Ailis Fionn Graham of Sutton, Ali for short, had been given by her parents to their landlord, his Lordship, the Ninth Duke of Sutton, one of the wealthiest land owners in the county, in exchange for their farm. She didn't mind. She was old enough to be out of the family home, and the money and land her family gained meant they wouldn't have to work so hard anymore, and her brothers could have an education.
She was well read enough, having spent the better portion of your young years reading from her benefactor's library when she wasn't helping her mother. She had lead a very sheltered life though and at 19 had never even lain with a man or kissed a boy. She had been told by her Lordship that this fact, in addition to her rare beauty, was why he had been willing to pay so much for her to her parents.
Her lack of lineage worked wildly in his favor as he neither had to explain himself nor marry her. He planned to take care of her for her lifetime however, and was quite fond of her, having watched her, from a paternal and landlord position, grow from a little girl into a stunning young woman. Her visits to his chateau had been regular for her reading materials, and he made sure that she always had access to the books for he saw no reason she should not enjoy some education in her life.
Their age was not so very far apart at he being 15 years her senior, and they had been fairly good friends all her life, so Ali was actually pleased that her family had been able to secure such a beneficial agreement for them all. She was unsure as yet what her position in the household was to be, but she was sure she could manage well no matter what as her mother had trained her well in the ways of cooking and cleaning, knowing that her future would entail some sort of work.
This being her mindset, she was taken aback when, upon her arrival at the chateau, she was taken not to the servant's quarters, but to a modest little cottage on the back acreage of the property. Set into the side of a mountain, with a lovely running stream beside it, the cottage was something from her dreams. She looked quizzically at the driver Duncan, who also knew her very well, and he said, "Aye lass, that'd be your new home."
The cottage was made of stone, with a small herb garden and flowers in front of it. A larger patch of land stood off to the left, and was already tilled for a vegetable garden, and a well sat off to the rear of that, almost against the mountainside. Duncan stepped down from the coach and helped Ali with her bags. When they walked in the front door, she saw a large stone fireplace that took up almost the entire interior wall of the room she was in. She also saw that the entire house was made of stone, not just the outside. The floors were of stone, but of a much smoother kind, and were washed clean with warm wool and fur rugs scattered about. There was a small fire burning, and when she looked she could see through to the next room where there was a kitchen that shared the hearth.
To the right of the entrance was a sitting room and a small flight of stairs which Duncan was climbing and told her to follow. The stairs opened out into the entire top floor of the cottage which was a large and well furnished, charming bedroom, with another fireplace set into the stone on the mountain side of the room.
Duncan then took her back downstairs and through the kitchen, out a rear pantry door inside the house, and into a root and wine cellar that had been carved right out of the side of the mountain. The floor was wide plank wood and the walls were stone as well.
Ali was in awe of her surroundings. Her parent's farmhouse was not as grand and cozy as this her little cottage in the mountains, and she could barely contain her glee at the prospect of living here for all her days.
Duncan told her that she would be visited that afternoon by his Lordship, who would bring a lady's maid to her tonight, and on certain occasions to help her when necessary. Ali was confused and not sure why she would need a ladies maid to prepare, but she was so caught up in the joy of her new situation that she never thought to ask. Duncan left closing the door quietly behind him and telling her she should expect his Lordship the Duke in one hour.
She set to unpacking and settling her belongings into her new home and whiled away the hour faster than any she had ever remembered.
At 4pm precisely, his Lordship Blake Macleod, the Ninth Duke of Sutton presented himself formally to Ailis Fionn Graham. Following close behind his Lordship was a young girl. Although older than Ali by a bit, and much larger boned, she was stern looking but very pretty, and she smiled at Ali genuinely. Ali assumed this girl was to be her maid, and liked her instantly, smiling in return.
Ali curtsied deeply to his Lordship in greeting, as was usual.
Macleod looked at her and said, "Welcome cairn, to your new home. I hope you like it, and it will meet all of your needs adequately."
He sat down and gestured that she do the same before he continued, "This is Lara, your ladies maid. She will attend you periodically as I feel you likely have no need of a maid consistently."
Ali nodded to Lara, who nodded back, and then disappeared into the kitchen and the root cellar. Ali forgot about her and looked at the Duke, giving him her full attention, "I am very happy your Lordship. I could not have imagined something so lovely for me."
The Duke smiled at her warmly before continuing, "I'm glad you are comfortable Ali. We have known one another for a long time, and I consider you a good friend. I was happy that I was in a place to be able to offer your father so much in return for your placement here, as I had been basing my future on just such an arrangement between you and I."
When she looked confused he continued, "Don't worry Ali, everything will become very clear soon, and I know that you and I will get along famously for many years to come."
He stood up and said, "Now, you will meet with Lara for awhile next, and she will take very good care of you peata, though I have told her that she is limited in what she can answer, she will be able to at least give you some idea of what will be expected of you in your new life here."
He walked over to where she stood and kissed her on the top of her head, "I will see you soon."
And then he was gone, leaving her to search for her new ladies maid in the house herself.
She didn't need to search long, as Lara was in the kitchen filling a very large tub with boiling hot water. On the table were various tools and implements, some of them familiar to Ali, some of them not. She knew that the bath however, was for her and was greatly relieved at the chance to bathe herself.
Lara looked her up and down and smiled, "Yes, I can see why he is interested," she muttered. "Though why he isn't occupying himself with someone older and wiser is beyond me. Ah well, tis not for me to dwell on, come, let me look at you."
And with that Lara began to help Ali disrobe from her dress. She wore only a thin muslin shift beneath it and went to get into the steamy inviting waters still wearing it out of modesty, but Lara stopped her gently.