To Be A Princess (court life)

6- Devishly Handsome Footmen

I took a deep breath in. Here I am standing, looking like a spec of dust compared to the looming towers above me. They seem to be glancing down on me, taunting me with their superiority and possession they now have over me. As I glanced at the elaborate entrance and the remarkable gardens, all gilded with mosaics and marble water features I felt like I was about to cry. But I wouldn't cry. Lady Rosalind Beatrice Ravenswood does not cry.

Instead, I took a deep breathe in, straightened my skirts and clasped my hands demurely in front of me. I took a step forward and the two grandly dressed guards either side of the door, walked over and opened it by its bronze, engraved hinges. I was immediately greeted by the butler who bowed and stepped aside, allowing me to walk in and intake the grand surroundings. I opened my mouth with a gasp and then tried to keep my jaw from dropping. It was the most beautiful room I have ever seen.

As you walked in, you were immediately greeted by two grand, spiralling staircases leading up to the floors above me. These staircases were all made of pure marble and were lined with a deep red carpet. Paintings and tapestries aligned the walls, as well as low red velvet lounges and sitting tables to either side of me. The floor alone, would cost more than many people's entire houses. It was made of some elegant, glassy looking stone and specs of shine could be seen glittered throughout the entire floor space. I continued to gape in awe at the riches before me, before being snapped back to attention by the butler.

"Welcome your ladyship" he greeted with another bow of his head. "May I have her title please?" He directed to Jim dismissively.
"Lady Rosalind Beatrice Ravenswood of Northington, daughter of the Duke of Norhington" he announced awkwardly, shuffling his feet and seemingly greatly uneasy.
"You are dismissed stable boy" he sneered, as if Jim being in his presence for a moment longer would be a disgrace.
I shot the butler a distasteful look.
As Jim began to leave the room, I pulled him in for a hug, much to his and the butler's surprise.
"Goodbye Jim, May I visit you in the stables some time?" I asked, cheering gleefully.
"Certainly ma'am." He replied, glancing at the butler awkwardly before exiting the splendid room quickly and quietly.

The butler seemed rather disgruntled by now because "how DARE I hug a stable boy" and "how DARE I treat him like an actual human being." 
I regained my regal stance and asked the butler what I shall be doing now. He asked me to wait on one of the velvet lounges, while he retrieved a footman to show me around. I happily agreed, walking swiftly over to the lounge, dropping to the lounge that seemed an oasis to my aching feet. I sat there, taking in my surroundings until the butler returned. "Lady Rosalind, I would like to introduce you to James, he will be the one to show you around." He announced. The footman bowed to me with elegance and poise. He was rather handsome, with brown hair and piercing brown eyes. I nodded and replied, before the butler left to continue his duties.

"Lady Rosalind, where would you like to be shown first?" James asked in an extremely proper manner, making me feel most awkward, as Frankie never treated me like this, and neither did the other footmen.
"You may call me Rose, there is no need to be so proper" I smiled.
"If that is what you wish, Lady Rose." He replied.
"Scrap the 'lady' part, I really don't care. You can simply call me Rose, or Rosie. I really don't mind, I would prefer it if you did actually." I babbled on.
"Well, the butler would kill me if I dared not call you Lady Rosalind." He warned.
"Oh, well I must insist upon you calling me Rose." I replied, holding out my hand for him to shake.
"It's nice to meet you" I said, as he glanced at my open palm with astonishment. He took it hesitantly in his own and gently shook it.
"You seem like a pretty nice girl... Rose." He smirked and I gleamed. I hope I can become his friend, as I am sure I shall feel out of place with the ladies, lords and royalty.

"So, where to first?" I asked.
It wasn't long before I was shown the necessary rooms, including the several drawing rooms I would be allowed in, numerous libraries and the casual dining hall, formal dining hall, ballroom and galleries. The amount of rooms never ended. The halls were extensive and seemed to go on forever, twisting and turning for an eternity. After James showed me the rooms he was instructed to, he showed me the entrance to the dungeons, the servants quarters and the kitchen.

It was very interesting, however, the most interesting part was when he told me of secret passages throughout the castle. He said he didn't know where they were but there were always rumours. He brought this up so casually and then continued his conversation to something else. My mind stayed on the thoughts of hidden passages. I love a good mystery and I love exploring.

After two hours of touring, James discovered it was time for him to continue his other duties. He quickly lead me to my room where I was greeted by a maid stoking the fire. James nodded to the footman standing along the hall and he disappeared behind a tapestry to one of the winding servants corridors. The maid stood up immediately, bobbing me a quick curtesy and introducing herself. Her name was Mary and I discovered that she was one of the twenty three maids at this castle.
"That's so many employees!" I exclaimed. James laughed at my statement and so did Mary.

"Rosie, I'm afraid you'll find that there is a lot more than just twenty three maids. There are 48 footmen and 12 stable hands. Then there are I reckon about 40 kitchen staff, 13 cooks and 200 or 300 guards." He laughed, loudening his giggles as my jaw dropped more and more with each word he said.
"How do they afford to house them all?!" I exclaimed again in confusion and amazement.
"Most of us go home to our villages at the end of the day." He explained, his laughter echoing the room. He laughed at me as if I were the biggest idiot in the world.
"This is so perplexing to me." I explained with a blush.
"So per-what? Don't go using them fancy words with me." It was now my turn to giggle. Soon we were both in fits of laughter, with Mary looking on, astonished at James' forward ness in speaking to me.

Soon, two maids appeared from behind a tapestry on the wall. One of the maids was a tall girl with long brown hair braided down her back, she looked rather similar to James. The other maid had glowing auburn hair and freckles, and was significantly shorter than the other. James winked at the auburn hair girl and she blushed, pulling her eyes away from him and looking down to the floor. The blonde rolled her eyes and glanced at James with a frown. James smirked at her and she rolled her eyes again.

"Good afternoon your ladyship." the blonde girl spoke.
"I shall be your personal maid for your visit. This is Margie, and my name is Cath-"
"Cathers. Her name is Cathers." James interrupted.
"Forgive him, he is being horridly rude, and my name is Catherine." She added, hurriedly, looking around with worry at James' rudeness.
"It's okay, I'm Rose by the way." I laughed, holding out my hand. She stared at me as if I had three heads.

James sighed.

"Cathers, meet Rose, she's not a rich snob like the others. Rose, meet Cathers, she's my sister, though not as devishly handsome as me." He muttered impatiently, with a smirk at his last few words.
"I must leave, I have a royal luncheon to serve." He grinned smugly, turning around before I could ask questions. He left the room and I turned around to two maids I now knew as Catherine and Margie.