"William are you going riding again? I need you to receive the new maid. I am really feeling out of sorts and I think that I need to stay in bed," my mother called out from her room when she saw me passing.

I stopped and stuck my head through the door. "Mother why do you even need a new maid?"

"Well the girl is a wonderful cook. I don't know why, she comes from Ireland. It is hysterical that they would even have food to cook there."

There was a noise at the window and I saw that it was rain.

"Damn," I said under my breath. I couldn't go riding.

"Well see William you have to stay inside now," My mother said in her "I have the upper hand" voice. My mother continued, "I was doing the Frashers a favor. The girl was catching the eye of John, that libertine son of theirs. Did you know that they had to let three maids out of their service because he dallied with them?"

There was a knock at the door.

"William please go answer the door."

"I will mother," I said and walked down the steps to the door. I took of my jacket and then opened the door. Standing in the door was a tall redhead. She was beautiful. Her hair was long with soft red curls. Her eyes were green and her skin was perfect against her red lips.

"Is this the Holden residence?" She said with an Irish accent. Her wet cloths that were little more than rags sewn together. She carried a small bag that had her belongings in it and her shoes had obviously patched.

"Yes this is it. Are you the new cook assistant?"

"Yes sir. Fiona O'Brandon," Fiona stretched out her hand to shake mine. I was a bit surprised because it was a very unfeminine thing to do but I took her hand in greeting anyway. She indicated with her eyes that she would like to come in. I moved out of Fiona's way and she went in.

"Sir are you the man if the house?"

"No, my father is away at London checking on his mother, she suffers from sore joints. I am usually away at college in Cambridge," I said. "I understand that you had to travel quite a distance to get here. Was the boat ride nice?"

"It was not that bad. The Frashers put me in middle class so my trip would go smoothly. They wanted me to be out of the house very soo-" she had to stop because her shivering had gotten that bad.

"Here," I placed my riding coat around her shoulders. She clung to the coat and looked up at me. Fiona smiled up at me and looked into my eyes. I drew breath and smiled back at her.

"Are you gone from home a lot?" Fiona asked abruptly.

"No, I come home from school on monthly breaks," I said.

"Good," she said under her breath quietly.

I tore my eyes away from her and started walking into the hallway.

"Fiona you will stay in the servants quarters and be awake at five every morning to help in the kitchen. My mother has already briefed you on the pay so that is already covered. I will go call Jacob to show you to your room. Jacob!"

Jacob walked out of the dining room were he had just been. Jacob showed Fiona to her room and I went up the stairs to see my mother. I walked into her room where she was still resting on the sofa.

"So, William, how was the girl?" My mother said once she saw me.

"She seem very capable of the job."

"William don't be silly. It does not take anything to be a maid," she laughed. "Was she as good looking as the Frashers said she was?"

"I have to say that she was," I said to my mother with restraint in my voice.

"Well that really is too bad. The worst trait in a maid is good looks. Having a respectable young man dally with a servant is terrible. Don't you agree William?"

I didn't here what she was saying. I was thinking of Fiona's eyes and how I could come home more often.