Ablaze in Passion 9

Kobi had been exiting one of the first floor rooms when Bianca had stormed passed, she had giggled as she watched Lord Cassidy rush after her moments later. Lord Cassidy was definitely going to have his hands full with Bianca.
"Kobi might I enquire to where your sleeping chambers are?" Bianca asked as she entered the room Kobi was dusting,
Kobi turned with a smile at her voice, and set down the duster she had in her hands,
"I’m on this very floor Miss Bee," she replied,
"Why is it I’m all the way up on the higher floors then?"
"It was where we was asked to put you,"
"Well could I be shown to a more appropriate room for my position, I’m feeling a little out of sorts up there,"

Kobi looked at her suspiciously, then nodded her agreement,
"If that’s what you would prefer Miss Bee,"
Kobi led her out the room and through a few corridors before they arrived at another. They entered together and Bianca saw that this room was much more to her style. Though the beds looked just as soft as the one she had upstairs and the furniture was still traditional, it was much smaller and cosy.
"Much better, thank you Kobi,"

After Kobi had left, Bianca lay down on the bed. She had been right; it was exactly like the one upstairs, only slightly smaller. Her stomach growled and finally she realised that she had missed dinner. She rose from the bed, and peered towards her chamber door. She didn’t want to bump into Lord Cassidy anymore today; she had seen him quite enough to last her for an entire lifetime. Her stomach growled again; she had to have something to eat, how she wished she had a rope to pull in here, then she would be free of seeing Lord Cassidy. She left her chambers silently, and walked quickly but gradually along the corridors, she had no idea where the kitchens were; her only guess was where Kobi and the cook Peggy had appeared from in the Main Hall.

The main hall was easy to find and she walked to the spot where they had come, and found that hidden behind some tapestry was indeed a door, that led straight to the place she was seeking. The cook Peggy was in the kitchen and turned at Bianca’s approaching footsteps,
"Why Miss Bianca, what brings you to the kitchens? It wouldn’t by any chance be because you forgot about supper would it?" she asked smiling at her,
"Indeed that is why I have come, I got caught up in the library and completely lost track of time, i’m so terribly sorry Peggy,"

"Why don’t be sorry my dear, I saved you some fare,"
Peggy turned and brought out some food which consisted of salted beef, hams, potatoes, vegetables and bread.
"Why thank you very much Peggy,"
Bianca ate every bite, thinking back on the times when the Luxembourge’s had gone away and the household servants had cooked themselves some edible foods. She washed it down with a cool glass of water after turning down the wine Peggy offered her. Thanking Peggy again, she left the kitchens and made her way back to her chamber where she fell onto the bed and was promptly fast asleep.

Bianca awoke with a start the next morning, it was well passed the usual time she was due to rise and she had work to do. She washed herself in the small basin quickly before dressing and left her chambers. She began her day like she usually would have back at Luxembourge Manor, only this time she had a bit more trouble as she knew where nothing was. She eventually found a basket that she could use to carry eggs in, only when she went out into the gardens found there were no chickens to take eggs from. She re-entered the castle and placed the basket back where she had found it and continued through to the kitchen where Peggy was busy preparing the morning meal, she grabbed the closest apron and tied it around her waist before heading over towards where Peggy was cooking some eggs,

"What can I help you with?"
Peggy spun around with shock on her face,
"No Miss, you shan’t be working in the kitchens, you shan’t be working at all," she said as she wiped her hands on her own apron,
"Wh-what do you mean? That’s what I’ve always done, what else am I to do?" Bianca replied alarmingly,
"Do what any other young Lass would do in your shoes, go and have some fun Bianca,"
Then she turned and returned to the eggs, just as Bianca approached the door to leave Peggy yelled over shoulder,
"And Lass, that would begin with you being at the breakfast table,"
Bianca opened her mouth in shock, there goes her plans to avoid Lord Cassidy.

Bianca found herself pacing out the front of the double doors that led through to the dining room; she had tried unsuccessfully for the last few minutes to reach out and open the door to enter, but had dropped her hand continuously.
"Oh this is just stupid," she said in frustration and turned to walk away, however she stopped when the doors were flung open behind her. Closing her eyes she sort of crab scuttled to the side in the hope that no one had noticed her directly in the opening. She clamped her mouth shut on words she knew would have resulted in a soapy mouth wash when her name was called from the dining hall,
"Bianca?"

Bianca spun around to face the few people in the dining hall, Kobi was in the process of laying out the table with platters of food, Lord Cassidy was standing by the door and a man she had never met was seated at the table,
"Oh uh, hello, I was just passing through," Bianca said as she stepped back and away from the scene in front of her,
"Miss Bee? You can’t miss this breakfast, it’s been prepared especially for you, you must try Peggy’s eggs, they are just to die for; and the juice, none fresher in all of England,"
Bianca stopped side stepping and gave it all up as a failed escape, and walked shyly into the dining hall. Lord Cassidy seated her to his right and then proceeded to sit at the head of the table,

"Bianca this is my good friend William, the Earl of Westminster,"
Bianca bowed her head slightly before answering,
"How do you do?"
"I couldn’t be any better my girl; however less about me and more about you," he replied,
Bianca genuinely smiled. She knew this Earl was a friendly man. His presence gave off the feeling of peace and ease; you couldn’t help but smile at him. He was a large man, and Bianca couldn’t help but wonder if the cook at Luxembourge Manor’s little boy would someday look like this when he grew up. His cheeks were rosy red, and his eyes were squinty but held depths of warmth within them.
"Come dear, tell me about yourself," he said happily as he started eating the food in front of him,

Bianca was surprised; he had actually meant it, he really wanted to know about her? Surprise was replaced with nerves. What could she tell him? Did he know she was just a lowly servant and then scold Lord Cassidy for treating her too well?
"How about we start with a surname?" he asked her soothingly,
He already knows, Bianca thought to herself.
"McAllister," she replied quickly,
"Agh McAllister, very strong name. Scottish isn’t it?"
"I’m not too sure where it comes from,"
William regarded her for a few moments,

Kobi appeared by Bianca’s side and proceeded to fill her plate with the most delectable food she had ever seen on a breakfast table,
"I suggest you have another helping after your first Miss Bee, you look right skinny," Kobi said as she then; to Bianca’s astonishment took a seat at the table with them.
There was a small moment of silence whilst everyone ate their breakfast, but it was interrupted by William voicing another question,
"Bianca, tell me more. Where do you hail from?"
"From Luxembourge manor Sir," Bianca replied,
"No no, before you arrived at Luxembourge Manor?"
"I - do not know," Bianca more or less whispered, her face flushed red with embarrassment,

"Lord Luxembourge informed me that he found Bianca when she was only a young child; lost in the woods with no recollection of where she had come from," Lord Cassidy quickly filled in,
Bianca looked to Chase with a frown; she had never been told that before. She was unsettled at the thought that Lord Cassidy knew more about her then she did. Kobi who had also looked up with a small frown on her face opened her mouth to respond but was quickly cut off by Lord Cassidy as he continued,
"Perhaps William we should make way towards the study and peruse the papers?"
William who was in the process of dabbing his face with a handkerchief nodded his agreement and rose from the table,

"And Kobi, remember what I told you," he said as he made his way after William to the double doors,
"Yes, My Lord," Kobi replied with a smile.
The door closed behind the men and Bianca immediately turned to Kobi who had returned to eating her breakfast,
"What did he tell you?" she asked quickly,
"Who me?" Kobi replied through a mouthful of eggs,
Bianca nodded,
Kobi quickly swallowed her eggs and cleared her throat before looking towards the ceiling in thought,

"I can’t actually recall if it was something to do with cleaning, washing or cooking,"
Bianca opened her eyes in surprise, had Kobi been at Luxembourge Manor she wouldn’t be so forgetful,
"I don’t think it was cooking; Lord Cassidy is forever trying to get Peggy to take a small relaxing escape, but she absolutely refuses to let him suffer at the expense of my cooking," she said ignoring the look of horror on Bianca’s face,
"The washing isn’t my area, the last time I tried to do that Lord Cassidy had funny coloured shirts for a few weeks," she was quiet for a few seconds in thought before quickly adding, "It was quite funny actually,"
"Kobi? Are you being funny?" Bianca finally asked,
Kobi who seemed to finally remember Bianca was sitting across from her lowered her gaze,

"No, it’s all true," she replied, "I’m guessing it was something to do with cleaning, I must go check with Peggy she’ll be able to let me know,"
She jumped from the table and hastily left the dining room.
Bianca didn’t know if there was something wrong with Kobi or if it was just her personality, she knew Lucy would have loved the girl; a small pang of loss struck her at the thought. Lucy, she hadn’t even thought about what she could be doing or what could have happened since she left. She hoped she was okay. Slowly Bianca rose from the table piling the dirty dishes into piles, she stopped when she heard gushing whispers from behind her. When she turned she saw a small cluster of maids staring at her in shock, they stood like that for a mere few seconds before one stepped forward,
"Miss Bianca, whatever are you doing?" she asked,
Bianca let out a sigh in defeat and dropped the cutlery she had in her hands to the table, before turning and leaving the maids to clean up the mess.