The Writer's Cafe discussion

The wide gallery was awash with sunlight, and the smell of freshly-cut grass had slipped around the edges of the floor-to-ceiling windows, teasing Maggie’s nose as she walked down the hall. She squinched her eyes together and wrinkled her nose, trying desperately not to sneeze. Both of her hands were fully occupied carrying the heavy silver tea service, and she couldn’t think of a worse time for this to happen.

The terrible tickling sensation passed after an eye-watering moment, and Maggie resumed her progress, carefully carrying the wide tray towards the study. This really wasn’t her job, but she was determined to make a good showing. She had only started working at Fallen Gables a few months before, and she was just a housemaid, so she really wasn’t supposed to be interacting directly with the master yet. It would normally have taken years for her to work herself up the household staff to this kind of opportunity - but then fate had taken a hand, striking both the housekeeper and the head maid down with a vicious cold, and Maggie had seized the opportunity to make herself useful.

She loved working at Fallen Gables. The work itself was boring of course, like all maid’s work was, but she was certain that it was going to lead her to something better. In the meantime, the house was beautiful - a sprawling complex built during the financial and cultural height of the colonial times. The grounds surrounding the building itself were even larger, spreading for acres in all directions, and included everything from a small forest to lush green lawns. If only the outdoors didn’t make Maggie sneeze so much…

She reached the study door in safety, and after some clever maneuvering she managed to open the door without dropping the tray. Maggie slipped inside, moving quietly as she had been ordered to do. The housekeeper’s instructions had been clear, despite the muffled, sniffling tones in which they had been issued. Open the door, walk along the back of the room, set the tray down on the table in the corner. Set out the teacups, but don’t pour. Wait and see if the master has any other orders, then curtsy and leave.

Maggie repeated the instructions to herself as she edged her way across the back of the room, dodging sofas and end tables as she went. She kept her eyes on the tray and her feet, resisting the urge to stare about her. She had never been in the study before - the housekeeper was the only servant who was ever allowed in there.

Eventually she reached the designated table, and set the heavy tray down with a grateful little sigh. Unable to resist any longer, she looked up, her eyes darting around the room as she tried to take everything in at once. At first she was disappointed, for the room looked pretty much the same as every other room in the house. Granted, there were more books in this one, and a big, impressive desk standing at one end, but there was nothing really special about it. At least, not that she could see. There wasn’t even anyone in here.

Maggie furrowed her brow for a second, then looked over her shoulder, then back across the room. It was empty, apart from herself. She took a step deeper into the room, looking around more carefully. Just then a breeze wafted in, making the curtains billow and making Maggie sneeze uncontrollably.

“What was that?” she heard a voice ask from just outside the window, which she now saw had been propped open to let in the late spring air.

Maggie fished her handkerchief out of her pocket and blew her nose vigorously, quickly retreating towards the door at the same time. She knew she was supposed to wait and see if the master had any other orders, but she was pretty certain that didn’t want him to remember her as the sneezing girl.

“Nothing,” another voice said. “Go on - open it. I want to hear what he could possibly have to say.”

Maggie paused in front of the doorway, then relaxed as she released that neither of the speakers were moving towards the study. A moment later her curiosity got the better of her, and she moved back towards the windows to listen, keeping her nose firmly pinched as she did so to prevent any more surprises.

There was the sound of ripping paper, and then some mild muttering as someone - she guessed the master - began to read. Then there was swearing. She let go of her nose and moved closer, spellbound.

“What is it? What did he say?” the other voice demanded.

“Do you know what he said?” the master asked in a bitter tone. Maggie could hear the sound of ripping paper as he spoke.

“Well, of course I don’t, that’s why I asked,” said his companion.

“He’s coming here. Today. He’ll be arriving at any moment.”

Maggie sneezed.

"This is rather odd. I must say, the manor looks a bit run down, yet so charming and mysterious.", mused the man who just arrived at the drive in, which was a bit muddy for it has rained the day before. He sighed with happiness and inhaled the fresh spring air so that his face turned into a grimace as if he was walking through a storm. Healthy looking and with some colour in his cheeks, in addition to the freshly cut moustache, he made the impression of a comical youth who seemed to laugh a lot. But there wasn't much to laugh about. His boss business being in a bit of a slump he was sent on extra hours to sell insurance, especially in the rural area.

So he arrived at this address, prepared with his sales speech as always, to try his luck anew. "On the first glance I should offer the owner of this large house a fire policy. Or maybe even a small rate of flooding protection. One can never know.", he was so lost in thoughts that he almost tripped over a stone which was lying around. His long legs and being quite tall it looked like a stork walking on hot coales as he tried to avoid falling and holding his balance. "Oh dear, oh dear. I should sell them some injury insurance too. They might have people breaking their legs on their property.", murmured the young lad. Before arriving at the doorway he heard some voices.

Mr. Storkinson stood next to the door and grabbed the rope from the bell in order to ring it. But before he did so he listened one more time to the voices he heard.
"Oh, it seems they are having guests over for tea.", he noticed after he heard the chatter and laughter from several women. "Should I interrupt them? Would they think rude of me if I did so and offer them insurance?", he started to doubt his decision to come here at this time of the day.

After a long pause, still holding the doorbells rope, he decided not to enter, for now. Lost in thoughts he strolled around in the front yard with one hand in his pocket and the other one under his chin. "Maybe if I try the back entrance it would not be seen as pushy. I think that is a good idea because the maid or butler more likely may let me in.", smiling and happy about his decision he walked to the left side of the manson in order to reach its backyard. Some sunlight came through a hole between a group of grey clouds. "Ah, I do like the countryside. Less dirty and crowded too.", he paused to marvel at the large garden which came in sight behind the manson. It was full of trees and bushes of all sorts. It appeared to be well kept and looked after. Not a single spot, bush or tree looked wild or out of place. "Impressive!", Mr. Storkinson nodded and was once again completely lost in thoughts.

Wiping frantically at her face, Maggie once more retreated towards the door. She ducked out into the hall, then hurried down the long galley at a scurrying kind of pace until she'd made some distance. From behind her she heard the study door start to open, and she dashed to one side, desperate to avoid being seen.

Another set of floor-length windows were in front of her, and Maggie slipped through them quickly, emerging a second later on the front lawn. Glancing over her shoulder, she took a few more hurried steps forward, and immediately collided with someone else who had taken refuge on the lawn.

Maggie stifled a shriek as they went tumbling over onto the ground. Whoever she had run into seemed as startled as herself, and for a few moments it was all tangled limbs and muffled exclamations.

It was an awkward few seconds, but at the end of them they had untangled themselves and were both standing again. Maggie straightened her cap and apron, and looked at her accidental victim.

"Who are you?" she demanded, torn between anger and embarrassment. "What are you doing here?"

The man stopped brushing invisible dust from his hat, and looked over at her. Before he could respond however, there was a mechanical roar from behind them. They turned as one to look, as a motor raced up the driveway, screeching to a halt in front of the manor with a spray of dust and gravel.