Chapter Text
"It is in vain to say human beings ought to be satisfied with tranquillity: they must have action; and they will make it if they cannot find it."
"Aster Hall, Miss." The driver opened the door of the buggy for Sarah.
Sarah stepped out and looked at the her new home. On initial inspection, the place seemed so… dreary. It was more like a formidable, miniature castle than a home.
Was she to be a governess of one child or twenty?
A short and stout woman came from the side of the mansion and waved to them. "Miss Sarah Williams?"
"Yes, that's me." Sarah beamed at the maternal presence. It made her feel more at home. "And you are Miss Agatha Lark?"
"The one and same." Miss Agatha ushered her in graciously. "Come, I will get you situated." She motioned the driver. "Stables are in the back with food and water for your horse. Come inside for supper."
"Thank you." Sarah said to the driver and paid her fare to the driver.
"A pleasure, Miss." He rode the horses to the stables.
Inside was similar to outside. Still grey and formidable but art pieces and soft lighting lit the place up, with traces of glitter on the wall. Her room was more spacious than any room she had ever stayed in and was more modern than the rest of the place. On her bedside was a lovely vase with daffodils and lavenders, adding a splash of color to the room.
Sarah set her suitcase down and washed up. Once downstairs, she ate her meal with Agatha, the driver taking his portion and choosing to eat outside so the two ladies could talk to each other freely.
"How was your trip, Miss Sarah?" Agatha inquired.
"It was lovely, and I find the countryside here much more beautiful than Estella's. Estella is a lovely country but there's something different about this kingdom." Her excitement and wistfulness was evident in her voice.
"Magic and adventure, perhaps." Agatha beamed. "It is a lovely place to live. And this area is especially lovely, with many different places nearby to explore."
"Speaking of living here, who else is a part of the household?" Sarah asked her.
"Well, there is me, the housekeeper. Edith, our elven cook who is lovely but much of a stickler for etiquette and rules. Terrance is our stablehand and Jonathan is our dishwasher and gardener. Terrance is fae, and Jonathan and I are both human like yourself."
"And Little Miss Adelaide?"
"Miss Adelaide is playing with a few friends of hers and will be dropped off home soon." Agatha said.
"Tell me more about my new pupil." Sarah requested. "You said that she is behind in school, which is why she has in need of a governess to tutor her?"
"Yes." Agatha said, pity on her face. "Poor little Adelaide. You see, this place belonged to her parents, so Adelaide is the heir. Her parents died of an illness, very rare for fae to die from these sickness. The current master of the house is the older brother of Adelaide's mother, just taking care of the place until Adelaide is of age."
"Master Jareth Quinn." Sarah said his name.
"Yes, that is him. He doesn't actually live here as he works for the King in the Castle Beyond the Goblin City. However, when Adelaide's parents first passed, he stayed here for months with her as she did not want to leave her home. He has decided to come and go every few weeks or so, first leaving not too long ago."
Sarah's eyes raised in awe. "I didn't know that he worked such a prestigious job. What does he do?"
"You know, I'm not sure." Agatha seemed thoughtful. "He does an assortment of things, that I know. He never told us exactly. Oh would you look at that, Adelaide is home!"
There was Adelaide, a rather cute child. Such a sweet but sad disposition. She gave Sarah a little paper doll that she made for her, and the governess was very pleased. In turn, Sarah showed her a little toy she had gotten for her and Adelaide happily took it, happy for it.
"Papa and Mama took me to places and got me little trinkets like this." She smiled.
It tugged at Sarah's heart. No child should have to live without their parents like this, especially ones who clearly loved her. She understood, as an orphan herself.
Her mother passed when she was not yet an adolescent. Two years later, her father married her stepmother Karen. Karen treated her well enough, never rude to her but Sarah always felt left out. As if she was a leftover. And even more so when her brother, Toby, was born.
Still, she took care of Sarah as best she could so she couldn't complain.
Then her father and stepmother died from a freak accident where a tree fell on them. Sarah and Toby were sent to live with Karen's sister, who was less kind to Sarah. She felt that Sarah was a burden as she was not her niece. She made Sarah work for her keep while the young girl tried to continue her own studies late at night by studying the books by candlelight.
Deciding that she didn't want to work at home anymore, she found jobs as a seamstress, and became quite talented at it. However, she didn't enjoy doing it day in and day out so she applied to be an assistant teacher. Karen's sister laughed at her at first, until Sarah passed the exam and taught at schools. She became a full time teacher at age 18 to a primary school and worked there for two years.
It was only because of her brother that she stayed at his aunt's for as long as she did. She had too much of her mother, Linda, in her. Linda was a dreamer, a woman who wanted to see the world. Sarah wanted to follow in her steps, to find that adventure outside of slaving away at Karen's sister's home.
When she was sure that her brother would be fine, she sent out an advertisement to be a governess outside of her home country. She enjoyed teaching and this gave her the opportunity to earn more so she can save up for him as well. She could have the weekends off to see him and to stay at the inn instead of at his aunt's too.
As she got ready for bed that night, she looked at the moon wistfully, happy to be on her own, but missing her brother terribly. She considered bringing him with her, but the aunt said no.
Besides, as much as they loved each other, Toby was much more interested in his cousins who were his age anyway.
She blew the candle out, thoughts of new adventures in her head.