CAGED BY STONE
LILY'S POV
I stood in front of the Stone Manor, feeling a sense of fear and excitement. It was the beginning of my new life. The best thing that ever happened to me was when I found out that there had been a vacancy. I'd been working home from another dreadful day of work at the bar when I saw the poster and the huge pay they were offering. I called them immediately, hoping the spot had not been taken already.
The tall grand structure of the Manor was located in the heart of Kensington, a part of London where the royals and the elites reside. It felt intimidating being in a place like this. I felt out of place in my worn-out clothes, dishevelled hair, and a small suitcase. But I wasn't going to let that discourage me, I'd already come so far, and I'd already quit my job at the bar. This was my only hope.
I walked up to the door and rang the doorbell. It only took a short time for a man to open the door. He was dressed in a full suit and looked like he was in his late fifties. His hair was in a neat, short side part, and he had a serious expression on his face while he scrutinized me.
“Hello. I am Lily Carter, and I'm the new maid.” I said.
He nodded his head. “I'm Duke, the butler. I'll show you to your quarters. Follow me.” He said and began to walk in the opposite direction with me following behind him. As we passed through the house, I could not help but notice the magnificent interior of the house. Marble floors, polished so clean you could see your reflection, stretched out in every direction, veined in obsidian black and silver. A staircase curved up from the centre, its bannister carved from dark mahogany, shining under the bright lights from the chandelier that hung above.
The chandelier was very grand, created from crystal and wrought iron. It was very beautiful the way it cast its light onto the room. I could barely take it all in. It felt like I was in the pages of a fairytale, I'd never seen anything quite like it.
Finally, we passed through the kitchen, which was also something that took my breath away. It was a striking blend of modern elegance and vintage charm. Slate floors mixed beautifully with ivory cabinets. A massive marble island was located in the centre. The scents of spices lingered in the air. The kitchen was very neat, but I didn't have so much time to take it in.
We passed through the back door to a whole other part of the property that revealed the staff quarters. It was like a mini town located in the back of someone's house. I could only imagine how wealthy Mr. Stone was to be able to afford such luxuries.
Duke turned to me and handed me the keys. “These are for your quarters.” He said and pointed to the quarters at the far end of the house. “That's it over there. You will have the day to get ready, and tomorrow, you will resume work fully. Your uniform is laid out on your bed. You will be expected to wear it during your work hours. I'm sure you've already been given a list of things that are expected of you in your employment letter, so I don't need to mention them.” He told me sternly. He was a very scary man.
I nodded my head. “Yes, sir.”
“You will arrive at the house early each morning to serve Mr. Stone's dinner—that is when you are on duty. You will work with Shayna, who is the second maid here. Some Days, she will be in the kitchen while you clean and vice versa. Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good, that will be all.”
***
The staff quarters were nothing like a typical servant's wing. It was more like a luxurious apartment, at least after coming from the apartment where I was living before. It was painted with soft, grey walls, polished oak floors, and beautiful lighting that filled the room with a warm, homey glow.
The bedroom was cozy and elegant with a queen-sized bed placed at the corner of the room, adorned with white sheets, a large walk-in closet that would make my small belongings look pitiful, and floor to ceiling curtains that covered large windows that overlooked a beautiful part of the garden. The bathroom floors were covered in marble tiles, glass, transparent walk-in shower, and soft, white towels hung neatly on the rack.
I'd never lived in anything so beautiful and comfortable. My old apartment had been small and dingy. It was congested and had one noisy fan, but here, I felt like I could breathe. I was already beginning to love it here.
A knock on the door interrupted my tour of the quarters. I walked over to the door and opened it.
Standing outside my door was a pretty blonde who looked to be the same age as me. She had her hair in a high ponytail, and she was wearing the same uniforms that had been laid out for me on the bed. Her beautiful green eyes that were bright with excitement were framed behind circle iron-rimmed glasses.
“Hi! I'm Shayna.” She said, stretching her hand towards me for a handshake. She had a bright smile on her face that made me feel slightly less nervous. Meeting new people has never been my forte.
“I'm Lily. Nice to meet you.” I said and accepted her hand.
“I'm so glad you're here. I've been working here alone since Mabel was fired a year ago and it feels good to finally have someone around besides that old stickler, Duke.” She rushed. She spoke very quickly and I had to pay attention to understand what she was saying.
“I'm happy to be here, too.” I told her with a small smile on her face.
“Oh, I think you and I are going to have the best time ever. Well, I just came to introduce myself. I have to get back to work, I'll come over later for coffee and I'll catch you up.” She said,
“Thank you, very much.”
“See you soon.” She said and then she was gone.
I looked forward to enjoying my new life here, but little did I know that being at the Stone Manor would be an experience that would change my life forever.
