Chương 43: Chapter 42 - Meeting The Servants

"Well?" Lord Grivalt asked her impatiently once she finished reading the letter. She placed the letter back on his desk, hiding a smile.

"Well what?"

"What do you know of this?" She shrugged.

"Less than you, I suspect. I only just arrived, this is the first I'm seeing of it." Lord Grivalt cursed under his breath, then softened his tone somewhat.

"You'll have your estate manager write to me about it, I hope? He seems to have a better understanding of the situation than either of us. Where is he, anyway?" He glanced around again, hoping to spot him hiding behind her or something.

"Dustin was unavailable for today's appointment," Kiara explained.

"I am here to handle things personally." Lord Grivalt inhaled deeply, then sighed in frustration.

"Very well. Let us commence." He gestured to the chair in front of his desk, and Kiara took a seat.

"Have you considered the names on the list I sent over?" he asked with a hopeful look in his eye. She folded her arms before responding.

"I looked it over, but haven't made up my mind yet. I noticed that not all of your servants are included in the list. Why is that?" Lord Grivalt scratched his head momentarily and his face scrunched up. He seemed to be considering what to say.

"I don't… that is, um…" His face suddenly lit up with a smile as he seemed to think of an acceptable response.

"I recognize the level of quality you've come to expect from the talented staff at your estate, and hope to only offer you the servants that might meet your standards. Yeah." He nodded, as if to reinforce his statement as the truth. Kiara almost snorted out loud, barely managing to cover it up in time with a cough.

"And how do you know what my standards of quality are? How do you know what things I value in my servants?" He looked stunned for a moment, like a child caught in his lie. He quickly covered it up with a look of indignation.

"Watch your tone, young lady. This is my house, and I will not be disrespected here." Apparently he hoped to bluff his way out of the lie, and was trying to cower her into avoiding that line of questions. Kiara spotted an opportunity.

"Very well, my apologies." She had to force the words out.

"However, I have very specific things that I'm looking for right now in new servants. I wouldn't expect you to try and maintain a working knowledge of every wealthy house in Easton, and their current needs, so I've come to hand pick the servants myself. Might I meet all of the servants at your estate?" Lord Grivalt's face changed to one of alarm, but he mostly hid it. He coughed awkwardly, then glanced at Trevon, who was standing off to the side. The guard didn't have any answers for him, his face a blank slate.

Lord Grivalt thought for longer than was appropriate, but seemed oblivious to that fact. He clearly didn't want her picking whatever servants she wanted. Eventually, he came up with an excuse.

"Ah, the servants are busy right now, doing their work for the day. Perhaps you can just pick from the list I sent over?" Kiara shook her head.

"I want to meet them first. If not today, maybe I can come back sometime next week, after you've had a chance to arrange for this?" She knew she had him. His taxes were due tomorrow, this was his only lifeline.

"No!" he blurted out before he could stop himself. He took a moment to regain his composure, then sheepishly replied, "No need for that. I'm sure we can work something out today." He gave her a smile, but like most things he did, it made her want to vomit.

"If you'll wait in the dining hall," he continued, "I will send word to gather the servants there shortly. One of my guards will show you the way." One of the guards stationed along the wall stepped forward, and led the way out of the room. As Kiara followed him out, Lord Grivalt called Trevon over, and she heard frantic whispers. She couldn't pick out any of what they were saying, and they were soon completely out of earshot.

The guard led her, Captain Soren, and Estella to the dining hall, where they ended up waiting for fifteen minutes before the large double doors opened and Lord Grivalt stepped inside. A train of servants came in behind him, each one seemingly in worse shape than the last. They were flanked by twelve guards, with Trevon bringing up the rear. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. She wondered why so many guards had come along, as the servants were all weak and frail.

She hadn't been to the estate in a few weeks to check up on her family, and it was clear those weeks had not been kind. Things were deteriorating here faster than she had realized. She briefly considered leaving without paying off any of the servants' debts, as it looked like Lord Grivalt was on his last leg here. Only the fact that her family was still here stopped her. She didn't want them to be caught in the crossfire of whatever fallout happened if and when Lord Grivalt was stripped of his title and Lordship.

If she could get them out today, she would. The servants were arranged in a line, all facing Kiara and her two guards. They stood shoulder to shoulder, twenty five of them, their heads downcast, their gazes on the floor. None of them spoke. Kiara scanned the group, spotting her father and her mother. Ava and Gabe were not present. In fact, no children were present. She spoke up, "Your list mentioned that at least one of these families here has a small child?"

"Ah," Lord Grivalt said, nodding.

"Yes, that is correct."

"I'd like you to bring them in as well," Kiara said.

"I want to see all of your servants here at the estate, down to the last child." Kiara's mom, Gentry, stiffened slightly at the statement, but kept her eyes on the floor. Lord Grivalt seemed uncomfortable, but whispered a few things to Trevon, who left the room. A few minutes later, he returned with three young teenagers and two small children in tow. The two children, including Gabe, were being led by the hand. When he saw his mom and dad, Gabe rushed over to them, clinging to Gentry's legs.

The other child stayed with the teen whose hand he was holding. An older sister, perhaps? Kiara still didn't spot Ava anywhere. That was concerning.

"This is everyone?" she asked. Lord Grivalt nodded.

"It is, indeed." Kiara's mind was going a hundred miles an hour, trying to think of reasons why Ava might not be present.

"Very well," Kiara said.

"I would like to speak one-on-one with a few of the servants before I make my pick." Lord Grivalt squirmed, but couldn't think of a reason to deny her request.

"Okay," he said simply after a moment's pause. Trying to mask her true intentions, Kiara chose one of the men at random, and Lord Grivalt had Trevon lead them out of the dining hall to a small room.

"I won't be long," she said to Trevon before she closed the door behind her, leaving herself alone with the man servant. She sat in a chair, but the servant remained standing, staring at the floor.

"Please, sit down," she said, gesturing to the chair across from her. He hesitated only for a moment, then bowed humbly and sat down.

"What is your name?" she asked gently.

"Spencer Dentin, milady," he replied softly, still looking at the ground. The name sounded familiar, she was pretty sure he was on the list Lord Grivalt had sent over.

"What do you do here at the estate, Spencer?"

"I tend the gardens, ma'am. I help chop firewood too, and carry heavy things that need to be carried."

"I see. You look awfully skinny to be carrying heavy things, if you don't mind me saying." She kept her voice gentle, not wanting to scare the man too badly. Her comment surprised the man, and he glanced up at her sharply, before dropping his gaze once more.

"Times are tough, ma'am. Not enough food to go around. We make do. I'm more able than most, so I help where I can." She nodded at his response. Hungry, tired, and worn out, and he was still trying to help lighten the load of those around him, it seemed. She admired his show of character and his fortitude.

"Do you like it here, Spencer?" She realized her question was too forward when he squirmed uncomfortably in his chair.

"Of course, ma'am." Ah, that's right. He wouldn't dare speak ill of Lord Grivalt, not while he's stuck here, at least.

"Thank you for your time, Spencer." She stood.

"Let's return to the dining hall."

"Ma'am?" His tone caused her to pause halfway to the door, and she turned.

"Yes?" He locked eyes with her.

"Are you… here to buy some of the servants?" She thought for a moment. That was her purpose in coming here today, yes. While her main priority was to rescue her family if possible, she might pick up an extra servant or two as well, depending on how things went.

Even though she knew buying them from Lord Grivalt helped perpetuate the system he had going, and would likely harm someone else after the fact, it was hard not to feel compassion for the ones that were already here suffering, now that she was seeing them in person. She saw no reason to lie to Spencer. She wouldn't mind paying off his debts and offering him a job at her estate.

"Yes, that is likely." He nodded softly.

"I assume you pulled me in first because you're interested in me being one of them. I understand why: I'm young, fit, and relatively healthy compared to the others. But, if you have the heart, some need it more than me, ma'am. Some of the others would benefit greatly from… a change of scenery." She studied him for a moment, tears welling up behind her eyes at his selflessness. She forced them back down and gave him a gentle nod.

"Very good. Thank you, Spencer." They returned to the dining hall, and she chose another person at random and interviewed them. For her third person to interview, she chose her father, Ron. Lord Grivalt stiffened when she chose Ron, and it wasn't hard to guess why. Ava hadn't been brought in with the rest of the servants for some reason, and he was trying to hide that fact.

He stepped forward with a hand half raised, then thought better of it and stepped back again, gesturing resignedly for Trevon to lead them from the dining hall.