As soon as the meeting was over, Irene took me to the new room where I would be staying. I stood in the doorway of my new room, hesitant to take a step inside. The room was enormous-larger than the room I was in before. It was also completely furnished with lavish decorations.
The luxury around me felt like a different world, one I had no idea how to blend in. It had lovely red carpets, draped curtains, and expensive looking furniture. I did not belong here.
I took a step forward, feeling the soft carpet beneath my feet. The room was so quiet that I could hear my own breath. The bed, a massive king sized bed with velvet hangings, seemed more like a throne than a place to sleep. I swallowed hard, forcing myself to walk further into the space. Everything here was new-too new. I was afraid to touch anything.
The door opened softly behind me, and I flinched in fear. Irene stepped inside with a small smile.
“Joan,” she said gently “How are you settling in?”
I forced a smile. “It’s… it’s beautiful. Just a little overwhelming.”
She nodded “It’s a lot to take in, I know. But you deserve it. You’re family now.”
“Irene… I’m not sure if I belong here. This room, all of this… it’s too much.”
She stepped closer, placing her hand on my arm “You belong here now, Joan. You’re part of the family. I know it’s a big change, but you’ll get used to it. And you don’t have to go through this alone. I’m here to help you.”
Her kindness brought tears to my eyes, and I blinked them away quickly. I didn’t want to cry in front of her. “Thank you, Irene. I appreciate it.”
She smiled, squeezing my arm lightly before letting go. “Now, why don’t you take a moment to relax? I’ll help you unpack and organize your things. Tonight, you’ll be joining the family for dinner.”
My stomach clenched at her words. “Dinner… with the family?”
She nodded. “Yes, it’s important. It’s your first official meal with them as Derrick’s fiancee. It’ll be a bit formal, but don’t worry. Just be yourself.”
Just be yourself. The words echoed in my mind, but I have no idea who “myself” was supposed to be in this setting.
How was I supposed to act like I belong at a table with the Stonewoods?
I managed to nod “I’ll do my best.”
“I know you will,” Irene said with a smile. “I’ll leave you to freshen up. Dinner will be in a couple of hours. Take your time.”
As she left, , I turned back to face my surroundings, feeling more like an imposter than ever.
How did I end up here? A few days ago, I was serving meals, cleaning rooms, and now… now I’m supposed to sit at the table with the Stonewoods as one of them?
I took a deep breath and tried to shake off the unease that I felt. I sat on the edge of the bed, deep in thought. It was strange, not needing to rush, not having a list of chores to complete. For the first time in my life, I had nothing to do, and it made me restless.
I glanced at the mirror across from me. My reflection looked just as lost as I felt.
“Get it together, Joan,” I whispered to myself. “You’re going to get through this.”
*
That night, I made my way to the dining hall. I wore a lovely red dress that Irene gave me from her closet. I had never worn anything so expensive. . The long table was set with fine china and silverware as usual. As I entered, the whispering among the staff stopped, and I felt their eyes on me.
I took a deep breath and walked forward, trying to hold my head high. I smiled and greeted them politely as I moved forward.
Irene’s voice echoed in my mind-“You belong here”-but it’s hard to believe that when Sarah’s eyes narrow at me as she set the last plate on the table. I could almost feel her resentment from across the room, and it made my stomach twist. .
Emily, standing by the side, offered me a small hit confused smile. I returned it, but it was shaky at best. She was the only one who seemed a bit happy for me, but even she must be wondering how this happened so suddenly.
Madame Helen entered the room, her presence commanding as always.
I bowed my head at her “Good evening, ma’am”
She smiled at me “Hello Joan. Let’s have a seat”
I nodded and took the seat that had been reserved for me, right next to Sir Derrick’s usual spot. The chair felt too grand, too stiff, and I struggled to find a comfortable position. Irene gave me an encouraging smile.
I said hello to Sir Derrick but he just nodded. Sitting next to him made my whole body stand at attention. His proximity did something to me, left me breathless. I wanted to lean into him but I restrained myself.
Why did he make me feel like this? What’s wrong with me?
As the meal began, the tension in the room was obvious. Sarah’s eyes lingered on me as she served the dishes. She looked at me with a mix of acorn and disbelief. I couldn’t blame her for being upset. We used to be on the same level, both just maids in this estate. Now, here I was, sitting at the table with the Stonewood family, about to marry their son.
The conversation around the table was forced. Sir Derrick was silent throughout . He hadn’t looked at me once since I sat down, and it made me feel even more out of place.
Madame Helen cleared her throat, drawing everyone’s attention.
“I have an announcement to make,” she said “As some of you know, Joan will be joining our family. She’ll be marrying Derrick. The engagement is official, and I expect everyone to treat her with the respect she deserves.”
The room was filled with gasps. There was a ripple of shock among the staff. Whispers spread like wildfire. Emily’s eyes widened, and she glanced at me in confusion. . Miss Sullivan smiled faintly, nodding in approval. But Sarah… Sarah’s grip tightened on the plate she was holding, her knuckles turning white.
I lowered my gaze, unable to meet anyone’s eyes. The attention felt suffocating, and I could barely swallow the food on my plate.
The rest of the meal passed in a blur. I tried to stay composed, but the tension in the room was unbearable. Derrick remained silent, his expression unreadable. I wondered if he regrets this arrangement as much as I felt out of place in it.
When the meal finally ended, I almost breathed out a sigh of relief. But before I could excuse myself, Sir Derrick spoke up “Joan, meet me in my study after dinner.”
I nodded, feeling my heart pounding in my chest. What does he want now? Was he going to tell me this was all a mistake? That he’s changed his mind?
I stood up and left the dining room, my legs feeling shaky as I make my way to his study. I reached the door and take a deep breath before knocking softly.
“Come in,” his voice called from the other side.
I pushed the door open and stepped inside. Sorry Derrick stood by the window with a glass of what looked like whiskey in his hand. He wore a white button-down shirt that clung to his broad shoulders and muscles. He was every bit the powerful, intimidating man I knew , and my heart skipped a beat as I take in the sight of him.
He turned to face me with those piercing eyes of his.
“Joan,” he said, taking a sip of his drink “We have our first public outing tomorrow. You’ll need to be ready when it’s time. My PR team will contact you soon. Irene will help you with whatever you need.”
I nodded again, “What kind of outing?”
“You’ll see”