Chapter 3 3

She finally arrived at the address she was given and thought she was looking at the most beautiful house on earth. Everything about the house spelled luxury.

"I'm surely going to love it here," she said to herself.

The door was opened by a big, well-dressed man. "Good day sir. I believe Madam... Mrs... lives... "I'm looking for Juliet Shwerps." Clara suddenly remembered the name. Clara stopped fiddling her bag. She was looking for the piece of paper Nana had given her. She realized she had forgotten the piece of paper on the counter back home. "I believe she lives here."

"Juliet Sherps." The man corrected her politely. "Yes." the man replied and motioned her to take a seat.

So her mum was rich. She already had thoughts of how her room was going to look going by the furnishing of the house. Was she still married and did she have other kids? Clara thought to herself.

A lady came rushing to her. The man who opened the door for her walked just behind her. He was curious to know who she was. This lady was obviously not the owner of the house. She wore a uniform. She must be a maid.

"Clara!" she cried out. How you have grown. It's so nice seeing you after all these years. How is your grandma? Her questions just came pouring out. It was like they were rehearsed. Was she not happy to have me come live with her? Clara thought.

"I'm looking for ehh... Ms, Mrs, Madam... Sherps," Clara repeated. "Are you she?"

"Yes, yes dear. I'm the one. I'm your mother."

The lady, though speaking very soft and kind, did not strike her as her mum. How could such a woman leave her daughter for so long? This woman did not strike her as that type.

"Please follow me." The lady said and picked up her suitcase. I stay at the servant's quarters. "It's just behind this building."

This lady was stout with very black hair. She couldn't see any resemblance between them. She must have taken her looks from her dad. How she wished she could see him right now. He would have solved this puzzle going through her head right now.

Clara was a beauty to behold. Her brown hair and grey eyes were worth gaping at. Her slender features and white skin gave some the impression of her being an angel at first sight. Her beauty was very rare.

The lady was very welcoming. Clara loved her instantly. Her name was Juliet. And from the way the other workers took orders from her, she knew she was in charge. She helped Clara unpack.

She touched Clara's cheek, turned her back and left the room. Clara sat on her bed and stared through the window. If her mum wasn't the owner of the house, at least her mum was in charge of the house. The other workers took instructions from her.

Not that it mattered to her but her expectation when she walked through the gates had been that she had a rich mother. That had instantly made her happy as there would have been enough rooms to enable her grandma, Nana come and live with them.

Clara was still deep in thoughts when she got up and walked towards the window.

Still staring through the window, she saw the gardener pruning the flowers. It was indeed a very beautiful house. Being the child of a maid, she hoped that would not deter her from taking a walk around the very beautiful garden from time to time.

Two shadows suddenly walked up towards the gardener. It was a young man and a lady. She realized from their backs, which were turned towards her. He walked with some sort of arrogance or was it confidence. She wondered. He was talking to the lady. She could see them laugh together. He wove to the gardener while the lady pretended not to be aware of his presence at all. So he was not arrogant after all. She thought to herself.

He suddenly turned facing the building and looked up at her window at the same time. It happened so fast that she did not have enough time to look away. Her cheeks turned scarlet red instantly. She couldn't hide the blush on her face.

Clara saw the curiosity in his eyes. He had very beautiful eyes. He is the most handsome man I have ever seen in my life. She thought to herself. She stepped back and walked to her bed and sat down. She could not take her mind off him.

She was still thinking of him when Juliet walked in. "Seems you haven't moved an inch since I left you dear. You need to clean up and join me in the kitchen. Dinner is ready." ''Yes Juliet... She paused. Guess I can call you that? Of course dear. Yes you can. After all these years it would be unfair of me to expect otherwise." Your journey must have been very tiring. Please come and have dinner then you can go to bed. I'll be back to the quarters by ten p.m. That's when I close from my duties daily.'' '' Yes Juliet. This time she said it effortlessly. Juliet was a woman who could be easily loved. She always spoke softly and kindly.

It was obvious who that young man was. Wealth was written all over him. She wished he hadn't turned around so fast. She swore she would have hidden behind her curtains. He was just so handsome. And those eyes... .

"Well Clara, she muttered to herself. Do as you've been told. He's obviously a son or some kind of relative and you are just a daughter to the maid,'' and with that she shut him from her mind. She finished up unpacking and went to clean up.

Juliet, her mum was already eating. Guess she could not wait for me any longer. She thought. She dare not tell Juliet what she was thinking. She yearned for her grandma. If she were here with her, it would have been different. She would have poured out her heart to her instantly on how she just met the most handsome man on earth.

"Please sit," Juliet said, and with that she got up, went over to the pot and served her some mashed potatoes with grilled chicken. She also brought out a bottle of wine which she said was in celebration of their re-union.

Clara enjoyed the meal. It was food for the rich. She at least knew that though her mother was a maid, food was not a problem for her. The wine was vintage. Juliet ate and drank freely, not bothering that someone would walk up on them. She seemed to command a lot of respect in the house.

She was still on the bed tossing and turning later on that night, trying to get that young man she saw in the garden off her mind when Juliet walked in. She did not hide her surprise at seeing Clara still awake.

"You are still up young lady. Well, I can understand that you may be feeling so excited meeting your mum for the first time in your life." Tomorrow we will meet my boss. The woman of the house. She paused, then she went on like she was thinking of something. I promised her that I'd bring you to her once you arrived. However, it's been a hectic day for her.

"Your boss?" Clara feigned interest, trying not to go back to her earlier thoughts.

"Yes. Madam Whitson. She and her husband own this house. She also runs the company with him. She's a very busy woman. Promise me to always stay out of her way.'' Juliet carried on.

Juliet slept off almost immediately her head touched her pillow. 'I should be angry.' Clara thought to herself. Juliet had not even deemed it fit to do a catch-up of her life, but that was taken over by the pity she felt for her.. "She must be very tired." Running such a big household couldn't be an easy job.

Clara slept by the side of her mother for the very first time in her life. At least that she was aware of. However, her thoughts were still of the handsome young man and beautiful young lady she had seen in the garden earlier. She thought of Nana a little afterward. She hoped she would be okay on her own. She thought before she drifted off to sleep.