Bound to Serve Read Free

for them was a mere servant and nothing more, that the true beauty who had borne them was stolen along with their brother all too soon. His surviving sons would learn that there were two kinds of people in this world - those with and those without - and would follow their father’s example of keeping others in their proper place.
    The girl was looking at him now. “Is it far, sir?”
    “Is what far?”
    “Your home.” Her eyes were a startling shade of green and for a moment he found himself nearly transfixed by their hue. Then he looked out the window.
    “What is your name?” he asked.
    “Elspeth, sir,” she said.
    “Elspeth. Hmmm.” He smirked “Well, Elspeth, the distance to my home should not concern you. For the next seven years you are in my service and will only live by my leave. Everything you do, I expect you to do with complete obedience, and that includes waiting patiently and without question. If you query me again about any trivial matter I shall cheerfully flay the skin off your little bum.” He gazed her coldly. “Is that clear?”
    The girl gulped and sat back, nodding. And Clifford Harker, who had once been a kind man sat back in his seat, knowing he should probably feel guilty for terrifying the girl and wondered instead why he felt absolutely nothing.
     
     
     

Chapter Two
     
     
    The Harker residence was tall, box-shaped and by Elspeth’s first impression a decidedly forlorn looking place. What looked to have been a once well-tended flower garden now stood overgrown in a tangle of dead weeds. Wiry strands of persistent grass peeked through the cobblestones of the walkway leading to the door of the house. All the shutters were pulled, even though it was midday, and Elspeth was seized by a sudden fear of entering what she knew would be a dark and depressing house still in deep mourning for its lost lady.
    But must it be like that? Elspeth was not only a practical girl, but an optimistic and instantly conjured an image of infusing comfort into her charges that would bring forth positive change. But she knew as soon as she stepped inside the house that this would be no small accomplishment.
    A stern-looking birdlike woman stood in the foyer. In front of her stood two well-scrubbed, unsmiling boys that she guessed to be about three and four years of age. They were their father in miniature, except for their dark, almost feminine eyes. Beautiful eyes, Elspeth noted, but absent of the carefree spark one expects in little boys.
    “Mrs. Habersham,” Clifford Harker said to the woman. “Thank you for looking after my sons when I went to fetch my servant.”
    “You’re quite welcome,” the woman said. “The boys were well-behaved, as boys should be. But then again the threat of the rod – of which I approve – can be counted on to keep youngsters under control. It is wise that you have instilled Godly fear at such a young age in your two boys.”
    The woman moved across the room to take her cloak and hat from a peg by the door, continuing to talk as she donned them. “I grow weary of parents who don’t school children properly. In fact, my husband will be speaking on that very topic this Sunday, reminding the flock that children, wives and servants would be best to obey Godly male leadership, and be thankful for punishment should they deserve it.”
    She turned and looked Elspeth up and down. “This girl,” she said. “Slip of a thing, isn’t she. And quite dirty. Let us hope that the providence that brought her here will turn her into something of a lady during her time of service and that she will one day know whose guidance to thank for her transformation.”
    “I am sorry, ma’am.” Elspeth felt her cheeks color. “My parents have already raised me well. Despite my small stature I am an adult the same as you. And you would probably be a bit dirty too had you just traveled across an ocean in the hold of a ship with little opportunity to bathe.”
    The older woman’s mouth