Chapter 17

  Present Day

  Diersen was harrying the servants in the main hall, nudging with the toe of his boot those that were more reluctant to wake. “Up, up!” He was saying as Sylvin helped the manservants push open the heavy front doors for the day. The manservants were astonished by their Lord’s assistance.

  “Get the kitchen up,” Diersen told them. “The Lord and his Lady will be up soon, and their breakfast and maids should greet them upon rising!”

  “He is good,” Sylvin said quietly to her, almost apologetically.

  “He is bossy,” she replied as the servants began to spill out of the hall and made their way, rubbing their eyes, towards kitchen and bailey. Eustice and Nareena slid her the side-eye as they made their way up the stairs towards her chamber, no doubt wondering where she had been about so early in the morning. “And has no idea what this household has endured. These are not just slaves and servants, but family, Sylvin.”