Maybe this time would be better, working and getting back on her feet was the only way Lily could see herself getting past this.

“Are you sure about this?” Jacob’s sight shifted repeatedly from the mundane mansion that rested right of them then back to Lily then back to the mansion.

She herself was unsure, she looked at the house in dismay. The feeling of working for these people was intimidating but she puffed up her chest and took a deep breath. Her eyes suddenly fell to that of the man’s eyes beside her before nodding at his question.

“Watch your step.” He cautioned, taking her by the hand as she slowly opened the door. He stopped her with a “Wait.” and a grab at the arm but somehow, no words came out. He couldn’t tell her how he felt about the place. The things he had heard. Surely, he would sound bitter. He folded his lips and gave her a warm smile.

Lily dropped her rock-solid demeanor and cupped his cheek. “Thank you.” She turned back to the manor and fixed her woolen green coat before, putting on foot in front of the other.

Just hearing the sound of her shoes on the pavement gave her heart a little rush. Lily still felt hesitant, turning back to Jacob every time she moved one step closer. He was nothing but supportive, waving her goodbye every time her head swung back to him. Lily Fisher felt the heat build in her chest just as the vehicle drove off. It was growing and growing. Everything in the yard was huge, enormous, and fancy. What opportunities are behind these doors? It felt like this was what the stairway to heaven would be like; big beautiful gates and big beautiful trees, gorgeous flowers that caressed the bones of the home. The family had already settled into spring just fine and the smell of the flowers brought a warm, endearing feeling that the following winter could not deliver. It wouldn't be long before the bees come back to work. It was a lot to take in, everything was breathtaking and Lily Fisher wasn't sure if she could get used to a place as such.

Lily pressed the carillon and waited.

Her twinkling eyes were first spotted by a young woman almost as young as she was.

“Oh.” The young woman said, with a hint of snickering. She spun around and left for the kitchen, leaving Lily at the door without a word or greeting. It happened so fast, Lily only had time to remember the red apron she wore and the big mold over her lips and maybe the color of her hair, which could’ve been black to a light brown covered in a white hat.

She leaned her head, taking in all the décor. The first thing she noticed was the beautiful wallpaper that had the color of a light blue with flowers on it, her eyes then caught the chandelier above and before she knew it, her legs did the walking. She twirled in the halls, looking at everything. She could see the piano in the study room straight through the two doors that led to the library. She looked at the pictures on the wall. There was one of a family; a man, his wife, and two children: a boy and a baby. She moved to the next; a picture of a little girl in her room, playing with dolls. She then got to the end of the hall and a picture stood on the vanity. She picked it up. In it was a young man, hand in his pocket and he seemed to be staring at something out of view.

“My son.” Lily cramped up, dropping the frame on the floor, shattering it to pieces. The shards of the glass didn’t consider the volume of its echo but it was more startling that the voice she heard.

“I, I…” She looked at it, and her hands shook. She felt like she was in a freezer now. She looked up at the woman and replied. “I, I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine.” She yawned then turned around. “Come with me.”

Lily’s body shifted from the woman to the picture repeatedly until she was ordered. “Leave it.” Then came a yell. “Grace!” and there she was again, the same girl from before. Lily had trailed behind the towering woman before looking back at the girl. Grace glanced up, still cropping up the shards, she gave a nasty look and then went back to work. Lily felt numb watching everything, they walked to the kitchen and then through a big white door, leading outside. There was a garden of roses, and bushes throughout the whole backyard. To the left, there was a white gazebo, with chairs and a table where she took Lily. They both sat down but before Lily could say something she spoke.

“What brings you, girl?” It wasn’t a harsh tone but a subtle and almost humble one.

“What you said the other day, Miss… I thought about it and I may have considered but I don’t want to bother you.” She got up and gripped her purse. “I see you have a maid already, I understand.” She smiled. She was about to walk away when she heard the woman cackle like she was standing in front of a cauldron. She rocked back and forth and held her chest and laughed for a minute before saying.

“Don’t be silly... and call me Mrs. Beckingham if you will.”

“I beg your pardon.” Lily; confused and surprised by her reaction turned back with a lifted brow.

She tapped the cushion next to her lightly. “Please, have a seat. Please.” She ensured her.

Lily complied but she had been blind to what the woman was boasting about. The only thing that had her attention was the chirping birds overhead. She knew she was talking mainly about how she needed someone she could trust and that she trusted Lily’s father. She told Lily that she promised to make a place for her here and she would be safe here rather than taking a job at the pub as all ”independent” girls do. “Trust me; I know what it’s like.” She chuckled. “Women and their need to be independent, only to be mocked baby society. It’s not an easy thing, Lily.” She then went on to talk about all the people that lived in the house and the things that would need to be done while Lily looked around to find the bird that sang to her.

“The fewer people the better, it’s just me and my son here and my husband” She sighed. “he travels a lot so he comes every few months.”

Lily turned to her and asked. “And your daughter?”

Mrs. Beckhingham froze, her eyes squinted a bit before she finally looked at the girl once more. “Oh, Sarah. She died.” She clasped her hands together as she spoke. She then gave another jolly laugh upon spotting her son talking to a few well groomed young men like himself on the balcony upstairs. “Oh, speaking of my son. There he is!”

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“William!” She sang loudly, waving her hands.

Lily’s watched the five men standing together, just over at the other end of the garden. She knew exactly who Mrs. Beckingham was referring to.

“William Beckingham.” Came softly from her lips as their eyes met. He threw Lily a dashing smile where he stood before finishing the conversation with his acquaintances.

"He's just in a meeting." Mrs. Beckingham, explained, brushing off the fact that he didn't bother to come to her first call.

Was everybody in the Beckingham family so gallant? Everyone was but to Lily, William was different. She knew the power he held. It was a trait she needed to be aware of and cautious of. She stood up just after he’d wished his companions farewell. The only thing William needed to complete his look was a crown on his head and he knew it. William, just like his mother, wore the Beckingham name proudly.

They shook hands. “You must be Lily. Lily Fisher, right? ” He held her hand for a brief moment before kissing the back of it. “You’ve grown quite a bit, haven’t you? We both have.”

This had no reaction to Lily but his mother, more excited than usual, ran her hands down the back of her skirt as she got up to be beside him. “Okay, I have a call to make but go on ahead.” She insisted. “In the meantime, William will show you around the house, and if you’ve made your decision by then… You can tell him.”

“Yes, Mrs. Beckingham.” She smiled, glaring as the woman walked away.

"My mother's quite the case." He chuckled.

"I can see that." Lily chuckled then lifted her head to ask. “I’m sorry but have we met?”

“You don’t remember, do you?” He grinned then answered nonchalantly. “Once. At my family’s ranch, where your father worked for a time. And I heard about what happened.” His voice was grim and what he had to say was a bit sudden, the mentioning of his name would only break her heart “Mr. Fullin was a really kind man.” And it did. He fiddled with the ring on his finger, looking down, trying to get the words out. He chuckled then gave her his arm. “Are you ready?"

They all seemed so happy and well-kept. It reminded her of those family ads on TV.

“You must've seen the kitchen.” He tilted his head down as they looked. He took her through the study and the library and showed her the door by the kitchen’s end that led to the basement. He explained how the downstairs had three other rooms that consisted of the guest room and his grandmother's old room. “This is my grandmother's room. Bear in mind, all the rooms downstairs can be changed. There's a storage room on the third floor with all the curtains, furniture, and carpets for you to put as you please.” He said before shutting it. As with everything, Lily barely got a glimpse of each room in the house. They didn't even touch the third floor, he only told her that she was only allowed to enter the middle door, at the end of the hall. She didn't understand why William was in such a rush too. They had just finished the first and second floors and were about to grace the second flight of stairs when Lily’s eyes caught hold of a familiar face framed on the wall. “What happened to her?”

Lily wanted a connection, she thought she could connect with William or Mrs. Beckingham since they too have lost someone precious in their lives. He stuffed his hands deep in his pockets and gave a little scratch under his nose.

“I… I was too young to remember.” He sighed with a shrug.

“Oh…” She took a long look at the girl before taking the stair handle and continuing up.

“Are you okay? You don’t look so well, Miss Fisher.” His face and voice were filled with concern. "I think it would be best if we stopped here. You're exhausted and I have a meeting to attend, anyway." He said.

“Yes, yes… I’d very much appreciate that.”

Looking at all the rooms, Lily could remember each one but there was one she would live to never forget:

"This was my sister's room. Everything's untouched." They both gazed around, it was the prettiest room she'd ever seen. It was like they were in a castle, she wondered what happen to that little girl. If she died peacefully, she hoped she did. She hoped she looked like an angel in a deep slumber, like Snow White or Sleeping Beauty.

"Would I have to brush the room?"

"Yes, we don't want moths or dust to fill it. I think my mother would want it to remain as it is, though. So that means no changing around or moving anything."

"Of course." She nodded but her mind was still in awe. The white metal frames that made up the bed, the pink quilt that looked like she'd sink into it. This room made her feel happy, somehow it made her feel free. She admired the knickknacks on the walls. The little rag dolls that sat by the window. If they didn't have pictures of Sarah, surely, she would assume William had a daughter. She looked up at him. "I don't understand. Why?" Her eyes drooped with a frown.

"Why?" He sang out, waiting for her to answer.

"Why did she keep it like this for so long? It's been almost 10 years, hasn't it?"

"Yes, I suppose it has." He watched around too, he couldn't recall a vivid memory of her, only what his mother told him of her laugh, her smile, and the way she waddle around her father most of the time. "I don't know. When you lose someone so valuable, you begin wishing it never happened. I guess you wish that things would go back to the way they were. So you think that if you keep things the way they were then eventually it will be like it used to be. Everything would be okay and in your mind, it's like she never left."

"I understand." Their eyes met and they stuck for a while. William understood her, he knew what it was like to lose someone so close. She was convinced, maybe if she stayed, she'd be able to follow their example and learn how to move on.

"William, is it?" She squinted.

"William, it is." He fixed his stance.

"I'll do it. I'll work for you and your mother, only if..."She curled her lips, struggling to lift her lids in thought. Did she really want this? Lily did and she was willing to live with it. "Only if I get to stay here. I know things aren't going to be like they were so I don't want to pretend. Going back to that house, it's been painful and I think about my father every night but I need to move forward, so I'll live in the maid's quarters and do all that is needed."

"The annex? Don't be ridiculous. Mother won't allow it. She has grown fond of you so quickly, I can tell. It’s not every day a maid gets invited to sit with her in her special spot.."

"Thank you but the annex, as you call it, will make me quite content."

"When would you like me to come for your things?"

"That's not necessary, William. It's just a case." She nodded. "I'll make a gown or two to wear when I'm working so I don't need much."

"No, no. I'll be glad to do so. I'll tell Mother and we'll pick you up next Sunday. Just before you get to work unless you feel the need to live here as early as possible?" He grinned once more.

"Sunday's fine." She said, giving a slight smile only to realize she could’ve easily let go of his arm and they had been standing at the entrance for the past five minutes.