Taboo

Keywords: Intelligence, Artificial, Ch., 04,

"Hello. Are you Virginia Templeton?" she asked.

Assuming she was there in answer to the job posting, she replied," Yes, I am. Have you come about the position?"

"Yes ma'am, I have."

"Well, come in then." As the young woman passed her in the doorway, Virginia was certain she had seen her before, but couldn't place her. Must be just about town, she thought.

"It won't take long will it, ma'am? I can't afford to keep the coach waiting too long."

"Oh don't worry about that. I'll pay for it."

"Oh, thank you," she said. She was clearly nervous as she looked about the foyer.

"What is your name?" Virginia asked her, leading her into the sitting room.

"Rosalind O'Toole, but everyone just calls me Rosy."

"Well Rosy, why don't you tell me about other places you've worked."

They chatted for quite some time and Virginia immediately felt comfortable with her. Rosy told her that she had been caring for her grandmother who had been ill which is why she hadn't worked anywhere for the last six months. She announced that her grandmother was better and she was once again seeking a position.

"Do you live here alone?" Rosy asked her.

"No, there is one other," Virginia replied, not wanting to admit right away that she was living with a man.

"Your husband?" the young woman asked.

"No, not my husband," Virginia replied wanting to wait until later to explain her relationship with Drake.

Rosy suddenly seemed nervous as she asked, "Do you do much entertaining?"

"Entertaining?" she asked, puzzled by the question.

"Yes, such as having the neighbors over for dinner, or lunch." Rosy clearly was nervous asking these questions which puzzled Virginia even more.

Suddenly recalling that her neighbors were the Ogilvy's she answered, "No, the neighbors won't be coming over. You won't be expected to perform any kitchen duties, if that's what you're concerned about," she added.

Rosy stared at her for a moment and then suddenly smiled. "Yes, ma'am that is what I was worried about. I don't much care for kitchen work."

"Well, Rosy, you seem like a very nice, capable, and sensible young woman and I would love to have you as a maid. When would you be able to start?"

"Oh thank you ma'am. I could start this afternoon, if you like. I just need to return home and fetch my things."

"No need to jump into things so quickly. Tomorrow will be fine, although if you would like to come back this afternoon, you could get yourself settled." Virginia rose and began walking towards the front door. "I'll show you out and pay for your carriage."

After Rosy had gone, it was still niggling at the back of her mind where she had seen her before. She shook her head to rid herself of the thoughts and went upstairs to resume her work on Drake's riding suit.

A short while later she heard him pull up and looking out the window, she saw the he had bought quite a lot of supplies. She watched as he drove the cart around to the stable and a few minutes later he walked into her sewing room.

"How's my suit?" he asked, looking at what she was doing.

"It's coming along just fine," she replied. Smiling, she announced, "I hired a maid today. Her name is Rosy, she starts tomorrow."

"Good for you," he said. "Ah, breakfast in bed every morning."

"You will have to hire a man servant if you wish that. Being the mistress of the house, only I will have breakfast in bed every morning."

"Wonderful, I will breakfast with you then," he said happily.

She shot him a sideways glance, and smiling and shaking her head, she returned to her task, not even bothering to respond.

He just chuckled at her. "I'm going to go and get started on the stables. I'll see you later."

Later that afternoon, Rosy returned and Virginia greeted her at the door. She took one of the girl's bags and said, "I'll show you to your room. It's a little tricky at first, but you'll get used to it in no time. You don't mind attics do you?" she asked over her shoulder as they climbed the first set of stairs.

"No, ma'am. That's where most maids sleep."

They stood outside of Virginia's door and she showed Rosy where to press to open the panel revealing the staircase. Virginia could see the surprise and delight on her face.

"I've heard about these, but have never seen one before," she said, peering up into the darkness.

"I always keep a small lantern at either end to light the way," she said, picking one up. She lit it and they made their way up the stairs. They emerged into the light and turned towards the rooms at the front of the house. "There are five bedrooms here, but I've actually taken over two for sewing rooms, but you can choose between the remaining three."

She chose the one next to Virginia's sewing rooms and stowed her bags there. Virginia was looking out the window and saw Drake coming in from the stables.

"Would you like to meet the other resident of the house?" she asked.

"Yes, ma'am, I would." She had frankly been quite curious about the other resident. She had assumed that it would be a woman, perhaps a sister or even her mother.

They came down the stairs just as Drake came in the front door. He stood looking up at them as they approached. "Rosy, I would like you to meet Drake Stratford. He lives here as well. Drake, this is the new maid, Rosy."

"Well, hello, Rosy. Welcome to Aurora, I hope you'll enjoy working here."

Rosy just stood and stared at Drake with wide eyes. She almost appeared frightened. She took a step away from him. "Y-y-you live here, sir?" she stammered.

"Yes. I know it's a bit shocking that we live here together," Virginia began to explain, "But Mr. Stratford and I are old friends and I don't like living in this big house on my own, so as he's in town for awhile, he has agreed to keep me company."

Rosy was still staring at Drake with great uncertainty. Finally, dropping her eyes, she said quietly, "It's a pleasure to meet you, sir." She turned to Virginia. "If it's alright, ma'am, I'd like to return upstairs and unpack."

"Certainly, do you need some help with the catch for the stairs?"

"No, ma'am. I think I can manage." She turned and hurried up the stairs.

Drake and Virginia looked at each other. "Well, we certainly took her by surprise," she said. "She almost seemed frightened of you."

"Well, I am a very imposing man," he said, standing tall and looking imperious.

"Yes, of course you are," she replied, in a mocking tone.

Over the course of the next few days, as Rosy was getting her bearings in the house and her duties were being defined, Virginia began to grow fond of the girl, but was worried about her behavior towards Drake. She appeared to be truly frightened of him. One evening, after Rosy had retired, Virginia and Drake were sitting in the library.

"Drake, what do you think of Rosy?" she asked him.

"I think she's doing a fine job. I don't see much of her though," he commented.

"Do you find anything odd about her behavior towards you?"

"Well, I didn't want to say anything but she does seem, well, almost frightened of me," he said.

"Do you think it could just be that she sees you as the master of the house and that's what makes her nervous?" she inquired.

"No, I've seen that look before in servants and she is actually scared. Maybe you should talk to her and find out," he suggested.

"Yes, I was planning to do that, I just wanted to know if you had noticed it as well."

The next morning, after Drake had gone out to work in the stables, Virginia sat Rosy down and explained her and Drake's concerns.

"We were just wondering why you seem so frightened of him," she said gently.

"He's a man, ma'am," she said not looking up from the table.

"Well, yes, but he's a very nice man. You have no cause to fear him."

"I know how men treat servants, especially maids," she replied, beginning to get upset.

"What do you mean? I can assure you that Mr. Stratford will only treat you with the utmost respect. He's not the type to ignore you and not say thank you or to not commend you on a job well done," Virginia assured her.

"That's not what I meant," she said quietly.

"Please, Rosy, what is it?"

She hesitated and then said in a small voice, "I'm afraid he'll hurt me."

"Hurt you? You mean physically? I know that in some households if servants make a mistake or break something, even by accident, that they get beaten, but neither I nor Mr..."

"That's not what I mean either, ma'am!" she cried.

Thoroughly confused, Virginia pleaded with her. "Please, speak plainly, what is it you're afraid of?"

Almost in tears, she twisted her hands, trying to bring herself to say the words. Suddenly Virginia realized what it was that she meant.

"Oh, Rosy. No. He would never lay a hand on you in that way. I can promise you that."

The distraught young woman looked up at Virginia, still worried.

"You will not be expected to tolerate that kind of treatment here. Mr. Stratford is a good man and will not touch you," she said gently. "Were you treated like that somewhere else?" she asked.

Rosy nodded her head. "Yes, ma'am, I was. I didn't tell you because I didn't think they would give me a reference, but it was at the Ogilvy's."

Virginia felt the blood drain from her face. "Thomas and Doris Ogilvy?" she asked. She suddenly realized that that was where she had seen the young maid before. And why she had asked the puzzling questions about having the neighbors over for dinner.

Rosy again nodded. "He was terrible. He always urged his sister to hire young maids so that he could...well...he favored virgins, ma'am. He would use them for awhile, taking his pleasure when he desired and then sack them. That's what happened to me while I worked there." She looked up and saw Virginia stricken face. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you."

Virginia found she was having trouble breathing. She heard Rosy's voice as if from a distance, apologizing. "That's alright Rosy. You can return to your duties now," she said absently. "I need to speak with Mr.

Keywords: Intelligence, Artificial, Ch., 04,