Dear Reader: This is a continuation of a multi part series. Please read "Kings & Queens & Guillotines, CH 01" for the back drop to this story.
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Years had passed since the Ashwoods had moved to the country estate. They were sent by Stone Ashwood's father so Stone could refine his business skills managing the family's local interests as a precursor to assuming control of the family empire. That was in the late 1930s. Then the great war came and the family's urban empire was destroyed, along with many family relatives, leaving Stone as the sole surviving owner of what remained of the vast enterprise.
Rather than move back to the city and rebuilding, Stone thought it better to remain countryside and manage what they still had left. It was a decision welcomed by his wife Ava. then in the early 1950s, an era of commercial revitalization, Stone regained his taste for empire and more frequently traveled to the city for business, leaving Ava alone for long periods of time. The mid-forty something year old was lonely without Stone and in need of companionship. She had few friends and without him found herself bored.
"Mr. Smith," the Lady started, "I will be taking my evening tea in the library tonight. Please make sure the fireplace is set before I arrive."
"Yes, Mame," he replied.
Smith, the ever attentive servant, made sure the room was ready as the Lady had requested, a roaring fireplace to offset the damp autumn eve. He stood at the doorway of the dimly lit wood paneled room waiting for her entrance... and that she did wearing a red business suit with a short tight skirt, smoky gray sheer hose and black high heels, a noticeable moxie to her stride and an air of condescending aristocratic confidence abnormal to her demeanor. If he did not otherwise know her as a kind, modest classy woman, he would have thought her a bitch on looks alone.
"Smith," she sublimely said in passing, as he stood attentive at the doorway, acknowledging his presence but not looking at him as she went to the middle seat of the couch, the fireplace warmth radiating towards her as it illuminated the room.
Lilly entered carrying the tray of tea and deserts and sat it on the ottoman before the Lady. She carefully poured the hot beverage and looked at the Lady for further direction. "Anything else, Madam?" she softly asked in her caring way. The Lady gazed at the fire unresponsive, making Lilly wait.
"Quite the nice rose you have in your hand Mame," Lilly stated politely trying to get her attention.
"Would the two of you join me on the couch for a bit? Lord Ashwood, being away for so long again has again left me lonely. I would enjoy your company." Smith and Lilly looked at each other quizzically, not sure it would be proper. They knew of her loneliness, often seeing it in her eyes and felt bad for her. Lilly followed Smith's lead, the two of them book-ending the Lady on the couch, basking in the fire's warmth.
"Lilly, I tried to pick a rose just like the one you wear today... they are so beautiful... the last ones of the season too... they will all be frostbitten and dead tomorrow morning... such a shame... their beauty sends such a strong message, do you know what I mean?" she asked a wicked smile barely breaking at the corner of her lips.
"I do, Mame," Lilly replied, "beauty and the lovely scent... this particular flower speaks of love."
"Tell me Lilly, do you love someone?" the Lady asked.
"Why, yes Mame," the young woman politely replied.
"Who is he?"
"I'd rather not say, Mame, my family does not know and my father might not approve. It is new...."
"Ah, young love," the Lady observed, "but that is the best, isn't it? Secretive and hot, lusty..."
Lilly blushed not knowing what to say in reply to the Lady's use of the word 'lusty'.
"And you Smith, is there someone for the American sojourner?"
"Mame, not really, well, maybe the occasional dalliance," he replied as Lilly scowled at him while the Lady's head was turned away from her.
"I find that hard to believe... I mean a college educated, strapping handsome man in his prime, a foreigner at that, you are an enigma in these parts... curiosity kills cats and you are shrouded in it... are you sure not more than a dalliance? I'd be a most lucky woman to have a man like you paying me attention...." she playfully flirted.
"Well, Mame, I don't kiss and tell," Smith replied.
"Oh, I see, the noble type," the Lady replied turning to Lilly, "... Lilly, do you find Smith here to your liking? He is quite the handsome, polite and well educated man... Why a young woman like you would do rather well by him.... you two would make a good looking couple..."
Lilly's face turned red with embarrassment. Normally she was a horrible liar. Despite the need to hide the truth this time, she was a complete failure on body language alone. She shyly stammered at first, "Mame, I... no, I mean, well, he is handsome, but no, I mean, I don't want to offend him, but no, no, I have someone else," she protested lapsing to her previous lie.
"I'm sorry dear, I've embarrassed you asking the question in Smith's presence... so young and insecure.... yet I could have sworn there was something between the two of you... maybe it is just a deep friendship and I have misunderstood... I mean, the longing glances you throw at each other across the dining room, in the kitchen, the sitting parlor, and especially on the days when you wear this red rose, one would think there was something there... I just thought..."
"Its quite alright, Mame," Lilly said interrupting, seeking to comfort the Lady's perceived mistake.
"Tell me Lilly, two nights ago I saw you leaving the antiquities storage room- it was late- around 10:00 PM- with a basket of freshly laundered clothes. I was curious why you would be in that room of dusty old furniture at night, especially with a freshly washed basket of clothes. I could not figure it out," she said as she leaned back and stretched her arms across the low back of the couch.
Smith was street smart and sensed Lilly was slowly being cornered by the Lady's line of coy questions. His mind raced for a way to help Lilly fearing she was not savvy enough to identify a prowling lioness. Lilly's eyes widened at the question fearing she and Smith had been exposed. She again stammered for an answer before telling the Lady, "I had been taking the clothes to be put away when I passed the door... I heard unnatural noises inside the storage room and decided to check that all was well."
"Unnatural? And, what did you find? Ghosts?" the Lady asked with surprised sarcasm.
"Nothing Mame, nothing at all."
"That is odd. After you left, I went into the room and looked around too..." Lilly's heart raced. Smith braced himself for the worst sensing the Lady knew more than she had let on, "Care to know what I found?"
"Yes, Mame," Lilly bravely replied trying to show confidence despite her ignorance for the Lady's discovery, her gut turning as fate reared its ugly head.
"Do you recognize these?" The Lady asked holding up a pair of silk undergarments, "I do believe they are about your size....."
"Why yes, they are mine," Lilly admitted in a nonchalant manner, "I must have dropped them from the basket. I had just washed them. Thank you...."
"Then you did a poor job my dear, they still bear your aroma...." Lilly instantly blushed a deep red.
"Tell me, why did Smith leave the room just before you? Each one of you left looking down the hallway both ways as you departed, clearly making sure nobody saw you... Is there something I should know?"
Smith started to say something but the Lady quickly hushed him wanting the explanation from Lilly. Lilly sat silent.
"Well?"
"I have no explanation, Mame," she said a quiet defeated tone to her voice.
"So I assume you two were fraternizing on my time. A clear dereliction of your terms of employment. What to do, what to do?" the Lady pondered rhetorically, "You know this is grounds for dismissal? Lilly, you and your family need you to have this job. I can send you home for you to explain why you lost your employment or you can both pay penance to me."
"Mame, please, what if I took leave, would you spare her?" Smith quickly asked.
"No," came a snappy stern reply, "its not an option, you are staying.... Here is my offer... I am lonely without my husband at home... he travels so much... the you two will keep me company while he is away on travel," she said laying a soft hand on Smith's very upper thigh, out of Lilly's sight.
Lilly immediately perked up, "That is it?" she eagerly asked thinking simple companionship an easy escape from the predicament.
"Yes, dear, that is it... I trust you understand what I want?" the Lady asked laying her other hand on Lilly's upper thigh. Lilly's excitement dissipated and unease set in, she not being sure of what was truly expected. She looked at Smith for direction.
"It is an unconditional undertaking, all or nothing I assume, Mame?" Smith asked.
"Yes, all or nothing," the Lady replied. Lilly's fate rested in Smith's hands. He felt guilty having placed her in this position. It was his idea that they meet in the antiquities room and fool around. She had resisted the idea at first. He had prevailed upon her and won. He knew how much her family needed the income, and, how much Lilly did not understand what the Lady expected- she was so innocent in many ways, this being one of them... a bargain with the devil, the ultimate conundrum... sacrifice no matter what he decided. He looked at Lilly long and hard and contemplated if she had the fortitude for the demands he suspected were going to be made.
"Lilly?" the Lady sternly asked. Lilly was terrified and frozen not knowing how to decide.
"We stay," Smith said with confidence in his voice and deep hope within that they could withstand the challenge.
"A wise decision Smith, a very wise decision," the Lady told him, "Smith, move the ottoman to the side. Lilly, on your hands and knees in front of me turned sideways."
"Madam?" Lilly asked with trepidation.
"You heard me, now young lady," she said imploring her by pointing to the ground. Lilly complied.
The Lady looked at the young Lilly kneeling before her, clad in her servant's outfit- a stereotypical knee length dress, white apron, sheer black hose and black heels- her hair tidily put up, some strands hanging aside her lovely face, and now embarassed by circumstance and the position she was forced to assume before the Lady. Lilly had always had the utmost respect for the Lady. She looked up to her as a role model, one who inspired her to improve herself, be kind to people and treat them with dignity regardless of their station in life. Now she was confused by her changed demeanor, one obviously hidden deep within her soul which Lilly could not explain.
