What are you waiting for? Get out my laundry, go make yourself useful elsewhere. Get out!! I jumped at the loudness of her words. There is no way I was sticking around to get a shoe in the face…or worse. I turned around and ran back out the door closing it behind me. For an elderly woman, Agnes was scarier than Lucifer himself…and the laundry felt as hot as hell too. I walked briskly back towards the kitchen, I hoped to meet Mrs Campbell on the way, I wanted to explain to her what had happened. Hopefully, she would understand and not send me back there again. It was slightly disconcerting to think that Agnes had apparently grown up here from a baby too, just like I had. Would that be me in fifty years? Hating everyone and anything, my only friend being a hot iron? I shuddered at the thought. As I got closer to the kitchen area, I could hear voices. They didn’t sound like Bertha or Mary’s voice; it was a stranger. Well spoken. Was there something going on in there? Is that why Mrs Campbell hadn’t wanted me in work in the kitchen today? When I entered the kitchen, everyone turned to look at me. Mrs Campbell looked livid, Bertha and Mary looked concerned. There was a stranger there too, an older woman, maybe in her fifties. She was dressed head to toe in black, like she was in mourning. Her piercing eyes looked me up and down. “And who is this Mrs Campbell?” Mrs Campbell just sighed before responding. “She is no one, just some orphan. We cannot even find a designation for her because she is too incompetent. I apologise for her rude arrival.” Her words stung me. How could she say such terrible things about me? Mrs Campbell had practically raised me as her own. She had never been unkind or deliberately cruel. She had been more like a mother to me. The stern looking woman just kept her eyes on me, as she walked over to where I was still standing in the entrance to the kitchen. “A no one you say. What is your name child?” “Celeste ma’am, I am pleased to make your acquaintance.” I gave her a slight curtsey. She picked up the eyeglass that was hanging round her neck. “Let me look at you. Turn around.” I looked over at Mrs Campbell who had a forlorn look on her face, she merely nodded as if to tell me to obey the orders of this stranger. I began to turn around. “Much too fast, turn around slowly please.” I did as I was asked. It seemed adequate for her. “Age?” “Eighteen and two-months milady.” “Very good. Are you, menstruating yet?” I was taken aback by the question, but when I looked at Mrs Campbell again, she just nodded to carry on. “Yes, since my fifteenth-year milady.” “Can you read and write?” “I can.” “You can what? Read or write?” “Both milady.” “Are you a virgin?” I heard Bertha gasp in the background. What kind of visitor was this? “Yes, very much so.” The stern woman dropped her eyeglass and turned towards Mrs Campbell. “Were you going to bring this girl to me if she had not fallen upon our meeting? You know full well what his lordship is looking for. This girl is perfect, both in beauty and brains.” She turned back to me now. “Run along child, we have much to discuss here. Do not leave this building, understood?” I nodded and looked at Mrs Campbell. She looked so solemn now, all the anger was gone, all that was left now was sadness. “Go to your room Celeste, I will be along shortly. That will be all.” “Yes Mrs Campbell.” I turned and ran from the kitchen as quickly as my legs would carry me. What had just happened? Never in all my eighteen years being in this workhouse had I felt so degraded, so objectified. That ghastly woman had made me feel like a cockroach, like vermin. I hoped I would never have to see her again, but somehow, I knew I would. Something about the way she told me not to leave this building made me think I was her possession now…or maybe whoever’s she was working for. Had I just been sold? I got to my room, the one I shared with Matilda. I ran to the bathroom and emptied the contents of my stomach. Now I understood why Mrs Campbell had sent me to the laundry, not to punish me… to protect me. If only I could rewind time, I’d take one of Agnes’ shoes in the face ten times if it meant I never had to see that horrid woman in black again. I splashed cold water on my face and dried it with the rag hanging by the sink. There was a soft knock at the door. “Come in.” Mrs Campbell entered the room, her face ashen with worry and concern. “Mrs Campbell, what is wrong? Who is that lady?” Her eyes filled up, I had never seen any emotion from Mrs Campbell before, so this must have been bad. “That is Mrs Dawson, head housekeeper to the Duke of Elstree. You must pack up what belongings you have Celeste, you’re leaving with her right now. I’m sorry.”