

Adrienne was a bit apprehensive as she followed Lars up the stairs. The entrancing power of the Baron and Baroness, although of different natures, were still quite unsettling. Of course, they had been extremely nice and, of course, Steffan was a delightful boy. Perhaps she was just being childish. Anyway, she had accepted the position and now it was going to be up to her to make the most of it..
In the drawing room the Baron turned to Mary who was rubbing her hands together and smiling in anticipation. He withdrew a pouch of gold coins from his jacket and held them just beyond the old woman's eager clutches.
"Well, my Lord, is she not just as I described her?" asked the old woman.
"She is indeed young and beautiful with no family ties to complicate matters," stated the Baron dropping the pouch into Mary's hands.
"And the second payment?" asked the old crone.
"If she is indeed as you have stated, you will have your second pouch of gold."
"Oh, I assure you she is exactly as I described," said Mary eagerly.
"We will be the judge of that!" was the forceful reply.
"Of course, my Lord," said Mary, backing to the doorway. "By your leave, I shall return to the village. I hope we may do business again."
"If we have need of your services, we shall send for you."
"Always glad to be of service," Mary said as she left wearing a sardonic grin.
"I don't trust her," piped up Steffan.
"Oh, with her kind the expression "Silence is golden" takes on a whole new meaning," mused the Baron. "Besides, she did get you what you wanted, didn't she?"
"We will know that tonight," Steffan replied.
Lars swung open the door to reveal a richly furnished bedroom complete with canopied four poster bed, lavish dressing table and private bath area.
Adrienne stood in awe, her eyes dancing from one aspect of the room to another,
"I can't believe it! This is mine?" she asked.
Lars indicated with an affirmative nod.
Never had she encountered such luxury --- and to think this entire room was to be hers. It was an entire world away from the twelve to a room and three to a bed situation she had grown up with at the orphanage.
She ran her hand over the rich velvet bedspread.
"Thessss are yoursss too."
The voice startled her. She turned to see Lars standing beside the now open closet.
She had assumed that because, until now, the servant had not spoken, he was mute.
"You can speak," she said in a surprised voice.
"Yessss," he lisped, "I may not be handssssome or witty, but I manage."
"I'm.....I'm sorry," she said, moving across the room toward him, "I didn't mean....."
"It'ssss all right," he answered, moving away from her toward the door. "I am used to others feeling the way they do about me."
Changing the subject, he motioned to the closet and the clothes within.
"Sssome were left by Katrina, the girl who wassss housssekeeper before and ssssome the Baronessss had made for you."
"For me?" stammered Adrienne, "I can't believe it. Why I only accepted the position minutes ago."