London, 1854
Wrapping her old, worn-out shawl closer to her body, Cecily set off to work with a determined and purposeful stride in her step. Once arrived, she went to the servant's entrance and greeted Mrs Alston with a warm smile.
"Good morning, Mrs Alston. Anything I can do to help?"
Even though Mrs Alston was a hard, and sometimes unyielding, she had taken a liking to Cecily, and had told her she could come at seven o'clock instead of four this morning. Cecily had greatly appreciated the kind gesture. She had so much work and so little time.
"There's flour in the pantry, dear. Go and start off the pie while I'll make the rabbit stew." Mrs Alston replied, while Cecily wrapped her white apron. Mrs Alston set off in the direction of the scullery, probably to check if the scullery maid had begin her usual tedious task. Suddenly, a big, cold hand wrapped around Cecily's thin arm. She flinched at the touch. "Any chance I can see you outside tonight, love?" Jamie Milton, who worked in the stables, leered slyly.
"No, Jamie. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have work to do." Cecily answered, shaking his arm off and heading to the kitchen.
She was used to Jamie's ways, of course. She had been working at the Cromwell's mansion as a kitchen maid for more than a year now. Cecily sighed and rolled her sleeves up, exposing her long, soft arms to a gruelling day.
***
"I've done the pie, Mrs Alston. I'll start on the jam roly poly. Would the mistress like some custard with it as well?" Cecily asked. Although her body was aching and her brain was screaming with pain, she nevertheless continued working.
"No dear, you've done a lot today. Poor Elsie wasn't here, so you had to fill for her. Go home, now. I have a few words to say to that young lady regarding her simple behaviour..." Cook muttered wearily.

The kitchen had been filled with stress due to Edward Addington's unexpected visit.Cakes and meals were made rapidly, and servants were sent in and out of the kitchen with tea trays and other nourishment of the sort.

Cecily grabbed her shawl and bonnet from the coat rack and set out, with a hasty "Goodbye, Mrs Alston!".
Turning left, she clutched her cheap reticule tighter. The street she was at was known to have a lot of thieves and beggars.
She was walking at a steady pace when a cold, familiar hand clamped her mouth shut and pulled her into an alley.
She gazed at Jamie with wide, fearful eyes. She wasn't ignorant to what happened between a man and a women.
"Ja-Jamie?" She stammered. "What do you want?"
"Oh, darling. Have I not made that clear enough?" He leered, tracing her cheek with his finger.
"You are utterely repugnant, Jamie." Cecily said, disgusted.
"Now, now, love. I might make it less painful if you be nice to me."
Cecily attempted to run, but he grabbed her by her arm, hurting her in the process and pushed her on the floor. Hitting her head painfully on the cobblestones, her eyes closed momentarily.
Jamie pushed himself on her, ripping her blouse off, her buttons flying off. He pulled her old woolen skirt off her. Cecily whimpered in fear, pain and obscenity flashing in her mind.

Little did she know this was just the beggining of a abhorent and vile night...