"The Arrival at Ward's Castle"
Lily's POV
As we arrived at Mr. Ward's estate, the car drove along the well-maintained cobblestone road, and I caught sight of a grand house that resembled a Victorian-era castle. It was clear that my new employer's wealth came from a long-standing family inheritance. I couldn't help but wonder what my life would be like if I had been born into a golden cradle, living in a castle with everything at my fingertips. Perhaps I wouldn't be residing here in York; I would be in London, living a life similar to the bourgeois women I occasionally saw in the city center. But that was not my reality. I was no princess; I was a simple commoner in this story, and to top it off, an orphan.
We lived in a not-so-small town called York, located in Yorkshire, in the north of England. It was a peaceful town, with ninety-five percent of its buildings dating back to the Viking and Victorian eras. York was serene, with a pleasant population and numerous tourists enamored with the northern European charm. York was ideal for those with stable finances and family ties, which wasn't the case for me. Unfortunately, I never had the chance to know my parents. I was told that I was left in a basket at the doorstep of Saint Laurent Orphanage one night. It was there that they took me in and decided to care for me.
I couldn't deny that I had always been curious about my family, wanting to know who my parents were and where I came from. But I was also afraid of discovering terrible truths that would further shatter me. So, I preferred to live the life as it was presented to me and do my best to make things go smoothly.
"I'm going to miss you so much," Ellen, one of the caregivers at the orphanage and a close friend of mine, hugged me affectionately as I packed my small suitcase still at the orphanage. By this point, I knew my new employer was waiting for me outside the orphanage, while Mother tried to flatter the man. Was he annoyed and eager to leave? I had heard that the wealthy couldn't stand spending too much time in impoverished places. Nonetheless, I returned her embrace with a sweet smile. Ellen was a good girl, always understanding and by my side. We were good friends.
"Don't worry, I'm not going far. I'll come back here occasionally to pay a visit, and we can meet in the city center on our days off." I smiled, gently caressing her back. Furthermore, I didn't want to lose her friendship. She chuckled and lightly tapped my shoulder.
"Do you think this guy will give you any time off?" She referred to little Arthur, who was energetically playing on my small bed, kicking the air with his chubby feet. He was already five months old, a baby full of energy.
"I'll take him with me," I replied without hesitation, and Ellen shook her head, clicking her tongue.
"You've grown so attached to this baby; it's as if he's your own child." It was true, but I was grateful for being able to give my love to such an innocent creature like Arthur. "I don't know how your interaction with his father will be because everyone knows how arrogant he is. He might mistreat you, but I truly hope everything works out." She spoke while giving me another hug. I also hoped that everything would work out. After all, I wasn't going there for him; I was going there for Arthur.
And now, I stood in front of Ward's Castle, an imposing iron gate guarding the property. The gate opened to allow Mr. Ward's car to enter, revealing a beautifully maintained garden in front of the house.
The garden was enormous, with well-manicured grass and perfectly pruned bushes. It was likely that Mr. Ward had a fleet of gardeners to keep the area so well-maintained. As the car passed through the cobblestone road within the castle gates, I also noticed ivy climbing the castle's side walls, adding a touch of ruggedness and greenery. The car stopped near other scattered cars in front of the house, and the driver opened the door for his master to disembark. At this point, I had already covered my breasts as Arthur had finished nursing and was sleeping in my arms, so my employer had stopped staring at me so much...
However, as soon as he got out of the car, I adjusted the baby in my arms to open the door and step out. But Mr. Ward was quicker than I. He pulled the door open for me, surprising me as I looked at the tall man who had opened the car door for me. What did it mean? Why did he bother opening the car door for me? After all, he was my employer. Why would he go through the trouble of opening the car door for me? Sure, he could be a cultured man who knew basic etiquette, such as opening the car door for a woman, but he really had no obligation to do that for me since I was just a maid. Yet, there he stood in front of me after opening the door for me. That gesture had left me confused, especially combined with the heavy gaze he had given me while I nursed his child. I didn't know what to think.
"Get out quickly, and be careful not to hit my son's head with the car," he said, his voice sharp and impolite. I immediately lowered my head, feeling embarrassed. I thought he was oddly courteous to me by opening the car door, but in reality, he was only concerned about his child. "You fool! In what world would your own employer open the car door for you, Lily?" I berated myself in my thoughts and reluctantly got out of the car, still holding baby Arthur in my arms. It was a cool evening outside, with several house employees attending to their tasks. I nodded politely to an older woman who was looking at me as she approached. She was wearing a cleaning uniform and had a weary expression. She didn't return my smile or my gesture. Had I done something she didn't like?
"Take her suitcase from the trunk and bring it to the nanny's room. She will be Arthur's new nanny from now on," Mr. Ward instructed the woman, who widened her eyes slightly in surprise but ultimately nodded and went to do as her employer commanded. "You, come with me," he called my attention and showed me the way.
"Of course, sir..." I nervously nodded and followed him, being careful not to stumble on the grand staircase. As I entered the castle, I instantly knew that things wouldn't be as perfect as I had imagined.