The duchess laughed when I asked if there were ghosts. This was the first time that she even smiled, never mind laugh. When she realized that she was laughing, she suddenly stopped and told me that I should go to the classroom. It was up in the attic. She told me she expected me to apply myself and not disappoint her.

I tried counting the steps as I walked up to the attic. I gave up as I assumed that there were too many. The classroom was a small attic room that had very old school things in it. The school desks were old fashioned, the blackboard looked old, even the posters and maps looked old.

There were two desks. I was surprised to see that the ghost girl was sitting there. That was sad. As a ghost, she would never grow up and was expected to sit at a school desk for eternity. I smiled as I have seen her and she whispered that she was ever so happy that she was no longer alone. I admitted that I was happy that I was not alone.

The teacher came in. It did not take me much time to see that she was also a ghost. She was see-through and hovered as she walked. The attic school was as boring as any other school. We started by learning about kings and queens. Then different wars and bad things have happened. After all that, she talked about how we should be ladies. I was a bit surprised when she said we should not be interested in politics and it was best that we let those things to men. It was our duty to support the man that we would marry. The teacher was obviously living in the past. I remembered my mom. She supported my Dad, but he also supported her. They were equal. That was the example that I would follow.

After the school lessons, I noticed that the ghost girl disappeared. This was something she was good at. I was bored, so I decided to go down to the kitchen. The maid was also the cook. Diego was her son and he was helping her. They both bowed when I came in and that made me feel strange. I know it was a sign of respect. However, it made me feel more alone and more like an outsider. I just stood there and looked. The maid stopped what she was doing and told me that I looked so sad. I whimpered that I used to help my mom cook.

The maid smiled and told me that this was no work for a lady. However, I could help Diego prepare the vegetables. I put an apron on and helped Diego. We were soon laughing and joking. This made his mom smile as she said it was nice to see that there were finally smiles in the house. I was also so happy, as for the first time, I did not feel sad about my parents or life.

It was soon time to eat dinner, so I went down to the dark sitting room and sat beside the duchess. I told her what I have done that day. I went to the classroom and then afterwards helped Diego and his mom in the kitchen. I smiled as I told her how fun it was. The Duchess did not say anything. She usually got mad at me when I spoke. She did not smile, but I can see that she was listening to every word I said.

While I ate, she told me it was not appropriate or ladylike to help the servants in the kitchen. She also reminded me that girls of my status in society does not establish friendships with someone from another class. The duchess looked at me saying that she was not mad, but I had no excuse now that I now knew. I just wanted to leave the room. Diego was the only one my age I knew.

I later did get permission to go. As I curtseyed, the duchess exploded in a rage of anger. She started screaming at me to take the cross off. She screamed that God was not welcome in her house. He always brought disaster and sadness. I started crying as I did not expect this outburst. I tried explaining that it was the only thing I had to remind me of my parents. This did not help. I was told strictly to remove the cross and not have it in this house. She finished by saying that she did not want to hear any more about it.

I was mad when I was back in my room. This cross was very important to me. It reminded me of my mother and how great she was. What did the duchess know about love? She was a bitter old woman that treated me like her pet. She had no love in her and I highly doubt that she had. She lived in that dark and dusty room that was untidy. She never ate with me! She was just a strange woman that was the opposite of my mom.

The maid gave me a hug and told me I could hang the cross on my bed.

As I was in my bed, I tried to sleep but could only think how bitter the duchess was. It made me think about how I would end up as. Would I grow to be a bitter old woman that hated everything and everyone? This was the greatest fear. I decided then and there that I had to keep positive and to have a good heart. The duchess would not corrupt my heart.

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I was proud of my decision and closed my eyes to sleep. I opened my eyes again when I heard the ghost girl. She told me that we should play. So I got out of bed and we went to where the dolls were. I do not know how long we played with the dolls. It was fun and made me smile once again. Nothing was said for a long time except telling each other how we should treat the dolls. The ghost girl said it was important that we took care of them and not let them fall into danger. This made me want to ask how she died, but I guessed that it was not the right time

I did ask her what her name was, but it was not like she heard. She instructed me which clothes the doll I had should wear. So I concentrated on the doll again. After a while, I heard the Ghost girl whisper that she did not know what her name was. When I looked up at her, she was gone. I hope I did not make her sad.

The next day, I was once again eating breakfast with the duchess. Nothing much was said as just sat on the ground and ate. The Duchess looked at me but said nothing for a long time. She asked me if I was well as I was very quiet. She admitted that she missed my chattering. The only response I had was that it was time for class.

"Wait!", the duchess said, "I know that you may dislike me and even hate me. To be honest, I did not even want you here. This has nothing to do with you. The fact is that every time I become close to someone, they ended up hating me or leaving me. This happened with your Dad. He was a nice boy and a lot like you. Then he started hating me and was even afraid of me. He told me one day that I was evil and then left me. You remind me of him so much and I am even getting very fond of you. One day you will tell me the same. You will say you are afraid of me and hate me!"

I sat down again and smiled at the duchess. Maybe she did have a heart and did care about me. I told her that I would never hate her.

The accountant visited once again and told her how rich she was today. The duchess was once again her old self. The accountant was told that she would not increase wages in her businesses this year. On top of that, they could be fired if they disagreed. The accountant reminded the duchess that her employees were the least paid in the country. She just looked at him and asked him if he liked his job.

I could not believe it. Just when I thought the duchess had a human heart, she changed back to the monster everyone seen. I excused myself and said that it was time for class.

The ghost girl was there already in the classroom. As we waited for the teacher, I told her that I hoped that I did not make her sad by asking her name. The fact was that she was a good friend and this made me so happy. Then I suggested a name for her. She looked at me with a huge smile and after she thought a bit, she said that she had a doll that was called Wendy. We agreed that her new name could be called Wendy. When the teacher came, she was told that the ghost was called Wendy. The teacher just shrugged her shoulders. I wondered did she remember her name?

The classes were boring. I wished we would learn something fun, like art or nature.

After class, Diego was waiting for me. We went for a walk in the garden that was more like a jungle. I asked him why did he and his mom work here. I told him it was a strange place that most would keep away from. Diego smiled and said it was not because of the wages. The fact was that everyone in the town worked for the duchess in some way. She owned everything in the town. His mom had no choice. This was the only place that she could get work.

Diego said that he had a question for me. He wanted to know if the duchess was as strange as everyone thought she was? Did she have a heart? Was she a Satanist? I had to think about it a bit and answered that she was old and many people have hurt her. I think she wanted to be liked but she didn't trust people.

We decided to help his mom cook. I was once again smiling and felt like I was with people that wanted to be with me.

It was time for dinner with the Duchess. She smiled when she saw me. This was strange but it made me think that she was telling me the truth that she liked me. The duchess wanted to know what I was up to.

I told her that there is a ghost in the house. She was a child that did not remember her name. She goes to the schoolroom with me, and despite that she is a ghost, we were best friends. Then I said that we decided to name her Wendy. I finished my story and looked at the duchess for a reaction. The only thing that she said was that she thought that Wendy was a doll's name.

I asked the Duchess what her name was.

The Duchess told me it was time to be serious. She knew that I spent most of the day with Diego and even helped his mom. The Duchess looked at me and said that I could not change the social class system. This system has worked since the dawn of time. I had to get used to the fact that some people were more privileged than others. Social classes do not mix!

The Duchess told me that the maid and Diego were also responsible for breaking the social class rule. I had to fix the problem. The duchess told me that she wanted me to fire the maid and both the maid and Diego were to leave Ungergrove Estate the next day, and never return!

I felt a tear roll down my cheek. I had to get rid of two people that I really care for. I was becoming as mean as the duchess.