Chapter 5

Adrienne awoke at dawn, uneasy about the fragmented, troubled dreams -- something about pain and pleasure. She tried to recall details but could not, so, anxious to make a good impression on the Vagnors, she put her dreams out of mind, dressed and hurried downstairs to find Lars and begin her duties.

He was in the kitchen preparing breakfast.

"Ssssit down Missss Adrienne. I have prepared you a good breakfasssst."

"Thank you Lars, that's very kind, but you shouldn't bother on my account."

"It issss no bother misssss. I do all the cooking here and I have to prepare breakfasssst for Hugo, Andre and Franz anyway."

"Are they the groundskeepers?"

He nodded affirmatively.

"What about the Vagnors?"

"They are late riserssss. I ssshall sssserve them later."

"How long have you been with the Vagnors?"

"Almossst twenty yearssss. When I first came to thissss area, they alone gave me food, sssshelter and employment."

"Oh you poor man! It must have been terrible for you."

Adrienne was beginning to feel differently about the disfigured man with whom she ate.

"I have learned to live with what life hassss given me. I need no sssssympathy."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it that way," she apologized, deciding to change the subject.

"Can you tell me what I am to do?"

"The roomssss on the first and ssssecond floorssss only are usssed and only thossse which are in the eassst and ssssouth wingssss. The Vagnorsss entertain occassssionally, but ssseldom overnight."

He refilled her cup.

"What kind of people are the Vagnors?"

"They demand you do your work well, but from the room and clothessss they have provided, you ssssee they can be quite generousssss."

"Yes," she confirmed as she felt the previous night's gift on her finger, "they are generous indeed."

"And now Missss Adrienne, if you are finisssshed, you will find cleaning materialssss in that closssset. I suggessssst you begin downstairssss and finissssh with the Vagnor'ssss roomssss after they have arissssen."

At the sound of footsteps approaching from the outside, Lars turned toward the door.

"I only hope I can please them," Adrienne said.

"Oh, I am ssssure you will," was the reply.

At that, the door swung open and three burley looking men entered, one of them a virtual giant at over seven feet with massive body to suit. All stopped in their tracks upon seeing the girl, each running his eyes up and down her body, putting Adrienne instantly ill at ease and making her wish she was wearing even more than the peasant blouse and skirt she had on.

"Missss Adrienne, thissss isss Franz and Andre and..." motioning to the giant, "Hugo. Adrienne issss the new houssssekeeper."

None said a word but they continued to leer at the quite uncomfortable girl.

"Breakfasssst will be ready sssshortly," Lars told them. "I will be back in a moment."

He escorted her from the kitchen and closed the door.

"They mossstly work outsssside," he said. "They are ssssimpleminded but, assss you can ssssee, know a pretty woman when they ssssee one. Their quartersss are in the woodssss. I would think them harmlesssss, but jusssst to be on the ssssafe sssside, I wouldn't go near there alone."

A chill went up her back.

"You needn't worry," she replied. "And Lars... thank you."

The slightest upturn of his misshapen mouth betrayed the beginning of a smile.

She hurried to her duties.