Alice bustled around the kitchen packing a food hamper for Aiden and George. She looked across at Jessica. "Your main duties are making sure the Master is looked after. You serve him his meals, make his bed, fill his bath, look after his room and lay out his clothes. When time permits you dust, polish, clean the ash from the fireplaces, then sweep and mop the floors. Mary looks after the kitchen, so that area's none of your concern. I'll go through my way of doing things with you. It seems to work but I guess you'll work out your own when you get used to things." She shoved two apples into the basket and said, "The Master has gone to Hobart Town for a while, which is a blessing. It'll give us time to sort you out." She wiped her hands on her apron. "Now then, hurry and finish eating so we can get on. I'll be waiting in the dining room for you."

The porridge was hot, creamy and sweet to taste. As Jessica ate she wondered how many bowls she'd eat before this man returned to beat her. For two years her life had been a living hell because of men like this one. She took another spoonful. It caught in her throat. Jessica pushed the bowl away.

"I want it gone before I get back. I shall be away for two weeks. That's time enough!"

"No! Please! Please let me keep him. I love Wilbur." Jessica cradled the dog in her arms and clutched him close to her.

The man who stood over her laughed. "Love him? Ha! If you love it, then it shall not be here when I return. For if it is, consider it dead!" He lashed out catching her on the cheek.

"Are ye finished there, girl?" Mary spoke sharply, startling Jessica.

"Yes, thank you."

"Well. Be off with ya, then. Alice'll be waiten for yer in the dining room." Mary waved her away then gathered up the dirty dishes.

Jessica stood and looked at the door and then back at Mary. "I don't know where the dining room is."

Mary burst into laughter. The dishes clattered back onto the table. "Oh my."

A well of anger balled in Jessica's chest. How dare this woman make her feel like a fool?

"Oh my, oh dear, I'm sorry!" Mary wiped her eyes with her apron. "Of course ye don't know where the dining room is." She held her stomach as she spoke. "I 'aven't had a good laugh in donkey's years and such a silly thing to laugh about it tis." Mary pointed to the door. "Head to the stairs where you goes to bed but keeps going. Second door on the right. Ye'll find it there."

The hall was wide. A strip of carpet lay along it and stopped just inside two large heavy timber front doors. These were inset with bevelled opaque glass, giving any person outside a shadowed glimpse of the interior.

Jessica looked up the stairs leading to the place she must now consider her room. There were four doors along this hall, two each on either side. She followed Mary's instructions to the second door on the right and found Alice bending over the fireplace cleaning out the ash.

"Oh, good! You've come. I've just about finished here. You go to the Master's chambers and start cleaning the fireplace. I'll be in shortly." Alice paused. "You have cleaned a fireplace before, haven't you?"

Jessica sighed and shook her head. Go here, go there. She didn't have a clue where the Master's chamber was.

"Well, what exactly did you do?" Alice struggled to her feet. If the girl didn't start talking soon she'd be no use to anyone.

"I..I..." Jessica's mind scrambled for an answer. She blurted the first thing that came to mind. "I was a governess."

"So you can read and write then?" Alice put her hand on her hips and cocked her head with interest.

"Yes . . ." The way this woman was scrutinizing her had Jessica thinking that perhaps she shouldn't have said anything.

"You can write letters?" Alice looked at her doubtfully. "I mean the ones you write for people to read?"

Jessica half smiled, thinking what an odd way to ask the question. "Yes. I can."

Alice paused then huffed, "Well, you won't be needing that here," she said as she lifted her pail of ash. "Come on. I need to teach you how to clean the fireplace."

Before leaving the dining room Jessica quickly looked around. It was lavishly furnished. No expense had been spared. When they entered the main bedroom, she noticed equally expensive décor and furnishings. She followed Alice into the next room wondering how this man was able to afford such things. Presumably the farm was large enough to make that sort of money. He must own a great deal of land in the area. Although, owning so much land, surely he would need more men to work it?

"Jessica." Alice interrupted her thoughts and pointed at the fire irons. "Each room has their own set. When you've finished raking out the ashes you must brush up and clean around the grate and fireplace. Rub the bars of the grate with emery paper if we have it in store. If not use some brick dust."

As they worked, Jessica said, "How big is this property?"

"Quite large," Alice worked quickly and added, "But some of the places around are much bigger."

Jessica ran this through her mind. If the land didn't provide his riches, what did? Suddenly, it seemed critical to her to find out about this man and how he acquired so much wealth.

"You must clear away any dirty glasses." Alice continued explaining her tasks. She used her hands as she spoke to indicate the areas that would need looking at. "And candle stubs and you must wash the marble hearth."

Trying to sound uninterested Jessica asked, "What do the men do?" She moved around the room picking up the candle holders and wiping away any ash as she went.

"Well, George does the gardens and milks. Oh, you know general maintenance." Alice pushed back to sit on her knees so she could look at Jessica. "He can't do too much heavy work," she said. "Well, you can see that for yourself." Alice brushed her hands together and smiled. "Aiden does all the heavy work. He, and the master when he's not away doing business in Hobart Town. They grow hay and run some cattle."

"He certainly has beautiful things, doesn't he?" Jessica looked around the room hoping Alice would continue to talk.

"Yes, the master's very wealthy. I'm not quite sure but I believe his family has something to do with ships. He goes to Hobart Town quite a lot. When he does, Aiden is in charge. I'm so proud of him." Alice's face lit up. "One day we hope to have some land of our own." She looked at Jessica matter-of-factly. "Master Louis would be lost without Aiden. He works so hard." Alice continued on about Aiden and how wonderful he was.

As Alice talked Jessica's mind analyzed what she'd been told. If the family's business was ships, this meant he was, in some way, involved in the transportation of convicts. As she thought of this possibility her anger rose. He would have these people believe he was some kind of saint in this land of hell. Yet he was amassing huge wealth from their suffering. Anger powered Jessica. She worked vigorously. Once the fireplace was cleaned, Alice complimented her good work. Jessica's thoughts and anger had overtaken her so much she had hardly noticed what she was doing and was surprised at how quickly she had finished the task.

"Have you ever lit a fire?" Alice gave Jessica a grin as she shook her head. She showed her how to set the kindling for the next fire then said, "Generally, that would be late in the afternoon, ready for the Master's return to the house." Alice dusted her hands. "Come on and I'll show you where the woodpile is in case the wood-box is empty. You'll need to fetch more if you need it."

The rest of the morning was spent in Master Louis's bedroom. Alice decided it was a good time to clean out his closet as it needed doing. This would help Jessica learn where everything went.

It was a large room, with a fireplace at the far wall and a bathtub in front of it. A huge boiler was suspended over the fire. Alice explained when the Master wanted a bath, she was to fill it with water, boil it and then pour the water into the tub.

"I'll never be able to lift it once it's full of boiling water," Jessica said, shocked a woman was expected to do this.

Alice was ready with an answer. Lifting the huge pot was beyond her, too. Her solution was to use one of the buckets. "You ladle the water from the big pot to the tub with the bucket. When you feel you're able to lift what's left in the boiler, use this hook to lift the pot. With a cloth in your other hand, pour the rest of the water into the tub."

In front of the tub, a large comfortable armchair stood on one side with a small lamp-table next to it. They were tidying his closet and drawers, along the same wall as the door. The huge double-bed faced the door, bedside-tables either side. To the left of the bed, a large window was framed by heavy striped curtains and accentuated by a marble-top washstand to the side.

Alice explained that each morning Jessica was to clear the fireplace in the dining room immediately on rising. She was then to proceed to the kitchen where Mary would have a tea tray ready for Master Louis's bedchamber. She was to knock lightly on the door and enter even if there was no answer. Once inside, she was to place the tray on the bedside table. There would be no need to say anything to Master Louis, he was a light sleeper and would have been woken by her knock. But of course, she added, if he spoke to her she must answer. She was then to draw open the curtains, lay out his clothes then return to the dining room, light the fire and set his breakfast table. By then he should have finished his tea whereupon Jessica was to collect the tray and take it to the kitchen. When Master Louis was ready for breakfast he would ring the bell. Jessica was to deliver the bowls of food to the buffet from which she would serve him his meal.

Once he finished and the dining room cleared, the dishes were to be washed and she would then return to his chamber, clear the fireplace and ready the kindling for afternoon. His bed should be well shaken and the mattress turned at least once a week.

Copyright © 2018 Donna Fieldhouse. All rights reserved.

So much work for poor Jessica to do. I wonder how Alice coped while pregnant?