THE MANSION´S DAUGHTER E-Book

Sarah Bulut

• Herausgeber: BoD - Books on Demand
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024

Seitenzahl: 323

Beschreibung

During the 1880s in Ireland, the Catholic Church and its teachings exerted a profound influence on daily life. Ten-year-old Amelia, an orphan from a Catholic monastery, is whisked away to England by the affluent young professor, Mr. Selambs. Accustomed only to the harsh disciplines and cruelties of her previous life, Amelia enters what seems to be a fairy-tale home. Yet, it doesn`t take long before she discovers the dark undercurrents of Mr. Selambs`s sinister manipulations and sadistic tendencies, initiating a period of distress and suffering far surpassing her previous trials.

Leseprobe

- THE MANSION’S DAUGHTER -

-The darkness of sacred thoughts-

Preface

Throughout centuries, people have always tried to find different ways to express their deepest inner feelings, and there are a ton of different ways to do so. Art, dance, music, theatre, poetry, and film stand as just a handful of the diverse mediums through which people have endeavoured to convey their innermost thoughts and feelings. However, there exists yet another avenue: Writing. Writing, throughout time, has served as a sanctuary for expressing sentiments and emotions that elude verbal explanation.

This book serves as a tribute to the resilience of survivors of the Magdalene Laundries, the children who endured abuse, and all those who lacked the stable security essential for childhood. It is dedicated to individuals of all ages and genders who have suffered various forms of abuse. My hope is that readers of this book will gain a deeper understanding of the profound impact of violence on shaping human lives.

This narrative is rooted in real-life experiences, dreams, and actual events, offering a testament to the complexity of the human condition.

Table of contents

Preface

The selection

The mansion

A new life begins

The labyrinth

Outside the mansion

Unbelievable

Pure innocence

Locked in freedom

The Music box

Cellar cramps

Under the cherry blossom

Off to Nottingham

The Cabinet

A taste of freedom

Reunification

Back on track

Pretty lies

The doll

The necklace

Afterwords

- CHAPTER ONE - THE SELECTION -

The gloomy and damp autumn weather had slowly but surely come to Ireland. The year was 1880, and the Victorian era ruled over Europe during this time. During this society, there were horse carriages, Victorian-style architecture, puritanism, industrialism, inequality and especially figgy pudding, which were popular and very common. Insensibility, morality, and fidelity were, at least to begin with, the ideal of the middle classes by this time.

The rain was pouring down like hail, the sky was grey, covered with clouds, and the ground was almost flooded with water and mud. It was the middle of the night as a big horse carriage with two black Frieser horses trotted towards a building. What kind of building, you may wonder. Well, I will tell you. It was a Roman Catholic monastery that they had made into an orphanage. And to begin with you can just imagine what a Roman Catholic monastery looked like in the 19th century. The house was a huge grey, kind of worn-out building made of stone bricks, it was a rather unpleasant sight. There were many floors, and big windows which didn't look like they had been plastered or cleaned for a while. Actually, it almost looked like an old haunted castle. Beside the monastery, only a few feet away there was another building, it was a chapel. You could tell, because this building was quite smaller than the monastery itself. It was made of brown stone bricks and there were two huge crosses on it, one the top of the black roof tower and one on top of the door to the chapel. There was a tower bell which rang three times a day when it was time for prayer and worship, and there were several large square thin glass windows built into the walls. There were two doors, one which led into the chapel and one other which led into the monastery, both of them were made of dark wood and they were lit by two lanterns that hung on either side of each door.

The courtyard outside the monastery lay desolate, devoid of benches, swings, or any semblance of playthings for the children. Only gravel paved the ground, leading the eye to a towering statue at its heart. Here, Saint Mother Mary stood in serene prayer, her hands clasped and eyes closed in devotion. The courtyard outside the chapel, while smaller, appeared equally forsaken. Tall grass mingled with colourful autumn leaves, their vibrancy dulled by the incessant rain and damp air. Trees and bushes struggled for space amidst withered flowers and thorn-laden rose bushes, their once vibrant blooms now wilted and lifeless. The garden, encased within tall black iron bars, remained inaccessible, the gate to the chapel firmly locked.

When the horse carriage finally arrived, a quite handsome man in his thirties, wearing a black coat, a black top hat, and a cane, stepped out with a little help from the driver. You see, there was so much mud, leaves, and water, so it was quite difficult for him to walk and pass by the gate to the monastery. He was wearing black leather shoes, a white tie sticking out from under his suit, and white gloves.

The man walked towards the building, he walked on the stone staircase, as he knocked at the huge door that rose menacingly over him. The door creaked disgruntled when, a few moments later, it was opened by an abbess.

The abbess was an old lady, maybe over sixty years of age. Since it was the middle of the night, she was only wearing her white nightdress, and a shawl on her head. She looked haughty and pale, her face was tight without the slightest sign of kindness or clemency. Her features were so sharp, and her lips were so thin that it almost looked like she didn’t have any mouth at all. She looked surprised, suspicious, and even a bit scared when she saw the man. With a harsh and unpleasant voice, she said:

-

“I am sorry, but we don't accept or take in any visitors at the moment.”

She then tried to close the door right in front of him. But when she did so, the mysterious man stopped the door from closing, by putting his foot between it and the wall. You see, it was uncommon for people to come and visit the monastery, and for the past year it had actually been closed for outside people to come at all. In this monastery, they didn't want visitors, as they didn't want the children to be engrossed in what was happening outside the convent since they wanted them to grow up as the children of God. And the children of God were not a part of the world, therefore they minimised the outside world from them, and everything that was in it.

Being able to go to a normal school, play like normal children, and take part in different activities such as going to the theatre, dancing, listening to music, reading books, and socialising was not an option for these children. The only people whom they met and came to visit were the priest and the archbishop, but they only came on Sundays and held worship in the chapel. In fact, there usually weren’t many visitors before the monastery closed the year before either. Occasionally, a couple might come and want to adopt a child, but that was very unusual, and more and more often social governments would turn in more children to be taken care of by the Catholic Church. The monastery was far away from the village and the city, as it was located far out in the countryside, but during Christmas or Easter, people used to come and attend the church worship more often since the church organised worships and other holy events during such times. The man stared at her, the old abbess looked surprised when the man continued:

-

“I am here to see the children you have for adoption.”

The man had a dark tone. He made the abbess uncomfortable with his mysterious energy. She then said:

-

“W-well if you are looking for a boy, I am afraid to disappoint you, we only…”

She didn't finish her sentence as the man interrupted her.

-

“I am looking for a girl.”

Before the old abbess had time to think of what he said, the mysterious man removed his hat as he entered the long hallway of the orphanage. It was a long and dark hallway. He looked around, ironically saying:

-

“Not much of a friendly place for children I must say.”

The abbess irritably closed and locked the door behind him without saying anything; there was more than one lock on the door; there were actually three locks. She turned around and gave the mysterious man an ice-cold look, and stared at him. After a few seconds she clapped her both hands and then three, (much younger I must say) nuns approached. She walked towards them, and whispered something that was impossible to hear. After she was done, the nuns fawned and bowed to her in a ridiculous and exaggerated way, because after all, she was the abbess, and only in a few seconds the younger nuns were gone. She then turned around to the man again and faced him with a sarcastic smile.

-

“Welcome to St. Eudora's Monastery, we will make sure you will have a look at the girls. What should I call you sir?”

The man turned around to face the abbess, he sighed and stared at her while he said:

-

“I am Professor Arthur Lewis Selambs. Call me Professor for short.”

-

“And I assume that you are not from around here...?”

-

“Correct.”

-

“Where are you from, if I may ask?”

-

“That's none of your business.”

he said ironically while smiling.

Mr Selambs, affectionately known as "the Professor," hailed from Ennis, the county town of County Clare nestled in the western reaches of Ireland. He spent his formative years in the opulent confines of Filray Abbey, a grand mansion bearing the name of his esteemed ancestor, Filray Selambs. Blessed with a childhood of abundance and privilege, Mr Selambs basked in the warmth of his family's affluence and esteemed social standing. His father, George Selambs, renowned as the "Earl of Ennis," ensured their prosperity until his untimely demise from tuberculosis when Mr Selambs was on the cusp of his ninth year. Tragedy struck again when a devastating fire claimed the lives of his elder brother Klaus and his grief-stricken mother, Barbara, the Countess of Ennis. Left orphaned and vulnerable, Mr Selambs found himself under the guardianship of the Catholic Church, which deemed him unfit to manage Filray Abbey alone due to his tender age. Consequently, he was enrolled in the rigorous confines of St. Joseph's Catholic Boarding School for Boys, enduring a harrowing existence marked by laborious tasks and the harsh hand of discipline. After enduring two years of hardship and maltreatment, Mr Selambs resolved to escape the oppressive environment. With meticulous planning and unwavering determination, he eventually succeeded in breaking free from the confines of the school.

Mr Selambs stood out among his peers as a remarkably astute young lad. Gifted with his father's intellect and his mother's compassionate spirit, he navigated the challenges he faced both before and during his time at the school with remarkable resilience. Despite the adversities, he demonstrated his maturity and capability, proving himself worthy of inheriting his father's title and the ancestral estate. As a young nobleman approaching the age of thirteen, Mr Selambs, against the objections of the Catholic Church, garnered the support of local authorities to reclaim his rightful place. The arduous process finally concluded, and Filray Abbey once again became his sanctuary, his childhood home restored to him at last.

Returning to the same institution years later, Mr Selambs found it transformed into a Catholic nunnery and orphanage for girls. With his reinstatement at Filray Abbey, he became the sole remaining member of the Selambs lineage, inheriting both the estate and its accompanying responsibilities. Bereft of family or external assistance, he embarked on the daunting task of managing the vast household at a tender age. In addition to his newfound obligations, Mr Selambs found himself entrusted with a substantial inheritance, alongside his father's scholarly pursuits in literary research. Graduating from school at the age of sixteen, he relocated to Luton, England, to pursue his father's studies further. It was here, amidst his academic endeavours, that he earned the moniker "the Professor" and acquired a grand mansion of his own.

Following Mr Selambs sardonic remark, he and the elderly abbess pivoted, striding toward the corner where the other nuns had previously vanished, quickly disappearing from view. As they entered the next chamber, Mr Selambs gaze fell upon the statue of the Virgin Mary mounted on a pedestal, stirring memories from his past. He caught his breath, surreptitiously loosening his tie, attempting to dispel the unwelcome recollections flooding his mind. Images from his childhood surfaced, him kneeling in prayer, beseeching forgiveness before a saint while enduring punishment for sins he had not committed.

They ventured into another chamber, which branched off into three additional rooms. The monastery boasted lofty ceilings, indicative of its expansive size. Yet, the atmosphere within was chilling and dim. Each room they traversed revealed large, dusty windows adorned with depictions of idols, saints, and crosses, occupying every available space along the walls.

In one particularly notable room, a grand altar stood adorned with candles, candlesticks, and a sizable cross, while a majestic statue of Saint Mother Mary cradling baby Jesus commanded attention.

Golden and silver jewellery adorned the saints, sacrificial offerings gleaming amidst the sombre surroundings. Nearby, prayer stools awaited, and an iron basin provided a place for ritualistic hand washing before prayer.

Most of the rooms they passed were vacant, their emptiness punctuated by the echoing footsteps of their journey. Any furniture present was shrouded beneath white or grey sheets. As the young Professor and the abbess navigated the corridors, the abbess imparted insight into the workings of the orphanage.

-

“St. Eudora´s Monastery is an orphanage for girls who are born undesirable, homeless or are orphans somehow. However, here at the Monastery, they are given food and a home, and they are raised to be good Catholics. When they reach the age of seventeen, if somebody doesn't marry them, we give them the opportunity to become nuns, and if they don't meet the conditions of that, they are sent away from here to work. Right now, at the moment, we have 40 girls between the ages of four and sixteen years old.”

When the abbess said the word “work”, she meant the Magdalene laundries. The Professor knew what it was, but he didn't say anything. But if you don’t know what that means, I will tell you now. The Magdalene Laundries, also called Magdalene Asylums, was an institution which was usually run by the Roman Catholic church, between the 18th century to the late 20th.

These institutions were teeming with a diverse array of women deemed by either the Catholic Church or society to be threats or outcasts. Dubbed "fallen women," they included those who had been victims of rape, engaged in prostitution, were unmarried mothers, or simply did not conform to societal norms. Condemned to confinement, they were coerced into a life of labour within the confines of laundry facilities, destined to be forgotten by the very communities that had cast them aside.

The Professor was quiet; he knew what she was talking about. But now, he was there for one purpose, and when that was fulfilled, he wanted to leave as soon as possible. If you were looking closely, you could see a sinister smile on the abbess' pale face as she talked about the laundry.

They continued down the hallway until the abbess finally turned the handle, revealing another room: the dormitory. Stretching long and narrow, its grey walls and floor were shrouded by equally drab curtains covering the windows. Rows of beds, twenty on each side, lined the room, leaving only a narrow pathway between them. Crisp white linens adorned each bed, topped with a wooden cross hanging overhead. Positioned in front of each bed stood a girl, their ages, heights, sizes, and hair colours varying.

Clad in matching white nightdresses, each girl wore a grey knitted sweater and a cross around her neck. Their fatigue was palpable in the dimly lit room, the late hour weighing heavily upon them. All appeared somewhat emaciated, drained of energy as they stood silently, eyes cast downward.

Mr Selambs paced slowly down the line, his hands clasped behind his back along with his cane. He scrutinised each child with a discerning gaze, observing some yawning or rubbing their eyes in weariness. Eventually, he paused in front of a small, seemingly ashamed girl. Despite appearing to be between the ages of eight and nine, she was actually older, though her gaze remained fixed on her bare feet, conveying a sense of hidden shame.

In reality, none of the children wore shoes, nor did they have socks to protect their feet from the cold, hard cement floor. Intrigued by the girl before him, he gently lifted her chin, peering into her eyes. She was strikingly beautiful, despite the signs of recent hardship evident in the cracked skin of her lip. Her piercing blue eyes, framed by long, dark lashes, contrasted with her pink cheeks and smooth complexion. Rose-red lips formed a delicate, kiss-shaped mouth, complementing her blonde hair, neatly braided and cascading down her back.

After a brief moment, he proceeded to observe the other girls in the room before returning to the blue-eyed girl. His gaze lingered on her as she remained fixedly focused on the ground.

-

“The rest can be dismissed. I would like to talk to her in private.”

He then walked out from the dormitory, determined. One of the nuns came forward to the girl and grabbed her arm while she spoke very sharply:

-

“Come with me.”

If you were there you could see the girl's fear in her eyes, as she was about to be beaten. But she had no other choice than just to try to keep up with the nun who held her arm very tightly. You could almost feel the smell of fear and the tension in the room, as the girls saw the girl being dragged out from the dormitory, and no one dared to say a word, even if they knew that she would never come back. After they were out of the room, the abbess clapped her hands and in a few seconds the girls were back to bed; after that she closed the door after them. Outside the dormitory Mr Selambs nodded to the nun to let go of the girl's arm which she did, and after that, the abbess and the other nuns left them alone. The girl was now alone with the man. She tried to swallow, but her throat was too dry and you could tell that she was uncertain over the whole situation. The man took a chair from the corner of the room and sat down as he waved for her to come closer.

-

“Come, let me have a better look at you.”

His voice had now changed into a calm, dark but also sweet voice. He seemed more relaxed and calm now, more than before when the nuns were nearby. The girl stared at the floor as she slowly started to walk towards him. She then stood in front of him, she breathed heavily and modestly looked him in the eyes.

You could tell that she was scared as she started to get tears in her eyes, which Mr Selambs saw. With a gentle and sympathetic voice he said:

-

“Now, now. Let’s all settle down. Are you okay child?”

The girl didn't dare to answer, she then quickly looked down on the floor again, as she suddenly remembered that it was “forbidden” to talk or look people in their eyes without permission. But she wanted to look at him because she could feel that his aura released calmness which made her relax.

Mr Selambs cut a striking figure, standing tall and possessing a well-built physique at the age of 32. His charm was undeniable, making him a sought-after presence in social circles. His countenance boasted light blue eyes, complemented by dark brown hair framing a straight nose and thick eyebrows. Blood-red lips added a touch of allure to his smooth, pale complexion, accentuated by prominent cheekbones. Occasionally, his fringe would partially veil his left eye, depending on whether his hair was slicked back or left to fall naturally. Impeccably groomed, he was always dressed in fashionable attire, maintaining a clean-shaven look with his beard never allowed to grow beyond stubble. On occasion, one might find him donning glasses while engrossed in reading.

-

“This will go faster if you speak.”

he said with a stern quiet voice.

The girl then bravely took courage when she very quietly said:

-

“Uhm…w-well...I am not allowed to...”

she sobbed.

-

“...To what?”

-

“Talk…”

-

“Yes you are…”

-

“...”

-

“Tell me, how old are you, child?”

-

“I'm 11 sir…”

The girl's voice was very soft and sweet, and you could tell that she looked very uncomfortable in this situation as she looked down. She squeezed her hands through her night dress as she spoke. You see, the children at St: Eudoras Monastery were not allowed to talk to strangers or people in general, not even to each other.

There were moments in their daily schedule when the girls were allowed to talk to each other, and sometimes (if they were lucky) even play, but aside from that, they were not allowed to speak at all, and they were forced to work. Laundry, cooking, factory work, cleaning, scrubbing floors and shoes, and similar tasks were common since they were raised to be “God's children and good Catholics”. The more the girls worked, the better. It was very tough in the summers when the children were forced to work on the fields outside for hours. The little girl tried to hide her hands inside the sweater as he spoke to her, as she had wounds all over her fingers.

-

“Do they hurt?”

Mr Selambs asked with a calm voice.

The girl's eyes widened in surprise as she glanced at the man, realising he had seen her wounds, which she had desperately hoped to conceal. She hadn't expected him to notice; how could he have? Feeling exposed, she quickly averted her gaze, looking down once more.

-

“Not anymore, sir.”

The Professor then gave her a little smile. He then slowly took her hands in his, held them softly, and drew her closer to him. He sighed as he stared into her eyes, he then spoke very firmly:

-

“You are a well-behaved young lady. You know that? I want you to leave this place with me, and come to my home, would you like that?

Time seemed to stand still as she absorbed his words. Her mind raced with disbelief. Could he truly mean it? Was he offering to take her away from this place? The notion seemed almost too fantastical to comprehend. Unsure of what to believe, she found herself momentarily paralyzed, her thoughts swirling in a whirlwind of uncertainty. After a few moments, she mustered the courage to meet his gaze. If one looked closely enough, they might discern a faint glimmer of hope flickering in her eyes. Yet, tempered by a lifetime of disappointments, she dared not allow herself to fully embrace the possibility. Her silent question hung in the air, pleading for confirmation: "Is this real?" Yet, beneath her cautious inquiry lay a profound fear of yet another shattered dream.

The girl didn't know so much about the world outside the monastery or the countryside, so she didn't really know what to expect. He stood up and then said:

-

“Come on, take my hand and come with me.”

The girl looked up at him, staring at him indeed. He ignored it while he took her hand, and he led her out of the room and through the long hallway where he had come from before. The girl looked at the walls, and you could see her worried expression mixed with a hopeful face. He then asked:

-

“Do you own anything?”

-

“...I…”

-

“Do you have anything that you would bring along?”

-“...

A necklace.”

The Professor had an ice-cold look, and he did not answer. The thing was that he got even more flashbacks from the time where he lived at St Joseph's Catholic Boarding school. He hated the thought that the girl had taken away the things she owned, since it reminded him of his situation, that he had taken away everything he had when he was a young boy. They were then greeted by the abbess again.

-

”I will be adopting this child and taking her with me right now at this moment. Bring me the necessary paperwork to my carriage outside, as well as her necklace.”

he said.

His voice was firm but also determined, and without another word he turned around and then walked through the hallway, leaving the abbess. She didn't really have much of a choice to say anything anyway as his voice and his mysterious behaviour had scared her. He walked so quickly that the girl almost found it difficult to catch up with him. He had a hard grip of her hand as he continued walking.

He wanted to get out of this place as soon as possible. He guided her towards the front door, out to the empty garden. It had stopped raining, and it was bright outside at this moment since the sunrise had started to set, and you could hear the birds singing. After a few minutes the abbess and the three nuns came outside. The abbess came outside with all the paperwork.

-

”The girl is not allowed to bring anything from this orphanage except her clothes and the cross that she is wearing.“

The girl trembled in the chill air, lacking both shoes and a coat to shield her from the biting cold. Shaky with apprehension, she hesitated at the abbess's words. Despite her reluctance to depart, she longed for her necklace, a cherished possession she had held onto for as long as she could remember. Yet, the thought of asking for it filled her with dread.

What if she incurred punishment for such a request? However, with the prospect of leaving with the man, perhaps she could escape reprisal, if only for a moment. It was a risk worth considering. Summoning her courage, the girl took a tentative step towards the abbess. Meeting the nun's cold gaze, she felt a shiver run down her spine.

-

“Please...sister Margaret…please let Seven...have her necklace…”

Why she was calling herself a number, Mr Selambs wondered, but he hadn't a chance to ask her before the old abbess faced her with an angry and ice-cold look and before you could count to three, the abbess gave her a hard slap straight across her cheek. The slap was so hard that the girl fell hard on the pointy gravel on the ground, and you could see that Mr Selambs was frustrated (albeit not surprised) by the way she was being treated. He sighed, and then roughly took her by her arm and helped her up, he then quickly placed her behind him without saying a word to her. He then turned around to the abbess.

-

“You!”

he said with a very irritated tone,

“You can go and get this girl whatever she actually owns and make a nice profit.”

He pulled a bag of coins out of his pocket that was much more than the fee.

-“...

Or I can pay the normal fee and report this girl's injuries to the local authorities.”

He let the bag of coins jingle as he shook them. The old abbess gave him a scared look. She grabbed the money and looked over to the younger nun who stood behind her and who had the girl's necklace in her pocket. She nodded her head in a way that said: ”Bring it here.” One of the younger nuns stepped forward and gave the older abbess the necklace. She then handed over it to the Professor, leaned forward and said very angrily:

-

“Very well, but do promise me one thing, Professor. Now, when you have your child and whatever that thing is, promise me to never come back here to this holy place again! That girl deserves nothing more than hell.”

The Professor sighed as he signed the paperwork.

-

“If I were you sister, I would pray every night that there is no reason for me to return to this place again, ever again.”

He then gave her one of the papers that he signed and kept the rest of the paperwork. He faced the girl behind him, took her by the shoulders and pushed her towards the carriage. They both stepped into it and when they both sat down, he placed the necklace around the girl's neck, and the driver immediately started moving forward. He sat back and looked at the girl covered in dirt, hugging her arms. She was cold, and while she stared at him with her innocent eyes, you could see that she had been crying. Her left cheek was red from the slap, and she was scared because she did not know who this man was or what was going on. But at least he seemed to be a nice person. Mr Selambs took off his coat and put it over the girl's back, he leaned back and sighed while he watched her.

-

“Try to sleep, it will be a long way home, we are going to England my dear.”

And after that, they both sat quietly the rest of the journey without saying a word to each other.

- CHAPTER TWO - THE MANSION -

Many hours later, they finally arrived in England, which now would become the girl's new home. Since they were travelling from Ireland to England, they had stopped a few times to change from carriage to boat, and from boat to horse carriage again. Mr Selambs wasn't much of a blabbermouth, so they barely spoke to each other throughout the journey. They had been travelling for a few hours with the horse carriage, and the girl had fallen asleep. She was resting her head against the window when they finally arrived in the evening around 7. The sun had begun to set, and it was cold and a bit windy when they arrived at the mansion where Mr Selambs lived.

It's time for me to depict the place, but I encourage you to let your imagination roam as you read, for this place is so vast that it nearly defies detailed description from me as a writer. As mentioned earlier, the estate was vast and remarkably beautiful. Mr Selambs residence was an exquisite English mansion crafted from bricks and stones, adorned with intricate patterns reminiscent of those found on ancient castles. The mansion boasted an axial symmetry design, a common feature among grand estates and fortifications. Its front facade showcased four towers, two of which were notably larger than the others, while two additional towers graced the opposite side of the edifice. Stretching lengthwise, the mansion also featured two wing buildings, one positioned on the east side and the other on the west. These wings, subordinate to the central structure, added to the grandeur of the estate. The wing on the east side, known as the "East Side Tower," was longer and slightly wider than its counterpart on the west, aptly named the "West Side Tower."

Vibrant rose thistles adorned the walls of the building, their blooms reaching up towards the windows. The sheer number of windows defied enumeration, but one could easily estimate at least seventy, varying in size and placement. Enclosed within a tall black fence, the mansion was cocooned by trees and shrubbery from afar. A spacious front yard greeted visitors, featuring a central white fountain surrounded by gravel. The yard exuded a serene ambiance, enhanced by the gentle trickle of water from the fountain. Notably, a tunnel beneath the eastern wing of the building extended towards the stables, visible from a distance.

When they arrived at the manor, they were greeted by the staff who stood and waited in a line outside the mansion. You see, Mr Selambs did not live in the old mansion alone. No, he had servants who worked for him. We will start with the first footman, Mr Peter Buck, he was the professor's right hand man. He was the one who was responsible and made sure that the rest of the staff did their job right, and he was the highest-ranking of the servants. He was the one who knew Mr Selambs schedule perfectly. Mr Buck was an old man in his sixties and had been with Mr Selambs for a long time; he was a loyal butler and a righteous man. We will talk more about Mr Buck later on, since he will appear later in this story. More people who worked for Mr Selambs were the private chef, the gardener, and the coachman. Mr Selambs had three housemaids, a couple of footmen, a stable boy who took care of the horses, and he had also prepared a nanny for the girl. There were also three other chambermaids and two chamberlains who worked for him. All these people lived in the undergrounds inside the mansion, separate from Mr Selambs, except the nanny.

They were now standing in front of the house behind the water fountain, looking a bit nervous but also excited. If you were there you could hear the housemaids talking about the new girl. “Who is she?”, “I wonder what she looks like”, “She's from Ireland, right?” were questions they discussed.

When they finally arrived, Mr Selambs stepped out of the carriage holding the girl in his hand. Mr Selambs’ coachman bowed as he helped open the carriage door, and were then welcomed by Mr Buck.

-

“Welcome home Professor,”

he said.

Mr Selambs gave no smile, as he just nodded. He took the girl and made her stand in front of him while holding her shoulders. He faced the staff and said:

-

“These are the people who work for me, they live here, just like you do now. They will treat you well.”

The girl didn't say anything as she stared at all these new faces. Though she was tired, the people smiled at her. Then, a sweet young maid stepped forward. She had hazel/yellowish brown eyes and dark brown curly hair tied up in a bun. She was, like the other maids, dressed in a house maid uniform. She was smiling and her voice was really sweet. She looked down at the girl and said:

-

“Hello there.”

With her head faced up, the girl modestly answered:

-

“...H-hello…”

-

“Dear child, you must be tired.”

The girl faced the ground without answering. The nanny smiled at her and said:

-

“My name is Marilyn, and I am going to be your nanny. When the Professor is busy, it is my job to take care of you. Now, it is time for your bath.”

Mr Selambs now let go of her shoulders as he slightly pushed her forwards to Marilyn. The girl now looked at Mr Selambs to get his ”permission” to go with Marilyn. With an emotionless face, he nodded towards her, Marilyn took the girl's hand, as she smiled at the Professor.

-

“I will take care of her.”

A couple of minutes later, when everyone was gone and Mr Selambs had attended to his work, Marilyn and the girl had made it all the way up to the bathroom. There were dozens of bathrooms in the building, but this one was the largest one and the one that was used the most. This bathroom was kind of dark, but in a cosy way. The bathroom exuded an old-world charm, its walls bathed in the warm hue of honey and infused with the sweet scent of the same. At its heart sat a sizable bathtub brimming with hot, steaming water. Sunlight filtered through a window, casting a gentle glow upon the room. Marilyn had thoughtfully arranged towels and lavender-scented soap, along with essential cleaning supplies, anticipating the needs of someone who couldn't recall their last bath. As they entered the bathroom, Marilyn closed and locked the door, ensuring their privacy and comfort.

-

“So...very good. Now, let's take off your clothes, My Lady.”

The girl backed off as she was about to defend herself when Marilyn offered her some help, the girl held her arms around her chest as she took a step back. With a friendly laugh and a sweet voice Marilyn said:

-

“My Lady, you cannot have your bath with your clothes on, can you?”

Marilyn then took a step forward to help the girl, but the girl took one more step back again, refusing to cooperate. The girl had never taken a bath before, not that she could remember anyway, but Marilyn did not know that, and the girl did not say a word.

-

“There is no need to be shy.”

Once again, she offered the girl help to undress her a third time, but she refused again. This time the girl almost panicked. You could see that she was frightened.

-

“Don’t panic, now. Please...let me help you.

”

After some time being gentle, and patient, she let Marilyn take off her clothes. Marilyn was of course going to hang up the clothes on the chair, but instead she dropped them on the floor. Because you see, what Marilyn saw was almost so horrifying that she needed to cover her mouth. She gasped as she saw the girl's body. The girl's sad expression almost made Marilyn break into tears. You see, Marilyn was always happy and positive, so one automatically became happy when one was with her, because she was always in a good mood and had great energy. But when she saw that the girl had blue bruises all over her arms, (some of them were even swollen) she became speechless. The girl was dirty and malnourished, and she looked very tired.

-

“Wha...what happened to you child!?”

The girl tried to cover her chest and waist as much as possible. She didn't respond, she only looked down. And if you were watching closely, you could see a scratch on the girl's left chest, there was a number engraved on her skin.

-

“What is this? Why do you have number seven engraved on your skin?”