Free The Good Sister: Part Two by London Saint James Page A

Lady.” He bowed. “I did not mean to interrupt, and in such an impertinent manner. Please forgive me.”
    “You are Ethan, correct?”
    “Yes, my lady.”
    “You didn’t interrupt anything. Please, you and Max eat.” They smiled, but stood still. “I insist you eat, and please don’t feel you have intruded.”
    Max and Ethan sidestepped to one of the long counters, picked up a plate, and scooped up some bacon with long tongs.
    “Does anyone else work in the stables?” I asked.
    “Yes, my lady,” Max replied. “Thaxton works in the stables; however, I sent him into town for a shipment of oats.”
    “Ah, so then with the exception of Thaxton, I have met everyone?”
    Max smiled, and one of his front teeth overlapped the other. “Yes, my lady.”
    Wow. Nine people lived and worked here.
    “My Lady,” Ethan interjected. I gave him my attention. “In the spring there is a gardener, and a couple of helpers. I am sure you will meet them soon.”
    I nodded. “Thanks.” Then I gazed back at Maragrete and returned to our earlier conversation. “Now, would the meal we discussed please Lord Archer?” Maragrete nodded. “Good, then I would like to go with that menu for the party.”
    “Very well, my lady,” she said.
    I picked up a grape from a platter and popped it into my mouth. This definitely was a working kitchen. On the far end of the room was a wall of pots and pans neatly placed on shelf after shelf of stainless steel. To the right of that wall and what looked like a walk-in pantry, there were two large commercial ovens, two huge mixers propped on a wooden block style table, a brick oven for baking, three large sinks, a center island, a huge industrial sized refrigerator, a massive freezer and one, two, three large microwaves.
    “Well, I guess I’ll go see what other trouble I can get myself into,” I said, jokingly. “It was nice meeting all of you.”
    “As well as you, my lady,” Maragrete replied.
    I walked out of the kitchen only to hear a buzz of voices behind me as the doors swung closed.
    “I liked her,” a voice said. 
    I thought it was Claudia’s voice.
    “Yes, she is very nice, but also very American,” Maragrete replied.
    “But Lord Archer is in love. Have you seen the way he looks at her?” Charlotte returned. “He looks at her like the very sun rises by her alone.”
    “What do you think the Duke is going to say?” Florentine asked.
    I wasn’t trying to be snoopy, but I did want to hear about the Duke so I stayed quiet, listening.
    “You know H is Grace,” Jenney interjected.
    “Who cares what the old wind bag says. She’s the most beautiful woman I have seen in quite sometime. I swear her hair is as golden as the sun. If I were Lord Archer I would marry her tomorrow, no waiting around.”
    That sounded like Max .
    “Yeah,” Ethan agreed, “and did you see how she quieted that raging demon Lord Archer purchased? Even that devil of a stallion was smitten.”
    Zeus is no devil .
    “Maxmillian, Ethan,” Maragrete snapped. “You should not talk of such. She is engaged to Lord Archer and the Lady of this household.”
    No more talk was made of the Duke, so I explored my house with girl-like enthusiasm, feeling once again as if I were inside of a dream. I stopped in the corridor of the third floor and gazed at the long line of paned glass windows. At my feet were slanted squares shining across the floor.  I walked into the sunlight then gazed out the glass, feeling the warmth hit my face. The property was vast. When it became a little warmer, I wanted to explore the grounds. I smiled at the thought of exploring the grounds, because I should be frightened to explore such a vast space, but somehow this was home, and I already loved it here. 
    C l ank, clank.  
    I followed the sound; it was coming from the room at the far end of the corridor. I could see the door with light shining from beneath it then shadow, light, shadow, as though something was moving behind the