A butler and a coachman
Inside the mansion, in a big spacious study, Josh and Simon were before Sarah. The study had tall windows that let in streams of sunlight, casting a warm glow over the dark wooden shelves on the walls. These shelves were filled with books of every kind, from thick, leather-bound volumes of history to slim, paper-covered novels. The air in the room smelled of aged paper and the faint aroma of pipe tobacco; it seemed as if the previous owner of this study was a smoker.
In the center of the room stood a large oak desk, its top crowded with different items. There were quills and inkwells, scattered papers covered in neat handwriting, and a brass lamp with a green glass shade. An open journal lay on the desk, filled with the owner's thoughts and notes. Next to the desk was an armchair, worn from years of use. Young Derrick was sleeping on it.
"So, what do you think? Not too shabby, isn't it?" Sarah asked with a soft smile gracing her lips. The manor was extravagant and beautifully designed. To Josh, it felt like he was in the royal palace, albeit a bit inferior.
"It's beautiful. Why didn't you tell us you are also an aristocrat, Sarah?" Simon asked. Sarah had her reasons. Even her son did not know that his mother came from a noble house, House Manchester. According to Josh's knowledge, House Manchester was a family close to the crown, with each head of the family being a member of the Royal Council. Unlike other houses, which always had internal strife where some were on the side of the crown while others were on their own, House Manchester was the only family Her Majesty trusted with the kingdom's secrets. That is why they were also deemed the title: The House of Secrets. Arnold Manchester was an archaeologist, a fleet general, and also His Majesty's right-hand man. This was a man who served the kingdom until his last days, placing the crown even above his own family. The man was basically a living legend, especially for guys like him. But now he was gone and would soon be replaced by a younger and more efficient young man, meaning that the Manchester family's power would diminish rapidly unless Sarah could fill her father's shoes. But from the looks of it, she had no idea who her family truly was.
Sarah seemed to think that her father was just a measly mine owner who loved money more than his family, and that he ended up dying alone with no one to see him breathe his last. Behind Sarah was a huge portrait of the Manchester family, her father Arnold in a simple suit and hat next to a young boy of about ten years, and a woman who resembled Sarah a lot, with a cute baby girl in her arms. This was Sarah's family portrait.
"Oh, I'm not. My father was a businessman, a good one, and he also owned the biggest mine in the whole kingdom. So trust me when I say I am not an aristocrat." Nodding at her answer, Josh decided to stop Simon from asking any more questions and hear what she had to say since she called them out here.
"Okay, now that we have got that out of the way, let me fill you in on the purpose of this meeting. Judging from your personalities, I see that you are two good young men, and in all honesty, I can't run this whole thing alone. I need helpers I can trust." She pointed out. Her intentions were pure. She truly wanted to help them, and she also needed to stay vigilant after all. Her father had many enemies.
"Trust is something earned, and I do not think we have done anything to earn your trust. Plus, we are basically strangers. Are you not afraid we might do horrible things to you, him, and all the other personnel here?" Josh asked in a bold tone, but Sarah waved her hand at Josh's negative words.
"As long as he trusts you enough, then I'm happy. So, what do you say? Which jobs would you two want?" Simon, being curious about the big city, chose to be the coachman, and Josh, after a moment, chose to be the butler.
Having settled that issue, Sarah rang a bell, and a servant came in running. She instructed him to take measurements for their uniforms. After a long day of being shown around the manor, Sarah brought them to their rooms. Josh and Simon's rooms were next to each other. Sarah left them to rest, and the two men retreated to their respective rooms. Once inside, Josh did not even have the time to take in the room's appearance. Going straight for the bed, he closed his eyes in thought but within moments of laying down, he fell asleep.
Waking up to the sound of a light knock on the door, Josh felt hungry, wondering if it was dinner time. But the sounds of birds and the little streams of light coming from the closed window stopped him in his tracks. [Damn, it's morning already. I did not even have a chance to eat.] Still in his thoughts, another knock on the door followed. Slowly getting out of bed, Josh went for the door.
"Good morning, Mr. Belling. I have brought your uniform. After you are done, the madam requests your presence in the dining hall." A beautiful maid stood at the door with neatly folded clothes in her hands. Receiving the clothes from her, she turned around and left. Josh retreated back into the bedroom and went into the small bathroom to freshen up. After he was done, he put on his new uniform comprised of a black tailcoat with shiny brass buttons, a crisp white shirt with a high collar, and a neatly tied cravat. His black trousers were pressed, and his shoes were polished to shine.
His ebony black hair was combed back, showing a handsome face with high cheekbones and a strong jawline. His abyssal black eyes were lazy and strained, and a small, doubting smile touched his lips as he stared at himself in the huge mirror in the bedroom.
"Looking good, I guess," he spoke, stealing one last glance at himself before leaving for the dining hall.
Making his way down the staircase, he met many other servants of the manor. Some were friendly, and some shot him unfriendly looks, but he wasn't one to complain, so he greeted those who greeted him and left those who didn't.
In the dining hall, sunlight streamed through the tall windows, lighting up the large wooden table. The heavy red curtains were pulled back, and the room was bright. The dark wooden panels on the walls were filled with paintings of the Manchester family's ancestors.
The table was set for breakfast, with silver candlesticks, even though their candles were unlit. There were plates of fresh bread, bowls of porridge, and platters of fruit, filling the room with a warm, inviting smell.
Sarah, Derrick, and Josh were seated around the table. Sarah sat quietly, her hands resting on the table. Derrick, beside her, fidgeted slightly, glancing at the food eagerly. Josh sat at the far end, looking towards the door, waiting.
The room was calm, with only the soft chirping of birds outside and the clinking of silverware as they waited for him to arrive. Upon noticing Josh, they all smiled, and young Derrick heaved a sigh of relief, possibly thanking the lord he could finally eat. Sarah signaled for him to sit in a chair not too far away from her.
"You are finally awake. Yesterday I came to invite you to dinner, but you were already fast asleep, it seems. Did you sleep comfortably?is the uniform size perfect?" Sarah spoke and asked with a light smile gracing her lips. Josh nodded.
"Yes, I did and yes it is. Thank you for your hospitality, Ms. Manchester," he answered respectfully. Sarah's smile wavered a bit as he answered.
"To the both of you, just because I have employed you does not mean you should treat me differently. I am still Sarah." Sarah pointed out, and Josh and Simon nodded in understanding.
After the breakfast, Sarah requested for them to accompany her as she had some meetings to attend to and also to show them around the city. A coach with the Manchester crest was by the door. It was made of dark wood and intricately crafted. Simon moved to pet the horses, and Josh moved to open the coach for Sarah and Derrick before going inside, followed by Simon, who was supposed to learn the routes first before he could start his job as a coachman.
"Take us to the mine," Sarah instructed the coachman, who was a middle-aged man with a stern-looking face. The coach took off heading for the mines. The carriage was silent; everyone was lost deep in their thoughts.