HOUSE RULES

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The meal was being served when Rose made an unexpected request. "Do you have ginger snaps? I would like them with my tea, please." Rose looked from Carrick and then to Dante. She needed to figure out who to ask.

"Carrick, have the cook make them right now," Dante said in a firm voice.

"Yes, your Grace. Right away." The butler strode off to the kitchen with his orders for the cook.

The servants appeared in the dining room with the dishes. They served the Count and his daughter, one course at a time. The maids observed that Rose was only in a nightgown with slippers and no robe. It was definitely not good etiquette or ladylike. They observed she was not using the proper utensils for each part of the meal. One servant thought she was no better than a barnyard animal sitting at the formal dining room table.

"Dahlia? Did you see her lick the butter off her finger? She's an uneducated mongrel. Why is the Count allowing this beast at his table? Just wait till Giselle sees her. This should be fun."

Dahlia expressed to the young woman making ill remarks about Rose. "It doesn't seem to bother the Count and Milley; you shouldn't gossip. It's a foolproof way to get yourself punished."

The young maid named Milley picked up the next portion of the meal and sauntered over to serve Dante. Milley stepped to the right side of Dante and placed the salad in front of him. Then she moved over to Rose and tossed the salad before her. Similar to the way one would feed a wild animal. Milley's attitude and behavior were bordering on insubordination.

Dante, about to take a bite of salad, placed his fork back on the plate as he watched what was unfolding in his dining room. The Count's brows knitted, and his lips curled inward. "Excuse me, Milley? Is that your name?" Dante was seething when he spoke to the servant girl.

"Yes, your Grace, I'm Milley," said the maid.

"Come forward and kneel here, please." Dante signaled with his finger for her to sit at the right side of his chair. Milley quickly obeyed and knelt next to Dante, "Good, you can hear and follow instructions. I was concerned you didn't know how to follow the rules." The rest of the servants and staff stood still and didn't move; the situation before them was alarming. The dining room fell silent. Everyone listened and watched what the Count was discussing with the servant girl. "Could you please have all servants gather in the dining room, Carrick? This will be a good way to teach our current staff about house rules and manners. The Count's attitude was Blasè as he discussed things with the butler. Milley will be our model of what you should not do while serving this mansion. Don't you think that is a good idea?" Dante had a malicious grin on his face as he asked the question.

"Yes, Count." The butler hurried away and gathered the help into the dining room. Carrick was unsure of what was going on, but he knew that Milley was involved, and she was about to face the wrath of Count Dante Le Chevalier De Sang. This was probably going to be bloody and not end well for the maid, thought Carrick.

"So glad you all could join us."Dante addressed the staff that had been assembled. Before we begin tonight's lesson, I want the house to meet our newest family member, my daughter, Scarlette Rose. His hand raised towards where Rose was sitting. You will address her appropriately as Lady Rose or Contessa Rose; either is adequate. You will afford her every courtesy that you extend to me. Her word is as much law in this household as mine. Be prudent when you speak to her. If I hear of anyone not following my edict or being inconsiderate, there will be severe penalties to pay."

The staff bowed and spoke in unison, "Yes, your Grace."

"Now, on a matter that has me concerned. Tonight I overheard ridicules being made against my daughter." Milley and Dahlia's eyes bulged as Dante spoke. "Am I right about what I'm saying, Dahlia? Please do not insult me and lie. Now answer my inquiry!" Ordered the Count as he looked at her with great disdain.

"Yes, Milley made crude remarks about the Lady, your Grace." Dahlia tried to caution Milley. All she could do now was look on as the maid knelt next to Dante and wondered how Milley would be disciplined.

The Count turned to Milley, "I heard it too. I also heard Dahlia tell you not to speak badly of my daughter. That is why she is not being punished tonight. So, Milley, That means you didn't follow the house rules. Please place your chin on the edge of the table." She could see the Count's jaw tick and the flames of wrath in his narrowed eyes.

"Your, Grace, please...," Before she could finish, Dante grabbed her hair, drug her up to the table, and placed Milley how he wanted her.

"I didn't ask for you to speak," he growled at the maid through gritted teeth.

Rose sat in her chair and watched as the surreal scene evolved. Then she spoke, "Dante, you don't have to do this for my sake. I'm a simple girl, not anyone special. Please don't hurt her."

"Darling girl, You are special to me. You will learn soon enough that you are extraordinary in my world. But let us get back to the issue at hand. We don't let staff break house rules, gossip, or misbehave. It isn't good decorum. It also disgraces the Master of the house. If we let the staff get away with attitudes like this, they will persist in taking advantage. Then chaos would ensue, and the servants would be in control, not the Master. Consider this your first etiquette lesson Rose. Dante was firm in his explanation of how things worked with the attendants. "Do you comprehend what I'm saying?" He looked over the table at Rose to see if she understood.

Rose unconsciously nodded but internally was scared for the young girl, who was shaking and crying next to Dante. She could see Milley had broken out into a cold sweat.

"Milley, be still and stick out your offensive tongue! You only have yourself to blame for poor manners."

The Count watched as she complied. Then fast as an eye could blink, he drove a fork in the maid's tongue and pinned it to the dining room table. Milley tried to scream, but it came out as a grotesque groan. Tears poured out of her eyes, and blood seeped from her mouth and soaked into the white linen tablecloth. Everyone watched in disbelief as Dante took the carving knife and brought it to Milley's mouth. He was going to sever her tongue.

"Please, Dante, please stop!" begged his daughter. Rose knocked over her chair, backing away from the table into a corner of the dining room. She was trembling and ashen. He had frightened her as bad as the staff.

Dante bent down and whispered into the maid's ear, "If it were not for Rose asking me not to, I would have taken your tongue tonight. Milley, It would be best if you thanked her for sparing you from becoming a mute. I want this to be an example to all of; KNOW YOUR PLACE!!!!" Dante took the knife point, split the tip of Milley's tongue, then pulled the fork out that restrained her. He wanted to get the message across to all in the mansion."I will not accept poor manners from this staff, and you will pay the consequences." He was furious that he handled affairs like this in front of his daughter.

Holding her hands to her bloody mouth, Milley was quickly escorted from the room by the other maids. They knew she would remember to beware of her insolent tongue around the Count and his family.

"The rest of you are dismissed, Carrick. Get this mess looked after and bring dinner to Rose in her room."

"No, I'm no longer hungry. I will go lie down. If that is alright?" The Count heard a shaky voice come from the corner of the room. It was Rose who wanted to escape and lock herself in the bedroom. She was scared out of her wits by Dante's display of retribution at the table.

"I think you should, dear. You aren't looking well again. Has your fever returned?" Dante stood from the table and strolled toward Rose, and she took a step back away from him as he advanced on her. He walked forward again, and she took another step away from him. The Count saw her seeking an exit. Dante stopped as he watched Rose's reaction. "Darling, it's okay. I'm not going to harm you. I want to check your temperature. Are you frightened?" His brow furrowed at the thought of her apprehension of him.

Rose nodded, and her doe-like eyes looked away from him. She clutched the front of her gown in nervousness. All she wanted to do was leave his presence. Rose desired distance and a quiet place to relax to get her emotions under control.