The loud banging on the door woke me, sending my heart pounding like I had been racing through the fields. I sat up and tried to calm my beating heart but the pounding at the door only got worse. I was frightened, unable to move.

"Open this door this instant!". A gruffly voice insisted from behind the door.

Standing to my feet, I tried to steady my steps as I made my way to the door and unlocked it. I was suddenly pushed backwards due to the force which was used in opening the door. Sir Philip walked proudly into the chamber, his shoulders high and his blue eyes glimmering with delight. Two guards followed directly behind him, looking as stiff as walking statues.

"Arrest her!". He commanded, pointing his long fingers at me, a crocked smile curving at the corner of his lips.

The guards moved from behind him and advanced towards me, causing me to take a few steps backwards.

"What?. What.. why?. What did I do?!". I demanded as I tried to get away from them.

"It seems you have out lived your usefulness to the duke". Sir Philip tsked. "Clearly, your charms were not good enough to secure you a permanent place here". He gestured to the chamber.

"I beg your pardon?!". I gasped as I struggled to break free from the guards who had now captured me by both of my arms in a death grip.

"No need". He chuckled. "Take her to the plantain. She will receive her punishment there".

"Punishment?. For what?!. I did not do anything!". I screamed as they tried to drag me out of the chamber.

"For stealing Miss Evangeline. You shall be punished for stealing".

"What?. This is absurd. I stole nothing. I would never steal!". I cried out, shaking my head vigorously.

"So this belongs to you then, I suppose?". He brought out a beautiful golden necklace from his side pockets.

"No. I have never seen it before in my life".

"Then how do you have it on you?". He smirked.

"What?". I was more confused than ever. "I said I have never seen it before!".

"Oh but I found it on you". Sir Philip insisted.

"What?. That is never true. You just picked it out of your pocket!". I shrieked.

Sir Philip laughed. "Boys, where did you find this beautiful golden necklace which belongs to the master's late wife?". He stared at the guards intensely as if daring them to say something they were not supposed to say.

"Under her pillow my lord". One guard answered.

I turned to look at him in shock but he turned his gaze from me.

"This is a set up!. You are trying to frame me. I did no such thing. I have never stolen in my life. I would never. This is your doing!". I was furious. The man was setting me up. But why?!.

"It's your word against mine miss Evangeline". He closed the gap between us and I want to vomit at the closeness thereof. His right palm touched my cheek, caressing it and I turned my face away from him.

"Get away from me!". I spat on him, my spit landed on his shirt.

"I can make all this go away". He said, not at all bothered that I had spit on him. "All you have to do is become my mistress. Clearly the master does not fancy laying with you any longer. He must have gotten bored after a few but I can think of a lot of things we could do together to make this last. I can take good care of you Evangeline".

"Never!. I would never become your mistress!". I hissed at him.

"Suit yourself. Take her away!". He barked out the command.

"No please!". I screamed as I was being dragged out once more. "I'm innocent. Please, have mercy!". I begged as I was dragged out of the chamber and down the stairs.

Servants came out to see what was going on. Some were giggling and others looked at me with pity. I was dragged out of the house and into the plantation. Workers gathered to watch the spectacle as I tried my best to cover up my almost naked body due to the fact that I only had the master's shirt on. I sat on the ground and cried, wondering what I had done wrong to deserve this. I had never seen the necklace before in my life.

"Are you ready to speak the truth Miss Evangeline?!". Philip's voice boomed through the plantation.

I looked about me, seeing how the workers in the field had all gathered about us. I felt humiliated.

"I did nothing". I said through my sobs.

"You stole from the master. You are a thief!. Confess and perhaps you would be spared from having to be sent to the station. Bad things happen there". Sir Philip gritted through his teeth.

"I am not a thief!". I screamed.

Sir Philip closed the gap between us so fast I did not have time to back away when he grabbed me by the arm and shook me very hard.

"Speak the truth!". He growled. "I have witnesses".

"Please. Why are you doing this. I beg of you stop it. I'm innocent". I said softly, no longer finding my strength.

"A thief and a liar". He stated dramatically as he straightened himself. "The duke showed you kindness after your brother's betrayal yet you repay him by stealing from him?!".

"I did-".

I felt my jaw crack and I began to taste my own blood in my mouth. The pain caused me to feel dizzy and I fell to the ground.

*****

When I woke, I was laying on a mat in a foreign room. It was small with chipped walls and a broken door. A girl with dark hair sat next to me, looking keenly upon me.

"You are awake". She observed.

"Who are you?". I croaked.

"I am Tatiana. I work here as a servant in the kitchen".

"Where am I?".

"Servants quarters". She replied.

I shut my eyes. Trying to stop the throbbing in my head. I could feel a headache building up.

"You are lucky". Tatiana added. "The master took pity on you and decided to make you his servant instead of allowing the beast of a man to punish you the way he wanted".

"I do not understand". I shook my head at her.

"The moment you fainted, his grace rushed to your side and told Sir Philip to put an end to the investigation. He refused to have you whipped for stealing from him".

"I did not steal anything". I huffed.

"That might be true. But the fact also remains that the master has taken a liken to you". She wiggled her brows suggestively at me.

I scoffed, yet I could not stop the flutter in my heart or the smile that curved at the corner of my lips at her words.

"He does. I have worked here for five years. Never has he shown any one kindness. Not even the high borns".

She stood to her feet and dusted herself.

"He has showed you kindness twice. When a man like his grace, does that, it means he has taken a liken to you".

"I doubt that. The duke would never". I muttered as I felt my heart hammering in my chest. "He is a vile man incapable of such a feeling not after he had forced himself on me".

"In his chamber. On his bed". She snorted. "Do you know how many servant girls would kill for that?!".

"How can you say that?!. He violated me?!".

"Enough of this nonsense!". Someone hissed from the door way.

Tatiana froze and I saw a glimmer of fear in her eyes as a middle aged woman made her way into the room. She was stout and smelt like garlic and onions.

"Miss Nancy. We were only-".

"Get to work!. Lunch much be served in an hour!". The lady cut Tatiana off.

"Yes Miss Nancy". Tatiana bowed before she rushed out of the room without looking back.

"Evangeline is it?".

"Yes". I nodded, still remaining seated on the mat.

"You will address me properly child or be punished!". She scolded me.

"Forgive me madam". I quickly stood to my feet despite the slight dizziness.

"Miss Nancy". She corrected.

"Yes Miss Nancy".

"Good. Where are your belongings?".

"I have none Miss Nancy. I was not allowed to take anything from home". I told her.

"Very well. I shall have a dress brought to you so you change from the master's attire". She eyed me. "Then you join Tatiana and the rest in the kitchen to prepare lunch".

"Yes Miss Nancy". I nodded as she walked out of the room.

********

Tatiana had been the one to bring me the dress. I quickly changed out of the shirt and followed her back into the house, to the kitchen.

It was large. Bigger than the house I lived in with my mother and brother. Servants were moving about, some chopping vegetables, others baking bread while others just stood and watched. The kitchen fell silent the moment my presence was detected then it erupted into whispers and giggles.

"Ignore them". Tatiana nodded towards a group of three servants who were clearly discussing me. "Just stick with me". She smiled sweetly.

I nodded and kept my head down, following her to where two servant girls were chopping vegetables.

"This is Sandra". She introduced a red haired girl to me. She looked no older than sixteen. The girl turned and smiled at me before returning to her work. "And this is Celeste". She introduced the second girl who had golden hair and looked about our age. Celeste also smiled at me before returning to do her work.

Tatiana then grabbed a bowl and filled it with water before placing a few carrots in them and handing them to me. Then, she picked up a knife and handed it to me.

"Can you chop them?. You know how to cook right?". She said in a teasing manner.

"Yes". I smiled at her.

"Are you sure?. It seems all you and your brother are capable of is seducing the high borns!". One of the three servant girls Tatiana had asked me to ignore blurted out.

She had dark brown hair just like mine with brown eyes to match. She was full figured and curvy and had surprisingly rubby red lips. She was beautiful and I was not surprised by how arrogantly she carried herself. She was aware of her appearance. I ignored her and proceeded to do my work.

"I bet you could not suck his cock properly that was why he had to get rid of you!". She continued to taunt me.

The room erupted into laughter except for Tatiana and the two other girls. I gulped, feeling my eyes burn with tears.

"I heard you were a virgin!". Another added.

"Pity you lost it to the master thinking it would secure you a permanent place in his household". The brown haired girl continued.

The three laughed.

Tatiana reached out and touched me gently on the arm. I did not realize I was crying until a tear fell on the chopping board I working on.

"Enough you nasty girls!. Get back to work!". Celeste hissed at them causing them to harsh their laughter.

"I was only stating the truth". The brown haired girl muttered.

"Ira. With the number of times the Sir Philip's cock has been in your mouth, it's unsafe for you to speak whiles making the master's meal. Who knows what disease your spit might carry". Tatiana spat, earning a glare from Ira.

"Enough. Get to work all of you". Miss Nancy hissed from the door way, silencing the whole room.