Chapter 3 - "The Library..."

Clara's PoV

It was uncommon for Amy to settle me into bed and me to sneak downstairs after dark.

Okay I did it pretty much every night.

I can't help that I'm curious.

I normally go to the library, which was the exact place I went on this evening. I wanted to search for some more Austen books. Shakespeare is a personal favourite of course, but Dad doesn't approve of his writing ways.

Which is why I like to read at night.

I pushed the brown doors of the library open, throwing my blanket on my chair, and browsed the endless shelves of books.

I found a couple I wanted to read, readied myself to snuggle up by the fireplace when I heard the sound of distant breathing.

It was hitched but whoever it was, was clearly trying to escape. Of course I was by the door, so they wouldn't get out without seeing me.

So I stood up, and chuckled when I noticed Mr Smith, at the table flushed in embarrassment. 'Mr Smith. But late for you to be out and about'

'Im- I'm so sorry Miss. I - shouldn't be here. I'll-- I'll go upstairs out of your way' he panted.

'Why?' I asked sitting at the empty chair next to him, and sifted through what he was doing.

It didn't seem like he was up to much, but I could see the piece of paper in front of him, with letters on. But they weren't very clear and the words in front of home weren't very coherent to read.

'Because- well because it's inappropriate for the footman and server to sneak around' he questioned.

'What are you doing? I mean your not reading, so what you up too?' I asked.

'Just writing' he said after a dignified silence.

I raised an eyebrow. 'That is not writing. That is incoherent garbage. The words are all muddled and jumbled' I smirked.

'Yeah well. We aren't all raised with money and a perfect education like some' he snapped and widened his eyes afterwards. 'I -- I didn't mean anything by that my My lady. Oh god I'm so getting sacked tomorrow' he said scrambling his papers together.

'Sit down John' I said placing a hand on top of his.

He carefully looked at me and found I was serious, taking a deep breath and sag down on the chair again. 'I take it you can't read or write?' I asked pulling the paper closer to myself and browsing it.

'Like I said. We haven't all got money' he muttered.

My father would have him cut for speaking to me in such a way, but strangely I found it quite endearing... Plus he was treating me like I was a normal person instead of having loads of money and the daughter of practically one under the king.

'Sorry' I said realising he was obviously from a pretty rough background. A lot different to mine.

'Why are you sorry? I'm the idiot who's sneaking around your library trying to force myself to spell. How can I possibly think that being a server and footman is at all possible if I can't read or write? I'm just kidding myself'

'Nonsense. We all have to start somewhere, your still young, I can help if you like?' I asked as he raised his head.

'No, I'm fine. I won't have. Joh tomorrow anyway. After your Father finds I'm sneaking around I'll be out on my ear. I've only been here one day' he sighed.

'He's not going to find out John. Unless your telling him?' I asked. 'So what made you want to be a server?'

'You wouldn't tell on me? Why?'

'Because I believe that everyone has the right to the kind of life that I lead and the right to the life that you lead' I said shrugging. 'So tell me. What's your background? Every noble lady should know their servers backgrounds'

'I'm just a boy from a farm. Raised with very little money an no chance of an education. My brother David was the first born. Thus all the money my parents had could only go towards one education. One good life. He ruined it of course by becoming an idiot, and becoming an embarrassment to the family name'

'Embarrassment?'

'Wouldn't fight in the war. He outright refused. Became a coward and completely ruined our family's reputation, pushing us out of the village. He became a thief and dodgy seller just to get the family through the day. I didn't want to be associated with that'

'So what happened to your family? Why are you here?' I asked. I loved the fact that he was telling me all this. His story is almost as good as reading one of those books.

'I moved away. My Dad thought I was a fool and outright said that. Said it was completely idiotic to move away. But I couldn't be involved. So I packed up and headed for London. Got a job in a shop for a few months. Scraped everything I had to pay someone to write me good letter and somehow got the job here. Thus leaving me where I am today' he sighed.

Of course this gave me an idea.

'You say your from a farming background?'

'Yes. I don't even know why I told you that. Now you know I'm from a thieving family you'll have to dismiss me' he muttered.

'Or you could teach me to farm? You say your from a farm. Help me to grow crops, look after pigs and chickens' I practically begged.

'That's not really something a Lady should do?' He asked raising an eyebrow.

'You help me to learn how to farm. Then I'll help you to read and write. I'll pay someone to tutor you a couple of times a week. No one else has to know'

'Why would you do that?'

'Because like I said. I'm not normal. I hate being a Lady. And being known for just being Sir Oswald's Daughter. It's settled. That's what we'll do'