Intro- In the small city of Greenage all the poor people in downtown wake up at sunset, most of all on Saturday's. They look up on the infamous green hill to see the Tudor home, the biggest house in town. The Tudor family was filthy rich; it was known Mr. And Mrs. Tudor had two sons. Both were legible bachelors, and it was known that soon their father would retire and hand his prosperous business over to one of the son's. (Making the greedy rich parents of daughters from all over, very eager to marry either of the sons). The poor people of the city just loved the way the sun gleamed on the gray and blue home, like the light with in the windows was welcome to them. The green grass and soil theirs to plant on, the large rock theirs to hold with in their hands. The wild game in the woods theirs to catch. Oh, how any one from the town would love to set foot inside, of course one of them would, by her own tricks of desperation. Her name was Veronica Samuels and this morning she looked up at the house more longing then ever.
Chapter One: The Morning After
"Where is that girl, I hope she isn't late. Muriel is she here yet?" Muriel walked in the kitchen shaking her head .
" I'm sure she'll be along, the poor girl was lucky enough to get this job".
" Muriel's right, we must be patient", said James passing through the kitchen with dirty dishes, which in fact had been dirtied the night before at the Tudor's dinner party.
That had been a lot of partying then dinning, either way the servants had to clean everything before the residents of the house woke-up. And the head maid Nancy needed as much help as possible, since only nine of thirty maids lived in the house and could get up to clean. The new maid would complete ten in-house maids; the last maid had quit two days before. That had only affected Nancy today, if the house wasn't clean then she'd be fired and Muriel or someone else would take her place.
" Well, tell that to Mrs. Tudor, I'm sure she won't wake-up with her credit card in her ass wanting a feast for five. And she won't call me the wrong name today or spend half a million dollars in the city. And I'm sure she'll give me my first vacation in three years. I mean hell James let's all go take a nap!" With that Nancy walked out the kitchen Muriel following close behind. James, the head butler just shook his head silently.
A couple minutes later there wasn't one person not cleaning, slowly the out -the -housemaids came upon duty along with the butlers.
It was around this time Veronica Samuels arrived to the house in taxi. After she paid the driver, Veronica stood there in the huge driveway looking up at the house. She held one large suitcase handed down from her brother Eric. Veronica soon became eager and no longer delayed.
She rung the expensive door bell hesitantly, when she realized she was nervous. The door opened to reveal a man of about twenty-five. He was a black man, not first what Veronica expected from the Tudor mansion. And just as well the butler seemed surprised.
" Can I help you miss?" he said in his usual way of answering the door.
"Yes I'm Veronica Samuels, the new in-house maid".
" Oh, good we've been waiting for ya! Come on in!" The butler, Teal Viper was very warm in his greeting inviting Veronica into the busy home.
Of course as Veronica looked down in the big fowler she saw nothing of the scouring maids.
" It's nice isn't it? You going to like living here Miss. Samuels, I'll guarantee it." Just now Teal lead Veronica down a hall. " I'm Teal by the way, Teal Vipers. Now I'm going to warn you," Teal said stopping in front of a door, " This is a nice place once you've gotten past a couple things".
After that Teal told her to find Nancy the head maid then he left with her suitcase. Veronica took a deep breath and opened the doors slowly, poking her head in. She was surprised in the scenery. The famous Tudor mansion was a huge pig stile; she saw various maids and butlers in a hurry to clean the fifth. It seemed to Veronica that she would rather eat on the street downtown from the garbage then this disgusting place.
There were chairs displaced, alcoholic substances all about, food in the most unsatisfactory places. And not to mention the silver ware, and party supplies thrown all about. Besides that, there were various over items on the floor almost broken. And people said her house was dissatisfactory…
As she composed herself Veronica walked in the room shutting the door. Everyone in the room stopped and stared at her in a paranoid way, thinking she was a Tudor. Veronica simply said, " I'm the new maid."
The house workers seemed to shrug and went back to their tasks. Veronica dismissed the scene to find Nancy. Once she finally found her in the kitchen, Veronica observed her boss. Nancy was not so young as Veronica, but she surely wasn't old. Veronica decided Nancy was a person of character, one who's age no one really questioned. So she walked up to the bossy maid and introduced herself.
" Hello, Nancy? I'm Veronica Samuels the new maid…"
Nancy turned to Veronica with an impatient look, " Oh, about time!" Then she took on a look of wary, "I'm glad you're here, we'll be needing your help immediately, follow me."
Veronica followed the maid who walked at fast pace, " Don't slow down Missy hurry along we haven't that much time."
Nancy rushed down long halls making sharp turns, which made Veronica sure she would be lost if she dared to wonder the Tudor home alone. Now the two women came to an old door that read, ' Servant Supplies', and Nancy took out her key. Once the door opened and Veronica walked inside she found it musty and hot.
Inside there was cleaning utensils, and service uniforms. Nancy inquired Veronica about her size then tossed her the unflattering work suit. To Veronica's dismay Nancy left her to change in the dark room, then ordered her to report to kitchen once she was done. Nancy left quickly before Veronica could say a word.
Which left Veronica to wonder why she was there in the house in the first place. Then she remembered she had no chose. Veronica was eighteen years old, and lived downtown all her life. Her parents never had much money, which was fine since everyone in the family worked. Mr. Samuels was a mineworker, Mrs. Samuels worked at the local bakery, and Eric, Veronica's brother was an up rising merchant. He hadn't lived with the family since he was seventeen, but he sent money every single week. Veronica herself worked at the local bookstore storing supplies and sometimes clerking.
This worked out very well for the family until both Mr. And Mrs. Samuels fell sick. The couple had been in the market when there was salmonella spread, giving them a rare sickness. Eric had to move back in the house and become a mineworker, but soon the siblings realized that Veronica's job held no real support for the family. Eric could find no other job so three days ago Veronica went down to Neilson's Workers to find a job. Veronica was fortunate enough to become a maid, last minute, at the Tudor mansion. Her brother Eric was relieved making preparations for his sister's leave.
Veronica sighed then quickly changed and headed for the kitchen.
Madame Guinevere woke up with her little puppy Alexandra licking her hand. Alexandra was the only creature on the earth that had the right to lick Jenny's hand. Well maybe besides her husband, Master Tudor, but he never acted so spontaneously. Which was fine for her, as long as she could spend the money.
" Good morning Lexie! My little darling." She pets the white animal affectionately then looked at her counter. It was 8:43; just a bit early for her but Madame Guinevere rang the little bell on the counter anyway. The small silver bell had a long piercing sound, it was an heirloom of the Caster family and Guinevere got it from her brother as a wedding gift.
Slowly Madame Guinevere began to remember the evening, or perhaps the morning only hours ago. While her husband was away Madame Tudor held a big dinner party. Every rich person she knew was there, many of his or her children acquaintances of her sons. Jennifer was hoping that Foster or Maxim would find a nice girl and marry her in the coming months. Of course she checked on her sons at least six times during the occasion to find Foster with the lovely Darcy whose mother she adored.
Madame Guinevere was thinking of this just as the maid women rushed in with her many trays of breakfast and hot treats. " About time Murdiel I was beginning to think you'd never come. And these eggs take them back I want easy over! You lazy ungrateful…" Jennifer, who liked to be called Guinevere was like this most mornings with little sleep, and could never remember any of the servants' names.
" It's Muriel you snobbish brat!" Muriel thought hurrying out the room with Hazel who she quickly shoved back in the room to serve Madame Guinevere.
" Is there any thing else I can do to suit you Madame Tudor?" asked Hazel nervously pouring her tea.
" Fluff my pillows and shut your trap". Hazel did this well as Muriel hurried back in the room. Then both the women curtsied and left the room to clean the house where the Madame would notice any mess.
Soon after her large breakfast Madame Guinevere showered and dressed. Of course with assistance, from the maids, and went downstairs for sun bathing by the pool. By then Veronica had worked the sum of energy with the other maids and now she could nothing but ogle at Mrs. Tudor.
Veronica was her opposite in every way, Veronica was black young, poor, and didn't own the expensive clothes Madame Guinevere did. To her this woman was scary and intimidating. Looking out the glass of the sauna Veronica quickly walked out the door to where the rich women lay.
Veronica stood besides her setting down lemonade and asked her would she need anything else. Madame Guinevere took off her sunglasses, and peered up at Veronica. The surprised Tudor gasped in her words to sit up and look at Veronica.
" Who the hell are you?"
Veronica a bit taken a back answered quickly, " Veronica Samuels, I'm the new maid".
" What? Oh I see Vicky today's your first day. How cute, I want you with me in the city today do you understand?"
"Yes Madame, I do. When would you like to leave for the city?"
" When ever I please, now get out my face", Madame Guinevere said putting her sunshades back on and laid down to tan.
Veronica got away from the burned women to reside to clean in the house. Madame Jennifer was pleased, if she didn't make Veronica feel intimated, she wouldn't be whom she was.
It was at this moment Foster came from the bungalow or the pool house outside and tried to escape the gaze of his mother. Which had only been narrowly avoided as he hid behind the brush.
For him the party never ended, especially with Darcy who left five of that morning. All during the evening Foster talked and danced with the young heir, for their fun night to go to morning in the pool house. Of course Foster would expect interrogation from his mother, it was only he, besides Maxim, that knew the real reason for her tanning. She could get tanned at the sauna, or in the city, and have more time to shop. So her intentions were clear, to see exactly how Foster's evening came to an end.
Foster was used to such harassment and had secret paths from the pool area to the gardens to escape his mother. Foster thought himself slick, but of course he wasn't the only one to know the secret path.
Once he was on the other side to see the working gardeners he lit a cigarette, in greeting of the workers. But of course none of the workers much loved his greetings. So Beatrice and the others ran away pretending to be called inside. Foster already felt better heading into the house, his day just got better and better.
As soon as he walked in the house the help had the house clean as if there were no party at all. Foster noticed a new maid looking around her in wonder meant. She was black, and not to Foster's liking. He took please that she was unaware of this, he planned to treat her worse then the gardeners.
As he made his way through the house he was planning the action of the day. In a matter of minutes he could arrange a trip to Malibu with a few friends and enjoy the various clubs. It would take only a few hours to jet there.
Now Foster was on his floor passing his brothers room, Foster stopped to knock on his brother's less expensive doors.
Maxim Tudor had delayed his own breakfast in order to fully enjoy his latest series of books. Which he himself found tantalizing as his grandmother described the series to him on an early occasion. Maxim was very close to Grandma Fluorine and found himself closer to her then to his own parents.
So to be brought from his reading and have his older brother barge in his room was irritating. " Foster… I'm busy, what is it?" Surprising to Maxim himself he hardly raised his voice to Foster, no matter the situation.
"I was thinking little brother how about we take a trip to Malibu, and have a good time?"
Maxim sighed with patience, " It sounds good because we did that two weeks ago". Foster seemed to have remembered this at that instant.
" Oh yes, of course I guess I'm still fuzzy from last night. Nice party, wasn't it Max? Whom did you dance with?"
Even though Maxim knew that Foster knew the answer, he said, " Maria Delavan once in the evening, you Foster?"
" There was too many to remember names, although I did end the evening with Darla".
"Darcy you mean."
" Oh, yes whom ever she was. How about golfing toward noon?"
Maxim shook his head, " 'Sure, Foster anything for you!'"
Foster realized he was making fun of Darcy but dismissed it. " Like anything isn't." And the ostentatious man left his brother to be alone shutting the door.
Maxim sighed leaving the room to say a good morning to his grandmother, although Maxim was disappointed to find her already up and out her room. Just then he noticed Veronica by his favorite bookcase, looking queer.
" Excuse me?"
Veronica turned to Maxim in surprise not realizing his presence in the room. She found him very attractive, more so then his brother. It was the kindness in his eyes that made this true. Maxim himself wasn't so forward with his thoughts and found the maid particular.
" Yes Mr. Tudor?"
" Have you by any chance seen my grandmother?"
" No sir, but Lucy says she went outside in the garden this morning".
" Oh, very well then, I'll be out your way. I would just like to look at this bookcase."
"Of course Mr. Tudor, just allow me to get this spider for you, and I'll leave you to it".
Of course Veronica knew this task would be hard, considering that she was terrified of anything bigger then her thumb. And this particular spider was half the size of her fist. However she was more scared to admit this to Maxim.
He had come to look at the spider himself in some surprise, finding it quite large. Larger then the ones he usually finds on the bookcase. " Perhaps all the spiders I ever found have a vengeful mother?"
Veronica then tired to shake her fears and reached up to get the spider, of course with her hand a foot away, the spider moved. This caused Veronica to jump back with a shriek and hide behind Maxim.
Maxim was at first startled by her actions before laughing abundantly. Veronica realized her ignorance and quickly apologized, " I'm sorry sir! I apologize. How ignorant of me I'll move the spider."
" No, it's ok miss I'll get the spider I understand you don't handle them well".
" No, no sir, allow me. I'm not usually scared of spiders, just one of this size I find disturbing. I really wish to perform my duties for anyone belonging to the household".
Maxim seemed abash, and nodded his head for her to perform her task. Even though he was sure the young maid was unable to do so.
With Maxim's blessing Veronica reached up to get the spider her hands shaking. Maxim saw this; he took a hold of her hands. " No, miss surely this is your duty…however I believe a man should do such things for a women."
The second heir of the household took a handkerchief from his pocket and grabbed the spider throwing it out the window. Maxim returned the cloth to his pocket to see Veronica embarrassed immensely.
" If you're worried about your job ma'am; I won't tell if you don't".
"Oh, thank you sir, really that's nice of you".
" Your welcome miss; it's Maxim by the way".
" Excuse me?"
" My name it's Maxim. You may call me that in appropriate times. Your new here, am I right?"
" Yes I am today's my first day, and I'll bother you no longer Maxim."
Veronica almost made her leave at the door, when Maxim stopped her.
"Wait, I didn't catch your name!"
Veronica turned around in surprise, taken a back by the question, " Oh, sorry I'm Veronica, Veronica Samuels. Good-bye Maxim."
" Good-bye Veronica".
And with that Veronica walked out the door realizing Teal was right, The Mansion was a nice place once you've gotten past a few things.
And it was just at that moment every one in the household, and uptown heard the piercing cry of Madame Guinevere.
. And I will take your advice into consideration and after editing it I'll post the first chapter again.