Chapter 2

As I'm cleaning, I start humming. It's always the same song, especially when I'm happy. Madame never likes it if I hum, she says it distracts her. That's why I only hum when she isn't around.

I keep trying to focus on the job at hand but I can feel my mind wandering off, so I eventually decide to take a break. Sitting down, I think of this afternoon and what it would be like, seeing the queen and crown-princess for the first time. What do they look like in real life? Are they really as nice as everyone says? While I'm thinking another thought hits me. 'I still have to ask Drew to do the groceries.'

I jump up too fast, almost making me fall down again, but at the last moment, I grab onto a drawer, steadying myself. I take a few seconds until the dizziness has passed and start to walk downstairs. Once downstairs, I walk outside into the garden and start heading towards the stables.

It's a huge building almost half as big as the mansion. It's also one of my most favorite places in- and outside of the mansion, together with my room.

As I walk towards the backdoor of the stables, I can already hear Drew talking to the horses.

"Hello beautiful, how are you today?" I hear him whisper.

As I walk through the door I say, "Are you talking to yourself again?"

As I'd predicted Drew is standing with a beautiful brown mare, talking while he brushes her. He turns around quickly, his brown curly hair as messy as ever and a playful look in his sapphire blue eyes. "You know me so well," he says, laughing. "How're you, Em?"

"I'm great," I say, hardly containing my excitement. "How about you?"

"I'm fine, but what got you all excited?"

"Before I tell you, I need to ask you something."

"Ask away."

"Can you do the groceries today?"

"Why can't you do it?"

"Madame needs me today."

"To do what?"

I look around, looking for anyone who might listen to our conversation. I see no one but I still take a few steps closer to Drew. "I'm going to tell you something that you can't tell anyone else, okay?"

Drew looks suspiciously at me but nods. "Okay."

I take a deep breath and say, "The queen and crown-princess are coming today. That's why I have to stay here, to make sure everything is perfect for when they arrive."

Drew just stares at me for a moment before starting to laugh. "You almost had me there, Em. You really are a good actress, I almost believed you. The queen and crown-princess, here? How did you come up with that? Look, if you don't want to do the groceries just tell me, okay."

All I can do is just stare at him. Slowly, he stops laughing when he sees I'm not laughing along. "It is a joke, right?" He asks, his face getting pale. "They're not really coming, right?"

I try to talk but all that comes out is a little peep, so I swallow and try again, "I only know what Madame told me, and she said that they were coming here this afternoon." Drew sits down on a crate quickly and runs a hand through his hair. "Oh, my gods. Why? I mean, Madame is a nice person and all but she's not really important or anything. And they are probably very busy people so why come here?"

"I really don't know that much, Drew. All I know is that the queen and princess come here in the afternoon and I have to stay here to make sure everything is ready for when they arrive. That's all. And talking about getting ready, I have to go back so I can clean the rest of the mansion. So can you do the groceries for me or not?"

Drew takes a deep breath and stands up. "Yeah, I can do that. I just need to know what you need."

I smile. "Give me a pen and some paper and I'll make you a list. And please be as quick as possible, because I really need this stuff."

Drew walks away into a room and comes back a few minutes later with the things I asked for. It takes a few minutes to write everything down and after that, I give the paper back to Drew. "This is everything I need."

Drew seems hesitant, "Hey Em, ehm do you think I can take one of the horses to get the groceries?"

I look at him for a moment before I reply, "I don't think Madame would mind, I mean if I can, why can't you?"

"But you are like a daughter to Madame, I'm just the stable boy."

"I don't think so Drew, I think Madame cares for all of us very dearly."

"Maybe, but I'm just not sure-"

I place my hand on his shoulder and, with a little smile, say, "Just take a horse with you, she won't mind, I promise."

Drew sighs and turns around, back to the brown mare. "Are you in for a little ride, Beautiful?"

The mare snorts and Drew laughs. "I thought so." He turns to me and says, "I'll be back in an hour. Where would you like me to put the groceries when I get back?"

"In the kitchen would be best. Thank you." I kiss him on the cheek before leaving the stables and walking back to the mansion again. That's one thing to cross off my list, just a million more to go.