#daphnegothielle

“From my vantage point, I could make out only a fraction of the mansion’s facade. The land was vast and lush; trees lined the winding, private road that led to the heart of the estate. I had only a small case containing the few items I deemed important enough to bring. The journey had taken hours, and while I was exhausted, I couldn’t bring myself to sleep. Though my eyes drooped and my attention waned, I was awoken by the site of my employer’s property.

“The carriage came to a stop before the gate, and through the iron bars I saw the clouds reflected on the surface of a tranquil pond. I was hesitant to push my way through the only thing dividing the reality I knew from the reality I was to embrace. I had no choice, though, and with great reluctance I leaned into the cool metal. It hinged open with a slight creak, not caused by rust but from sheer immensity. I turned back around to close it; I had no intention of being irresponsible and negligent on my first day. 

“With one hand still on the gate, I began to walk toward the towering structure with the white marble ornaments polished so that they too mirrored the sky. Before I could even near the stairs, which, of course, would have welcomed me to grand, oak, double-doors, I found myself face-to-face with a great orange canine. He was out of breath, hair unbrushed, bow slowly coming undone, eyes alight with unfathomable curiosity. I immediately understood that this must be Lord Nathaniel, if not by his regal air, then by his inherent charisma. 

“He was a good two feet taller than me, and I had to look up to meet his childlike gaze. ‘Hello, Lord Nathaniel, how do you do?’ I had spoken softly, unsure of where to direct my attention. He responded jovially, with a hearty bark followed by a chuckle, quite obviously entertained by my fear. ‘You must be Miss Daphne! Pray pardon my appearance; I am terribly afraid that you have caught me after a long and eventful evening. I am excited by the incipience of a new correspondence with you, and hope you feel the same way. If you would be so kind as to follow me, I will be happy to take you to the meet the house steward and your fellow maids.’”

With Cassandra gone, off in the kitchen to make the tea, Daphne folded her hands with care, fussing over the cuff of her sleeve for just a moment before returning to her guest. She leaned back in her chair, settling in to the worn upholstery.

“My father had never been a very rich man.” She began immediately, launching directly into her narrative without room for bothersome explanation. “He was kind, surely, and was well-mannered in all the ways that counted. Mother married him while she was still quite young, but without any prospects to her name, denying his proposal was not her prerogative. Still, I would like to believe they loved each other. 

“Father lived in a small house, nothing worth dwelling on in terms of size or decor. Stowed away in the middle of the hills, more than two miles from the main road, it was always very quiet. Sometimes, I think back to that silence. I had an elder sister, Jane, with curled black hair. She refused to wear her stockings, and mother always had a fit come time to go out. 

“I was closer to my father, and maybe that was due to our coloration--we’re both what I suppose is colloquially known as ‘shiny’. My childhood was a happy one, insofar as I was kept fed and clean. I had no governess to supply an education, but I would frequently sneak into father’s study and read. All was well for thirteen years.” Daphne finished, brushing away a piece of lint that had fallen on her shoulder. With practiced indifference, she turned to see if Cassandra had finished the tea. Ears straining to hear the sound of the kettle, she shook her head. “I don’t know what that silly girl is up to,” she muttered, half to herself and half to Ivano.

”Anyway...