Post by xarlot on Sept 25, 2007 13:10:59 GMT
Well, Miss Charlotte has been writing again today, she didn't go into college and has been very, very bored.
I've always wanted to write something like this and now I finally have gotten round to it, please read it and tell me what you think
I proof read it myself but since no-one else is online at the minute, there may be mistakes.
Oh, and the title is likely to change, one thing I can never write are titles, hate them >_<
* * * * *
April 24th
The bus pulled to a halt at the end of the bumpy country lane it had been driving along and Miss Marie Burr stepped off with a thankful wave to the driver. She watched as it pulled off again and took a left until it was out of sight, then with her small suitcase under her arm, began down the lane which led to her new home. Old Mrs Canning’s idea of ‘best’ consisted of a plain white dress paired with an emerald green corduroy waistcoat and matching ankle boots. Marie’s waist length ebony locks were plaited and pinned neatly to the back of her head, though one strand, which was shorter than the rest, kept escaping and Marie had to stop and tuck it back in every few minutes.
Marie was a careful girl; she had planned out her journey and left an hour open in case of any mishaps so she would not be late. Taking out a silver pocket watch, a precious item to the girl, she realised how early she was, and not wanting to cause disrupt for her new employers, she decided to waste some time taking a slow stroll down the lane. A few minutes passed and several people on bikes rode past her, one gent even waving a good morning to her as he passed. Marie puzzled, he must have mistaken her for someone of higher class, and after all she was smartly dressed and walking leisurely. Smiling to herself now, the girl pretended she was a lady out for a morning stroll, and even stopped to pick a blossom from a low branch as she passed and took a minute to breathe in their sweet scent before moving on again.
Several more minutes went by and no-one on bikes passed, Marie had thought she was alone on the road when a horn sounded behind her, and the girl jumped and turned. The sound had come from a car which was currently slowing down besides her. Marie paused in her step as she presumed as there was no-one else around the driver must be stopping to talk to her.
“Good morning!” A bright man’s voice called to her, and the speaker exited the vehicle and took a few steps towards her. Marie bowed her head in polite greeting and the man continued. “I’m afraid I’m having a stroke of bad luck, see, my watch has stopped and I fear I am late, do you have the time?”
“It is twenty past eight, sir.” Marie replied courteously.
The man looked baffled for a second, and then laughed. “You tell the time without even looking at a watch? My, a clever trick if I ever did see one, though a useful one nonetheless.”
Marie smiled. “I looked but a few minutes ago, but I can check again if you wish…” She reached for her pocket but the stranger laughed and shook his head.
“No need, I shall take your word for it.” He paused in his laughter and looked at her. “Where are you headed so early a morning anyway? All that is down this path is the Kennecott Manor.”
“That is where I am headed sir.” Marie replied again, she hoped he wouldn’t ask her why; she didn’t want to reveal to this man that she was a servant when he and others this morning had mistaken her for someone more.
“A friend of the Kennecott family are you?” The man’s tone was curious, and slightly amused, and he raised a sceptical eyebrow.
Marie exhaled slightly, knowing she would have to tell him why she was headed where she was. “Not quite sir, I am filling the position of the maid there.”
The man’s face fell considerably. “I see, well then, you had better hop in the back, the manor is still a half hour’s walk down this way.” He opened the door to the car.
Marie blinked and wondered if he had heard her correctly, although she wasn’t accustomed to these country ways, she was quite certain maids did not get offered lifts by gentlemen usually.
“Come on, it’s quite alright, we’re heading down this way anyway.” The stranger gestured for her to climb in, and Marie, with a courteous bow of her head, obeyed and slid into the back seat, placing her suitcase in her lap.
“What’s your name?” The gentleman asked, sliding in besides her and gesturing to his driver to carry on.
“My name is Marie Burr.” The girl replied.
“Well Marie, I hope you enjoy hard work, there are certain ladies at the manor who are, how shall I put it, obnoxious old hags?” He laughed and Marie quietly joined him before silencing herself abruptly.
“Sir, I do not think my new employers would appreciate me thinking of them in such a manner.” She said gently, though a smile still lingered on her lips.
“Too nice for your own good, eh? I have a feeling the Kennecott’s are going to like you.”
Marie blushed slightly. “Thank you sir.” She muttered.
They passed the rest of the journey with light-hearted chatter; Marie explained to him how she had come to be chosen out of the other girls from her home, while the still-nameless stranger listened on eagerly. He turned her attention out of the window as Kennecott manor came into view. It was a large building, stately yet with an old-fashioned modesty to it, a large drive paved the way to the front door and fountains and masses of clean-cut greenery lined the sides.
“I’m afraid this is where I leave you.” His voice sounded, as he slid out of the car, which parked at the far end of the drive, and held the door open for her. “I wish you luck in your new post and I hope to see you again my dear.” He smiled charmingly at her and started to climb back in.
“Wait, sir!” Marie called, and the man paused. “Would it be rude to ask for your name?”
The stranger shook his head of dark sandy hair and smiled. “Of course not.” He paused. “My name is William.” He smiled one last time and shut the car door behind him, before the vehicle drove away.
I've always wanted to write something like this and now I finally have gotten round to it, please read it and tell me what you think
I proof read it myself but since no-one else is online at the minute, there may be mistakes.
Oh, and the title is likely to change, one thing I can never write are titles, hate them >_<
* * * * *
April 24th
Well, I finally left the city this morning, after receiving a wretched send off. It seems the girls needed one last chance to ridicule me, but I tried not to let them dampen my spirits. I suppose if nothing else is gained from this journey, I can at least find refuge in the fact that I shall never see their faces again. That thought alone brings me much joy. Old Mrs Canning made me dress in my best for the trip, I suppose she doesn’t want me to fail and come home either, but they needn’t worry about that. I knew straightaway this is what I wanted, and I shan’t even consider giving this less than my best. I’ve been practising on my writing and speaking for the last three days, I want to make a good impression, though needless to say I am very nervous and people do tend to make a mess of things when they worry. I suppose I’ll be nearing my stop soon so I best put away my things, I’ve heard a servant’s life is frightfully busy, but I hope to write as soon as I have chance.
The bus pulled to a halt at the end of the bumpy country lane it had been driving along and Miss Marie Burr stepped off with a thankful wave to the driver. She watched as it pulled off again and took a left until it was out of sight, then with her small suitcase under her arm, began down the lane which led to her new home. Old Mrs Canning’s idea of ‘best’ consisted of a plain white dress paired with an emerald green corduroy waistcoat and matching ankle boots. Marie’s waist length ebony locks were plaited and pinned neatly to the back of her head, though one strand, which was shorter than the rest, kept escaping and Marie had to stop and tuck it back in every few minutes.
Marie was a careful girl; she had planned out her journey and left an hour open in case of any mishaps so she would not be late. Taking out a silver pocket watch, a precious item to the girl, she realised how early she was, and not wanting to cause disrupt for her new employers, she decided to waste some time taking a slow stroll down the lane. A few minutes passed and several people on bikes rode past her, one gent even waving a good morning to her as he passed. Marie puzzled, he must have mistaken her for someone of higher class, and after all she was smartly dressed and walking leisurely. Smiling to herself now, the girl pretended she was a lady out for a morning stroll, and even stopped to pick a blossom from a low branch as she passed and took a minute to breathe in their sweet scent before moving on again.
Several more minutes went by and no-one on bikes passed, Marie had thought she was alone on the road when a horn sounded behind her, and the girl jumped and turned. The sound had come from a car which was currently slowing down besides her. Marie paused in her step as she presumed as there was no-one else around the driver must be stopping to talk to her.
“Good morning!” A bright man’s voice called to her, and the speaker exited the vehicle and took a few steps towards her. Marie bowed her head in polite greeting and the man continued. “I’m afraid I’m having a stroke of bad luck, see, my watch has stopped and I fear I am late, do you have the time?”
“It is twenty past eight, sir.” Marie replied courteously.
The man looked baffled for a second, and then laughed. “You tell the time without even looking at a watch? My, a clever trick if I ever did see one, though a useful one nonetheless.”
Marie smiled. “I looked but a few minutes ago, but I can check again if you wish…” She reached for her pocket but the stranger laughed and shook his head.
“No need, I shall take your word for it.” He paused in his laughter and looked at her. “Where are you headed so early a morning anyway? All that is down this path is the Kennecott Manor.”
“That is where I am headed sir.” Marie replied again, she hoped he wouldn’t ask her why; she didn’t want to reveal to this man that she was a servant when he and others this morning had mistaken her for someone more.
“A friend of the Kennecott family are you?” The man’s tone was curious, and slightly amused, and he raised a sceptical eyebrow.
Marie exhaled slightly, knowing she would have to tell him why she was headed where she was. “Not quite sir, I am filling the position of the maid there.”
The man’s face fell considerably. “I see, well then, you had better hop in the back, the manor is still a half hour’s walk down this way.” He opened the door to the car.
Marie blinked and wondered if he had heard her correctly, although she wasn’t accustomed to these country ways, she was quite certain maids did not get offered lifts by gentlemen usually.
“Come on, it’s quite alright, we’re heading down this way anyway.” The stranger gestured for her to climb in, and Marie, with a courteous bow of her head, obeyed and slid into the back seat, placing her suitcase in her lap.
“What’s your name?” The gentleman asked, sliding in besides her and gesturing to his driver to carry on.
“My name is Marie Burr.” The girl replied.
“Well Marie, I hope you enjoy hard work, there are certain ladies at the manor who are, how shall I put it, obnoxious old hags?” He laughed and Marie quietly joined him before silencing herself abruptly.
“Sir, I do not think my new employers would appreciate me thinking of them in such a manner.” She said gently, though a smile still lingered on her lips.
“Too nice for your own good, eh? I have a feeling the Kennecott’s are going to like you.”
Marie blushed slightly. “Thank you sir.” She muttered.
They passed the rest of the journey with light-hearted chatter; Marie explained to him how she had come to be chosen out of the other girls from her home, while the still-nameless stranger listened on eagerly. He turned her attention out of the window as Kennecott manor came into view. It was a large building, stately yet with an old-fashioned modesty to it, a large drive paved the way to the front door and fountains and masses of clean-cut greenery lined the sides.
“I’m afraid this is where I leave you.” His voice sounded, as he slid out of the car, which parked at the far end of the drive, and held the door open for her. “I wish you luck in your new post and I hope to see you again my dear.” He smiled charmingly at her and started to climb back in.
“Wait, sir!” Marie called, and the man paused. “Would it be rude to ask for your name?”
The stranger shook his head of dark sandy hair and smiled. “Of course not.” He paused. “My name is William.” He smiled one last time and shut the car door behind him, before the vehicle drove away.
