After what felt like an eternity, the sky turned from blue to a brilliant red, and Sam decided they would set up camp for the night. He pulled the wagon off the road and into an abandoned field.

Sabin flew up into a tree and fluffed his feathers. Sam set up a makeshift tent. Anya slept inside while Sam slept in the back of his wagon with a blanket pulled over him.

Anya was miserable. The ground was hard and she was cold. She got very little sleep.

The sun, ignoring Anya's difficult night, rose without pity early in the morning. Anya dragged her aching body out of the tent and pulled it down and folded it up. Sam was already awake and busy going about business. He had cooked some dried meat and potatoes together for breakfast and Anya was quick to eat.

All too soon they were on the road. Anya would at last see Wildwood estate that evening and she would have to begin putting her schemes into action.

Most of the herbs and potions that she had brought could be passed off as herbal supplies for potentially caring for Lady Waldwick's appearance. The few that could be considered harmful she would have to be careful to hide.

She hoped that she could have a room to herself, but she had no idea how things would work out. She would be nothing more than one insignificant servant in a huge castle.

There were so many questions and blind spots ahead that Anya could barely bear it.

* * * * *

The ride was as tedious and long as the day before. Theresa slid back into apathy as time went by. It was not until Sam spoke that she came out of her stupor.

"We'll be there within the hour," he told her.

Anya felt her heart jump into her throat. She could not help but imagine that they would take one look at her and know immediately what a fraud she was. What would happen to her siblings if she did not even manage to get in the door?

Anya's mind whirled through different troubling scenarios, for the rest of the trip. Finally the tall towers of Wildwood came into view over the trees.

"It's so big," she breathed. She was so small. How on earth would she ever manage to reach the lord of such a place, let alone manage to commit the terrible crime as she had to do?

"I'll take you up to the front," Sam said. "You'd better send your bird away."

"Of course," she agreed. She turned and looked a Sabin riding on the back of the cart. "Sabin, come here, darling," she said to the bird.

Sabin hopped over and landed on her shoulder.

"I'm afraid that I can't keep you with me. They'll know that I am a witch if I have you along. So you'll need to stay out in the forest around this big castle. I'll come out and visit you once I think of an excuse."

Sabin regarded her with his intelligent eyes. Anya scratched his back gently. He flew away.

Anya felt desolate. Her last precious one was gone. She was utterly alone.

"Let's go," she told Sam, squaring her shoulders. The sooner she did what was necessary the sooner she would be back with her family.

* * * * *

The wagon ambled up the drive. Anya's eyes searched the large yard. There was a large expanse of short grass up to the edge of the forest which surrounded the estate. There was a barn and a stable off to the side, and there were large, imposing doors drawing ever nearer to her.

"Here you go," Sam said. He hopped out of the cart with her and helped her carry her bags to the doors. "Good luck," he said.

"Thanks," she agreed. Anya eyed the knocker. It was a leering mythical beast and its face seemed to be twisted into an expression of judgmental mistrust, as if it could see right through her schemes and subterfuge with those hollow eyes.

Anya brushed aside her whimsy and grasped the knocker and brought it down to the door. She could hear Sam driving away in the cart. If she could not convince the people of Wildwood she was indeed a lady's maid, she would be stranded.

It was likely all a part of Thorne's attempt at motivation. The man possessed cruel cunning.

The doors opened and an imposing woman with grey hair pulled back tightly from her face stood before her. "Can I help you?" asked the woman. She managed to make Anya feel unworthy with only a few syllables.

"I've come regarding a position," Anya said slowly.

"I cannot help you. Things are quite busy. Come back next month," the woman said loftily as she began to shut the door.

"Please, wait! I am Anya Smyth, and I believe that my references were approved for the position of lady's maid!" she cried before the door was shut in her face.

The woman stopped the door and looked at her. "Anya Smyth? Ah, yes. Then I suppose you might come in. Pick up your bags and follow me."

With some difficulty, Anya managed to get all the bags off the ground and followed after the stiff necked woman. She talked as she walked through the halls.

"I am Missus White, the housekeeper of Wildwood estate. Any questions about your duties should be directed toward me. You are not to bother the lord or future lady with enquiries. As a new addition to the household, you are expected not to interfere with preparations for the wedding while going out your duties.

"Of course, you will be helping Lady Waldwick's current maid, Hanna, care for her ladyship and you will be taking your direction from her."

They arrived at a narrow door and Missus White stopped abruptly. Anya only stopped a second before running into the other woman's rigid back.

"You will be staying in this room. You are near to Lady Waldwick's chambers. Normally you would stay in the servant's rooms off of the lady's chambers, but Hanna is staying there.  Put your things in here and I will show you the parts of the castle which are of relevance to you."

Anya quickly put her things inside the room. It was a tiny room with only a bed and a small desk, but it would be enough for her. She hoped not to have to stay in the castle for long.

"Come along now, Anya, and I will show you to Lady Waldwick's chambers."

Anya followed Missus White through the halls copying the woman's brisk pace. It was considerably easier without her load of bags. Missus White showed Anya to the servant's dining hall, where she would apparently be taking her meals at exact times during the day so as to not inconvenience the chef.

Missus White informed her in a clipped tone that the chef, Missus Allendale was not to be bothered during the wedding preparations. Anya had no idea why she was bothering to tell her, she had no desire to bother the kitchen staff.

As they passed a door Missus White explained, "This is the servant's entrance. In the future you will use this door for your comings and goings.

"But you'll be quite too busy to worry about that for a while. If you have need of vacation time after the wedding you will apply to me. You shall receive your salary at the end of each month or at the time at which you leave employment at Wildwood estates."

Anya wished she really cared about any of what Missus White was saying. She imagined how she would feel if she had really been seeking employment for the sake of employment rather than her shadowy reasons.

She would probably feel excited and nervous. She still felt nervous, but the excitement was replaced by the dread which had become her constant companion.

"I'll take you to meet Lady Waldwick now," announced Missus White and they continued on.

Missus White led Anya back towards her room, but they continued on past a couple more doors. She knocked on a large engraved door.

"Enter," Anya heard a female voice say. No doubt it was Lady Waldwick. Anya's stomach was heavy as Missus White opened the door.

"This is the new maid we have been expecting. Please let me introduce you to Anya Smyth," Missus White said stiffly as she steered Anya into a dressing room.

Lady Waldwick smiled slightly. "Thank you, Missus White. I'll call you if we need you."

"Please, let me know if she isn't suitable, my lady."

Lady Waldwick nodded her head. "I shall." Missus White left.

Anya carefully observed the lady that she would now serve. The woman had smooth black hair and blue-violet eyes, granting her an unusual appearance that was most intimidating. The lady turned and looked at Anya and she forced herself not to squirm beneath the careful regard.

"Don't worry. We don't have time to find someone else before the wedding, even if I wanted to," she told Anya. Anya did not want Lady Waldwick to attempt to be kind. She wanted her to be cruel and despicable to assuage Anya's guilt.

"I suppose Missus White has shown you around the castle and your quarters."

"She has."

"Don't hesitate to ask her if you have any questions. I know she seems like a great, huffy dragon, but in the end she's mostly all smoke."

Anya nodded, not knowing what to say. She reminded herself she needed to look as if she knew what she was doing.

The lady spoke again. "Lady Traer had nothing but good things to say in her letter. You sound as if you are most skilled. Have you any questions?"

"None yet, thank you," Anya said quickly. Lady Traer was the one who had supposedly employed her. Thorne had planned everything meticulously. She had all the contacts that she would need. She even had a generic description of the woman if asked about her.

"But you look tired. I suppose you had a long journey.  Would you like to rest for the evening? We can worry about wedding preparations tomorrow morning. Goodness knows, I could use a break myself."

"Yes, thank you," agreed Anya, feeling grateful and guilty all at the same time. She hoped that the lady did not care about Lord Wildwood too much.

Anya left feeling terribly heavy.

* * * * *

Anya spent the evening sorting through everything that she had brought. Her room was sparse and there was not anywhere to hide her ingredients. She settled for packing them back into the bag and shoving them as far under the bed as she could make it fit.

When she was done she pulled out the book on the art of being a lady's maid and flipped through it. She felt awkward and shocked no one had pointed out her unsuitability for the role she was to play.

It would not hurt to review everything again.  Tomorrow she would have to convince all of Wildwood that she was who Thorne said she was.

Anya got very little sleep.

* * * * *