Back to the present... Rachel and Kathryn were at the lake when we left them last ;-)

-----

Rachel

Rachel remained quite through the walk back to the main house, obediently following after Kathryn. Dinner was nearly ready by the time that they came back to the kitchen but Kathryn immediately set about helping the other girls lay the table for the dinner shifts. Magnus's humans ate ten at a time Kathryn explained. The kitchen helpers would eat with the second set. Kathryn agreed to let Rachel wait to eat when she requested to sit at her new friend's side, offering her a stool to rest on until it was time for their meal.

Though none of the other girls who began to trickle in seemed willing to engage with her as Kathryn had, Rachel was relieved to find they were all far less cold than they had been the day before. All except for the woman she now knew to be Sarah. When she saw Rachel sitting on her stool, the girl had quickly grabbed her friend Judith's hand and cast her a nasty glare.

Rachel's stomach sunk. She could hardly blame the girl for continuing to hate her. After all, she might be the death of both of them now that Sarah had made her plea to Alice. She had every reason to be resentful.

Luckily the remainder of the first group came and ate in relative silence, merely thanking Kathryn and her friends for their meal. Rachel sipped the tea Kathryn had made for her, watching them eat and engage in small chatter. She wished she could talk to the others. To Sarah and Judith. That she could tell them how sorry she was to have caused them any trouble. But it seemed best to just avoid talking to them altogether.

When the first group had gone, leaving their dishes in the sink and filing out, the kitchen crew finally came to sit at the table along side a few others who had come for the second dinner shift. Rachel hesitated to join them but Kathryn came behind her and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, guiding her to sit with the others.

"Just wait one moment and I'll make us both a plate," Kathryn said, grabbing two dishes and scooping out generous portions of potatoes and meat and vegetables. Rachel nodded, though she felt awkward sitting with the other girls, none of who she really recognized aside from Olivia, who came to sit across from her. But she was happily surprised when Kathryn's friend caught her eye and gave her a broad smile.

"I'm so glad you felt well enough to join us," Olivia said. Rachel couldn't help but offer a small shy smile in return

"Thank you for finishing up," Kathryn said to Olivia and the others as she came to sit by Rachel's side. "I will stay back and clean up. You can all go to the hall and relax after dinner."

"We were happy to do it," Olivia answered. The others seemed to echo the sentiment.

Rachel had not been certain of her hunger until the sumptuous feast was set before her. One whiff from the plate and her stomach growled, mouth salivating. Olivia laughed at her expression as she bit into her own meal.

"No need to wait for us Rachel," she commented. "I'm certain you must be hungry and lamb chops are one of Alice's specialty dishes."

"Always been my personal favorite," One of the other girls commented, offering Rachel a smile as genuine as Olivia's. "Though of course all of Alice's recipes are impressive."

Rachel lifted a bite of meat to her mouth and could not help but be overwhelmed with how good it really was. Mamma and Papa had never been able to afford to put much meat on the table at all. Certainly not anything as tender and juicy as the lamb that seemed to melt in her mouth. She knew Mamma had always done her best with what they had, but her bland meals were nothing compared to Alice's delicacies.

"Is Alice planning to join us?" Kathryn asked, taking a loaf of bread one of her friends passed her and breaking off a piece before offering it to Rachel.

"She came by earlier," one of the other girls answered. "She said she was thinking of joining Magnus for dinner."

Kathryn nodded.

"Does Alice eat with him often?" Rachel asked with surprise. Maybe Alice and Magnus were even closer than she'd realized.

The girl next to Olivia shrugged. "Sometimes. Sometimes she eats alone in her own house. She's hardly one of us anyway."

"Hush Jennifer," Kathryn said, casting a warning look in the girl's direction. "Of course Alice is one of us."

"There are nights when our Master requests Alice's presence," Olivia said, jumping into the conversation again. "She does act as overseer to all of us after all and manages the kitchen supplies. Sometimes they speak over dinner. Magus has been away on business quite a bit in the past few weeks. I'm certain they have much to discuss."

"Like Judith's death," one of others mumbled as she bit into the bread in her hand.

As an uncomfortable churning settled in Rachel's stomach at the comment, she watched Kathryn's eyes narrowed at the girl.

"So, Rachel," Olivia said, clearly trying to defuse the tension. "Kathryn told us that you came from a truly free settlement?"

Rachel looked down at her hands, not wanting to talk about Demin again. She wasn't certain she could do so without crying.

"I think Rachel is tired," Kathryn said, putting a hand on her lap. " Maybe another topic of conversation? I'm sure she will tell us all about her story when she is ready."

Rachel sighed, her body relaxing slightly at Kathryn's offer of rescue and she was grateful.

The meal continued without much more conversation of note and Rachel was content to simply sit in silence tuning out the talk of the older girls and retreating into her head.

She wondered how resentful the others might be. The older girl who'd mentioned Judith's death, in particular, seemed unable to meet her gaze. Yet in spite of her concerns, Rachel managed to finish the plate of food Kathryn had given her and even managed to get though a small plateful of berries and clotted cream offered for dessert. By the time she was through, she was comfortably full and very sleepy.

"Well, I promised to clean," Kathryn said, standing and collecting the dishes the other girls had piled. "If the rest of you wish to go back and relax you are welcome to."

"Humph," the older girl at the end of the table grunted. "She shirks her responsibilities all day to play with Magnus's new toy and then imagines any of us might volunteer to help?"

Rachel was surprised by the level of hostility. Everyone seemed to like Kathryn, and she hadn't really asked any of the others to volunteer. And the woman's comment about her was disturbing. Did they all resent her for having taken Kathryn from her work?

"I'll help you," Olivia piped up, giving a warning glance at the end of the table before turning back to Kathryn. "You shouldn't have to do all the dishes alone."

"Well I promised to meet Sarah," the sour girl said.

"And you are welcome to, Cynthia," Kathryn replied calmly. "I'm certain Olivia and I can manage just fine."

The girl turned and left without a backward glance. A few others following behind.

"Just ignore Cynthia," Kathryn said, leaning down to whisper in Rachel's ear. "She tends to be a bit more icy than the others but she'll come around."

Rachel nodded, trying to accept Kathryn's comfort though she was not sure she believed her.

"You must be tired," Kathryn said, her voice at a normal volume again. You can go to the slave hall with the everyone else if you would like, but perhaps you would rather go to bed?"

The idea of facing the others without Kathryn and Olive by her side sounded terrifying.

"I just want to rest," she answered quietly. Kathryn nodded her understanding.

"Karen," she said addressing one of the remaining girls. "Would you mind walking Rachel back to Alice's?"

Rachel's eyes went to Karen who seemed a bit older than the others, perhaps close to Cynthia's age. She'd been quite during dinner but her expression was kind enough as she nodded her head and met Rachel's gaze.

"Of course," she said. Still, Rachel cast a hesitant glance at Kathryn. The older girl only gave her another smile and reached down to give her hand a quick squeeze.

"You'll be fine, Rachel," she said. "Alice will be back soon if she is not already, and Karen will make sure you don't get lost on the way home. I'll see you tomorrow, all right? Maybe you will want to help in the kitchen again?"

Rachel nodded and hesitantly let her hand release from Kathryn's, following Karen out of the kitchen.

Its was already quite dark when they emerged from the house, and Rachel was very glad to have her guide, though she made certain to pay close attention to her surroundings. She'd have to learn her own way around the estate if she ever hoped to be by herself again.

Karen didn't speak as they walked and Rachel was glad for it. The day had been a long one and she wanted nothing more than to crawl into bed.

The lights were on when they arrived at Alice's home and Karen said a quick goodnight before leaving Rachel at the door and heading towards the slave quarters. Rachel wondered if the older girl was afraid to enter Alice's home given the speed with which she seemed to disappear into the soft twilight that had fallen all around.

Rachel knocked awkwardly on the door, wondering if she herself was afraid to come back to Alice now.

"Come in," came the response a moment later. Rachel knew she had no choice but to obey but already she could hear an edge in Alice's tone that made her weary.

Walking through the doorway she found Alice sitting by the fire. She did not stand, but she did turn her head to watch Rachel close the door. Not certain what else to do, Rachel walked to the hearth and took the seat opposite the old woman.

"I hope your day was pleasant," Alice commented, eyeing her closely.

Rachel nodded.

"And Kathryn took care of you?"

She nodded again.

Alice pushed herself out of her chair and stood. "Well then, let's get you bathed and into bed shall we?"

Rachel noticed the fairytale book on the table beside Alice's chair.

"I hope you enjoyed it," Alice said, seeing where her gaze had fallen. "It has plenty of pictures so I thought it might be amusing if you were bored."

So Alice had intended her to look at the book Rachel realized. She felt silly for having thought she must be so carful around the woman. Alice had been kind to send Kathryn to care for her. She'd been kind to leave her food and the book. She'd ben kinda to share her bed. Perhaps Kathryn was right in her judgment of Alice.

"It's beautiful," Rachel said. "Thank you for letting me read it." Alice only nodded her head and gave a small grunt.

It wasn't long before Rachel was bathed and her wounds attended to, though she did notice that Alice was entirely silent as she went about the task. Her expression was blank, but Rachel couldn't help but detect a hint of annoyance in her affect. She couldn't imagine what she might have done to deserve her iciness. She'd tried to be as well behaved as she could, and she and Alice had barley seen each other all day.

Was the woman mad that she had taken Kathryn away from her chores? Kathryn has assured her that Alice would be alright with it. It was a hard contrast to face Alice's attitude when she had spent the day with Kathryn who was so very warm. Maybe Alice was just tired as well, Rachel thought to herself. Maybe she would be in a better mood in the morning. Dressed in her nightclothes she went toward's Alice's bedroom.

"Oh and Rachel," Alice's voice stopped her just short of the door. "There is a mattress set up for you now. One of Magnus's men brought it over earlier."

Rachel looked to Alice in confusion and then into the room where she saw that there was indeed a small mattress laid out on the ground.

"I wish to take my bed back and you must learn to sleep on your own," Alice said. "The sooner you learn to do so, the sooner you will be able to move out of my home and in with the others in your proper place."

Rachel nodded slowly and walked to her new bed. Its was far less comfortable than Alice's had been and she worried what might happen if she found herself plagued with nightmares again, but she could hardly protest. Pulling the covers up around herself she watched Alice take to her own bed and turn away as she switched off the lights. Rachel wondered what she had done wrong.

------

Well Rachel's second day on Magnus land is complete. Thoughts? On Kathryn? Alice? Magnus's operation overall? Rachel's position here? Alice doesn't seem to be in a great mood. Wonder why? Since there is a slight time skip forward in the next chapter ( only a week though), this is a decent place to leave off. THe next chapter will be posted next fri. As always, any and all comment/critique is greatly appreciated and encuraged. I love to hear from you! And of course, if you liked the chapter, don't forget the star:-)