He had a feeling she was important, but he did not know she was the daughter he had only assumed she was a friend, why was she not attended in the days he saw her for that week, he thought to himself.

The dinner proceeded smoothly, Mark, and the maids danced around the table craftily removing plates and bringing out the food they also ensure that the wine was always poured and their needs were tended to but the atmosphere felt off to Mark for a family, it give the expression that everyone here were total strangers and it was coming to an end.

A signal was given and Selima one of the maids made her way to pour red wine for Jacqueline Cassis.

As Mark went to pour water in the girl's glass they both gracefully crossed each other.

"Father," she spoke as she looked at the head of the table.

"Yes, Mathinda," he said almost as if knowing what she was going to say.

"That servant there," she pointed at Mark, "I want him to be mine personally."

Mark was a bit taken back by the response and it showed on his face,

What did it mean? he thought to himself.

"Very well, that can be done," the man responded "but if I do this, you must also do something in return a fair exchange. You have many duties that you have overlooked in my absence, you must strive to be not just like your older sister and brother but better, that way our house will always be filled with improvements."

The woman sat there not saying anything in response as the Father got up to leave with a glance at Mark that almost made him went pale. The lady followed after. The maids saw this and proceeded to clear the table of the plates and glasses.

The girl came right over to Mark who had only moved shortly away looking him over as though he had just been bought in a yard sale or an owner that just bought a dog. Smiling from ear to ear, she took his hand and pulled him as she walked on.

All Mark could say to respond to her given the scenario "was my lady?" but nothing else left his mouth.

'Where was she taking him?' he wondered in his mind

They were now in the library and she let go of Mark's hand as she turned to face him.

With a tone of authority she said, "starting from tomorrow you won't have to do those chores anymore also you will report to my room, every morning and will only do work of my choosing, I will have this communicated to the head maid."

"Why?" Mark said under his breath nervously as he tried to understand the change in circumstances.

"Because when I am with you I am no longer bored, and I no longer want to be bored."

The next day Mark was early and had found his way to Mathinda's room he did not feel it right to enter, and he had asked one of the maids to do it but with the mention of the girl's name the maids face all changed and suddenly became too busy with work to help.

He didn't understand this, even the head maid acted this way which was a shock given her personality, that was how he first learned her name.

'Why were they avoiding her so?' He thought to himself as he knocked on the door.

'It can't be all that bad can it?'

"Lady Mathinda," he called, "your servant Mark Verlone is here."

"Come inside and close the door," a voice behind the door said.

Mark felt off about the request he knew this was a breach of the proper standards of a servant but, he could not refuse so he did what he was told.

The room was large and the décor exquisite which did not portray that of a girl's room rather only a few prominent signs gave it away. He couldn't help look all-around before he saw two eyes staring at him from a girl seated on the bed.

This was the first time Mark notice that she wasn't a little girl, he just assumed that because of her youthful face and height.

"Captivated again as always I see."

"No my lady, I was just..."

"No need for such formality, besides I already know the sort of person that you are."

"What orders would you have me do...Mathinda..... mam?"

"Orders, hmmm, okay how about this make me laugh."

"Excuse me, I didn't hear you clearly."

"Make me laugh Mark."

Mark stood there thinking about what he should say to make her laugh, he had heard a few jokes before but where he grew up but he didn't know if it would fit for this kind of environment and he wasn't too sure if Mathinda would like those kind of jokes it may lower her opinion of him and he could end up out of a job. What to do he kept thinking over and over.

She sat there on her bed patiently waiting for him to respond in what may have seemed like an eternity to him.

Mark scratched his head well ah "I sold my vacuum the other day... he paused... all it was doing was collecting dust."

"That's it, after I waited so long that's the best you could come up with," as she started to laugh. "Unbelievable."

"Well, I tried not the best with jokes," he said as the weight came off his shoulders.

"I can see that still it in adverted made me laugh at how bad it was anyway so it still worked."

"To that, I am grateful that I was able to entertain you, now then is there something else you need me to do?"

"Well then, I think you should hmmm..."

"If I may be so bold my lady why has no maids come to help you change, and why was there none to attend you the times I saw you my first week here? My apologies if I overreach but I feel I have to ask this."

Mathinda was silent as she held a long look at Mark her eyes had changed but he understood it and what it was in those eyes held a deep sadness.