by Janae Keyes
I patiently waited while Langston opened the trunk to retrieve my things. I immediately followed him as he took my bags from the car and started to the front door of the house. Before we could reach it, however, it opened. Standing in the doorway was a woman who appeared to either be Indian or Pakistani, she wore a black maid’s uniform and gave me a kind smile.
“Hello ma’am, and welcome,” she greeted me kindly with a British accent that had a small Indian edge to it. “I am Sara, the head of the housekeeping staff. Lord Branagan has instructed me to give you this.” She handed me an envelope, it was a cream color with texture, the paper was heavy and felt expensive.
“Lord Branagan has stepped out?” Langston questioned of Sara.
“Yes, he had an emergency meeting to attend to,” she told Langston.
“I will take your things to your room. You may follow me,” Langston said as he started toward a gorgeous marble staircase.
For the first time, I took note of the entrance hall of the grand home. The walls were all a cream, and the floor appeared to be an ivory marble with specks of gold worked in. Glancing at the molding on the wall, it was obvious that it was all expertly hand carved. Nothing about this house was cheap.
I followed Langston up to a hallway. He continued to lead the way until we reached a door. He pushed it open to reveal a small bedroom. I stopped myself, though I wanted to go jump on the canopy bed that sat perfectly in the room. This room was a fairy tale with soft rose drapes along the windows and the canopy of the bed that was covered with fluffy powder white blankets and pillows. The furniture looked very Victorian. This was my room, the room I’d wanted since I was a little girl.
“I suppose your instructions are in that envelope. I know tomorrow I am supposed to take you to buy your supplies. Here is my card,” Langston said as he handed me a crisp white business card. The card simply listed his name and a phone number. “I should be available to take you anywhere you need unless Lord Branagan needs my services. Sara and her staff are also here. You will be informed of all meals and the rest is in your envelope.”
“Thank you so much,” I mused out sweetly to the man that stood in front of me.
“It is no problem at all. I will see you tomorrow. I am sure you are exhausted from your journey.” I nodded in response. Though I slept on the plane, my body was confused and lethargic from the past couple days. I knew a recharge was in order.
Langston gave me a nod of reassurance before he left me alone in the bedroom. I found myself sitting on the bed with the envelope in my hand. I opened it and pulled out a tri-folded piece of paper in the same stationery as the envelope. Opening the paper, I noted a coat of arms as the letterhead, it seemed so royal and official. Under the coat of arms, there was text that read, The Royal House of Cumberland and a handwritten note followed.
Ms. Walker,
I apologize for being unable to make your acquaintance upon your arrival. I discovered your work while looking for new artwork to adorn the walls of my home. I found myself in awe of the way you used colors and knew your work was what was needed to add something extra to the bland walls of the place I call home.
Tomorrow my driver, Langston, whom you have met, will take you to buy any supplies you need. He will present you with a credit card to purchase any items you require.
As noted, at starting I am willing to pay 1.5 Million American Dollars for your services and if more is needed for your precious time, I am ready to give it. I will be taking care of all your supplies, and you will be provided with housing. All meals are to be taken care of by my kitchen staff. Do not hesitate to ask my staff for anything you may need during your stay.
I am a very busy man with a business empire to attend to, and I will be spending most of my time away working. I do hope we may meet as I am excited to meet the master behind the gorgeous paintings I saw online.
I am looking forwards to seeing the work you produce for me.
Regards,
Lord Nathaniel Branagan
I was in awe as reality hit me hard. There had been a fear in the back of my mind that this really was some sort of ruse, but upon arriving at this home, meeting some of the staff, and this letter from this guy who I now knew as a Lord. This entire experience was real. I had made my dreams work for me in a way I’d never imagined. I was so excited to get to work.
AFTER I HAD came back to Earth, I called my parents, waking them up from their slumber. I let them know that I’d arrived safely and that this was absolutely real. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect out of it. I wondered what this Lord Branagan was like, I suspected him to be some stuffy old guy who had good taste in art.
I was also shown to my private bathroom by Sara and shown where to find towels and anything I needed. I took a nice hot shower and soon found myself curled into the comfortable blankets of the bed.
A knock came at the door of my bedroom. Sleepily, I sat up in bed as I tried to figure out where I was. It took a few seconds for everything to register. I wiped the drool off the side of my face as the door opened.
Standing in the door was Sara, the sweet woman had jet black hair with a few grays sprinkled throughout. She gave me an apologetic look as she spotted me sitting in the bed.
“I’m so sorry to have woken you,” she broke out as she began to back out of the doorway.
“No, it is fine. I’m awake,” I mumbled as I wiped my eyes and attempted to fight my way out of the drowsiness that had taken over my entire body.
“Lunch will be served soon in the dining room, but take your time,” she informed me with a smile before she closed the door leaving me alone.
This was perfectly timed as my stomach had begun to growl in need of some nourishment. I slipped from the bed and found the pair of jeans I wanted to wear. I pulled them up my legs and checked myself out in the mirror. I felt I was presentable in a band T-shirt, jeans, and my curls pulled into a messy bun on the top of my head. Quickly, I reached into my make-up bag that sat on the vanity under the mirror and pulled out a tube of my favorite lipstick. I loved adding color to my look whenever possible. I slid a thin layer of the pink lipstick over my plump lips before giving them a smack.
I left my room behind and started through the hall and down the stairs. I found myself back in the entrance hall I’d entered that morning. I wasn’t sure which direction to take to the dining room until I heard the clinking of silverware.
I followed the sounds until I entered a grand dining room. This room was unlike the others. The walls were all covered in an exquisite wood, and hanging above the table that seated ten was a grand crystal chandelier.
Looking down at the table, I was disappointed as I realized the table was only set for one, this meant I wouldn’t be meeting Lord Branagan, at least not yet. This man seemed to elude me today, but I held out hope I would meet him soon.
“Ah, good afternoon, Ms. Walker,” called out a male voice. I spotted an older white man. He wore what I knew to be called a morning coat, his hands had white gloves, and he stood perfectly poised with a tray balanced on his hand. On the tray was a single glass of what appeared to be champagne.
He approached me, the champagne remained balanced as if it was glued to the silver platter it set on. He lowered the tray to me in order for me to take the glass containing the fizzing liquid. I watched the tiny champagne bubbles as I took hold of the glass. The man lowered the tray to his side.
“Thanks,” I murmured before taking a sip of the liquid. The refreshingly cool bubbles slid down my throat as I swallowed. The taste lingered on my tongue, this was the richest champagne I’d ever had the pleasure of tasting.
“You may have a seat,” the man suggested as he pulled out the chair in front of the single place setting. I sat down as he scooted the chair forward for me. “Your food will arrive in only moments.”
As I set my glass down on the table, I noted the pink lipstick stain I’d left on the edge of the glass. There was something subtly beautiful about it there, champagne bubbles a
nd lipstick stains. I liked it.
FOUR
I’D EXHAUSTED MYSELF during my first day. After lunch, I left the house and went to explore. It turned out the street the house was on was right behind Kensington Palace and the Kensington Gardens. I wandered the vast park snapping photos until I reached Hyde Park Corner. From there, I didn’t have to walk much longer before I reached Buckingham Palace.
It could be repetitive to say I was in awe, but that is exactly what I was. The large regal building stood out with the black iron gates gilded in gold. Tourists flocked from all corners of the globe to see this place and to possibly catch a glimpse of the Queen.
Dinner had been just like lunch, I sat alone in the dining room feasting on deliciousness that the chef had made for me. I’d never felt so lonely in my life. I’d grown up with a sister, gone to college where I lived in the dorms and went straight to an apartment of roommates. Though there were staff members littered through the house, they were all keen and focused on their jobs, and I didn’t want to distract them from their assigned tasks.
When I returned to my room, I filled the tub in the luxurious bathroom up for a bubble bath. Soaking my feet in the warm water was exactly what I needed after walking through the bustling city of London. I smiled to myself as I sat in the bubbles. I’d gone from living in a cramped apartment with five other people to soaking in a bath, having my own room, and being able to actually call myself an artist in under 48 hours.
I didn’t want to get out of the bath, but the suds were beginning to fade, the water starting to chill, and my fingers and toes were becoming raisins. I took one of the fluffy white towels from the cabinet next to the tub and wrapped it around me covering as much of my bare body as I could.
I pulled my curls from the bun I’d secured them in and allowed them to fall and just hit my shoulders. I tied the towel as best I could before entering my bedroom. I found my T-shirt and PJ shorts and slipped them on.
One of my biggest accomplishments of the day was getting my hands on the Wi-Fi password. Earlier in the few minutes, I had before dinner, I searched the street the house was on, I knew this was more than just an ordinary street. Besides it being situated right outside of Kensington Palace, I learned the street, Kensington Palace Gardens, was also known as Billionaires Row and home to some of the most expensive residences in the world. A number of the homes were owned by billionaires while some remained the property of embassies around the world and the homes of ambassadors. The embassies of Finland, Russia, and Slovakia, to name a few were on this street. At the beginning of the street was the Israeli Embassy fully covered with armed guards. Photography was strictly prohibited and enforced by the police guards at either end of the street.
Sitting in the middle of the comfortable bed, I opened my laptop and connected to the internet. I’d been wondering about this Lord Branagan all day, and it was time I got some answers about this mysterious man that had employed me. I Google searched him and came up with a small bit of information on a website.
Lord Nathaniel Branagan, the only son and youngest child of the Duke and Duchess of Cumberland (Cumbria region of the Northern United Kingdom). Graduating with a business degree from the University of Edinburgh, right out of school Lord Branagan took a significant portion of his trust to purchase a small struggling shipping and post company. In only a few years, Lord Branagan was able to turn the small business that he acquired for 2 million pounds into a bustling billion-pound venture.
Other than his business ventures, there isn’t much known about him. He spends most of his time on business and isn’t seen often at social engagements unlike his older sisters, Ladies Evangeline and Penelope. It is known he spends most of his alone time away at his manor in Cumbria.
I was stumped. I only knew he was a Lord and a billionaire, but that was pretty much it. There was very little about him anywhere. I could find lots of information on his business, Branagan Shipping, but nothing much on him as a person. I still pictured some stuffy old white man. When I did an image search, there wasn’t much either. I did find a few pictures of a young man that didn’t look at the camera much, maybe he had a son, but I wasn’t quite sure. I found a birthdate that would place him at twenty-nine, this didn’t seem right. There was a possibility he had a 29-year-old son.With a huff, I gave up, I would meet him soon, at least I hoped I would.
I closed my laptop and set it on the gold lined nightstand that was located next to the bed. I pulled the warm blankets over my body and snuggled in deep. As I was finding my slumber, I heard the front door opening and voices. Maybe it was him, but I was too deep into my cocoon to want to find out. Footsteps passed my room and a door opened and closed.
Tomorrow I was supposed to go shopping. My real work would begin and the vacation of the last day was going to be over. I was here to earn my keep and to make the sum of money that was promised to me.
NO ALARM CLOCK was needed for me. I was right up at the crack of dawn. I pulled out a black fit and flare dress that I matched with black tights. Putting on my pink lipstick, I checked myself in the mirror. At least if I were to meet Lord Branagan, I would look my best. I fluffed out my curls and grabbed my tote bag.
I jogged downstairs and into the kitchen where I was met with breakfast laid out on the table. again, there was only one place setting. Did this guy not eat in his own house? I let out a breath of disappointment as I took my seat at the table. Looking at the spread in front of me, I noted the assortment of croissants, various jams, and cut fruits.
“Good Morning ma’am,” Sara bubbled in a good mood as she arrived in the dining room from the kitchen. I gave her a sweet smile as my mouth was already filled with a buttery croissant.
“Morning,” I mumbled before swallowing the flaky goodness. “It is perfectly fine to call me Taylor.”
“Okay, Taylor, would you like coffee or tea?” she asked me politely.
“Coffee would be great,” I noted to the kind woman that seemed to be the person who kept the house in running order.
“Coming right up,” she informed me before going right back through the door she’d come from.
I spread jam over my pastry and enjoyed every bit of it. Sara returned with my coffee along with sugar and cream for me. I could get used to this life, everything behind handled for me. It was nice to feel appreciated in a way. I knew with my pay I could afford this lifestyle, but that would only last a short time. My idea was to get myself a place when I got home and keep the rest of the money in savings while I worked on other jobs to pay bills and such. I wasn’t going to throw my money away on lavish dreams, to only end up broke again.
When I was near finishing my breakfast, Langston joined me in the dining room. He was exactly how I remembered him from the previous day. He and Sara chatted about the weather and politics while I finished off my coffee.
“I have the credit card here for you Taylor,” Langston informed me as he handed me a black card. My eyes went wide. I was being trusted with a black card. My name was even on it. I ran my fingers across the raised letters on the small piece of plastic that packed a big punch. “The code is 4325.”
That was something I’d heard before, credit cards in Europe used codes rather than the swipe and sign method we used in the States. Quickly, I pulled my wallet from my tote bag and placed the card inside. It felt kind of stupid to place a card that had no limit into my ten-dollar wallet from Target as most people who carried these cards, placed them in wallets that had cost more than my rent.
“A friend of mine gave me the addresses of a few stores that should have the supplies I need,” I informed Langston as I pulled out the list I’d jotted down which Maci had emailed me. I also had a list of all the paints, brushes, canvases, and other products I’d need to get started. During my day in the house, I wondered where he wanted these paintings to go. I had some pretty grand ideas in mind, and it wasn’t going to be a cheap trip to the art supply store.
“I am ready when you are,” Langston noted with a pleased
grin. I knew he was going to be fun to shop with. As refined as he seemed in his suit, he seemed like he had a fun side.
I’D NEVER SPENT so much money at one time on art supplies. I knew I’d gone a little overboard, but I’d never been given free reign on anything like this before and with an unlimited budget. I sprung for a huge canvas that was too big for the car and would have to be delivered. I also got myself a very nice easel, which was much sturdier and costly than the one I’d used back home.
My favorite part of the shopping trip was seeing more of London, I even got Langston to pull over a few times and take pictures of me. He laughed every time I asked, but he had no problem with it. I learned that he’d been working for Lord Branagan for the past five years, but had known him since childhood as his father worked as a gardener for the Branagan family. He had nothing, but good things to say about the guy, but did note he was a very busy man and sometimes business clouded his judgment and led his path.
That was something about the guy I could relate to, I was all art all the time. There were days where I knew I was in a losing battle, but I kept my path on painting and doing what I was good at and what I loved. I knew there might have been times where giving up should have been the better option, but I fought to go forward.
Arriving at the house, I began to take some of the bags out of the car with me. I figured that I could maybe get started on some work as I had most of the supplies and everything else was to be delivered in the late afternoon.
“Everything can stay in the car. It will be transported to the plane later today,” Langston informed me. I was completely lost. I didn’t understand why anything needed to go on a plane.
