Bambi and the Duke

The scarce amount of light fell through the small window which was next to the bed as the maids cleaned the room which was once occupied by the late housekeeper of the Carmichael mansion. Some of the things were thrown from the room, some kept to accommodate the future servant who would join to work for the family. Carrying the new sheet in her hand which was washed two days ago Vivian began spreading over the wooden cot. Once done the maids left the room and so did Vivian but not before giving a glance over the room.

She could see the younger her crying in front of the housekeeper who was sitting on the bed.

”What’s the matter, dear?” Martha asked the little girl who cried, hiccuping as tears fell down her cheeks, ”I won’t know if you don’t tell it out loud. Why are you crying?” the woman asked patiently to receive no response from the girl.

”Papa and m-mama hate me,” hearing this, the middle-aged woman frowned.

”Who told you that?”

”Janet,” little Vivian cried, rubbing her eyes, ”She said that is why they don’t come to see me and take me with them,” Martha pulled the girl close and used her hand which had roughed due to labour to wipe the girl’s tears.

”Janet doesn’t know anything. Don’t listen to what she says, Vivi,” the woman spoke, picking the girl she placed the small girl on her lap, ”Your mama and papa are busy at the moment. I am sure one day they will come to get you.”

”When?” little Vivian looked up in question and tears in her eyes.

”I cannot promise when but one day for sure,” Martha kissed the top of her head, ”Now stop crying. They wouldn’t be happy if they found out that their little girl was crying now, would they?”

Vivian smiled at the memory, hoping wherever Martha was right now at peace.

Frankly, as she grew up the faces of her parents was blurred to the point that she couldn’t recollect how her parents looked anymore. Martha never spoke about them and if ever Vivian did bring anything up regarding some information about her family, the old woman would slide it by ignoring her words as if she couldn’t hear anymore. The former maid Janet was true though. Her parents didn’t seem to like her as years had passed, not once did any of her family members try contacting her or come to see her. With her younger memories faint, it made Vivian wonder as to what she had done for making her parents disown her at such a young age.

Locking the door behind with the key, she went up the stairs back inside the mansion.

While Vivian walked across the halls, she caught sight of Leonard who was with his parents and the guests who had arrived at the mansion. The guests were Mrs Kennedy with her daughter Shirley who was a year or two younger than Vivian. Hailing from an average vampire family, the duo usually made trips to the Carmichael mansion in hopes that Mr Carmichael would present his son’s hand in marriage to Mrs Kennedy’s daughter.

In Vivian’s books, Lady Shirley was a beautiful and a soft-spoken girl whom she had not even once heard her raise her voice. She had never got the opportunity to converse with her. Lady Shirley’s long, lustrous black hair was tied up with her sides loose, her beautiful dress sweeping the floor from behind as she walked next to Leonard. All in all to Vivian Lady Shirley was quite perfect. Seeing Leonard and Lady Shirley walking past her, Vivian bowed her head with a smile at the pair. She received a warm smile from the Lady but the same couldn’t be told about the man walking next to her. It made her wonder if Leonard was in one of his moods again. Why though? Lady Shirley was a good company and she didn’t understand why he wouldn’t be happy about it.

”Vivian could you ask Paul that we need to cut the branches that have grown in the sides of the mansion,” Mrs Carmichael asked her and she nodded her head with a yes.

Finding Paul who was at the horse shed, she called him, ”Paul!”

”What is it?” Paul turned back, who had been collecting the dung with his gloved hands.

”Mrs Carmichael wants you to trim the branches which are outside the mansion.”

”Did she tell to get it done right now? I am a little busy right now,” Paul waved his dirty gloves at her making her scrunch her nose.

”I think she did,” the creepers that had climbed up the pillars of the mansion had begun trying to reach the other plants around it, she then asked, ”Would you want me to do it?”

”Did you finish cleaning the cupboards in the east wing?”

”I did.”

”What about the sheets in the room?”

”Changed it.”

”Alright then. Don’t cut too much and be careful until I come,” Paul yelled seeing the girl turn around on her heel and walking behind the shed where the tools were placed.