It was evening, and all of the newly hired maids were in the head butler's office, a small and immaculate room with many books and writing utensils, walls a faded ivory color, the furniture dark brown with brass handles and keyholes, and the wooden flooring slightly creaking under the weight of so many people. Of course, there was also the fact that this was the Beardsley manor, and the oldest noble house in this town.

"There are a lot of rules to keep in mind while you are in the House of Beardsley," the butler, Mister Kupka, said, his eyes trailing on each of our faces sternly, "but first and foremost you must respect the masters' wishes for privacy. If they order you to not clean a room, or do not wish to leave a room for dinner, that's how it shall be."

He looked at the first maid, Rhiannon, who stood the furthest from me. She was tall and blonde, with sharp cheekbones and pale blue eyes that seemed to be like clear lake-water. She wore a long maid dress with an apron wrapped around her and her hair pulled back in a long braid that cascaded down her back, just as straight and tall, looking ready for whatever would come.

I didn't expect to be working with such a beautiful person, not to mention she looked regal, like she belonged in the house of Beardsley as the fiancée of one of the lords or even the daughter, not a maid.

"This comes before any of the rules I give you. Now, for the rules themselves..." Mister Kupka said, eyes now on the second maid, Clo, a beautiful girl with skin just like bronze, both in color and luster, and seductive red lips in a knowing smile.

Her maid outfit had the first two buttons unbuttoned, revealing her bosom, her apron beginning below the bodice. She breathed in her cigarette as Mister Kupka talked. He frowned, creases forming between his bushy white eyebrows.

"Put out that cigarette immediately, Miss Clotilde."

"My name is Clo Hutchinson," she said, putting out her cigarette on the glass ashtray on the desk. "Simply Clo."

She didn't hesitate while talking back at all, and I didn't know whether I should internally applaud her for it or gawk in horror.

"I'll keep that in mind." He sighed and then looked at me, who stood next to her.

I was the only one here of Eastern descent, with my straight black hair, so long and heavy that I had to braid them into two pigtails and pin them behind my head for them to stay in place. It looked funny with what I was wearing: a starched black dress reaching my calves with a white apron over it. Apparently it was what the maids wore and I got it from the nuns from the orphanage as a farewell present. To my surprise, though, all the other girls had different ones.

"Anyway, these rules are equally important and must be followed..."

Clo suddenly turned to me and smiled. "Hey," she whispered, "what's your name?"

I turned to her and then back to Mister Kupka. He was still talking, but I didn't want to ignore her, especially someone who I would be working with for a long time. After hesitating, I whispered.

"Shuyan, but you can call me Sue, it's easier for people to say."

"Your real name is prettier, though," she said. "I'll call you Shuyan—see, I can say it just fine!" She flashed me a pearly smile.

I was about to thank her but Mister Kupka cleared his throat. I returned to listening but then felt someone poke me softly. I turned my head, and my eyes fell on a petite girl with chestnut-colored hair cut along her chin, with the prettiest brown eyes framed by thick lashes staring at me.

"I think your name is beautiful too! Oh, I'm Bethany Clock, but I go by Beth."

"Thank you, and nice to meet you."

The girl was very pretty. She wore a lace-hemmed apron, ankle-length black dress, and kitten-heeled boots. She looked more like she came for a tea party than to work. Besides, she looked extremely young--probably less than eighteen.

"I've never seen an Oriental before," she said, eyes wide, "when did you come to England? Are you Chinese? Japanese? Perhaps even something else?"

"I was curious about that too," Clo said.

I stiffened at the attention. Mister Kupka was still talking so I wasn't sure if I should speak, but I was a pushover and the two girls were fixated on me, so it didn't take long for me to whisper again.

"I was born here, but I'm an orphan. I don't know anything but the fact my parents are Chinese and named me Shuyan—"

"You girls!" By this time Mister Kupka's face was a bright shade of pink. "Why can't you girls simply be like Miss Rhiannon and listen? This is a job, for heaven's sake! Do you know how much of an honor it is to work in the House of Beardsley?"

"I know," Clo said with a smirk. "We are the lucky women to enter this mansion in centuries, is that it? Even the female relatives of the head of Beardsley could not enter this house."

"That's not what I meant," he snapped.

"What did you mean then? I mean, we are living here after all with all those rules. We can't leave without telling the masters beforehand, we cannot speak to them unless spoken to, and we have to avoid them as much as we can—"

"I did not mean avoid. It's simply that it is inappropriate for masters and maids to be too friendly."

"Oh please, don't try to hide it, it's because you don't want any of us impregnated by the masters, who are starved for women." Clo was grinning brazenly. "Right?"

"You! How dare you!"

The head butler was no longer pink, but red now, and his mustache seemed to quiver with his huffing.

"I apologize for our behavior," Bethany—or Beth—suddenly cut in. "Please continue what you were going to say before, Mister Kupka. We were simply introducing ourselves, this time we will certainly listen."

Mister Kupka looked at her for a good amount of time before relaxing his shoulders.

"Fine. I trust you will keep your word, Miss Bethany." Beth smiled a little and when she caught my eye, she gave me a small wink. I almost sighed out loud in relief. That was how thankful I was for the end of their talk.

Because what Clo said was all too true.

Numerous girls just as good in cooking and housekeeping had shied away from working here because of that very reason. No one could pretend they did not know of the Beardsley men and boys who rarely left their mansion. In fact, the town had only ever seen about three of them, with the remaining four recluses were rumored to be eccentrics—or so the staff said.

"Well, then, regarding your living situation," Mister Kupka continued, obviously tired at scolding at us, "you will share a room—"

"What?"

We all turned to Rhiannon, whose stoic face suddenly broke out in shock.

Her pale eyes were wide and her pink lips parted, revealing her clenched teeth. She clutched at her skirt.

"All four of us—in one room?"

"Yes," Mister Kupka replied. "There will be four separate beds, and two windows. It's a very nice room, in fact. Many servants share rooms with one another."

"But—"

"You will share a bathing-room too. How you decide who bathes when will be up to you. As for dining, you will always have dinner at the servant's quarters with the other servants during dinnertime. Starting from today me and the rest of the staff will teach you girls..."

I peeked at Rhiannon, who looked down at her hands with empty eyes. I wondered why she got so upset over us sharing a room. She did seem like the type of person who preferred to be alone but even so her outburst seemed out of character.

"As of now I will give you girls a tour of the estate." The head butler took out a well-polished pocket-watch and inspected the time. "Then after lunch I will introduce you to the staff, and lastly, after dinner to the masters."

"Now that's a pleasure," Clo said sarcastically.

He pretended not to hear her and clapped his gloved hands.

"Now get up, we have roughly two hours for the tour."

He walked out the door of his office, and we followed suit, Rhiannon with her back as straight as always, Clo yawning seemingly without a care in the world, me clenching my skirts, and Beth humming a strange tune from behind me. How these girls remained so calm I had no idea, but this was it.

This was the start of our first day as maids in the House of Beardsley.