Chapter 2

One month later

When Bette came downstairs, she was still tired. She had barely had any sleep, Shane’s party had been going on and on. Bette knew she had to get up early, this was always the day she went shopping for her books, new parchment, some new quills, of course a few new robes.

The smell that filled her nose woke her up soon enough. Good food was great for her mood. The House-Elves working in the kitchen were excellent cooks, that’s why her Dad had hired them, but this morning they had really surpassed themselves. Not that she would let them know, they were only House-Elves after all. It was their job.

She sat down at the table to find sausages, toast, eggs and bacon, fresh coffee, orange juice, lemon juice, pineapple juice, jam, marmelade, milk, pancakes, waffles and chocolate. She wondered whether she was supposed to eat all of this.

She shrugged her shoulders and started anyway. As she was swallowing down a piece of pancake, she realised that she had never seen any of the kitchen House-Elves’ faces. She grinned. Just as it was supposed to be.

After having eaten a bit of everything and feeling really stuffed, she called for Maria. She wished there was some spell to summon maids like you summoned House-Elves. Not that she’d be allowed to use it, but still.

“How can I be of your service, miss?” Maria asked, bowing for her boss.

“Wrap this stuff up and take it home, to your kids.” Bette was feeling mighty proud at her own generocity.

Maria looked perplexed. “I… I don’t have any children, miss Porter.”

Bette frowned. “Really? How come?”

“Well, I’ve been working here since I was a young girl… I never had the… opportunity…”

“Have you got brothers or sisters? Cousins? Nephews? Nieces?”

“I have two brothers, but I haven’t seen them since I worked here.”

“You never visit them? Don’t you think that’s rude?”

Maria blushed. “I haven’t left the property, miss. Always something to do, always something to fix and solve.”

Bette couldn’t quite wrap her head around the fact that her maid had actually never left the property since she worked here. She had worked here Bette’s entire life and before, but she didn’t know how long. What made this woman stay if her father never let her leave? Of course Maria had said that she couldn’t because of the work, but Bette knew her dad well enough.