He gave her a chance?! That was more than she expected. She followed the butler through the house. It was impossible not to gape at all the splendor. What a lovely parlour. She wishes she lived in a parlour. Oh! Look at those paintings! Was Mr. Douglas a painter then?

She forgot to be afraid as she admired the house and its contents, until they reached the kitchen. She sat down while nerves made it hard to breathe again.

And then came the question. What experience had she? This was embarrassing and Anne wanted to leave so badly she was afraid she would start crying. "Erm..." she said in a shaky voice. "Well, I've not been a maid before, but I'm very experienced in housework, ser, and I'm used to hard work." It sounded ridiculous to her own ears. Would the earth not be kind and swallow her already?