Free No Choice but Surrender by Meagan McKinney

tucked the comb securely back into his waistcoat pocket, saying, "There will be a warm bath and some breakfast waiting for you in the yellow bedroom whenever you are ready to come back."
    Leaving her behind, he walked out the door and down the steps to the stableyard. She cursed him silently as she watched him from the grimy leaded window make his way through the stable block. Finally he disappeared under the portico of the main house. But she continued to stare at the house until the sporadic morning sunshine burned off the last of the mists and then vanished itself under a heavy sky of gray.
    The servants' quarters beneath the house were as quiet as the Roman catacombs when Avenel walked through them.
    "A foin day to ya', Master Slane. And what biddin' may we do fer ya?" Among the silent crowd of servants, Fergie tipped his lambskin wig and waited for his master's answer.
    "I've come to speak with Annie, the little ladies' maid," Avenel said, holding his anger at bay. He looked through the group but did not seem to find the one he was searching for.
    "Well, now, she's a bad egg, tha" one."
    "Shut your mouth, Fergie Mclnnis!" Annie cried out in her defense, finally coming forward. She was just vain enough to believe that Avenel wanted her for some reason other than to dismiss her.
    "There you are, Annie. Will you please get your things and come with me?" Avenel took in the girl's buxom figure. With a trained eye, he noticed that soon all her curves would turn to fat.
    "My pleasure." Snootily, she gave the cook a haughty smile and then turned to retrieve her belongings. The cook watched her with utter dismay on her face, hardly believing the chit could be so obtuse.
    "She's got her faults, but deep down, she doesn't mean harm, Master Slane," the cook pleaded the girl's defense.
    "She thinks highly of herself. She will get by," Avenel answered tersely, obviously angered by the incident. "I will heed no disobedience in this household. That must be made - clear."
    "Yes, sir." She backed away as Annie once again pushed through the crowd of servants.
    "I've come, sir." Annie looked up at him expectantly.
    "Then you may go. Please follow Hans out to the gates. He has instructions to give you some funds and a fare-thee-well." Avenel turned to go.
    "I'm not to become your—? Why, it's not fair!" Annie shrieked as soon as she realized what was happening. "I'm above all these others. Look there at Maura, will you, or Peg?" She motioned to the other little maids that stood with the group. "They're lower than me, just like the other dirty Irish that run about this place. You cannot mean to let me go!"
    " 'Tis exactly what I mean to do. Good riddance. Hans?" Avenel looked at his hefty Nordic helper. When he nodded, Hans began to escort the maid out of the house—but not before she called our her revenge.
    "Lord Oliver will hear of this! And when he retrieves Osterley, I shall return. He will not go easy on you for this! I was his favorite, you know. I was his favorite!"
    "Aye, a bad egg, tha' one," Fergie was heard to whisper as soon as Annie's shrieks were no longer heard.
    "I'm inclined to agree with you," Avenel murmured before he left their quarters.
    It was late in the evening before Brienne finally gave up her vigil and returned to the comforts of Osterley. She had withstood her hunger and her worries, but it was the cold that finally forced her hand. When the crisp chill of twilight began to descend on the block, the thought of another night on the sagging rope bed was unbearable. So she gathered her bag— and, for some strange reason, the dirtied and tattered polonaise—and walked back to the house.
    The two old footmen discreetly opened the large glass doors from the courtyard as if they had been awaiting her arrival. She merely glared at them as if to say that they too were the enemy. They both looked away and refused to challenge her stares. Satisfied, she made her way back upstairs to the taffeta bedroom, thankfully meeting