Lenora fidgeted nervously in the parlor of her new employer. Everything had gone according to plan, her forged letters of recommendation were reviewed but under very little scrutiny and no one had recognized her face. She rose from the chaise they asked her to wait on and looked about the room. The room itself was fairly large and ostentatiously decorated. There were two gilded mirrors between floor to ceiling bookcases, littered with books from mystery to botany. A few bric-a-brac was spread throughout, some were made of bronze, others brass or wood, but none were made of silver or gold, much to Lenora's disappointment. She frowned, wondering where everything of value was. Patience, Lenora, in due time. You have acquired the job, the rest will fall into place nicely, she thought to herself. 

She heard the sound of footsteps coming down the stairs, so she flitted back to her place on the chaise, smoothing her dress as she sat back down. "It's time to begin your duties, girl," a flustered maid told her. "Here," she continued handing her a golden candle holder, a red tapered candle already lit, "take this to the mistress. Your first task is to help Mistress prepare for bed. Don't talk back, be gentle, and for goodness sake, be quick!" she pushed her towards the stairs. "It is the first door on the left, make sure you curtsey and address her as 'Mistress'. Keep your eyes down and your opinions to yourself, you hear?" Lenora's yellow flecked blue eyes widened a bit. Perfect, she thought at the idea of all these rules she must follow to do her duty. It was only for a time, however, and didn't worry too much. 

"Yes madame," she addressed the kitchen maid. 

"Oh, psh, you needn't waste those titles on me," she said in her lowly accent. "Use those up with the Mistress." And with that she turned tail and whisked back to the kitchen. She walked up the stairs slowly, the oak planks creaking with her weight, and knocked on the first door on the left.